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Which research degrees are offered at the School for Graduate Studies and Research?
Research and professional doctorate degrees offered at the University include MPhil (Master of Philosophy), PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) and DM (Doctor of Medicine) degrees.
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Does the School for Graduate Studies and Research have any resources that can guide me in the preparation of theses/research papers/projects/casebooks?
Yes, please review and acquaint yourself with the recommendations of the Thesis Guide. This should be used to assist you throughout all stages of your thesis.
Candidates should also consult their departments for specific Faculty requirements.
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I am preparing to submit my thesis for examination. What process should I follow for submission?
Students can follow the step-by-step guide for postgraduate students who are submitting theses for examination here.
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I am required to submit a research paper/project/casebook for completion of my degree. What is the process for the submission for examination?
Students can follow the step-by-step guide for postgraduate students who are submitting research papers/projects/casebooks for examination here.
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I would like to check my research paper to ensure my academic integrity. How can I access TurnItIn?
Visit the Turnitin.com website that will allow you to check your research paper/project/thesis/dissertation.
You would need to use the credentials that are sent to you via campus messaging service (i.e. via your email). If you did not receive this information, please contact us at the School for Graduate Studies & Research.
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My supervisor has to submit progress reports. What does the entail and how often do they need to be completed?
A progress report details the work the student has done, provides an assessment of the work, indicates what remains to be completed and whether the student is on schedule.
Each chief Supervisor, or sole Supervisor as the case may be, must submit bianually (no later than January 31 for semester I and June 30 or Semester II) to the Campus Committee through the Head of Department, a report on the work of any candidate placed under his or her supervision.
Member of the Committee of Advisors are required to meet at least once per year with the student, and based on their meeting(s). shall submit to the Campus Committee, through the Head of Department, an annual report on the student’s progress.
Your Supervisor should supply you with a copy of these reports, and you will be invited to verify that you have seen these reports.
You can access a copy of the form for reporting here.
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What are the entry requirements for DM (Doctor of Medicine) Degrees?
The minimum requirement for admission to a DM degree programme is a GPA of 2.5 or a Lower Second Class Honours degree or its equivalent, unless the Campus Committee for Graduate Studies and Research in any particular case otherwise decides.
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What are the entry requirements for MPhil (Master of Philosophy) Degrees?
The minimum requirement for admission to MPhil programmes is a GPA of 3.0, or an Upper Second Class Honours degree or its equivalent, unless the Campus Committee in any particular case otherwise decides.
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What is a Seminar?
Research seminars are part of the requirement in fulfilment of your research degree programme. The seminar is a presentation of your current research work in progress. By the end of the first academic year, a student should be in a position to present some aspect of their research. The research seminar should be seen as an opportunity to share your work and receive feedback; this process often helps to sharpen your study’s focus, refine your research questions and clarify your methodological choices, thereby ensuring that your work is of the highest standard. The student and supervisor will together determine the actual date of the research seminar. The event is often organized by the Department.
You must satisfactorily complete your seminars well in advance of the submission of your thesis. The upgrade seminar will count as one of the three seminars for the PhD, provided that it is not the last seminar. Seminar requirements are as follows:
| Degree |
Seminar requirements |
| MPhil |
A minimum of 2 seminars |
| PhD, MD and Professional doctorate |
A minimum of 3 seminars |
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Guidelines for the Administration of Seminars
ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONDUCT OF SEMINARS:
- Both students and supervisor should agree on seminar presentation date
- At minimum the main supervisor should be present at the seminar
- The 2nd and 3rd seminar presentations should be about 25-30 minutes in duration
- Except in extentuating circumstances, one seminar should be done a semester. Where two semesters are conducted in one semester the content should be substantially different from each other
- An assessment committee should be convened by the Deputy Dean, Research or equivalent to assess the presentation and provide feedback
- The assessment tool should be made available to the student and assessment committee 5-7 days prior to the seminar
- CLICK HERE FOR SEMINAR EVALUATION FORM.
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Am I required to attend research seminars during my course of study?
Students enrolled for an MPhil degree must satisfactorily complete at least two research seminars, to be convened by the relevant Head of Department, prior to the submission of their MPhil thesis.
Students enrolled for a PhD or MD degree must satisfactorily complete three such seminars. The upgrade seminar will count as one of the three seminars for the PhD, provided that it is not the last seminar.
Assessment of students' seminars must be included in their Progress Reports. Students enrolled in Professional Doctorates must satisfactorily complete research seminars as specified in Programme requirements.
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What are the entry requirements for PhD and MD Degrees?
The minimum requirements for admission to PhD and MD programmes:
(a) Approved graduate degree awarded primarily for research;
(b) Taught Master's degree from the UWI or another approved University, provided that the Master's programme included a research component of at least 25% of the total credit rating and the applicant achieved at least a B+ average or its equivalent;
(c) Approval of an application for upgrade;
(d) Such other qualifications and experience as the Board for Graduate Studies and Research may accept.
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What are the entry requirements for Professional Doctorates?
The minimum requirements for admission to professional Doctorates and Taught Master's degree in an appropriate field from the UWI or another approved University, having achieved at least a B+ average or its equivalent, and possessing the required experience in the field (as specified in the relevant programme requirements).
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What happens if a student is suspected of cheating?
The University defines cheating as “any act intended to benefit one’s self or another by deceit or fraud.”
A student must not directly or indirectly give assistance to any other student, or permit any other student to copy from or otherwise use his/her papers, nor accept assistance from any other student or use any other student’s papers.
If any student is suspected of cheating, or of attempting to cheat, the circumstances will be reported in writing to the Campus Registrar. The Campus Registrar will refer the matter to the Chair of the Campus Committee for Graduate Studies and Research. The Chair shall appoint an Investigating Committee to conduct an investigation. The student may be invited for an interview.
If the student is found guilty of cheating or of attempting to cheat, the Committee may recommend to the Board for Graduate Studies and Research that the student be disqualified from the examination concerned, or disqualified from all his/her examinations taken in that examination session; or disqualified from all further examinations of the University for any such period of time as it may determine.
A student may appeal to the Senate against the decision of the Board for Graduate Studies and Research. Appeals against decisions of the Board for Graduate Studies and Research shall be received by the Campus Registrar within two weeks of the date on which the decision is communicated to the student.
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What is required for MPhil and PhD degree students to be conferred with an award of High Commendation?
The award of an MPhil/PhD shall be conferred with high commendation where the Examiners are unanimous in their recommendation that such an award should be made.
In the case of Professional Doctorates, candidates must have attained a Grade A average over the coursework component of the programme, and a candidate failing a course (including an elective course) required for the completion of the programme shall be ineligible for the award of high commendation. Failure in a co-requisite course shall not exclude the student from receiving high commendation. High commendation will not normally be awarded to candidates who have exceeded the time limits for registration.
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What is the course of study for research degrees and professional doctorates?
A candidate for the MPhil, PhD, MD or Professional Doctorate is required to complete the specified number of credits or coursework along with any other work as may be approved by the Campus Committe on the recommendation of the relevant Head of Department, and to pass the appropriate examinations before submitting the thesis:
(a) For students enrolled in an MPhil degree, a minimum of 6 credits should be taken through courses, and for students enrolled in a PhD programme, a minimum of 9 credits should be taken through courses.
(b) For students upgrading from MPhil to PhD, their MPhil courses will contribute to the course requirements for the PhD.
(c) Students entering either the MPhil or PhD degree already holding a Taught Master's degree in a similar discipline may apply to the Campus Committee for exemption from the course requirements of the research degree.
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What is the general course of study for a DM (Doctor of Medicine) degree?
The course of study for a DM degree includes both an academic programme and clinical rotations covering all aspects of the discipline over 4 to 7 years depending on the discipline. For all disciplines, it is necessary to be attached to an accredited hospital or to be asigned to clinical duty. All DM candidates are required to complete successfully a research project or case book before the final examination.
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What is the general course of study for Graduate Certificates, Diplomas or Taught Masters and DM degrees?
The course of study for a Graduate Certificate, Diploma or Taught Master's degree includes the required courses and supervised research work culminating in the submission of a research paper or project report, except as otherwise stated in approved programme requirements.
The subject of any such research paper or project report shall be recommended by the relevant Head of Department to the Campus Committee for approval not later than two months before the date of submission of the research paper or project report.
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What is the Grade Point Average (GPA) system that is used for grading?
The School for Graduate Studies and Research has implemented a Grade Point Average (GPA) system for graduate certificates, diplomas, taught master’s and professional doctorate programmes. This is applicable to all post graduate students who enter the University from August 2021 and thereafter.
View full details here.
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What is the University’s policy on plagiarism?
The University defines "plagiarism" as the unacknowledged and unjustified use of the words, ideas or creations of another, including unjustified unacknowledged quotation and unjustified unattributed borrowing:
- "Level 1 plagiarism" means plagiarism which does not meet the definition of Level 2 plagiarism;
- "Level 2 plagiarism" means plagiarism undertaken with the intention of passing off as original work by the plagiariser, work done by another person or persons.
These Regulations apply to the presentation of work by a student for evaluation, whether or not for credit, but do not apply to invigilated written examinations. Read more on the University Regulations on Plagiarism.