Regulations for The Doctor of Literature - DLit

Qualification Regulations

Part I

Part II

Admission

1. Admission for consideration for the Degree of Doctor of Literature requires that the candidate will:

(a) meet the University admission requirements as specified; and will:

(b) be a graduate of a Massey University degree; or

(c) be a graduate of another University and have a substantial, demonstrable, formal association with Massey University;

and will:

(d) not present themselves for consideration until at least 10 years after graduation in a qualifying degree; and

(e) not previously have applied for examination within the preceding five years, and only then will application be considered on the basis of significant new work.

Qualification requirements

2. The Degree of Doctor of Literature shall be awarded for original contribution(s) of special excellence to knowledge in the fields of Humanities, Arts or Social Sciences. This will have been published in the form of scholarly papers and/or books or creative works or performances. Additional unpublished work may be submitted in support of the application.

Specialisations

3. The Degree of Doctor of Literature is awarded without specialisation.

Examination Requirements

4. The submitted work(s) must comply with the following requirements:

(a) the work(s) has not been accepted either in whole or in part for any other degree or diploma; and

(b) must clearly define the nature and extent of any assistance the candidate has received in pursuing the research on which the work(s) is based;

(c) reference to work other than that of the candidate must be appropriately acknowledged;

(d) all relevant policies underpinning research practice have been complied with;

(e) must be submitted for examination in the manner specified by the Doctoral Research Committee in accordance with the published guidelines.

5. The work(s) will be independently examined by an Examination Committee experienced in the subject area, appointed by the Doctoral Research Committee in accordance with published guidelines.

6. The Examination Committee shall make a recommendation to the Doctoral Research Committee on the whole examination and will advise the result of the examination by using one of the following categories:

(a) Pass.

(b) Fail.

7. No appeals are allowed except on completion of the examination process on the grounds of procedural irregularities in the examination process. For an appeal to be considered, applications must be received by the Doctoral Research Committee within three months of formal notification of the examination result by the Graduate Research School.

Student progression

8. Applications will only proceed to Examination at the discretion of the Doctoral Research Committee on the recommendation of an Assessor appointed by this Committee to judge the suitability of the application, the key elements of the work(s), and the contribution to knowledge.

Schedule for the Doctor of Literature