23 November 2020
COMMUNIQUÉ FROM THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR
SEMESTER DATES AND GENERAL ACADEMIC RULES APPLICABLE TO RESEARCH MASTERS AND DOCTORAL STUDENTS
Dear Staff and Students
Please note the following important Dates and General Academic Rules that apply for the conclusion of your 2020 Academic year and the start of the 2021 Academic year – for all Research Masters and Doctoral candidates.
Similar Communiques will be issued in terms of all other cohorts of students in due course.
- LAST DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF DISSERTATIONS /THESES TO THE PG ADMIN OFFICES FOR POSSIBLE AUTUMN 2021 GRADUATION (Provisionally pencilled in for mid-May 2021)
- This applies only to currently registered students (Semester 2:2020), who have already tendered their intention to submit in this semester.
- The final date for submission of dissertation/thesis bound copies for examination is Friday, 4 December 2020, as per the approved sessional dates.
- RE-REGISTRATION AFTER REGISTRATION HOLD FOR SLOW PROGRESSION
Please note the following General Academic Rules:
The appropriate term decision (a registration hold) will be applied to academic records on December 15, 2020 in the following cases.
- Research Masters Students
A student who, after four (4) semesters as a full-time student or six (6) semesters as a part-time student, has not completed the requirements for the degree shall be required to apply for re-registration, which will only be permitted on receipt of a satisfactory motivation. (Please see GENERAL ACADEMIC RULE MR7).
- Doctoral Degree’s by Research
A student who, after eight (8) semesters as a full-time student or ten (10) semesters as a part-time student, has not submitted a thesis for examination, shall be required to apply for re-registration, which will only be permitted on receipt of a satisfactory motivation. (Please see GENERAL ACADEMIC RULE DR7).
- Consideration of applications for re-registration, as described in General Academic Rules MR7 and DR7, by masters and doctoral students after a registration hold being placed on the system are considered by the School Research and Higher Degrees Committee for a recommendation, and College Academic Affairs Board (CAAB) for approval.
- The important DATES are as follows:
Results (incl. appropriate term decision/hold) – 15 December 2020
Deadline for re-registration appeals – 10 January 2021 (Sunday)
Meeting of School Higher Degrees Committee – 12 January 2021 (Tuesday)
Special CAAB to consider recommendations – 21 January 2021 (Thursday)
Notification of applicants – 22 January 2021 (Friday)
- FINAL DATE FOR 2021 ACADEMIC REGISTRATION OF ANY RETURNING RESEARCH MASTERS OR DOCTORAL STUDENT
Friday, 29 January 2021
- FINAL DATE FOR SUBMISSION TO THE SCHOOL HIGHER DEGREES ADMINISTRATOR(S) OF A REQUEST TO SUSPEND 2021 SEMESTER 1 STUDIES
Friday, 29 January 2021
- Please see General Academic Rule GR9c
Except as provided hereunder, a student shall register in consecutive semesters.
(i) On application in advance to the relevant College with the approval of the college academic affairs board (as Delegated to the AL:RHD, See Academic Decision Flow Page 6), a student’s registration may be suspended for a period of time not exceeding two (2) semesters. …
- FINAL DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF DISSERTATION OR THESIS BY A STUDENT REGISTERED IN SEMESTER 2:2020, TO ENSURE NOT HAVING TO REGISTER FOR A SUBSEQUENT SEMESTER (i.e. SEMESTER 1:2021) – Noting that an intention to submit would have had to have been tendered by 28 October 2020, while registered in Semester 2:2020.
Thursday, 28 January 2021 (as Friday 29 January 2021 is the last date for academic registration).
- APPLICATIONS FOR RE-ADMISSION TO SEMESTER 1:2021, FOR ANY CANDIDATE WHO WAS NOT REGISTERED (or did not have an approved suspension of studies on file) FOR SEMESTER 2:2020
Please contact the School or College you were last registered in to ascertain the steps required for application for re-admission. Please see General Academic Rule GR9d) (i),
Should a student fail to register for a semester:
(i) In the case of a postgraduate student who has not been granted suspension as provided for in GR9 (c) (i) or (ii), the student must apply to the relevant college for readmission should she/he subsequently wish to return to resume studies. Such readmission shall only be approved under the conditions, rules and curricula applicable at the time of readmission and, in the case of a postgraduate research student, provided that supervisory capacity is available.
Issued by
Dr K Cleland
Registrar (Acting)