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Paper S-38
To: Senate
From Registrar
31 August, 1967
Subject: Standards on the Preparation of Thesis
for the Ph.D. degree
The attached paper has been approved by the Faculties
of Education and Science, and by the Senate Committee on Graduate
Studies.
The Faculty of Arts took exception to the requirement
of a compulsory oral examination. The Senate Committee on
Graduate Studies agreed that an oral examination was a necessary
University requirement, but it would hear requests for the waiving
of oral examinations in special cases.
D.P. Robertson
Registrar
DPR/md
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S-38
Memorandum issued for the Guidance of Supervisors and Candidates:
Standards on the Preparation of Thesis for the Degree of Ph.D.
1.
1
A candidate submitting a thesis for the degree of Ph.D
must show in his thesis both originality of mind and critical
judgment in a particular subject, and in addition must demonstrate
a thorough knowledge of the general field of scholarship to which
that particular subject belongs. All these aspects of his work will
be examined both through the thesis itself, and in the oral examination.
2.
The substance of the thesis must involve an amount of
work that may be reasonably expected of a candidate who has satisfied
the University's residence requirements (see calendar) bearing in
mind the amount of course work required in fulfilling the
requirements for the degree of Ph.D. The quantity of work in a
thesis will obviously vary from discipline to discipline; the quality
sought will always be high.
.
3.
The thesis must make a distinct addition to knowledge. Its
originality may consist in discovering new facts, or in the critical
examination of existing facts or ideas, or in devising .and conducting
investigations into ideas supplied by others. The work described in
the thesis should be worthy of publication either in its submitted
form, or else in a suitably modified form as required by the various
disciplines.
4.
The written presentation of the thesis must be considered
satisfactory by the Examining Committee. The subject matter must be
clearly and precisely expressed, the arguments logical and intelligible,
and the language that is most appropriate to the discipline involved.
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The thesis must show clearly that the candidate has ideas, and that he
has the ability to express them in the appropriate words.
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S5.
The oral examination before the Examining Committee is
regarded as an essential and important part of the requirements
leading to the degree of Ph.D. This examination will be in addition
to any Departmental regulations requiring, for example, the
candidate to deliver a seminar to the appropriate body. The oral
examination by the Committee will include questions designed to ensure
that the thesis is indeed the result of the candidate's own research,
and will also thoroughly test the candidate's understanding of the
background of the field of study within which his own research falls.
The candidate will be required to demonstrate his acquaintance with
the general literature of his field, and a knowledge of the relationship
of his own work to any wider field of which it is a part. The candidate
will be expected to show his understanding of the extent to which his
own work advances, modifies or in any other way affects the wider
field of scholarship in his discipline.
6.
The Examining Committee may if they wish require the
candidate to submit himself to a written examination in addition
to the oral. This may arise for example if the candidate is unable
for linguistic or psychological reasons to acquit himself in a
satisfactory manner at the oral examination.
7.
If the situation arises that the candidate has presented an
adequate thesis, but has not shown in the oral examination that he
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possesses the necessary knowledge in the general field of scholarship
to which his thesis belongs, the examiners may recommend that he
should re-present the thesis and submit himself for a second oral
examination after a further period of directed study.
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