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The Thesis Regulations apply to those enrolled in the Master of Applied Theology Thesis and should be read in conjunction with all other Regulations.
1. THESIS DEFINITION
1.1
A thesis is a scholarly piece of written work carried out under supervision. It should demonstrate advanced research skills and critical interaction with existing academic publications in the topic area.
1.2
The work need not present original findings, but it must demonstrate independent research and show a full understanding of the complexity of debate surrounding the topic and be a significant contribution to evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the existing approaches.
2. THESIS LEVEL AND LENGTH
In the Carey Master of Applied Theology programme there are two forms of research based theses both at Level 9 on the NZQA Framework, undertaken in the final part of a student’s candidature:
- Thesis (90 credits) – 25,000-30,000 words including footnotes but excluding Bibliography.
- Thesis (120 credits) – 35,000-40,000 words including footnotes but excluding Bibliography.
3. RESEARCH PROPOSAL APPROVAL
3.1
Before commencing work on a thesis, a student is required to:
- Negotiate a topic with a potential Supervisor, in order to construct a research proposal.
- Submit the research proposal along with all appropriate information to the Academic Committee for approval.
- Obtain ethics approval, where appropriate, from the Carey Ethics Committee.
3.2
If students wish to engage in in-depth biblical exegesis in their Thesis they will be required to have the appropriate language skills in either Hebrew or Greek in order for the Thesis proposal to be approved.
3.3
The Academic Committee will only grant approval when satisfied that all the required information has been supplied and the project is in order.
4. ETHICAL AND RESPONSIBLE RESEARCH PRACTICE
4.1
All research undertaken while at Carey that involves human participation is required to comply with the highest ethical standards. Therefore, before conducting research approval must be obtained from the Carey Ethics Committee. See the Research Ethics Policy and Guidelines for more information.
4.2
All research undertaken while at Carey must also adhere to the Responsible Practice in Research Code of Conduct.
5. THE APPOINTMENT OF SUPERVISORS
5.1
The Academic Committee will assess the suitability and approve the appointment of supervisors for all theses.
5.2
If more than one supervisor is approved for a thesis, the Primary Supervisor will normally be a member of faculty at Carey.
5.3
When a supervisor is approved, who is not a member of faculty at Carey, before that supervisor is appointed they will be invited to enter into a formal Supervision Agreement with the student as a party to this agreement.
5.4
The Supervision Agreement will outline and clarify the obligations and responsibilities of the parties named in the agreement in relation to the supervision of the thesis; please refer to the Supervisors of Research Code of Practice for more information.
5.5
Normally at least one Supervisor will have previous experience in the supervision of students whom have successfully completed a Postgraduate thesis.
6. ALTERNATIVE SUPERVISION
6.1
An appropriately qualified substitute supervisor will be appointed by the Academic Committee.
6.2
If an appointed Supervisor is absent for an extended period on account of illness, leave, or for any other reason. This will be for the duration of the original Supervisor’s absence.
6.3
If a student’s work is not proceeding satisfactorily for reasons beyond the student’s control which are deemed to be due to an ineffective working relationship between the student and their Supervisor.
7. ACADEMIC PROGRESS
7.1
Where a student’s progress on a thesis is deemed to be unsatisfactory by the Academic Committee, upon written notification by the Supervisor, the Academic Director will notify the student of this in writing and request a written response from the student within a specified timeframe.
7.2
If on receipt of the written notification specified above the student does not respond to the Academic Director within the time specified, the Academic Committee will terminate the student’s enrolment in the thesis and the student will be deemed to have withdrawn from the programme.
7.3
A student whose enrolment has been terminated may appeal against the decision of the Academic Committee in writing to the Academic Director within 14 days of the time the decision was made available to the student, provided that the student is able to show that additional information has become available which was not available, and could not reasonably have been available, to the Academic Committee at the time of the decision to terminate the enrolment.
8. LEAVE OF ABSENCE/SUSPENSION OF CANDIDATURE
8.1
Where a student is unable to undertake work on the thesis for an extended period due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances, the Academic Committee may suspend the student’s candidature and grant leave of absence for a maximum period of 12 months.
8.2
An application for leave of absence/suspension of candidature must be made in writing and submitted with appropriate supporting evidence to the Academic Registrar for consideration by the Academic Committee.
8.3
A student who has been granted leave of absence under this section will not normally have access to Carey resources or receive any assistance on the thesis from the Supervisor during the period of absence designated.
8.4
Where a student to whom leave of absence has been granted under this section is unable to resume candidature at the end of the specified period and it cannot be anticipated when the candidature would be resumed, the student must give written notice of withdrawal from their candidature to the Academic Registrar. The period of approved leave of absence will not be counted in determining the grade.
9. REQUESTS FOR EXTENSIONS
9.1
SHORT EXTENSION
A student may be permitted a short extension to a Thesis submission date at the discretion of the Academic Director. This will be an extension until 31 January of the following year for a Thesis due at the end of Semester 2, or 31 July for a Thesis due at the end of Semester 1. A short extension is not subject to any additional fee.
A student may be permitted a short extension to a Thesis submission date at the discretion of the Academic Director. This will be an extension until 31 January of the following year for a Thesis due at the end of Semester 2, or 31 July for a Thesis due at the end of Semester 1. A short extension is not subject to any additional fee.
9.2 FORMAL EXTENSION
9.2.1
In exceptional circumstances the Academic Committee may grant a formal extension to a Thesis submission date.
9.2.2
An application for a formal extension must be approved by the student’s Supervisor and include appropriate evidence of satisfactory academic progress to date, as well as ability to submit the thesis within the requested time frame.
9.2.3
An application for a formal extension must be submitted at least two months before the original due date of the thesis.
9.2.4
If a formal extension is granted their Supervisor will devise a supervision schedule, clearly outlining deadlines for draft chapters and other important milestones. This schedule must be signed by both the Supervisor and student and will be submitted to the Academic Committee for monitoring.
9.2.5
If a student fails to meet a deadline or milestone as approved in the supervision schedule, their progress may be deemed to be unsatisfactory, which is grounds for dismissal.
9.2.6
Formal extensions can only be granted once and are granted in one month periods up to a maximum of six months.
9.2.7
A thesis extension fee will apply, see Fees Regulations for further information.
10. SUBMISSION PROCEDURE
Two soft bound copies of the thesis must be submitted to the Academic Registrar (with the appropriate Coversheet available on CareyOnline), and an electronic copy uploaded to CareyOnline on the due date.
11. EXAMINATION AND FINAL GRADES
11.1
The Academic Committee will appoint a minimum of two examiners for each thesis, with at least one being an independent External Examiner who is not a member of staff at Carey and who has not acted previously as the student’s Supervisor or Advisor.
11.2
In cases where there has been a change in Supervisor due to an ineffective working relationship between the student and the Supervisor, the former Supervisor shall not be appointed as an Examiner.
11.3
The External Examiner shall be appointed on the basis of experience in research or independent scholarship and practice in the general area of the thesis.
11.4
Each Examiner shall read and examine the thesis and present an independent written report to the Academic Committee. In completing their report each Examiner will consider whether the work satisfies requirements of the degree and make an appropriate recommendation, including a recommended grade, in accordance with the Grading System in the Assessment Regulations.
11.5
Where appropriate the Examiners may recommend:
- That the thesis be passed with a recommended grade.
- That the thesis be passed with a recommended grade provided that the editorial corrections in the Examiners’ Reports are completed to the satisfaction of the student’s supervisor.
- That the thesis NOT be passed but the student be given opportunity for the thesis to be rewritten and resubmitted for examination on a pass/fail basis.
- That the thesis be failed with no opportunity for resubmission.
11.6
The Academic Committee will determine the final grade for a Thesis based on the recommendations of the Thesis Sub-Committee.
11.7
If the recommendations of the Examiners are not unanimous the Academic Committee will consult with the students Supervisor(s) and may:
- Seek to negotiate consensus, if the difference between recommended grades is two points or less.
- Accept the recommendation of the External Examiner, except in instances when the difference between recommended grades includes a failing grade.
- Recommend the appointment of an additional External Examiner to act as moderator.
12. RESUBMISSION
12.1
If a student’s thesis should receive a failing grade the student may, at the recommendation of the Examiners and the discretion of the Academic Committee, revise and resubmit the thesis. However, please note that theses may only be submitted for re-examination once.
12.2
Further a resubmitted thesis may only be awarded a C, D, or E Grade.
12.3
A resubmission fee will apply, see Fees Regulations for further information.
13. EXAMINATION APPEAL
13.1
A student may appeal against the first examination of their thesis and request a review of the examiner’s recommendations. Please note that this appeal must be submitted in writing to the Academic Registrar within one month of the date that the student received notification of their results.
13.2
The Academic Registrar will then refer the appeal to the Academic Committee normally within one month of its receipt. The Academic Committee will then establish a Special Review Committee, comprising of at least two members whom have previous experience in supervising and examining Theses and who have had no prior involvement with the lodging of the student’s appeal.
13.3
If the Special Review Committee determines that the student has appropriate grounds for the appeal, they may recommend either that the examiners be asked to review their decision or that new examiners be appointed.
For further information, see the Student Complaints & Appeals Policy and Procedure.
14. PRIVACY PROVISIONS FOR PSEUDONYMOUS STATUS
Where, for reasons of sensitivity, a student needs to have a level of anonymity in relation to the public dissemination of their Thesis or research essay, a formal application should be made in writing to the Academic Director for Pseudonymous Status prior to the submission of the Thesis or research essay; please refer to the Privacy and Records Policy for more information.
15. AWARD
The Master of Applied Theology may be awarded with a Merit where a GPA of B+ is achieved, or with Distinction where a GPA of A- or better is achieved.