1. Entry Requirements and Application Procedures

1.1

To be eligible to enter on a course of study and research for the Degree of Ph.D. in the Constituent Universities and the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, a candidate must have reached a high Honours Standard, at the Examination for the Primary Degree, or presented such other evidence as will satisfy the Professor, or, where appropriate, the Head of Department and the Faculty of his/her fitness.

1.2

The application of a graduate of this University or of another University or of a student of advanced standing, who proposes to enter on a course of study and research for the Degree of Ph.D., shall be considered by the Faculty of the Constituent University or of the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, on the reccommendation of the Head of the Department in which the course is to be pursued. Acceptance of students for the Degree of Ph.D. is a matter for each University acting within the terms of these regulations.

1.3

The candidate's application, if approved by the Faculty, shall be submitted to the Academic Council of the Constituent University or of the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, and, if reccommended by the Academic Council, shall be submitted to the General Board of Studies and the Senate. The title of the Thesis or a short description outlining the nature of the work must be provided to the University and NUI Bodies when the student is being reccommended for acceptance as a candidate for the Ph.D. Degree. If the student's application is approved by the Senate, he/she must register as a Ph.D. candidate in the relevant Univesity.

1.4

Candidates are reminded that the Senate is empowered to withdraw the acceptance of any candidate on the reccommendation of the Academic Council concerned.

2. Direction and Supervision of Research and Thesis

2.1

The Academic Council on the nomination of the Professor or, where appropriate, the Head of Department, and the reccommendation of the Faculty, will assign a member of staff to supervise the candidate's research. The name of the nominating Professor or, where appropriate, the Head of Department should be forwarded together with the name of the Supervisor when the candidate's name is submitted to the University and NUI bodies.

2.2

Unless permission is given to the candidate by the Academic Council, on the reccommendation of the Faculty, to work elsewhere under the general direction of the Supervisor, the Research for the Degree will be carried out in the Department mainly responsible for the subject-area concerned but, where the research is inter-disciplinary in nature, there shall be due co-operation between the main Department and the other Department(s) involved. The Academic Council may arrange for joint-supervision of the Thesis. In the case of joint-supervision, one of the Supervisors need not be a member of staff of the University.

2.3

The candidate shall pursue research for a period of nine terms and also shall follow such a programme of study in the University as may be prescribed by the Academic Council on the advice of the Supervisor and the reccommendation of the Faculty, unless the Senate, on the reccommendation of the Academic Council, may accept a period of six instead of nine terms in the case of any such candidate whose attainments, in the Senates opinion, justify it.

2.4

The Candidate's research must be carried out and the Thesis for the Degree must be prepared under the direction of the Supervisor. The Supervisor should access the progress of the candidate and if he/she arrives at the view that the candidate is unlikely to achieve the Degree for which he/she is registered, this should be notified to the Professor, or, where appropriate, the Head of Department, who should communicate with the candidate without delay.

A candidate shall not submit his/her Ph.D. Thesis to the NUI until the final draft of the Thesis has been approved for examination by the Supervisor, and such approval has been notified, on the prescribed form, by the Supervisor to (a) the nominating Professor, or, where appropriate, the Head of Department, and (b) the Registrar of the National University of Ireland. Where a candidate considers that such approval has been witheld unreasonably, he/she may appeal to the President of the University.

2.5

Candidates are allowed six year in which to complete the Degree from the date of acceptance. If candidates do not complete the Degree within six years from the date of acceptance they must re-apply to the Faculty, presenting justification for the extension.