General Regulations – Postgraduate Diplomas
The following regulations take precedence over the specific regulations for each Postgraduate Diploma published in this Calendar. As far as possible they are to be read in conjunction with the specific regulations for each Postgraduate Diploma.
Note: For the purposes of these regulations:
(i) a Postgraduate Diploma is worth a total of 120 points
(ii) a research essay or research project will normally be worth up to 45 points
(iii) a dissertation will be worth at least 40 points and less than 90 points
(iv) the ‘academic unit’ is the Department or School or other academic unit in which the student is enrolled.
General Requirements
1 A student enrolled for a Postgraduate Diploma at this University must pass the full points value specified in the Postgraduate Diploma regulations. The total enrolment may not exceed the minimum points requirement for the Postgraduate Diploma by more than:
a 40 points
or
b 20 points in the case of a student with credit granted from a Postgraduate Certificate.
Duration of Enrolment
2 a The requirements for a Postgraduate Diploma must be completed within:
(i) two semesters or four quarters of admission, or the equivalent time period if enrolled in other terms, if enrolled full-time
or
(ii) four years of initial enrolment for the Postgraduate Diploma if enrolled part-time.
b In the case of a student who has completed a Postgraduate Certificate for which credit is granted to a Postgraduate Diploma the requirements must be completed within:
(i) one semester or two quarters of admission, or the equivalent time period if enrolled in other terms, if enrolled full-time
or
(ii) two years of admission if enrolled part-time.
c In all cases, the term of initial enrolment is deemed to be the first term in which the student enrolled for a course which is assigned or reassigned to the programme.
d In exceptional circumstances the Associate Dean Academic, on the recommendation of the Programme Director, may increase the duration allowed for enrolment for a period not exceeding two consecutive semesters or four quarters, or the equivalent time period.
e If an application to increase the allowed duration is declined by the Associate Dean Academic, the student may make an application for a review of that decision. An application for review must be made in writing to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) within one month of the decline being officially communicated to the student. The application must clearly set out the grounds for the review, and all relevant documents relied upon must be submitted with the application for review. The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education)’s decision will be final.
f In exceptional circumstances the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) may approve an increase to the allowed duration for enrolment of more than two consecutive semesters or four quarters, or the equivalent time period, on the recommendation of the Associate Dean Academic. The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education)’s decision will be final.
Completion of Requirements
3 a A student enrolled for a Postgraduate Diploma must complete all work in taught courses by the last day of the term in which the course is taught.
b The specified date for submission of a dissertation, research essay or research project of 30 points or more that is included in a Postgraduate Diploma is the last day of the final term of enrolment in the dissertation, research essay or research project.
c (i) If, in exceptional circumstances beyond the student’s control, a dissertation, research project or research essay has not been able to be completed by the due date specified in Regulation 3b, on consideration of an application from the student and appropriate supporting evidence, the Supervisor may approve a limited extension of time, not exceeding one month in total, and the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research may approve a limited extension of time, not exceeding two months in total (including any extension approved by the Supervisor). The Supervisor may not decline an application for an extension but may refer it to the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research with a recommendation that it be declined.
(ii) If an extension application is declined by the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research, the student may make an application for a review of that decision. An application for review must be made in writing to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) within one month of the decline being officially communicated to the student. The application must clearly set out the grounds for the review, and all relevant documents relied upon must be submitted with the application for review. The decision of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) will be final.
(iii) If an application is received for an extension of beyond two months, or the application is received more than two weeks after the deadline for submission of the research component to which it applies, then the application must be forwarded, with a recommendation from the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research, to the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) for a decision.
(iv) The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) may approve an extension of time of up to two months or more than two months. The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education)’s decision will be final.
d A student who has failed a course or courses of no more than 40 points may be approved by the Associate Dean Academic to enrol for no more than one further consecutive semester or two quarters beyond the duration of enrolment specified in Regulation 2 in order to complete the Postgraduate Diploma.
e Fine Arts Studio
A student enrolled for the Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts must complete their individual programme not later than 1 November in the year in which the work is undertaken or by such other date as may be approved by the Head of School of Fine Arts.
Tuition Fees for Extensions of Time
4 a If an extension is approved, a student will be enrolled in an extension course and pay tuition fees at the rate of 5 points for each one-month period or part thereof. This will only apply when the student’s current enrolment period in a dissertation or research project course has ended.
b In extraordinary circumstances, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) may approve extensions of time beyond those permitted in 3c for an individual or nominated group of students and may waive part or all of any tuition fees for extension courses related to dissertations, research projects or research essays for these students.
Distinction or Merit
5 a Where the specific Postgraduate Diploma regulations include a provision for Distinction or Merit, a Postgraduate Diploma may be awarded with Distinction or Merit where a student’s overall grade is sufficiently high.
b Distinction may be awarded where a student has achieved an overall grade point average of 7.0 or higher. Merit may be awarded where a student has achieved an overall grade point average of between and including 5.50 and 6.99.
6 Only courses completed at the University of Auckland will be included in the calculation of Distinction or Merit. Fail grades and Did Not Sit and Did Not Complete grades will count as zero.
7 In the case of a student who has completed a postgraduate certificate for which credit is granted to a postgraduate diploma, calculation of the award of Distinction or Merit will not include any grades awarded for courses completed at another institution and credited to the postgraduate diploma.
Dissertations/Research Essays/Research Projects
8 a Dissertations, research essays and research projects are to be submitted to the academic unit in accordance with Regulation 3b.
b The academic unit is responsible for transmitting the submitted dissertation, research essay or research project to the examiner(s).
c Copies of dissertations, research essays and research projects are not deposited with the University’s digital repository.
Appeal of Dissertation, Research Essay or Research Essay examination outcome
9 a A student may appeal the outcome of a dissertation, research essay or research project examination only on the grounds that the result was materially impacted by a procedural flaw in the examination process.
b Any application for appeal must be lodged within three months of the result of the examination being officially communicated to the student.
c Appeals will be considered in accordance with the Examination of Sub-Doctoral Postgraduate Research Components of 30 Points and Above Procedures.
Transfer Credits, Cross-credits and Reassignments
10 a Transfer credits
Transfer credits may be awarded for a Postgraduate Diploma as specified in the Credit Regulations.
b Cross-credits
Courses may not be cross-credited into or from a Postgraduate Diploma.
c Credit from a Postgraduate Certificate
In the case of a student who has completed a Postgraduate Certificate for which credit is granted to a Postgraduate Diploma, admission to the Postgraduate Diploma must take place within five years of completion of the Postgraduate Certificate.
d Reassignments
With the approval of the Programme Director, courses may be reassigned as specified in the Credit Regulations.
Certificate of Proficiency
11 a The Certificate of Proficiency regulations under ‘Other Programmes’ apply.
b A Certificate of Proficiency course may be reassigned to a Postgraduate Diploma as specified in the Credit Regulations.
Transitional Certificate
12 The Transitional Certificate regulations under ‘Other Programmes’ apply. A Transitional Certificate course may not be reassigned to a Postgraduate Diploma.
Delegation of decision-making
13 a The decision makers named in these regulations may delegate their decision-making power under these regulations to another nominated role. This delegation must be in writing.
b Where decision-making authority is delegated:
(i) The delegated authority can be exercised in the same way and to the same effect as if the original listed decision maker performed or exercised it .
(ii) The decision maker that made the original delegation remains responsible for the performance or exercise of the authority.
Variations
14 In exceptional circumstances the Provost may approve a variation to the General Regulations – Postgraduate Diplomas.