General Regulations – Masters Degrees

The following regulations apply to all Masters degrees published in this Calendar unless otherwise stated. As far as possible they are to be read in conjunction with the specific degree regulations for each Masters degree.

Notes:

(i) a Masters is a Research Masters if it includes a thesis or research portfolio of at least 90 points, otherwise it is a Taught Masters

(ii) a research essay or research project will normally be worth no more than 45 points

(iii) a dissertation will be worth at least 40 points and less than 90 points

(iv) a research portfolio or thesis will normally be worth 90 or 120 points

(v) for the purposes of these regulations only, full-time enrolment is 50 points or more in one semester or 25 points or more in one quarter, otherwise the semester or quarter enrolment (and any Summer School enrolment) is part-time.

General Requirements

1 A student enrolled for a Masters degree at this University must pass the full points value specified in the degree regulations. The total enrolment may not exceed the minimum points requirement for the degree by more than 40 points.

Duration of Enrolment

2 a The requirements for a Masters degree must be completed in accordance with the following time limits and the thesis or research portfolio due dates in Regulation 2e.

(i) The date of initial enrolment is deemed to be:

(a) the start date of the enrolment in the thesis or research portfolio where the programme commences with a thesis or research portfolio enrolment

or

(b) the first term in which a student enrolled for a course which is assigned or reassigned to the programme.

(ii) One period of Summer School enrolment counts towards the time limit as one semester of part-time enrolment, but is not counted if a thesis or research portfolio enrolment has already commenced.

(iii) Where a student’s enrolment is partially full-time and partially part-time, the part-time time limit applies, provided that:

(a) one semester of full-time enrolment counts as two semesters of part-time enrolment

(b) one quarter of full-time enrolment counts as two quarters of part-time enrolment.

(iv) Where a student’s enrolment is entirely full-time, it must be in consecutive semesters or quarters.

(v) Where a student’s enrolment is at least partially part-time, up to a maximum of four semesters or four quarters of non-enrolment may occur provided that:

(a) One semester of non-enrolment counts towards the time limit as one semester of part-time enrolment.

(b) One quarter of non-enrolment counts towards the time limit as one quarter of part-time enrolment.

(c) Any semesters or quarters of non-enrolment occur prior to commencement of a thesis or research portfolio enrolment.

b Enrolment in a Research Masters degree must conclude with the submission of the thesis or research portfolio.

c Enrolment in the thesis or research portfolio must commence on either 1 December, 1 March or 15 July and continue until the submission of the thesis or research portfolio.

d A student must enrol in thesis or research portfolio points in no fewer than two and no more than four consecutive semesters until the thesis or research portfolio points requirement is satisfied and subject to the time limits in Regulation 2a.

Notes:

1 The final semester of enrolment depends on the start date of the thesis or research portfolio and the number of semesters (either two, three or four) in which a student is enrolled in thesis or research portfolio points before they satisfy the thesis or research portfolio points requirement.

2 These due dates provide 12 months of continuous enrolment in the thesis or research portfolio for students completing their thesis or research portfolio points enrolment in two consecutive semesters, and 18 or 24 months of continuous enrolment for other students (by enrolment in thesis or research portfolio points in three or four consecutive semesters respectively).

3 This due date occurs within the final semester of enrolment.

4 This due date is in the same year as the final semester of enrolment

5 This due date is in the year following the final semester of enrolment.

f A student enrolled in a 240 point Research Masters must complete at least 105 points of coursework prior to enrolment in the thesis or research portfolio.

g A student enrolled in a 300 point Research Masters must complete at least 180 points of coursework prior to enrolment in the thesis or research portfolio.

h A student enrolled in a 360 point Research Masters must complete at least 240 points of coursework prior to enrolment in the thesis or research portfolio.

Completion of Requirements

3 a A student enrolled in a thesis or research portfolio must complete at least one progress review during their research. Failure to complete a progress review by the required due date may result in enrolment in the thesis or research portfolio being suspended.

b Thesis or Research Portfolio Extension of Time

(i) If, in exceptional circumstances beyond the student’s control, a thesis or research portfolio has not been able to be completed by the due date specified in Regulation 2, 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 eight months in total (including any extension approved by the Supervisor), for the work to be completed. 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 eight 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 a limited extension of time of up to eight months or more than eight months. The decision of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) will be final.

(v) 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 the thesis or research portfolio has ended.

(vi) In extraordinary circumstances the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) may approve extensions of time beyond those permitted in 3b(i) for an individual or nominated group of students and may waive part or all of any tuition fees for extension courses related to theses or research portfolios for these students.

c Dissertation/Research Essay/Research Project

(i) The specified date for submission of a dissertation, research essay or research project that is included in a masters degree is the last day of the final term of enrolment in the dissertation, research essay or research project. If, in exceptional circumstances beyond the student’s control, the dissertation, research essay or research project has not been able to be completed by the last day of the final term of enrolment in the dissertation, research essay or research project, 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), for the work to be completed. 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 a limited extension of time of up to two months or more than two months. The decision of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) will be final.

(v) 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 the dissertation, research essay or research project has ended.

(vi) In extraordinary circumstances the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) may approve extensions of time beyond those permitted in 3c(i) 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 essays or research projects for these students.

d  Other courses

Extensions of time to complete work in courses other than a dissertation, research essay, research portfolio, research project, or thesis will not be granted beyond the end of the semester(s) or quarter(s) of enrolment in the course.

e  Failed courses

A student who has failed a course or courses totalling no more than 40 points may be approved by the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research to enrol for no more than one further consecutive semester or quarter beyond the duration of enrolment for completion specified in Regulation 2 in order to complete the degree.

Honours

4 a Where the specific degree regulations include a provision for Honours, a Masters degree may be awarded with Honours where a student’s overall grade is sufficiently high and where the student has passed a research component of at least 30 points, comprising a single identifiable course.

b There are two classes of Honours: First Class Honours and Second Class Honours. Second Class Honours are awarded in either First Division or Second Division.

c First Class Honours may be awarded where a student has achieved an overall Grade Point Average of 7.0 or higher. Second Class Honours First Division may be awarded where a student has achieved an overall Grade Point Average between and including 5.50 and 6.94. Second Class Honours Second Division may be awarded where a student has achieved an overall Grade Point Average between and including 4.0 and 5.4. The overall Grade Point Average will be rounded to one decimal place for the purpose of this Honours calculation.

d For the purposes of the calculation of the award of Honours only courses completed at the University of Auckland will be included. Fail grades and Did Not Sit and Did Not Complete grades will count as zero.

e Where the requirements for a Masters degree including a research component of at least 30 points have been completed with an extension granted in accordance with Regulation 3, a student’s eligibility for honours will be retained.

Distinction or Merit

5 a Where the specific degree regulations include a provision for Distinction or Merit, and Honours has not been awarded, the Masters degree may be awarded with Distinction or Merit where a student’s 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 between and including 5.50 and 6.94. The overall Grade Point Average will be rounded to one decimal place for the purpose of this Honours calculation.

c For the purposes of the calculation of the award of Distinction or Merit only courses completed at the University of Auckland will be included. Did Not Sit and Did Not Complete grades will count as zero.

Theses

6 a The student is to submit a digital copy of their thesis to the relevant faculty in accordance with Regulations 2 and 3.

b The digital thesis shall be formatted as specified in the Guidelines for Formatting a Digital Thesis at the University of Auckland.

c The Associate Dean Postgraduate Research (or nominee) of the faculty is responsible for transmitting copies of the thesis to the examiners.

d Where the outcome of the examination is to award a thesis a passing grade:

(i) Within one month of being advised of the outcome of the examination, the student must complete any minor corrections required to the satisfaction of the supervisor and deposit a digital copy of the thesis in ResearchSpace in the University Library. The relevant faculty will confirm that the thesis has been deposited in ResearchSpace.

(ii) The thesis will be accessible through the University’s digital repository unless embargoed under Regulation 25 of the Examination Regulations.

e Where the outcome of the examination is to award a thesis a fail grade the thesis will not be held in the University’s digital repository.

Research Portfolios

7 a The student is to submit a digital copy of their research portfolio to the relevant faculty in accordance with Regulations 2 and 3.

b The Associate Dean Postgraduate Research (or nominee) of the faculty is responsible for transmitting copies to the examiners.

c Copies of research portfolios are not deposited in the University’s digital repository.

Dissertations/Research Essays/Research Projects

8 a The student is to submit a digital copy of their dissertation, research essay or research projects to the supervisor or department in accordance with Regulations 2 and 3.

b The relevant academic unit is responsible for transmitting copies to the examiners.

c Copies of dissertations, research essays and research projects are not deposited with the University’s digital repository.

Substitutions and Failed Courses

9 Masters students may not change their enrolment in a course after the last date approved for Changes to Current Enrolment except as outlined in the Enrolment and Programme Regulations.

10 A Masters student may not normally re-enrol in a failed course except as provided for in the regulations relating to aegrotat and compassionate passes. In exceptional circumstances, the student may apply to the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research, on the recommendation of the Programme Director, for permission to re-enrol in the course.

Suspension

11 a (i) In exceptional circumstances the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research, on the recommendation of the Programme Director, may grant a period of suspension from enrolment not normally exceeding one year for enrolment in a thesis or research portfolio or two consecutive semesters, or four quarters, for enrolment in other courses. In such cases the period of suspension will not count towards the time limits for the degree.

(ii) If a suspension 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.

b In exceptional circumstances the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) may approve a period of suspension of enrolment exceeding two consecutive terms on the recommendation of the Associate Dean Postgraduate Research. In such cases the period of suspension will not count towards the time limits for the degree. The decision of the Pro-Vice Chancellor will be final.

c If a suspension application is received from a student after an extension application for the same research component has been approved, or for a term prior to the current term of enrolment, the application must be forwarded to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) for a decision. If approved the period of suspension will not count towards the time limits for the degree. The decision of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) will be final.

Transfer Credits, Cross-credits and Reassignments

12 a Transfer credits

(i) Transfer credits may be awarded for a Taught Masters degree or the taught component of a Research Masters degree with a total points value of more than 120 points as specified in the Credit Regulations.

(ii) Except as provided for in the Credit Regulations, transfer credits may not be awarded for a Research Masters degree.

b Cross-credits

Courses may not be cross-credited into or from a Masters degree.

c Reassignments

(i) With the approval of the Programme Director, courses may be reassigned as specified in the Credit Regulations.

(ii) If enrolment in the Masters degree is not being discontinued, approval to reassign must not be given if the courses proposed to be reassigned meet the requirements for the Masters degree and the reassignment will result in an increase in the grade point average for the Masters degree. 

Certificate of Proficiency

13 a The Certificate of Proficiency regulations under ‘Other Programmes’ apply.

b A course passed for a Certificate of Proficiency may be reassigned to a Taught Masters degree, or the taught component of a Research Masters degree with a total points value of more than 120 points as specified in the Credit Regulations.

c A course passed for a Certificate of Proficiency may not be reassigned to a Research Masters degree except as specified in 13b above.

Transitional Certificate

14 The Transitional Certificate regulations under ‘Other Programmes’ apply. A Transitional Certificate course may not be reassigned to a Masters degree.

Appeal of Thesis, Research Portfolio, Dissertation, Research Essay or Research Essay examination outcome

15 a A student may appeal the outcome of a thesis, research portfolio, 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.

Delegation of decision-making

16 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

17 In exceptional circumstances the Provost may approve a variation to the General Regulations – Masters Degrees.