ZNDU POSTGRADUATE BY RESEARCH DEGREES REGULATIONS DRAFTING

FRAMEWORK

Professor S Mukwembi (1-3)

1. PURPOSE
These regulations provide guidelines for admission, study and awarding of postgraduate engineering
degrees by research by the Zimbabwe National Defence University.
2. APPLICATION OF THESE REGULATIONS
2.1 These regulations are promulgated in accordance with the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education Act
(Chapter 25:27 of 2006) and the Zimbabwe National Defence University Charter (Proclamation 2 of 2017)
and read in conjunction with the Academic Regulations of the Zimbabwe National Defence University.
2.2 These regulations apply to all students registered for a postgraduate engineering degree by research at
the Zimbabwe National Defence University.
2.3 The Senate shall be the final authority for the interpretation, alteration, or exemption of these
regulations.
3. DEFINITION OF TERMS
To be dealt with after all the other sections are covered.
In these regulations, the following shall be used as described:
(I will define terms used in the regulations once the document is put together.)

Gp Capt (Dr) Manyere (4,5 and 17 see below)

4. PROGRAMMES OFFERED

The Zimbabwe National Defence University Faculty of Engineering offers the following postgraduate
degrees by research at master of philosophy and doctor of philosophy levels in the following areas:

(i). Aerospace Engineering

(ii). Electrical and Electronic Engineering

(iii). Mechanical Engineering

(iv). Software Engineering

(v). Biomedical Engineering

(vi). Computer Science

(vii). Aviation Sciences

The degrees may include an element of coursework recommended by the Department and the Faculty
Higher Degrees Committee as determined by Senate.
5. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

a. MPhil Programme

A good honours degree (class 2.1 or better) or equivalent in relevant engineering subject. For a lower-
second and third-degree classes, demonstrated innovation, substantial relevant work experience such
as at least two years will also be considered. Please note that each application is assessed on an
individual basis and may be subject to additional requirements, such as undertaking short course(s),
and work experience. Meeting particular minimum entry requirements does not automatically
guarantee a place.

b. Doctor of Philosophy Programme

The standard academic entry requirements for a DPhil level degree programme is a Lower Second or
better honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline (first
degree) with an additional pass in a relevant Masters degree (or international equivalent).

An applicant must have obtained an appropriate undergraduate degree and an appropriate Masters
degree.

Dr T Marisa (6)
6. STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMES

STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMES :

PERIOD OF STUDY

Programme Registration Full-time Study Part-time Study

Dates Period Period
Master of First day of every Full-time: 30 Full-time: 60
Philosophy Semester months months
(MPhil-T)
Doctor of First day of every Full-time: 42 Full-time: 84
Philosophy Semester months months
(PhD-T)
Master of First day of every Full-time: 24 Full-time: 48
Philosophy Semester months months
(MPhil-R)
Doctor of First day of every Full-time: 36 Full-time: 72
Philosophy Semester months months
(PhD-R)
Common Structures For Master of Philosophy Degrees

The Masters Thesis

The topic of the masters thesis must have its focus in the supervisor's/ co-supervisor's area of
expertise and may be interdisciplinary. The thesis supervisor may appoint one or more additional
supervisor's for the masters candidate, as required. At the supervisor's request the department
board appoints an external examiner.

The appointment must take place no later than two years following the date of provisional
admission.

Masters students submit a written annual report on the progress of their work to the supervisor,
either at the latter’s request or of their own accord. The supervisor provides immediate written
feedback. As a rule, the masters thesis project must be carried out at ZNDU or at another
institution as approved by the supervisor. It may be conducted outside the ZNDU if the thesis
topic requires it and the necessary prerequisites allow it; this is subject to the department’s
approval.

The supervisor may authorize brief research visits outside the ZNDU. The supervisor must have
access to experiment documents and to the facilities used.

Disagreements

In cases of serious disagreement between the supervisor and the masters candidate, the head of the
department concerned or his/her designated representative will attempt to settle the dispute
amicably.

If necessary, the Dean will act as mediator.

If mediation fails and the supervisor wishes to renounce his/her role, the Dean will, at the masters
candidate's request, refer the matter to the Arbitration Committee.
Should no agreement be reached, the Dean will make the final decision.

Members of the Arbitration Committee

The Arbitration Committee for masters studies comprises the following persons:
a. The Faculty Dean (Chair)
b. The Head of the respective department or, as his/her representative, the respective coordinator
of
masters studies
c. A representative of the masters students/staff association.

No persons involved in the thesis project may serve on the Arbitration Committee.
Arbitration Committee procedure

The Arbitration Committee hears both parties and submits a conciliatory proposal if indicated.

If no conciliatory proposal is submitted or if such a proposal is rejected by one party, the

Arbitration
Committee concludes the procedure and forwards its recommendations to the Vice Chancellor.

Resignation and absence from duty of the supervisor

If the supervisor of the masters thesis fails to respect the outcome of the procedure specified,
herein
and without sufficient grounds resigns his/her supervisory role or is absent from duty, the
department will make every possible effort to ensure that the masters thesis project may proceed.

If the department is unsuccessful, the masters candidate is given a maximum of six months to find
a
new supervisor him/herself.

Language

The masters thesis may be written in English. A mixture of languages is not permitted.

On the masters candidate’s written and substantiated request the Dean may authorise an exception.

masters studies

M.Phil by Research
Requirements

A masters topic proposal presentation seminar must take place within 6 months of provisional
admission at the latest. At the department’s request the Dean may grant an extension in
exceptional cases.

No specific number of semester credit hours of coursework has been established for the masters
program by research, although advanced coursework is an essential part of a masters candidate's
preparation.

Master Program procedure

Activity Weight Requirements

Topic Registration 0% A least 3 months from initial
registration
Proposal Seminar 5% A least 6 months from initial
 registration
Mid-Term Evaluation 15% A least 12 months from initial
registration
Oral and Prototype Presenation 40% After getting at least 50% thesis
report work
Thesis work 40% After having attained 3 journal
publications or met
requirements as set by the
supervisor. Marked by
external examiner.

The “mid-term evaluation” takes place within the second year of study. It comprises a 30-minute
public presentation of the research work carried out up to that point. The subsequent discussion is
led by the mentor and consists of a public and non-public component, which together last no more
than 45 minutes.

Examination committee

The examination committee comprises the following persons:

a. a chairperson
b. the thesis supervisor as examiner
c. the co-supervisor as co-examiner
d. another independent expert as the external examiner.

The Dean is the chairperson.

At least one of the co-examiners must be a professor if the supervisor is not.

Masters Thesis Defence

Following approval of assessments and marks, the department board makes a decision regarding
acceptance of the thesis and admission to the thesis defence.

If the dissertation is rejected by the department board, the masters

candidate may revise the dissertation once and resubmit it within three months.

The prerequisites for admission to the thesis defence are:

a) Submission of the dissertation and award of a pass mark by the external examiner,
b) Submission of the fully completed application form,
c) Assessment in support form the thesis supervisor and an independent assessment in support
from the external co-supervisor,
e) Proof that the fees for the Masters programme have been paid.
The masters examination/defence consists of an oral examination of at least one hour which
covers the
discipline or the field of the thesis. The masters examination/defence is conducted by the
examination committee.

The Department board determines how far the examination will be open to the public.

The masters examination must take place within four years of provisional admission at the latest.
At the department’s request the Vice Chancellor may grant an extension in exceptional cases.

Masters thesis assessment and oral examination

The examiner and every co-examiner each prepares a written report on the masters thesis and
submits it to the department before the examination.

The examiners assess both the masters thesis and the oral examination as passed or
failed, and submits a report to the respective Department board.

Confidentiality of external examiners report

The external examiner’s reports are confidential.

Authorised to view the eternal examiner’s reports are:

a. members of the examination committee
b. members of further bodies tasked with assessing the masters thesis

Masters students have no right to view the expert’s reports pertaining to their own masters theses.

Retakes/Repeats

Masters students who fail the masters examination may retake it once within ninety days,
(resubmit in 90 days).

If the masters thesis receives a fail grade it may be revised once. The examination committee
determines the deadline for the revision and informs the masters student in writing on further
steps.

Awarding of the masters degree

On the basis of the examination committee’s report, the Department board of the department in
which the masters student is enrolled recommends whether to award or withhold the masters
degree.

Master in Philosophy with Taught Component

Requirements
Before proceeding to dissertation/thesis the masters candidates must acquire at least 30 credits (at
least one semesters of post graduate level courses).

Activity Weight Requirements

Semester 1 - Courses
Semester 2 – Semester 6 –
Research work according to
guidelines of M.Phil by
research
20% Pass all courses prescribed
80% A student can proceed to
dissertation carrying no more
than 2 courses.

The thesis supervisor shall decide the courses to be taken by the student. The courses must be
carried out at ZNDU or at another institution as approved by the supervisor

Active participation in ZNDU seminars and working groups may be recognised in the form of
credits.
No credits are allocated for examinations undertaken for admission to masters studies.

STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMES :

PERIOD OF STUDY

Programme Registration Full-time Study Part-time Study

Dates Period Period
Master of First day of every Full-time: 30 Full-time: 60
Philosophy Semester months months
(MPhil-T)
Doctor of First day of every Full-time: 42 Full-time: 84
Philosophy Semester months months
(PhD-T)
Master of First day of every Full-time: 24 Full-time: 48
Philosophy Semester months months
(MPhil-R)
Doctor of First day of every Full-time: 36 Full-time: 72
Philosophy Semester months months
(PhD-R)
Common Structures For Doctor of Philosophy Degrees

Doctoral committee
Each department establishes a doctoral committee for each candidate, composed of at least three
doctoral degree holders.

The doctoral committee is elected by the Department board for the duration of a candidate’s
studies.
The composition of the doctoral committee must be made up of the Mentor/Chair, the supervisor and
the co-supervisor/s .

The doctoral committee assures that the doctoral candidate actively participates in lab meetings and
ZNDU journal clubs and has the opportunity to present the research work at specialist conferences.

The Doctoral thesis

The topic of the doctoral thesis must have its focus in the supervisor's/ co-supervisor's area of
expertise and may be interdisciplinary. The thesis supervisor may appoint one or more additional
mentors/supervisor's for the doctoral candidate, as required. At the supervisor's request the
department board appoints an independent external examiner.

The appointment must take place no later than three years following the date of
provisional admission. In the course of doctoral studies the doctoral committee may designate
further external examiners, either of its own volition or at the request of the supervisor.

Doctoral students submit a written annual report on the progress of their work to the supervisor,
either at the latter’s request or of their own accord. The supervisor provides immediate written
feedback. As a rule, the doctoral thesis project must be carried out at ZNDU or at another
institution as approved by the doctoral committee. It may be conducted outside the ZNDU if the
thesis topic requires it and the necessary prerequisites allow it; this is subject to the department’s
approval.

The supervisor may authorize brief research visits outside the ZNDU. The supervisor must have
access to experiment documents and to the facilities used.

Disagreements

In cases of serious disagreement between the supervisor and the doctoral candidate, the head of
the
department concerned or his/her designated representative will attempt to settle the dispute
amicably.

If necessary, the Dean will act as mediator.

If mediation fails and the supervisor wishes to renounce his/her role, the Dean
will, at the doctoral candidate's request, refer the matter to the Arbitration Committee.
Should no agreement be reached, the Dean will make the final decision.

Members of the Arbitration Committee

The Arbitration Committee for doctoral studies comprises the following persons:
a. The Faculty Dean (Chair)
b. The Head of the respective department or, as his/her representative, the respective coordinator
of
doctoral studies
c. A representative of the doctoral students/staff association.

No persons involved in the thesis project may serve on the Arbitration Committee.

Arbitration Committee procedure

The Arbitration Committee hears both parties and submits a conciliatory proposal if indicated.

If no conciliatory proposal is submitted or if such a proposal is rejected by one party, the

Arbitration
Committee concludes the procedure and forwards its recommendations to the Vice Chancellor.

Resignation and absence from duty of the supervisor

If the supervisor of the doctoral thesis fails to respect the outcome of the procedure specified,
herein
and without sufficient grounds resigns his/her supervisory role or is absent from duty, the
department will make every possible effort to ensure that the doctoral thesis project may proceed.

If the department is unsuccessful, the doctoral candidate is given a maximum of six months to find
a
new supervisor him/herself.

Language

The doctoral thesis may be written in English. A mixture of languages is not permitted.

On the doctoral candidate’s written and substantiated request the Dean may authorise an
exception.

Doctoral studies

D.Phil by Research

Requirements
A doctoral topic proposal presentation seminar must take place within one year of provisional
admission at the latest. At the department’s request the Vice Chancellor may grant an extension in
exceptional cases.

Before thesis submission the doctoral candidates must acquire at least 12 credits (at least three
Msc/PhD level courses). At least one third of these must be acquired outside the candidate’s
respective research field. Active participation in ZNDU seminars and working groups may be
recognised in the form of credits.

No specific number of semester credit hours of coursework has been established for the doctoral
program by research, although advanced coursework is an essential part of a doctoral candidate's
preparation. Individual doctoral committes may set minimum semester-credit-hour requirements
for the attainment of the degree.

Doctorate procedure

Activity Weight Requirements

Topic Registration 0% A least 6 months from initial
registration
Proposal Seminar 5% A least 12 months from initial
registration
Mid-Term Evaluation 15% A least 18 months from initial
registration
Oral and Prototype 40% After getting at least 50% thesis
Presentation report work
Thesis work 40% After having attained 3 journal
publications or met
requirements as set by the
 doctoral committee. Marked
by external examiner.

The “mid-term evaluation” takes place within the second year of study. It comprises a 45-minute
public presentation of the research work carried out up to that point. The subsequent discussion is
led by the mentor and consists of a public and non-public component, which together last no more
than 60 minutes.

Examination committee

The examination committee comprises the following persons:

a. a chairperson
b. the thesis supervisor as examiner
c. the co-supervisor as co-examiner
d. another independent expert as the external examiner.

The Dean is the chairperson.

At least one of the co-examiners must be a professor if the supervisor is not.

Doctoral thesis defence

Following approval of assessments and marks, the doctoral committee makes a decision
regarding acceptance of the thesis and admission to the thesis defence.

If the dissertation is rejected by the Expert Committee, the doctoral

candidate may revise the dissertation once and resubmit it within six months.

The prerequisites for admission to the thesis defence are:

a) Submission of the dissertation and acceptance of the dissertation by the
Expert Committee,
b) Submission of the fully completed application form,
c) Proof that the doctoral agreement has been satisfied,
d) Assessment in support form the thesis supervisor and an independent assessment in support
from the external co-referee,
e) Proof that the fees for the PhD programme have been paid.

The doctoral examination consists of an oral examination of at least one hour which covers the
discipline or the field of the thesis. The doctoral examination is conducted by the examination
committee.

The Department board determines how far the examination will be open to the public.

The doctoral examination must take place within six years of provisional admission at the latest.
At the department’s request the Vice Chancellor may grant an extension in exceptional cases.
Doctoral thesis assessment and oral examination

The examiner and every co-examiner prepare a written report on the doctoral thesis and submits
it to the department before the examination.

The examination committee assesses both the doctoral thesis and the oral examination as passed
or
failed, and submits a report to the respective Department board.

Confidentiality of external examiners report

The experts’ reports are confidential.

Authorised to view the eternal examiner’s reports are:

a. members of the examination committee
b. members of further bodies tasked with assessing the doctoral thesis

Doctoral students have no right to view the expert’s reports pertaining to their own doctoral
theses.

Retakes/Repeats

Doctoral students who fail the doctoral examination may retake it once within ninety days,
(resubmit in 90 days).

If the doctoral thesis receives a fail grade it may be revised once. The examination committee
determines the deadline for the revision and informs the doctoral student in writing on further
steps.

Awarding of the doctoral degree

On the basis of the examination committee’s report, the department board of the department in
which the doctoral student is enrolled recommends whether to award or withhold the doctoral
degree.

D.Phil with Taught Component

Requirements

Before proceeding to dissertation/thesis the doctoral candidates must acquire at least 60 credits (at
least two semesters of post graduate level courses).

Activity Weight Requirements

Semester 1 - Courses 10% Pass all courses prescribed
Semester 2 - Courses 10% Pass all courses prescribed
Semester 3 – Semester 8 – 80% A student can proceed to
Research work according to dissertation carrying no more
guidelines of DPhil by research than 2 courses.

The doctoral committee shall decide the courses to be taken by the student. The courses must be
carried out at ZNDU or at another institution as approved by the doctoral committee.

Active participation in ZNDU seminars and working groups may be recognised in the form of
credits.
No credits are allocated for examinations undertaken for admission to doctoral studies.

For taught courses where no performance assessments are offered, performance is monitored in
the form of a 30-minute presentation, in which the skills gained are reflected upon (with reference
to the student’s own research work). The examiners are the thesis supervisor and the mentor.

At least one performance assessment must be passed within the first year. All performance
assessments required to obtain ZNDU credits must be carried out within the first 18 months.

Dr (Engr) WR Nyemba (7, 8)

7. PRESENTATION OF THESIS FOR EXAMINATION
8. ASSESSMENT OF A CANDIDATE

7. PRESENTATION OF THESIS FOR EXAMINATION

7.1 Thesis
7.1.1 Upon completion of the study, a student must submit a thesis which must
comply with the following conditions:
7.1.1.1 The bulk of the work submitted and presented must have been done
by the student after registration for the degree.
7.1.1.2 The presentation of the thesis must be of an acceptably high standard.
7.1.1.3 An acceptable MPhil thesis must reasonably constitute an original
contribution to knowledge and must provide evidence that the
candidate has mastered relevant research techniques, has shown
scholarship, has developed a capacity for criticism of his/her own and
other work, and has widened his/her knowledge and understanding of
literature of his/her field of study.
 7.1.1.4 The length of the thesis will normally be established in consultation
with the Supervisor and the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee.
7.1.1.5 The thesis must be written in English, except in the case of students in
a particular language discipline taught at the University, where such
students may apply for permission to write a thesis in the medium of
the particular language studied. In all cases where this procedure is
followed, it shall be a requirement that the candidates give a summary
of the thesis in English. Such summary must be between 300 and 500
words in length. In each case, a pre-requisite will be that a suitable
External Examiner in that language can be found.
7.1.1.6 The literary form of the thesis must be satisfactory.
7.1.1.7 The thesis must consist of the candidate’s own account of his/her
research.
7.1.1.8 The thesis may describe work done in conjunction with the candidate’s
Supervisor(s), including materials obtained or produced with the
candidate’s Supervisor(s), and materials obtained or produced with
technical or other assistance provided that the candidate states clearly
his/her personal share in the investigation and specifically
acknowledges all such assistance. This statement is to be certified by
his/her Supervisor and bound as part of the preface of the thesis. Work
done jointly with persons other than the candidate’s Supervisor(s) may
be accepted as a thesis, or part of a thesis, in certain circumstances,
provided the candidate’s share is clearly specified.
7.1.1.9 Work already published including that published in joint names may
be included only if it forms an integral part of the thesis and it must be
declared at the beginning by properly citing the work. A series of
publications alone is not acceptable as a thesis.
7.1.1.10An abstract of the thesis, in single-line spacing form, not exceeding
500 words, is to be incorporated as the preface to the thesis.
7.1.2 A student will not be permitted to submit as his/her thesis, a thesis which has
been submitted to another university. However, a candidate shall not be
precluded from incorporating work which he/she has already submitted for a
degree in this or any other university, provided that he/she shall indicate on
his/her Declaration Form and also in his/her thesis, any work which has been
so incorporated.
7.1.3 The format of the thesis to be submitted for examination shall be as follows:
7.1.3.1 Body of thesis: to be printed in double-line spacing.
7.1.3.2 Size of paper: International A4 (210mm x 297mm).
7.1.3.3 Margins: 40mm on the left-hand of the page (to allow for binding);
10mm on the right-hand side; 20mm at the top and bottom of the page.
7.1.3.4 Maps: no restriction placed on the drawing of maps.
7.1.3.5 Times New Roman 12-point font must be used
 7.1.3.6 Citations and referencing must conform to the Harvard Style of
Referencing
7.1.4 A student may submit as subsidiary matter in support of his/her candidature,
any publications or contributions to the advancement of his/her subject which
he/she may have published independently or conjointly. In the event of a
candidate submitting such subsidiary matter he/she will be required to state
fully his/her own share in any conjoint work. Where there is a substantial
computing content in the thesis, a machine-readable copy of the source
program shall be submitted together with the copies of the thesis.
7.2 Entry to Examination and Submission of Thesis
7.2.1 A student must apply for entry to the examination on the Notification of
Submission of Thesis Form obtainable from the Faculty Office.
7.2.2 The form, which must be endorsed by the Supervisor(s), the Chairperson of
Department and Dean of the Faculty, must be submitted to the Department and
Postgraduate Centre 3 months prior to submission of the final thesis.
7.2.3 The Chairperson of the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee shall satisfy
him/herself that where items of coursework have been set, the candidate has
satisfactorily completed these items.
7.2.4 The prescribed examination fee shall be paid before submission of an
electronic copy of the thesis in portable document format for marking.
7.2.5 A student must submit evidence of at least one refereed or peer-reviewed
publication from his/her MPhil research, or at least two refereed or peer-
reviewed publications from his/her Doctoral research, to the Postgraduate
Centre.
7.2.6 Departmental Boards shall administer anti-plagiarism screening to all
submitted theses using an anti-plagiarism software approved by Senate.
Normally, only theses exhibiting no significant evidence of plagiarism shall be
marked.
7.2.7 The Department shall submit a duly completed Appointment of Examiners for
Higher Degrees by Research form, together with the curricula vitae of
recommended examiners to the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee for onward
transmission to the Postgraduate Centre.
7.2.8 Upon approval of recommended examiners by Senate, the Departmental Board
shall submit an electronic copy of the thesis in portable document format with
a suitable cover, in the format prescribed in Regulation 7.1.3, together with the
Declaration Form and the anti-plagiarism report to the Postgraduate Centre.
8. ASSESSMENT OF A CANDIDATE
8.1 A candidate will be assessed principally on the merits of his/her thesis but, where
elements of coursework have been prescribed, he/she must also satisfy the examiners
that this has been satisfactorily completed.
8.2 Exclusion from such formal examination shall require the authority of Senate.
 8.3 Upon receipt of the Notification of Submission of Thesis Form, the Departmental
Board shall recommend to Senate through the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee, the
appointment of Examiners, at least two being External Examiners and one being a
member of staff of the University who is a specialist in the field of study concerned,
for the DPhil thesis; and one External Examiner and two Internal Examiners, for the
MPhil thesis.
8.4 A member of staff who has been appointed as Supervisor for the thesis may not be
appointed as one of these Examiners.
8.5 The Examiners shall assess the thesis in detail and shall each submit a written report
with their comments and recommendations to the Postgraduate Centre.
8.6 A copy of detailed guidelines for the examination of theses, together with the General
Academic Regulations for MPhil and DPhil degrees, shall be made available to both
internal and external examiners.
8.7 On receipt of the reports of the Examiners, the Dean of the Faculty concerned shall
refer these reports to the Board of Examiners.

Wg Cdr P Mahere (9, 10)

9. PROCESSING OF EXAMINATION RESULTS
10. DETERMINATION OF THE RESULTS

8. PROCESSING OF EXAMINATION RESULTS

8.1 The Board of Examiners
8.1.1 The Board of Examiners for an MPhil/DPhil degree shall be constituted as follows:
8.1.1.1 The Dean (Presiding) Deputy Dean of the Faculty (Presiding in the absence of the
Dean)
8.1.1.2 The Chairperson of the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee (if different from the
Dean or Deputy Dean)
8.1.1.3 The Chairperson of the Department concerned.
8.1.1.4 The Internal and External Examiners appointed in terms of Regulation 7.3.
8.1.1.5 Where appropriate, as determined by the Dean after consultation with the
Chairperson of the Department concerned, other suitably qualified members of the
academic staff may also be assigned as members of the Board of Examiners.
8.1.1.6 The Director/Deputy Director of the Postgraduate Centre shall be entitled to
attend the Board of Examiners meetings in an ex-officio capacity.
8.1.2 Normally, the External Examiner(s) will not be required to attend the meeting of the Board
of Examiners. However, where appropriate, an External Examiner can be consulted using
appropriate real time communication.
8.1.3 The quorum of the Board shall be the Chairperson of the Board plus three other members,
one of whom must be one of the Examiners of the thesis.
8.1.4 Normally, at least one of the Supervisors of the thesis shall attend the Board of Examiners
meeting but shall have no say in the final decision of the Board.

8.2 The Board of Examiners shall consider the written reports of the Examiners appointed in
terms of section
7.3 and shall make a determination whether to invite the student for an oral examination or not.
8.3 The Board shall examine the candidate orally, and may require further examination through
written papers, or practical examination, or both, on the Subject of the thesis, and if they see fit,
on topics relevant thereto.
8.4 For the purpose of the oral, practical or written examination held in connection with the thesis,
the candidate will be required to present himself/herself at such place as the University may direct
and upon such day or days as shall be notified to him/her, in writing, at least two weeks before the
day of the examination, by the Faculty Administrator on behalf of the Postgraduate Centre.

9. DETERMINATION OF THE RESULTS

9.1 The Board of Examiners shall meet to deliberate on the written reports of the Examiners and
subject the student to an oral examination.
9.2 After the Board of Examiners has considered the written reports of the Examiners, the oral
examination and any other examinations it deemed necessary, it shall recommend one of the
following overall decisions:
Pass
Fail: Re-submit thesis
Fail DPhil: Re-submit thesis for the MPhil degree
Fail

9.3 Pass
9.3.1 The overall decision Pass shall apply to a student who has satisfied the examiners and
therefore merits the award of the DPhil or MPhil degree.
9.3.2 Such a student may be required to make editorial amendments to his/her thesis to the
satisfaction of the Chairperson of the Board of Examiners, after consultation with the Chairperson
of the Department concerned before lodgement of the final bound copies of dissertation.
9.3.3 Normally the student shall be expected to submit the final corrected thesis within a period
less than 6 months from the date of the examination.

9.4 Fail: Re-submit Thesis

9.4.1 The overall decision Fail: Re-submit thesis shall apply to a student whose thesis, though
adequate, requires some major revision.
9.4.2 Such a student shall be permitted to re-submit the same thesis within a period of 12 months
after publication of the result and shall be subjected to further oral or other examination. Where
major revisions have been done, the student shall submit an anti-plagiarism report together with
her/his thesis.
9.4.3 A student who fails to re-submit his/her thesis within the stipulated 12 months shall be
deemed to have failed.

9.5 Fail: DPhil Re-submit Thesis for the MPhil Degree

9.5.1 The overall decision Fail DPhil: Re-submit thesis for the MPhil degree shall apply to a
DPhil student whose thesis, in the opinion of the Examiners and the Board of Examiners, does not
justify a recommendation for the award of a DPhil Degree, nor for the re-submission of the thesis
in a revised form for that degree but, at their discretion, recommend that the candidate be awarded
an MPhil Degree.
9.5.2 Such a student shall be allowed to rewrite the thesis in the usual format for the MPhil
degree, incorporating all the corrections and amendments recommended by the Examiners and the
Board of Examiners within a period of 12 months or less after publication of the result.
9.5.3 The Board of Examiners may, or may not, recommend that the student be subjected to
another oral examination.
9.5.4 The resubmitted thesis must be to the satisfaction of Chairperson of the Board of Examiners,
after consultation with the Chairperson of the Department concerned, before lodgement of the
final bound copies of thesis.
9.6 Fail
9.6.1 The overall decision Fail shall apply to a student whose thesis fails to meet the required
standard for the award of the degree and is in such a state that no amount of improvement to the
thesis is deemed to be possible by the Board of Examiners.
9.6.2 Such a student may be allowed by Senate to reapply for re-registration, but on a completely
new and different thesis topic.
9.7 Submission of Examination Reports to the Academic Committee
9.7.1 The Faculty Office shall submit to Academic Committee the following documents:
9.7.1.1 Minutes of the Faculty Board of Examiners meeting(s);
9.7.1.2 Reports of the Internal and External Examiners;
9.7.1.3 Correspondence from the Dean and Chairperson of Department, confirming that all
the recommended corrections to the thesis have been done; and
9.7.1.4 Any other documents relevant to the examination concerned.
9.7.2 The Dean shall present to the Academic Committee the recommendations of the Board of
Examiners.

Wg Cdr B Mwakorera (11,12.13)

11. LODGEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE THESIS/DISSERTATION
12. AWARD OF THE DEGREE
13. ACADEMIC OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

11. LODGEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE THESIS/DISSERTATION

11.1 After his/her thesis has been examined and amended in accordance with the direction of
the Board of
Examiners, the student shall have three copies bound in accordance with the following
specifications:

Art vellum or cloth; overcast; edges uncut; lettered boldly up the back in gold letters indicating DEGREE,
DATE, NAME (letters should be between 5 mm and 10mm in size).

11.2 The student shall lodge with the Postgraduate Centre, through the Higher Degrees Committee,
three bound copies of the approved thesis together with an electronic copy of the thesis.

11.3 The Postgraduate Centre will return one copy of the thesis to the Faculty Higher Degree
Committee, and deposit two copies and the electronic copy in the University Library.

11.4 Unless Senate has agreed to the contrary, the Library copies shall be open to the public for
reference.
11.5 The official publication of the examination result of a student shall only take place after the student
has complied with Regulations 10.1 and 10.2 above.

12. AWARD OF THE DEGREE

The MPhil and DPhil degrees shall be awarded without classification. However, outstanding work shall be
recognised.

13. ACADEMIC OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

Academic offences and penalties, as specified in the General Academic Regulations for Undergraduate
Programmes, shall equally apply to these Regulations.

Rationale
Admission to graduate programs at Stanford is highly selective. It is anticipated that every admitted student
will be able to fulfill the requirements for the advanced degree. This document provides guidelines to be
used in the unusual circumstance that a department must consider dismissal of a graduate student for
academic reasons. These guidelines apply to all advanced degree programs except those in the schools of
Law and Business, the STEP Program in the School of Education, and the M.D. program in the School of
Medicine, which follow guidelines issued by the respective schools.
Policy

The principal conditions for continued registration of a graduate student are the timely and satisfactory
completion of the university, department, and program requirements for the degree, fulfillment of
minimum progress requirements, and meeting standards of professional behavior. The guidelines that
follow specify procedures for dismissal of graduate students who are not meeting these conditions. In such
cases, a departmental committee (hereafter "the committee"), whether the department's committee of the
faculty or other committee authorized to act on the department's behalf such as the departmental graduate
studies committee, will:
1. where possible and as early as possible, warn the student, in writing, of the situation and
deficiency; a detailed explanation of the reason for the warning should be provided;
2. consider extenuating circumstances communicated by the student;
3. decide the question of dismissal by majority vote of the committee (with at least three faculty
members participating in the committee's deliberation), and communicate the decision to the student in
writing;
4. place a summary of department discussions, votes, and decisions in the student's file;
5. provide students the opportunity to examine their department files, if requested; and
provide students with information on their rights to appeal under the
Engr P Kadebu (14, 15, 16,17)
14. POSTHUMOUS AND AEGROTAT PROVISIONS
15. PUBLICATION OF EXAMINATION RESULT
16. STUDENT APPEALS AGAINST PUBLISHED RESULTS

14. POSTHUMOUS AND AEGROTAT PROVISIONS

14.1 Posthumous Award of a Degree

14.1.1 If a student undertaking a Postgraduate by research degree dies having

completed a draft of the thesis to be presented for examination, the Department may
request the Senate, through the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee, to set up a Panel
of Assessors to examine the draft thesis.

14.1.2 If the request is acceded to, the Assessors’ reports shall be considered by
a relevant Faculty Board of Examiners which may recommend to the Senate the award
of the degree posthumously.

14.1.3 The overall result for a deceased student awarded a degree

posthumously shall be POSTHUMOUS AWARD.

14.2 Aegrotat Award of a Degree

14.2.1 If a student undertaking a Postgraduate by research degree in the final

year of study and having completed a draft of the thesis to be presented for
examination, is prevented by serious illness from completing the rest of the
examination process for the award of the degree, the Department may request the
Senate through the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee to set up a Panel of Assessors
to examine the draft thesis, provided that it is established by a medical certificate that
the incapacitation is permanent or that the illness is terminal.

14.2.2 If the request is acceded to, the Assessors’ reports shall be considered by
an appropriate Faculty Board of Examiners, established for the purpose, with the
approval of the Senate, which Board may recommend to the Senate the award of the
degree, provided that the draft thesis meets the minimum standard required for the
award of the degree.

14.2.3 The overall result for a student who qualifies for the aegrotat award of
the degree shall be PASS: AEGROTAT AWARD.

15. PUBLICATION OF EXAMINATION RESULT

15.1 The Deputy Registrar (Academic) shall be responsible for the publication of examination
result as approved by the Academic Committee.

15.2 The Deputy Registrar (Academic) shall post to the student, at his/her registered address,
a copy of the individual student’s result.
 15.3 The examination result of a student who owes any outstanding monies to the University
shall be withheld from publication.

15.4 The notice of the result released by the Deputy Registrar (Academic) shall be endorsed
with the proviso “SUBJECT TO RATIFICATION BY THE SENATE”.

16. STUDENT APPEALS AGAINST PUBLISHED RESULTS

Student Appeals against Published Results as specified in the General Academic Regulations for
Postgraduate Degree Programmes by Coursework shall equally apply to these Regulations.
.

16.1 A student who is not satisfied with a decision relating to their academic progress or
result may appeal to the Appeals Committee for reconsideration of the case.

16.2 The Appeals Committee shall be established by the senate to consider such an appeal.

16.3 Circumstances in which a student may submit an appeal include the following:
16.3.1 A decision on progress has been made which prevents the student from
continuing their studies, usually a decision to terminate their registration.
16.3.2 A decision has been made which has effect of causing an interruption of a
student’s studies, for example there has been a recommendation for a re-submission of
the thesis.

16.3.3 A decision has been taken not to make an award to the student and the
consequence is that the studies will be terminated.

16.3.4 A decision to award a lower qualification than that for which the student is
registered, for example if the student is registered for a PhD and is recommended for an
M Phil.

16.4 Such an appeal shall be lodged in writing with the Appeals Committee within 21 days
from the date of notification of the decision to the student. Appropriate documentation
not previously available should be provided alongside the letter as evidence to support
the appeal.

16.5 Following an unsuccessful appeal to the Appeals Committee, a student has the ultimate
right of appeal to the Senate. Such an appeal shall be lodged in writing supported by all
appropriate documentation as evidence. The appeal shall be lodged with the Deputy
Registrar within a period of six weeks from the date of notification to the student of the
outcome of the preceding appeal to the Appeals Committee. The student will have a right
of appearance, either alone or accompanied by one person, at the hearing of the appeal
to the Senate.

17. ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPT

17.1 Each graduate of the University shall receive ONE copy of an official transcript of his/her
complete academic record at the University.
 17.2 A prescribed fee shall be charged for a duplicate transcript (subsequent to the issue of the
original) or for a transcript requested before completion of studies.

17.3 An Academic Transcript of the Zimbabwe National Defence University is issued without
any alterations and carries a signed official stamp of the Deputy Registrar (Academic).

Gp Capt (Dr) Manyere (4,5 and 17 see above)

17. ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPT
Air Cdre (Dr) EM Kamusoko (18,19)
18. IPR
19. NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

18. IPR

18.1 All Researchers must familiarise themselves with the ZNDU Ordinance 8 (Research Ethics
and Code of Conduct Ordinance) and abide by it. Researchers are responsible and accountable for
their own conduct and for abiding by the Ordinance.

18.2 In addition, supervisors of Registered Students have a responsibility to ensure that their
Registered Students are aware of Ordinance 8 and to provide oversight of their research in order
to ensure that Ordinance 8 and best research practice is followed.

18.3 Research data remains the property of the University when a researcher leaves. Where
research data has been made open on conclusion of a project, the researcher in question may
access it in the normal manner; if not, an access request will be required.

18.4 The leading researcher/researcher shall be responsible for the management of research data
in accordance with any other external or internal legislative provision, conditions or guidelines
that may apply to the handling of personal information or research data from time to time. This
includes, but is not limited to, the requirement to retain and make documents relating to a research
project available to internal and external auditors /monitors and regulatory bodies.

18.5 Researchers must familiarise themselves with the terms of any collaboration, funding or
other agreements (grant or contract), protocol and ethical approval related to their work, and
ensure that any research undertaken complies with those terms and conditions.

18.6 Funding received by the University from the external Funders based in another country may
be subject to that country’s local rules relating to conflicts of interest and other relevant matters.
Both the University and the Researchers involved in the research or delivery of a project may be
required to comply with those rules. On applying for funding from a relevant institution or on
commencement of work on such a project, Researchers will be notified of the relevant rules and
be asked to sign a declaration confirming that they agree to comply with them. Failure to do so
may result in the suspension of the activity as required by the relevant rules. Failure to comply
with the rules may result in the suspension or reorganisation of any relevant activities or the
commencement of disciplinary action as appropriate.
18.7 Funder requirements should not be allowed to adversely affect the standard of research
conducted or unduly influence research outcomes and outputs.

18.8 The University will own the Intellectual Property Rights arising from research undertaken
by, Emeritus Professors, Staff in the course of their employment (or for Staff who are not
employees, in the course of their duties for the University), unless a prior contractual arrangement
assigns such rights to a Sponsor or Funder. In the case of external research collaborators, the
collaboration agreement will set out the ownership of Intellectual Property Rights.

18.9 The University does not in practice assert its ownership of the copyright in respect of
material such as books, journal articles, and musical compositions where there is no substantial
commercial interest. However, the University retains its right to use and reproduce such materials
for its educational and research purposes, including hosting in an online repository, whilst
recognising the author’s moral rights to be identified as the author or creator of the work.

18.10 In the event that an invention or discovery with potential commercial significance is made
in the course of a research project carried out as part of Researchers’ normal University activities,
correct procedures as outlined in other University regulations are to be followed.

18.11 Where an invention or discovery with potential commercial significance has been made in
the course of research, Researchers are required to make appropriate notification to the Vice
Chancellor. Staff and Registered Students are reminded of the need to maintain confidentiality
regarding the results of the research pending legal protection in accordance with any instructions.
Breaches of confidentiality may result in actions for recovery of losses from a Funder against the
University and the individual concerned.

18.12 Researchers are required to familiarise themselves with and to abide by the terms relating to
intellectual property and confidentiality in any grant, contract or collaboration agreement relating
to their research projects. Breaches of confidentiality relating to externally funded or collaborative
research may result in actions for recovery of losses from a Funder against the University and the
individual concerned.

18.13 Researchers who leave the University are reminded that intellectual property developed
during their employment which is owned by the University or has been assigned to a research
Funder by contract, remains the property of that organisation. It may not be divulged to third
parties without permission from the owner of the intellectual property unless it is already in the
public domain. Information received from third parties under terms of confidentiality whilst in the
University's employ remains confidential, and breaches of such confidentiality may render the
Researcher liable to claims by the owner of the information.

18.14 All publications, reports and other material issued by Researchers should bear an
appropriate assertion of authorship and a copyright statement.

18.15There is a fundamental ethical obligation on authors to acknowledge and attribute external

sources of information. Citation of sources should be carried out in accordance with an
appropriate referencing system (e.g. the Harvard referencing system, or the house style of the
relevant publisher and/or the normal practices of the discipline concerned). Citation not only gives
credit to the work of others, but also enables readers to identify elements in the text and therefore
recognise the contribution of the author or authors in the context of previous work.

18.16 Failure to cite sources could, inter alia, constitute plagiarism and may be subject to the
instigation of the relevant University disciplinary procedures. Plagiarism is a form of cheating and
is a serious academic offence which constitutes misconduct. The University’s Plagiarism Policy
and the associated guidance applies to all research work.

19. NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

19.1 All Researchers must familiarise themselves with the ZNDU Ordinance 8 (Research Ethics
and Code of Conduct Ordinance) and abide by it. Researchers are responsible and accountable for
their own conduct and for abiding by the Ordinance.

19.2 Researchers should comply with the University’s Policy on Research Data Management,
which provides more detailed guidance on this matter.

19.3 It is the duty of the leading researcher/researcher in any research to comply with any data
protection and/or information security requirements which apply to the research.

19.4 Appropriate technical and organisational measures must be taken against unauthorised or
unlawful processing of personal data and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to,
personal data in compliance with University’s IT Security policies, standards and guidance and
with any contractual or other requirements which apply to the research.