1.
Admissions
and approvals
1.1 Eligible students may apply
to enrol in a 12,000 word research essay, either as a single
subject enrolment, or as part of an Honours program, or as part
of a graduate or postgraduate coursework program.
1.2 Students indicate their intention
to enrol in the 12,000 word research essay by including the
unit ‘Research Essay’ on the standard MCD admission or re-enrolment
form for the relevant year. Students may elect to take the 12,000
word research essay in a single semester, or across two consecutive
semesters.
1.3 Students should discuss their
proposed research topic with the Coursework Coordinator at their
RTI, who can assist the student in finding a suitable supervisor.
Supervisors of 12,000 word research essays must be qualified
to at least (research) masters degree level.
1.4 Students must complete an ‘Application
for the 12,000 word research essay’ form, which must be signed
by the student, the RTI Coursework Coordinator, and the nominated
supervisor. Completed applications are submitted to the MCD
Director of Research, and must be lodged no later than the
first day of the semester in which the essay will be written.
Incomplete applications will be returned and will not be processed.
The MCD Director of Research will assess each application and,
where the application is satisfactory, confirm the enrolment.
1.5 Students must also complete
a ‘12,000 word research essay outline’ form, including an outline
of the topic to be researched, learning outcomes and the assessment
schedule. This must be lodged with the MCD Director of Research
no later than the census date of the semester in which the
essay will be written.
1.6 The MCD Director of Research
will forward each completed ‘12,000 word research essay outline’
form to the appropriate Chair of Examiners for approval or amendment.
Once an essay outline is approved, the MCD Director of Research
shall appoint examiners, in consultation with the supervisor
and appropriate Chair of Examiners.
1.7 Applications and approved topics
for the 12,000 word research essay shall be reported to the
first Research Committee meeting after census date in each semester.
2.
Ethics Clearance
2.1 Where the approved topic requires
human subject research, or material not in the public domain,
or for any other reason requires an ethics clearance, the student
shall submit an application to the MCD Human Research Ethics
Committee, which shall exercise an expedited review process,
in which the MCD Director of Research and no more than two
other members of HREC are involved.
3.
Examinations
3.1 The research essay is to be
handed in to the Director of Research no later than the last
day of the examination period of the semester in which it is
due. Any extension must be approved in advance by the MCD Director
of Research in accordance with the provisions of the MCD Academic
Conduct Policy (section 2.4.3).
3.2 The research essay is to be
marked in accordance with Regulation 26.
3.3 The research essay is to be
marked independently by two examiners, neither of whom shall
be the supervisor. The first examiner may be internal to the
MCD. The second examiner must be external to any Recognised
Teaching Institution of the MCD with which the supervisor, first
examiner or candidate are associated. An essay cannot be failed
unless failed by both examiners independently of each other.
3.4 Examiners are expected to mark
a 12,000 word research essay within three weeks of receipt.
3.5 The examiners must each forward
a signed copy of the result sheet, together with written comments
on the essay, to the MCD Director of Research, who will forward
both reports to the relevant Chair of Examiners for a final
determination. If the Chair of Examiners is unable to make a
clear determination based upon the
examiners’ reports, the Chair may ask the examiners to consult,
appoint an additional examiner(s), or take such other steps
as may enable a clear recommendation to be made, as per Regulation
26.4.4.
3.6 The MCD Director of Research
shall forward the examiners’ written reports together with the
final mark to the student, supervisor and appropriate RTI Registrar
no later than the date on the MCD Calendar on which results
are released to students.
3.7 A student may appeal the result
of a 12,000 word essay in accordance with the provisions of
the MCD Academic Grievance Policy (section B3).
4.
Fees and payments
4.1 The student fee for the 12,000
word research essay shall be retained by the MCD Kew administration.
4.2 All payments for supervision
and examination of the 12,000 word research essay shall be made
by the MCD Kew administration following the procedures used
for research theses.
