Academic Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees By Research & Thesis
11. Regulations for the Admission of Candidates who do not have a Primary Degree Cognate to the Area of Proposed Research
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The admission of candidates not holding prior degree qualifications, cognate to the area of research being undertaken, shall be strictly limited and applicable in exceptional cases only.
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The case of each applicant, whose primary qualification is not in a cognate area, should be considered on its own merits; such applications must be fully supported and endorsed by the School in which the research will be carried out and supervised.
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The onus will be on the sponsoring School and Supervisor to give clear reasons for their recommendation in such a case. They will be required to state explicitly:
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the reasons in support of the acceptance of the applicant;
- the skills and knowledge to be acquired by the applicant prior to undertaking meaningful research work in the proposed area;
- the particular qualities and knowledge possessed by the applicant which will offset the lack of a relevant and cognate prior degree qualification;
- whether or not the applicant will require more advice and guidance than would be necessary for a student with a cognate degree background and if so, whether such a commitment is an effective use of School time.
