302 tal-2021

B

L.N. 302 of 2021

EDUCATION ACT

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.

(CAP. 327)

DOCTORATE IN RESEARCH PROGRAMME REGULATIONS

DOCTORATE IN RESEARCH PROGRAMME REGULATIONS

The short title of these Regulations is the Doctorate in Research Programme

Regulations.

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires

“Doctoral Candidate” means an individual that registers as a student at MCAST, and that

is accepted to follow the DRes programme. The Doctoral Candidate cannot follow any

other post-graduate programmes at MCAST or with any other institution whilst following

this DRes programme.

“Doctoral Degree Committee” (DDC) means the Doctoral Degree Committee (DDC) as

established by the MCAST Board of Governors from time to time and shall constitute no

less than three (3) members and no more than five (5) members, all of who are affiliated

with MCAST and take on the role of senior academic or senior management within

MCAST. All members shall hold a doctoral qualification and have held, or presently hold,

a senior position within MCAST. On average DDC members are expected to dedicate an

average of two (2) contact hours per week towards the operations of the DDC, with the

exception of the Chair of the DDC who shall be expected to dedicate an average of five (5)

contact hours per week that will include the tasks of recording and reporting.

“Professional Research Doctorate” (DRes) means the programme that shall run over a

minimum of five (5) years on a part-time basis, and is aimed at professionals that hold

relevant first and masters degrees. The main component of the programme is an applied

research endeavour of PhD level, initiated through a Post-Graduate Certificate in Research

Methods programme or comparable alternative.

“Principal Supervisor” means an expert in both the research theme and the identified

research methodology who shall dedicate significant time towards the mentoring and

guidance of the Doctoral Candidate.

“Second Supervisor” means an expert either in the research theme or the identified research

methodology, or possibly both, and shall dedicate adequate time towards the additional

support and guidance of the Doctoral Candidate. The Principal Supervisor and the Second

Supervisor shall constitute the Candidate’s supervisory team.

“Examiner Panel” means the Examiner Panel that shall be selected by the DDC in the

composition outlined in this Regulation and shall report to the DDC on the implementation

and outcome of the final doctoral viva.

“Arbitration Panel” means the Arbitration Panel that shall be selected by the DDC in the

composition outlined in this Regulation and shall report to the DDC on issues of conflict as

outlined in this Regulation.

“Doctor of Professional Research” means the title held by a Doctoral Candidate who

successfully completes the full doctoral journey shall be that of ‘Doctor of Professional

Research’, identified by the post-nominals ‘DRes’.

(1) In order to be admitted to the Doctoral Programme, candidates must satisfy one of

the following four (4) eligibility criteria

B

a) A relevant first degree and a relevant masters qualification at sixty (60) ECTS, with

at least five (5) years relevant industry or research experience;

b) A relevant first degree and a relevant masters qualification at ninety (90) ECTS,

with at least two (2) years relevant industry or research experience;

c) A masters qualification in the MCAST MVEAR at one hundred and twenty (120)

ECTS, with at least two (2) years relevant industry or research experience;

d) A relevant masters qualification at ninety (90) ECTS, and at least ten (10) years of

relevant industry or academic experience;

(2) The candidate who wishes to follow the MCAST Professional Research Doctorate will

approach the most appropriate MCAST senior academic in view of the chosen field

concerning his/her doctoral research, and discuss the academic’s willingness to act as

Principal Supervisor. Once a senior MCAST academic has declared himself/herself willing

to act as Principal Supervisor, the Doctoral Candidate will, in consultation with this

supervisor, apply to the DDC to join the doctoral programme by submitting the following

appropriately compiled documents by end of September of that particular academic year

a) Form titled ‘Request for Admission to the Doctoral Research Programme’ shown

in Schedule 1, that includes a statement of willingness from the identified Principal

Supervisor.

b) Post-Graduate Research Proposal Form as indicated by MCAST.

c) Certified copies of qualifications, and proof of identity.

d) Written evidence obtained from MG2i of a payment agreement or contract for

payment of due fees, that are established from time to time and published

accordingly. Alternative to this may be proof of scholarship funding, that replaces

or supports the programme fees.

(3) Following receipt of the above documentation the DDB shall make a decision on the

request, and if in the affirmative, appoint the suggested Principal Supervisor if indeed

suitable in accordance to Article 4(2), and one second supervisor within one month of

receiving the request. If the DDB conclude with a negative recommendation, this shall be

provided in writing to the candidate, and will include the grounds on which this decision is

based and possible guidance on how the candidate can strengthen a future application.

(1) Doctoral Candidates shall be provided with one Principal Supervisor and one Second

Supervisor for the research stages of the doctoral programme.

Appointment and

Supervisor and of

(2) The Principal Supervisor shall be an MCAST Senior Academic or visiting part-time

senior academic. This supervisor must be significantly knowledgeable on both the theme

of chosen research and on the research methodology pertinent to the particular DRes.

(3) Principal Supervisors may take on no more than a maximum of four (4) candidates at

any one time, and shall dedicate (per student) an average of one and a half (1.5) contact

hours per week for thirty-six (36) weeks of each academic year, excluding the academic

year relating to the student’s acquisition of the Post-Graduate Certificate in Research

Methods that normally takes place in the foundation year of the programme.

(4) The duties of the Principal Supervisor shall include, but not necessarily limited to, the

following actions

a) Holding regular meetings and discussions with the Candidate and the Second

Supervisor, within the remit of the available contact hours that the Supervisor has at

his or her disposal.

Provide general academic guidance to the Candidate as deemed necessary.

b) Regularly read the academic materials created by the Candidate and provide formal

feedback and direction on how to possibly enhance these written materials.

B

c) Maintain records of interactions with Candidate and of the ongoing performance of

the Candidate.

d) Provide an annual review and associated report on the general progress of the

Candidate.

e) Provide a final evaluation report on the Candidate’s dissertation prior to the viva, for

the benefit of the Examiner Panel.

(5) The DDB shall be tasked with replacing a Principal Supervisor who has opted to leave

his/her position within MCAST, with an appropriate alternative within six (6) weeks of

initial notice. If a candidate alternatively requests for a change in Principal Supervisor, this

will be decided upon by the DDB and if due justification of the reason is provided, conceded

to within three (3) months of initial notice. Candidates are advised to refrain from a request

to change Principal Supervisor unless completely necessary, in view of the possible set

back that this will have on the timing of the doctoral journey.

(6) The DDB shall select a Second Supervisor who is also an MCAST senior academic or

visiting part-time senior academic or in senior administrative management. This second

supervisor must be significantly knowledgeable in either the theme of the chosen research,

or in the chosen research methodology, or possibly both.

(7) Second Supervisors may take on no more than a maximum of six (6) candidates at any

one time, and shall dedicate (per student) an average of half and hour (0.5) contact hours

per week for thirty six (36) weeks of each academic year, excluding the academic year

relating to the student’s acquisition of the Post-Graduate Certificate in Research Methods

that normally takes place in the foundation year of the programme.

(8) The duties of the Second Supervisor shall include, but not necessarily limited to, the

following actions

a)

Assist the Principal Supervisor in guiding the Doctoral Candidate.

b)

Determine, in consultation with the Principal Supervisor, how the Second

Supervisor can be involved in the regular scheduled meetings between the

Principal Supervisor and the Candidate.

c)

Provide concise feedback and opinions on the academic materials presented by

the Candidate at the various programme stages, particularly the dissertation

writing stage.

(9) The DDB shall be tasked with replacing a Second Supervisor who has opted to leave

his/her position within MCAST, with an appropriate alternative within eight (8) weeks of

initial notice. The Doctoral Candidate cannot request for a change in Second Supervisor.

(1) Following completion of the Post-Graduate Certificate in Research Methods that

Doctoral Progress

takes place in the first, foundation year of the doctoral journey, the candidate shall take on

a main research task that will normally be over an additional four years on a part-time basis.

Candidates may extend this main research period without need of DDC specific approval

for a further year, assuming that agreement is reached with the Principal Supervisor.

Candidates may furthermore place a request to the DDC to extend their main research

period for up to two additional years, meaning that the doctoral journal may take up to a

maximum of eight years to complete in total. The DDC will not have the authority to extend

beyond this maximum period of eight years.

(2) Deliverables throughout the full Doctoral Journey are summarized in the following

table, and normally follow a linear trajectory

Deliverable

Description

Sanctioning Mechanism

period for up to two additional years, meaning that the doctoral journal may take up to a

maximum of eight years to complete in total. The DDC will not have the authority to extend

beyond this maximum period of eight Verżjoni

years. Elettronika

B (2) 2270

Deliverables throughout the full Doctoral Journey are summarized in the following

table, and normally follow a linear trajectory

Deliverable

Description

Sanctioning Mechanism

Deliverable 1

Successful Completion of

Approved by the MCAST

the MCAST Post-Graduate

Masters in Research Methods

Certificate in Research

coordination team.

Methods, at EQF Level 7, 30

ECTS.

Deliverable 2

Presentation of Early-Stage

Peer-reviewed research paper

Research Findings at a Key

or peer-reviewed working

International Conference.

paper or peer-reviewed poster

exhibit.

Deliverable 3

Submission and Acceptance Evidence

of

Journal

of Peer-Reviewed Academic Acceptance of Paper.

Paper in a Reputable,

Relevant

Journal

co-

authored by the Principal

Supervisor.

Deliverable 4

Submission and Acceptance Evidence

of

Journal

of Peer-Reviewed Academic Acceptance of Paper.

Paper in a Relevant Journal

with an Established Impact

Factor.

Deliverable 5

Final Dissertation Viva

Conclusion of Examiner

Panel Following Viva.

At the end of each academic year the DDC shall task the Principal Supervisor with

submitting a review report in a provided format, that outlines the progress of the candidate

and any issues of concern. The DDC may opt to meet up with the candidate and one or both

supervisors if it is felt that the intervention of the DDC is required. The DDC shall formally

notify the Doctoral Candidate of the progress that is registered.

The Candidate is tasked with providing all of the necessary research and progress works

that the Principal Supervisor requires to be able to compile the annual review report.

(3) Viva-based Final Assessment: The viva-based final assessment shall take place within

six (6) months of the Candidate submitting the formal dissertation for evaluation. The

doctoral viva follows the implementation mechanisms set out in MCAST internal

regulations. The Examiner Panel shall request initial evaluation reports from both the

Principal Supervisor and the Second Supervisor, and will take these reports into

consideration when evaluating the doctoral dissertation. The Candidate may opt to enter a

viva even if guided otherwise by his or her supervisors, but this is strongly recommended

against.

(4) The Examiner Panel: The final dissertation submission shall be of PhD rigour, and shall

be examined by an Examiner Panel that is identified by the Doctoral Degree Committee,

and that responds and reports to the Doctoral Degree Committee. The Panel shall consist

of the following composition, with the Principal Supervisor attending in a silent, non-voting

capacity if he or she has the consent of the candidate to attend the viva session

a)

Panel Convenor: Chosen from amongst MCAST Senior Academic Management

Staff.

B

External Examiner: A person who is external to MCAST and who is identified by

MCAST to be an expert in the field, and who holds a relevant doctoral qualification,

ideally holds a professorship position, and who has supervised at least ten (10)

doctoral dissertation students.

A significant publication list shall be sought as evidence of academic standing.

Internal Examiner: A person identified by MCAST who is a full-time senior

academic within MCAST and who holds a relevant doctoral qualification and has

significant knowledge in the particular research theme and/or the research

methodology that has been adopted by the Candidate.

Panel Secretary: A person identified by the Office of Administration to coordinate

and record the full viva process, and report on proceedings.

(5) The final outcome of the DRes dissertation viva shall take on one of the five grading

options shown below. The Examiner Panel shall be tasked with providing to the DDB an

adequately detailed and conclusive examiner report with two weeks of candidate

completion of the viva, identifying which grading option has been convened. It shall be the

responsibility of the DDB to convey all necessary result information to the Doctoral

Candidate, possibly through the Principal Supervisor. This formal notification shall be

completed within one week for the DDB to provide the candidate with the formal viva result

information. In the possible event that the Examiner Panel are in internal disagreement, a

majority vote shall be cast and taken as final direction for the DDB to act upon.

Option 1

Pass with No or The Examiner Panel is highly satisfied with

Minimal

the Doctoral Dissertation and approves the

Amendments

dissertation manuscript with no or minimal

amendments that can be completed within up

to four (4) weeks of being formally notified of

viva outcome.

Option 2

Pass with Lesser The Examiner Panel is satisfied with the

Amendments

Doctoral Dissertation and approves the

dissertation

manuscript

with

limited

amendments that can be completed within up

to twelve (12) weeks of being formally

notified of viva outcome.

Option 3

Pass

with The Examiner Panel considers the Doctoral

Significant

Dissertation to be a pass, but identifies

Amendments

significant amendments that can be completed

in up to six (6) months and need to be

approved by both the Principal and the

Second Supervisor.

Option 4

Viva Repeat and The Examiner Panel considers the Doctoral

Dissertation

Dissertation to be a marginal fail, and requests

Revision

and that a significant revision and resubmission

Resubmission

takes place within one (1) academic year.

Candidate shall sit for a second and final

repeat viva approximately one year after this

first viva. This will be the final viva

opportunity of the candidate.

B

Option 5

Fail

The Examiner Panel considers the Doctoral

Dissertation to be a significant fail and

requests that the candidate terminates his or

her doctoral journey forthwith. The Panel

may opt to award the candidate with a Masters

by Research certificate, if it is deemed

justified that the work being submitted is of

adequate masters-level rigour.

(1) The Doctoral Candidate shall be expected to conduct his or her research in proper

and full ethical rigour, meticulously following MCAST internal regulations, and any other

ethics-related guidance or direction provided by the MCAST Research Ethics Committee

(REC) and/or the relevant Institute Research Committee (IRC).

(2) The Doctoral Candidate shall complete all of the deliverables outlined in Article 5(2) to

be able to fully graduate with the doctoral qualification.

(3) The Doctoral Candidate is expected to attend and present on behalf of MCAST papers

at conferences where appropriate under the guidance of the supervisory team.

(4) The Doctoral Candidate shall ensure that he or she is holds regular communications

with the supervisory team, and shall keep due track of work progress, interactions and

feedback in a DRes logbook that will be provided for this purpose.

(5) The Doctoral Candidate is to fully abide by all relevant MCAST regulations, such as

the MCAST plagiarism policy and all other pertinent regulations.

(6) The Doctoral Candidate shall be responsible for his or her final doctoral dissertation,

ensuring that the innovative contribution in the particular area of research is a result of his

or her own independent work.

7.(1) The Doctoral Dissertation shall be compiled in English and shall be carefully proof-

read by the Doctoral Candidate prior to submission. The Examiner Panel may opt to refuse

to evaluate a dissertation that falls below the expectations of a properly compiled doctoral

endeavor.

(2) The dissertation manuscript that is submitted to the Principal Supervisor for final

approval must be identical in form and content to the doctoral dissertation manuscript that

is subsequently provided to the Examiner Panel.

(3) The Doctoral Candidate shall carry out a plagiarism check utilizing an MCAST-

approved plagiarism check tool on the dissertation manuscript prior to submitting the final

version, and shall include the plagiarism evaluation report with the submission. The

Examiner Panel shall give due weight to the plagiarism report when carrying out their

review of the dissertation.

(4) The design and content of the dissertation shall be in such a manner that it can be

reproduced by photocopying, printing and electronically. Advertising in the dissertation is

strictly prohibited.

(5) The Doctoral Candidate is to provide two spiral-bound colour copies of the final

dissertation to the supervisor team, as well as an identical electronic version for replication

B

purposes. The DDB shall reproduce other copies of the dissertation for internal use and to

provide to the Examiner Panel as necessary.

(6) Following a successful viva examination, and after the necessary revisions have been

made to the dissertation and duly approved, the Doctoral Candidate is to provide three hard-

bound, colour dissertation copies to the Principal Supervisor for internal dissemination. The

cover, spine and back page of the hard-bound dissertation copies are to follow the format

and design stipulated in MCAST internal regulations. This task is to be completed before

the degree awarding ceremony takes place.

(7) Intellectual Property Rights: The Doctoral Candidate shall retain full intellectual

property rights over the work he or she has produced. MCAST shall retain the full right to

store and display the dissertation in its library and online repositories, and to utilize the

dissertation for the purposes of education and research. MCAST thus shall have full right,

and full permission, and full licence to copy, publish, make available, distribute or

disseminate the dissertation manuscript in any manner worldwide, via any possible medium

available.

(8) Temporary Embargo: In exceptional cases where a Doctoral Candidate may advocate

a temporary embargo on the publication of the dissertation, the Candidate must submit to

Principal Supervisor the prescribed filled-in form. The Candidate will need to present a

detailed reason of why such an embargo is advocated to the Principal Supervisor, who will

approve or reject the embargo request, and if approved, decide on which length the embargo

shall be retained. The Principal Supervisor shall consult with the Doctoral Degree

Committee in decisions relating to a temporary embargo.

(9) The Doctoral Dissertation shall include the following elements, and shall aim to follow

the following guidelines and limitations

The following section provides information regarding the design of the front cover,

dissertation chapter structure, layout, font size and line spacing. No page designs

are to be included within the doctoral dissertation.

Front Cover

For details of front cover and binding of dissertation copies,

refer to MCAST internal regulations

Front Page

This page is to include in font size Times New Roman 14 and

1.5 line spacing

MCAST logo positioned in top right corner

Dissertation title (bold font) and full justified

Doctoral Candidate’s name and surname (italics)

Supervisor/s name and surname (italics)

Month, the year when the dissertation is submitted.

The following text: ‘A dissertation submitted to the

Department or Centre concerned in partial fulfilment of the

requirements for the degree of Doctor of Professional

Research.

This page is to include in font size Times New Roman 12 and

1.5 line spacing

Text 1: This dissertation is based on the results of research

carried out by myself, is my own composition, and has not

been previously presented for any other certified or

uncertified qualification

Text 2: The research was carried out under the supervision of

(name of dissertation supervisor/s – Title, Name and

surname)

Signature and Date

This page is to include in font size Times New Roman 12 and

1.5 line spacing

Text 1: In submitting this dissertation to the MCAST

Department or Centre concerned, I understand that I am

giving permission for it to be made available for use in

accordance with the regulations of MCAST and the Library

and Learning Resource Centre. I accept that my dissertation

may be made publicly available at MCAST’s discretion.

Signature and Date.

‘Acknowledgment’ This page is to include

in font size Times New Roman 12 and 1.5 line spacing

the list of people that the Doctoral Candidate would like to

thank on the completion of the dissertation. For example ‘Mr

Name Surname, who supported me during my dissertation

work as my tutor’.

Acknowledgements should be kept to a maximum of five

people.

B

This page is to include in font size Times New Roman 12,

with 1.5 line-spacing the main items of the dissertation

indicating the page from where each item starts.

The contents include

Dissertation Title (and corresponding page number)

Authorship Statement (and corresponding page number)

Copyright Statement (and corresponding page number)

Abstract

(and

corresponding

page

number)

Acknowledgements (and corresponding page number)

Contents (and corresponding page number)

List of Abbreviations (and corresponding page number) List

of Figures (and corresponding page number)

List of Tables (and corresponding page number)

*Chapter 1 : Introduction (and recommended page number)

Chapter 2: Literature Review (and recommended page

number)

Chapter 3 : Research Methodology (and recommended page

number)

Chapter 4 : Findings/ Analysis of Results and Discussion

(and recommended page number)

Chapter 5 : Conclusions and Recommendations (and

recommended page number)

(* The chapter mentioned above may be adapted according

to the research methodology and research design

requirements)

List of references (and recommended page number)

Bibliography (and recommended page number) Appendices

(and recommended page number).

Refer also to Appendix 1 for sample of contents page.

The font of all the remaining text (following the contents

page) is to be font size Times New Roman 11, 1.5 line

spacing and printed on one-sided pages.

A wide left-hand side margin of 3.7 cm is to be included

throughout the dissertation. Other margins are to be set at 2.5

cm

Quotations of more than three lines should begin on a new

line, indented on the 2.5 cm from the main text.

Pages are to be numbered consecutively, in bottom right

corner, using Roman numbers for the initial pages and

natural numbers starting from the first page of Chapter 1.

It is normal for chapters to have sub-sections (1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3,

etc.) to display text in a more readable format.

The Dissertation presented for the Doctor of Professional

Research shall be no fewer than 80,000 words with a

tolerance margin of 15% higher word count.

Abstract (400 – 500 words)

This section should clearly state what the study is about,

summarizing how it was carried out and what the results

were. References are not to be included in the abstract. It

should present only the essentials of the work in general and

up to 5 main keywords placed at the end of the section.

Content of Main Introduction (2,000 – 4,000 words)

In this section, the Doctoral Candidate is expected to state

the ‘problem’ or ‘question’ being researched;

why this topic was chosen;

what motivated the Doctoral Candidate to choose this topic;

why did the Doctoral Candidate investigate it the way they

did;

what problem did the Doctoral Candidate wish to explore;

what is the context for the research?

Literature Review (12,000 – 15,000 words)

The main purpose of a literature review is to show the reader

that the Doctoral Candidate studied and analyzed viewpoints

of other researchers on the problem under consideration. A

literature review is not just a summary of the books read but

rather a thorough analysis of other viewpoints on the problem

being analysed.

Research Methodology (10,000 – 13,000 words)

This section should make about 20% of a dissertation. It

presents the chosen research methods and explains why these

methods are effective.

Findings, Analysis of Results and Discussion (30,000 –

38,000 words)

This section includes critical discussion about the Doctoral

Candidate’s findings and shows how these findings support

the original objectives laid out for the dissertation, which

may be partially or fully achieved, or even exceeded. The

Doctoral Candidate may also include new areas of an

investigation prompted by developments in the research

for dissertation. Above all, it is required to present strong

Content of Main arguments which show how findings may offer a valid

contribution to the development of the subject of the selected

research area or issues related to it.

B

Conclusions and Recommendations (5,000 – 10,000 words)

In this chapter, the Doctoral Candidate has to evaluate the

significance of the work done and give recommendations for

any further investigations.

Bibliography

This section demonstrates what sources were used to conduct

research. All sources presented in a bibliography list should

be sorted alphabetically.

References

The Doctoral Candidate is generally requested to use the

MCAST-identified (See Regulation 100) Harvard

referencing style in the dissertation

8.(1) The Principal Supervisor will consult with the Second Supervisor on all issues relating

to the evaluation of the Doctoral Dissertation, and shall aim to represent this two-person

supervisory team in all dealings and interactions with the Doctoral Degree Committee and

with the Examination Panel.

(2) If the supervisory team is of the opinion that the Doctoral Dissertation meets the

requirements of the DRes, the Principal Supervisor shall give his or her final approval to

the DDC for the dissertation manuscript to be provided to the Examiner Panel for evaluation

through viva.

(3) The Principal Supervisor shall coordinate the compilation and collection of the initial

evaluation reports from both the Principal Supervisor and the Second Supervisor, to be

subsequently provided to the Examiner Panel.

(4) The implementation of any changes to the dissertation manuscript, after it has been

finally approved by the supervisory team, is only permitted with the express permission of

the Principal Supervisor in consultation with the Second Supervisor.

(5) The Principal Supervisor shall submit the final approved dissertation manuscript,

together with both initial evaluation reports, to the Doctoral Degree Committee to be

provided to the identified Examiner Panel for evaluation through viva. The DDC shall

ensure that the full sequence of actions, from date of candidate submission of manuscript

to date of completion of viva, does not exceed six months at maximum.

(6) If the Doctoral Candidate believes that the dissertation manuscript is ready and of

adequate quality for successful viva defence but no approval is forthcoming from the

Principal Supervisor, then he or she may refer the matter to the Doctoral Degree Committee

for intervention. The DDC may opt to intervene, either to communicate with the

supervisory team to expedite matters or possibly to allow the Candidate to approach the

viva notwithstanding that there is no approval, or if there are negative reviews, from part

of the supervisory team.

9.(1) Arbitration may be sought by the Doctoral Candidate, either whilst within the doctoral

passage or possibly as an outcome of the Examiner Panel conclusions following viva

evaluation of the dissertation manuscript. The arbitration is an internal doctoral progress

mechanism that aims as resolving and reconciling and does not impede the candidate from

escalating a case to the MCAST Grievance Office or externally to the Office of the

Ombudsman or to other legal recourses.

(2) In event of arbitration sought by the Doctoral Candidate during the course of progress

in the doctoral journey due to a significant dispute between the Candidate and the

supervisory team, the Candidate is requested to formally communicate this dispute to the

Doctoral Degree Committee. The DDC shall attempt to mediate the issue and to find an

amicable solution. If no solution is found the Candidate may opt to request a change in

supervisory team, being clearly cognizant of the implications and possibly difficulties that

could be encountered when replacing one or both supervisors. The Candidate shall bear

joint responsibility for this decision, and with full awareness of its implications.

(3) In event of arbitration sought by the Doctoral Candidate due to a significant

disagreement with the outcome and final evaluation of the Examiner Panel following the

doctoral viva, the Candidate is requested to formally communicate this dispute to the

Doctoral Degree Committee. The DDC will establish an Advisory Committee, consisting

of no less than three (3) members and no more than five (5) members, to provide it with a

guided opinion on the validity of the Candidate’s claim. This Committee shall include one

member from the MCAST Board of Governors, another member from senior academic

management and a third member from senior academic standing. In the event that the

Advisory Committee deems the claim to be unsubstantiated or erroneous, the DDC shall

sanction the earlier conclusion of the Examiner Panel. In the event that the Advisory

Committee deem the claim to be substantiated, the DCC shall opt to reconvene a new viva

session with an entirely new viva team.

(4) In the possibility that one or both members feel that their position as supervisor to the

particular Candidate is untenable for any reason, the member/s may request to the Doctoral

Degree Committee to permanently remove them from the supervisory team. The DDC shall

seek due reason for conceding to this request, and if in agreement, take action to replace

one or both supervisors with minimal possible disruption to the progress of the Candidate.

(1) MCAST shall hold a doctoral graduation once yearly, that will be included with the

graduations of candidates of its post-graduate programmes.

(2) In the graduation ceremony, the successful Doctoral Candidate shall be required to don

the robes that are identified by MCAST to befit the doctoral title being bestowed on the

candidate.

(3) The successful candidate shall be given the title of Doctor of Professional Research

denoted by the post-nominals ‘DRes’, by the Principal MCAST or his delegate, in the

graduation ceremony.

B

Schedule 1 Request for Admission into the Doctoral Research Programme

Candidate Statement of Intent

Principal Supervisor Statement of Intent

Candidate Summary of Qualifications

Candidate Summary of Professional Experiences

B

Candidate Confirmation of Accepting full DRes Regulations

€1.26