The Application Process

Flowchart of application process
Prior consultation with faculty/school/department
The initial research proposal for PhD
Research Proposal for MPhil
Full-time or part-time enrolment
Commencement of enrolment
Applying for enrolment in an MPhil or for conditional enrolment in a PhD
Applying to enrol in an EdD
Enrolment and payment of fees
Early withdrawal

Flowchart of Application Process

Application Process

Prior Consultation with Faculty/School/Department

Following initial consultation, as appropriate, with the Graduate Advisor and Dean's nominee of the Faculty/School, candidates will be guided towards a suitable supervisory panel. The candidate will work with a chief supervisor to complete an Application to Enrol in a PhD/EdD or MPhil degree. With the chief supervisor's help the candidate will produce an initial research topic and proposal to accompany the application.

All applications for approval, enrolment, withdrawal and changes to programmes of study must be made by the candidate; no applications made on behalf of a candidate will be accepted by the University.

The Initial Research Proposal for PhD

An initial thesis proposal is developed by the candidate and the potential supervisor, so that the proposed programme can be assessed for suitability for the degree for which the candidate wishes to enrol. The proposal needs to satisfy both the administrative and the academic requirements of the degree.

All research proposals are submitted to the Postgraduate Studies Committee for approval and should normally contain the following (usually in a document of three to six pages):

a working title
a clear and concise outline of the topic or research question and the proposed aim(s) or objective(s) of the study
an indication of the theoretical basis and research traditions that underlie the proposed work
a brief description of the research methodology
a statement identifying any ethical issues
an indication of specific resources required
a provisional time-line, showing stages of the work, including projected dates of submission of drafts of chapters/parts of the thesis and envisaged date of completion

Development of a proposal helps the candidate to clarify the nature of the research required and offer insight into whether he or she can expect to work productively with the supervisor. The candidate may also find it useful to consult with other research students of the supervisor about their experiences. In their initial application to enrol in a higher degree candidates must declare whether or not their research requires ethical approval.

Development of a proposal should clarify the following questions for the chief supervisor:

is the candidate adequately prepared and motivated for research at higher degree level?
is the topic or area of investigation appropriate for the student and for the level of qualification sought?
does the topic have good potential to yield a high quality thesis?
will the available resources be adequate for the research?
will the supervisor have adequate time to assume the responsibility for the research and for the student?
can the research be completed within the time limits for the degree?
have the ethical issues been covered?
are the steps for all contractual or potentially contractual matters being appropriately handled?
does he or she expect to be able to work productively with the candidate?

Research Proposal for MPhil

The research proposal should be developed similarly as described above, remembering the shorter duration of the study programme. However, for the MPhil degree, this proposal forms the basis of approval for enrolment in the degree; there is not a conditional period of enrolment during which the proposal may be further developed and revised. In their In their initial application to enrol in a higher degreethe degree, candidates must declare whether or not their research requires ethical approval.

Full-Time or Part-Time Enrolment

Candidates may apply to enrol on a full-time or part-time basis. International candidates studying on a study permit in New Zealand may only enrol full-time. Some scholarships also require full-time enrolment. Candidates may apply to change from full to part-time enrolment or vice versa with the approval of their chief supervisor, chair of department and Dean's nominee.

Commencement of Enrolment

Candidates may enrol at any time of the year but must date their enrolment from the first of any month.

Applying for Enrolment in an MPhil or Conditional Enrolment in a PhD

The Application to Enrol form can be obtained from here the Faculty/School office or the Postgraduate Studies Office. In consultation with the chief supervisor the candidate will complete the Application to Enrol form and attach the required documents as outlined below.

Checklist:

a completed and Faculty/School approved Application to Enrol form (or International Application to Enrol form).
either an initial research proposal for PhD, or a research proposal for MPhil
verified copies of all appropriate documents required, e.g., previous qualifications, academic records, valid study permit, birth certificate or passport
English language proficiency results, if appropriate
the details of any taught papers for which the student is also enrolling
embargo request if appropriate

When the Application to Enrol form has been approved by the chief supervisor, chair of department and the Faculty/School Dean's nominee for postgraduate studies, he or she will forward the form, together with attached documents, as outlined above, to the Postgraduate Studies Office.

Application to Enrol in an EdD

The Doctor of Education degree comprises one third 'taught' papers and two thirds research, spread over a minimum of two years full-time (the normal time would be three years), and a minimum of four years part-time. To qualify for entry, applicants must have an honours or masters degree with at least a B+ average, i.e., first class or second class (second division) honours plus professional qualifications and / or a strong record of professional experience in Education.

Three strands are available in the Doctor of Education programme:

Curriculum and teaching;
Educational leadership and policy;
Applied psychology and counselling.

Part One of the EdD degree

To enter Part One (course-work) of the programme, candidates must apply to the School of Education; no applications made on behalf of a candidate will be accepted by the University.

Proceeding from Course Work (Part 1) to Thesis (Part 2) of the EdD degree

To proceed from Part One (course-work) to Part Two (thesis) candidates must achieve:

a grade B or above in 3 papers: the compulsory DSOE.907 Advanced Educational Inquiries course and two of the elective courses listed in the schedule of courses offered by or approved by the School of Education for credit to Part One of the degree;
a pass in the DSOE.990 Directed Study, offered by the School of Education;
approval of a thesis proposal by the Postgraduate Studies Committee.

All applications for registration, enrolment, withdrawal and changes to programmes of study must be made by the candidate; no applications made on behalf of a candidate will be accepted by the University.

Approval and Enrolment

Approval is the point at which the Postgraduate Studies Committee agrees that the candidate can undertake the higher degree qualification for which they applied.
Enrolment refers to the payment of fees and the candidate meeting the requirements of being a student of the University.

Enrolment and Payment of Fees

Candidates are advised by letter when their application has been approved and this is shortly followed by an invoice for one year's fees. Candidates are not enrolled in the degree programme (i.e. they are not entitled to supervision and use of resources) until the fees are paid.

Subsequent fees (for students enrolling from 1 January 2003 onwards) are invoiced annually from the anniversary of initial enrolment, providing that the six monthly progress reports have been completed and any problems arising satisfactorily resolved. MPhil and PhD candidates who re-enrol after the minimum term for the degree may pay tuition fees on a pro-rata six-monthly basis. All fees include GST. Fees information is available on the website: http://www.waikato.ac.nz/sasd/financial/fees.shtml

The invoice is the contract of agreement between the candidate and The University of Waikato and must always be signed and returned, even when the fees are covered by a scholarship or stipend, whether provided by the University or from an external source.

Early Withdrawal

Candidates who withdraw from their higher degree programme within the first 4 weeks of acceptance of enrolment or re-enrolment may claim a full refund of tuition fees. An administrative charge will apply to withdrawals made in the third or fourth weeks. No refund will be made after this time.