Academic Regulations
1. The course study program consists of three research projects, each assessed by one three hour examination, and a thesis not exceeding 30,000 words. Candidates are normally required to undertake study in at least two fields (see Section 4.3.1 for description of the fields).
2. For Research Projects and thesis the candidate may restrict reading in the primary (other than the biblical text itself) and secondary literature to English language publications so long as the Postgraduate Committee is satisfied that the body of literature in English is sufficient to support research at an MTh standard.
3. The thesis may be either a critical survey of existing learning on the subject, or a significant correction, supplement or new insight to existing learning on the subject, or an original contribution to theological learning. The candidate must demonstrate:
3.1. Independent and original thought;
3.2. Advanced critical or synthesising ability;
3.3. Comprehensive and penetrating assessment of scholarly literature in the chosen field of study and research;
3.4. The sustaining of extended and sophisticated argument; and
3.5. The emergence of a creative or original contribution such that potential for doctoral level research is demonstrated.
4. A Research Project is research undertaken on an agreed topic within the scope of an approved bibliography of up to 18 items amounting to not more than 2,500 pages (1,500 to 1,800 plus commentaries for Research Project 1) of reading. Topics must be integrated with, but not duplicate, the material covered in the thesis.
5. Research Project 1 must be an exegetical and theological study of approx 20 chapters of the Bible in the original language (need not be in the same area as the thesis topic). It is assessed by one 3 hour written examination consisting of exegetical and theological essays on selected texts.
6. Research Project 2 may be on a topic in the same field of study, and in the same broad area within that field, as the thesis topic. It is assessed by one 3 hour written examination consisting of critical essays of a theological and/or historical nature.
7. Research Project 3 must be on a topic from a field other than that of the thesis topic. It is assessed by one 3 hour written examination consisting of critical essays of a theological and/or historical nature.
8. By way of example, if a thesis topic were on Pauline Theology, one Project may be on a related but different area of NT Theology, one Project on exegesis of (say) 20 chapters of the Greek text of selected Epistles, and the other Project would need to be from either the field of Christian Thought or Christian Ministry.
9. The examination for a Research Projects is set and marked by a recognised scholar in the area of research who must not be the candidate’s supervisor but who may be another member of the Faculty of the College. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to:
9.1. Suggest, for the approval of the Postgraduate Committee, the examiner for each project;
9.2. Agree with each examiner the format of the examination; and
9.3. Inform the student of the format of the examination at least one month prior to the agreed date of the examination.
10. An alternate program is available in exceptional circumstances. It consists of two research projects (each assessed by a 10,000 word written paper) and a 30,000 word thesis. One paper must be an exegetical and theological study of approx. 20 chapters of the Bible in the original language. The other paper must be in a different field of study to the first. Provided the two papers are in different fields, one of them may be in the same area as the thesis topic. This program is not normally offered to candidates as an option, because it is less broad than the first pathway and more difficult to complete within the time limits than the normal program. However, circumstances occasionally make this the preferable pathway for a student who comes into the course with an existing breadth of research experience and who is in a situation where, for example, he or she is being encouraged to publish material each year.
11. The thesis is assessed by two examiners external to the College who have research doctorates from a recognised university (or equivalent evidence of expertise in the field). They must not be the candidate’s supervisor and must not be a member of the Faculty of the College. The basis of the assessment is the topic and the bibliography as approved by the Board of Studies. The assessment is in relation to the standard required by an Australian university.
11. An application for admission to the course, using the form provided, is to be accompanied by a proposed study program and submitted to the Registrar in writing (accompanied by an electronic copy of the proposed program). The proposal should consist of:
11.1.A proposed thesis topic together with a written explanation of up to 250 words of the topic and envisioned approach;
11.2.A topic and a preliminary bibliography (equivalent to 18 items amounting to not more than 2,500 pages of reading) for each of the proposed research projects.
Note: The bibliography for Research Paper 1 (exegetical and theological study) should assume commentaries rather than list them. This rule does not exclude listing commentaries when a topic is proposed in which several distinctive interpretative traditions are being compared (e.g. Barth, Luther, Calvin, Dodd on Romans) or when a particular commentary is of special interest for its distinctive views. Sections of commentaries which make high level contributions to the topic may also be listed. Given the amount of reading required for the exegetical task, a commensurate reduction in the scope of the bibliography down to 1,500 pages will be considered.
12. Review by the College’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) may be required if a Research Project of the thesis involves:
12.1.The collection of data from or about identifiable individuals or groups; or
12.2.The observation of identifiable individuals or groups
Information concerning the requirements of the HREC is set out in Section 3.7 of this Handbook and Guidelines for Ethical Conduct of Research are set out in Section 4.7 of the Handbook.
13. A proposed program is reviewed by the College's Postgraduate Committee. If the College has the capacity to supervise the student's program and if the program is considered to represent an appropriate contribution to theological learning and understanding in the particular field, a supervisor is allocated and application for candidacy endorsed to the Board of Studies. The applicant then consults with the supervisor-designate to refine the proposed research program and finalise research project bibliographies. Research project bibliographies are then submitted, where necessary (i.e. when in a field outside that of the supervisor-designate), to the relevant Department Head for approval.
14. The proposed program, together with the Postgraduate Committee's endorsement and that of the supervisor-designate (and where necessary that of relevant Department Head(s)) is then submitted by the Director of Postgraduate Studies to the Board of Studies for confirmation.
15. The Board of Studies will either:
15.1.Approve the program as submitted;
15.2.Approve the program subject to amendments to be confirmed by the supervisor;
15.3.Ask for the program to be resubmitted after changes are made in consultation with the supervisor; or
15.4.Reject the program.
16. In cases where the program is rejected, the applicant may, upon payment of a deposit which is refundable if the appeal is successful, appeal to the Governing Board of the College.
17. The duration of candidacy is measured from the date of approval by the Board of Studies.
18. Depending on their prior study, a candidate may be required to undertake a unit in Research Methods as a co-requisite while completing their Research Projects.
19. Candidates are required to participate in the College’s program of Advanced Topic Seminars. This includes the presentation, at least once per year, of an abstract of their research to date. Normally students must participate in all such seminars offered by the College (usually four per year). However, students residing outside the Sydney metropolitan area may apply to the Postgraduate Committee for permission to participate in a lesser number. In such cases, students are expected to combine visits to Sydney for seminars with face to face sessions with their supervisor.
20. All research projects must be completed successfully prior to the commencement of the thesis.
21. If a student fails a research project, then they must show cause in writing, for consideration by the Postgraduate Committee, why they ought to be allowed to continue as a candidate for the award.
22. Where a candidate is required to undertake a unit in Research Methods (see Section 4.3.4.6, above), this must be successfully completed prior to commencement of the thesis.
23. On completion of the final research project, the candidate submits to the supervisor a 2,000 word essay detailing the proposed thesis topic and approach to research. The following headings should be included in the essay:
23.1.Topic; | 23.2.Introduction; |
23.3.Statement of problem; | 23.4.Proposed research; |
23.5.Methodology and parameters | 23.6.Tentative outline of thesis; and |
23.7.Preliminary Bibliography (25 items key items) (Books/articles already consulted and yet to be sourced/consulted) | |
When endorsed by the supervisor this is submitted to the Postgraduate Committee for approval.
24. Changes to a thesis topic may be initiated by the student, the supervisor or the Postgraduate Committee. Changes must be approved by the Board of Studies on the recommendation of the Postgraduate Committee.
25. Guidelines for the submission of theses are set out in Section 4.8 (below).
26. An examiner is asked to provide a written assessment of the thesis, of 500 to 1,000 words, to highlight typographical errors in the text of the thesis and to recommend to the Board of Studies one of the following:
26.1.That the degree be awarded with merit;
26.2.That the degree be awarded;
26.3.That the degree be awarded subject to the correction, to the satisfaction of the supervisor, of minor defects in the thesis;
26.4.That the candidate be invited to revise part or all of the thesis and re-submit it for examination; or
26.5.That the degree not be awarded and that no re-submission be allowed.
27. Where one examiner recommends that the thesis not be awarded and the other makes a different recommendation, the Director of Postgraduate Studies will consult with the two examiners and explore the possibilities of them coming to a common mind. In this process the Director of Postgraduate Studies may, with the concurrence of the Postgraduate Committee, arrange for an oral examination of the candidate by the examiners and prepare a report in terms of the categories set out in paragraph 26 (above). If no joint recommendation can be agreed upon, he will appoint an adjudicator external to the College to review both the thesis and the reports of the first two examiners and to report in terms of the preceding paragraph. The Board of Studies will then take into account the reports and recommendations of the two examiners and the adjudicator in making its recommendation to the Governing Board of the College.
28. Where a thesis is assessed at different levels by the two examiners, and neither of them recommends that the degree not be awarded, the Director of Postgraduate Studies will consult with the two examiners and explore the possibilities of them coming to a common mind. In this process the Director of Postgraduate Studies may, with the concurrence of the Postgraduate Committee, arrange for an oral examination of the candidate by the examiners and prepare a report in terms of the categories set out in paragraph 26 (above). The Board of Studies will then take into account the report(s) and recommendations of the two examiners, and the report of the Director of Postgraduate Studies on the outcome of his consultations, in making its recommendation to the Governing Board of the College.
29. Once the thesis has been awarded by the Governing Board of the College, the candidate must arrange for the permanent binding of two copies of the thesis on archive paper to be lodged with the Registrar. The title of the thesis and the candidate’s name and initials should appear on the front cover of the bound thesis together with the name of the degree and the year of submission. The spine of the thesis should contain the title of the thesis (abbreviated where necessary), the candidate’s name and initials and the year of award of the degree.