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1.     Admission to Candidature
        Admission to candidature and the date of commencement of candidature shall be determined by the Higher Degrees Research Committee on the recommendation of the head of school concerned.
1.2.      An applicant for admission to candidature for the degree of Master of Rural Science shall:
            (a)  have fulfilled all of the requirements for admission to the degree of Bachelor of Rural Science in the University; or
            (b)  have fulfilled all of the requirements for some other qualification approved by the Higher Degrees Research Committee as equivalent to that specified in Rule 1.2.(a).
1.3.      In special circumstances, an applicant who does not satisfy the requirements of Rules 1.1., 1.2. or 1.3. may be admitted to candidature if evidence of acceptable research experience is produced.

2.     Course Requirements for the Degree of Master of Rural Science
2.1.      A candidate for the degree shall complete a course of advanced study and research within one or more schools of the faculty or in such other place as the supervisor with the approval of the Higher Degrees Research Committee may require.
2.2.      A candidate permitted to pursue the course at some approved place outside the University shall be required to attend the University during such period or periods as the Higher Degrees Research Committee may specify.
2.3.      The course of advanced study and research shall be of at least three consecutive semesters’ duration unless:
            (a)  the candidate has presented evidence of considerable acceptable research experience, in which case the period may be reduced by the Higher Degrees Research Committee by six months; or
            (b)  the candidate has been recommended by the faculty for the award of the Graduate Diploma in Natural Resources at the level of at least Distinction, in which case the candidate may transfer to candidature for the degree of Master of Resource Science and the period may be reduced by the Higher Degrees Research Committee by a maximum of six months. If candidature for the degree is successful, no award of the Diploma will be made; or
(c)  the candidate has been recommended by the faculty for the award of the Graduate Diploma in Rural Science at the level of at least Distinction, in which case the candidate may transfer to candidature for the degree of Master of Rural Science and the period may be reduced by the Higher Degrees Research Committee by a maximum of six months. If candidature for the degree is successful, no award of the Diploma will be made.
2.4.      The candidate shall report orally or in writing from time to time as required by the supervisor on the progress of his or her study or research; in general, reports in writing shall not be required more than twice each semester.
2.5.      Except as provided in Rule 2.6. the candidate shall complete a prescribed program of study which may comprise course work and/or a prescribed program of research and/or a literature review in fields of study related to his or her course. Unless otherwise determined by the Higher Degrees Research Committee, the prescribed program of study shall be completed within 12 months in the case of full-time candidates or 24 months in the case of part-time candidates from the date of commencement of candidature.
2.6.      Candidates who have completed the degrees of Bachelor of Rural Science with Honours or Bachelor of Natural Resources with Honours or the Graduate Diploma in Natural Resources or the Graduate Diploma in Rural Science at the level of at least Pass with Distinction, or who hold qualifications deemed by the Higher Degrees Research Committee to be equivalent may be exempted from the requirement to complete the prescribed program of study specified in Rule 2.5.
2.7.      Candidates shall attend such lectures and practical classes and shall pass such examinations as may be prescribed by the Higher Degrees Research Committee on the recommendation of the supervisors.
2.8.      The maximum period of candidature shall be two years for a full-time candidate and four years for a part-time candidate, at which time the candidate shall submit a thesis embodying the results of his or her research. Where a candidate has transferred to candidature in terms of Rules 2.3.(a), 2.3.(b) or 2.3.(c) these maximum periods of candidature may be reduced by six months for a full-time candidate or one year for a part-time candidate.

4.     Appointment of Supervisors
        At the time of an applicant’s admission to candidature, one or more supervisors, under whose guidance the candidate shall work, shall be appointed by the Higher Degrees Research Committee on the recommendation of the relevant head of school. At least one such supervisor shall be a member of the academic staff of the University of the rank of lecturer or above.

5.     Supervisors Reports
        Every six calendar months, full-time equivalent, from the date of admission to candidature the candidate and the principal supervisor shall submit to the Higher Degrees Research Committee a report setting out details of the course of study and research and the candidate’s progress over the previous six month period.

6.     Termination of Candidature
6.1.      In the event of an unsatisfactory report by the supervisor of a candidate, candidature may be terminated unless the Higher Degrees Research Committee determines otherwise on the basis of written or other evidence placed before it.
6.2.      Before action is taken under Rule 6.1., the candidate shall be advised that this action will be taken unless the candidate shows good cause why it should not be taken.

7.     Extensions to Candidature
        In exceptional circumstances, the Higher Degrees Research Committee may extend the period of candidature. The candidate must apply in writing to the committee.

8.     Leave of Absence
        In exceptional circumstances, the Higher Degrees Research Committee, on the advice of the principal supervisor, may grant leave of absence from the course of study and research and the period of such leave shall not be counted as part of the prescribed period of candidature.

9.     Presentation of the Thesis
9.1.      The thesis shall be written concisely in English and shall show on the part of the candidate sound knowledge of the subject matter and some independence of thought. Except with the special permission of the Higher Degrees Research Committee in exceptional circumstances, the thesis shall not exceed 30 000 words, exclusive of appendices, references, tables and diagrams. The candidate shall state generally in a preface to the thesis and specifically throughout the thesis the sources of information and the extent to which the candidate made use of the work of others. The candidate may not present as the thesis any work that has been the basis of the award of a degree at this University or other institution, but is not precluded from incorporating such work in the thesis provided that, in presenting the thesis, the candidate indicates the part of the work that has been so incorporated.
9.2.      The candidate shall submit to the Secretary of the Higher Degrees Research Committee three copies of the thesis, two of which shall be soft bound in a form approved by the committee and one of which shall be unbound. The candidate shall submit with the thesis a statement from his or her principal supervisor certifying that the thesis is in a form suitable for examination.
9.3.      On approval of the award of the degree, one copy of the thesis shall be deposited in the Dixson Library.

10.   Thesis Examination
10.1.    The Higher Degrees Research Committee, on the recommendation of the principal supervisor and the head of school, shall appoint three examiners, at least one of whom shall be external to the University, and one shall be a reserve examiner. The examiners, including the reserve examiner, must be nominated through consultation between the principal supervisor, the candidate and all current co-supervisors. The candidate will not be given any indication of the final set of examiners that have been appointed. The head of school, or principal supervisor as appropriate, will be expected to obtain written or email consent, from each examiner excepting the reserve, to examine the thesis within two months of its receipt. In cases where a thesis has been permitted to exceed the normal 30 000 word limit, examiners shall be informed of this fact so they may consider it when making their decision to examine.
10.2.    The examiners’ reports on the thesis shall be considered by the Higher Degrees Research Committee which shall recommend:
            (a)  that the degree be awarded; or
            (b)  that the degree be awarded subject to the candidate making such amendments to the thesis as specified by the examiners and to the satisfaction of the supervisor or supervisors; or
            (c)  that the degree not be awarded.
10.3.    Before making a recommendation in terms of Rule 10.2. the Higher Degrees Research Committee may:
            (a)  request the examiners to consult and report to the Committee;
            (b)  appoint an additional examiner or examiners;
            (c)  appoint an external adjudicator who shall consider and report to the Committee upon the thesis and any supporting papers and the reports of the examiners;
            (d)  require the candidate to sit for such written, oral or practical examinations as the Committee may prescribe;
            (e)  permit the candidate to revise the thesis for re-examination if, in the opinion of the Committee, the work is of sufficient merit to warrant this concession;
            (f)   consult with the candidate’s supervisor or supervisors, with the head or heads of schools in which the candidate is enrolled, or with such other persons as the Committee deems appropriate.
10.4.    A candidate permitted to revise a thesis in terms of Rule 36.10.3.(e) shall complete the revision within a period of time and under such conditions as the Higher Degrees Research Committee shall prescribe and under the supervision of a supervisor or supervisors appointed by the Committee. A candidate who has revised a thesis in terms of Rule 36.10.3.(e) and who fails the re-examination shall not be eligible for any further examination.
10.5.    In cases where the Higher Degrees Research Committee recommends that the degree not be awarded, the recommendation and the examiners’ reports and any other relevant material shall be referred to the Standing Committee of Academic Board for review and final decision. There shall be no appeal against the final decision of the Standing Committee.