The MPhil/PhD degrees are offered on both full-time and part-time bases. In the case of the PhD programme candidates will register initially (and for only one academic year) for the MPhil degree. During this period the candidates shall be expected to fulfil the requirements as stipulated in the general regulations for promotion to the PhD candidacy (Regulations 50.6.2 and 50.6.3) for promotion to the PhD candidature, in which case the MPhil shall convert into the first year of the PhD degree. Failure to meet the requirements for transfer to the PhD program shall lead to termination of the student’s candidature. The duration of the programme shall be governed by the general regulations 50.5.1 to 50.5.3.
Faculty Special Regulations for the Degree of MPhil and PhD Subject to the Special General Regulations 50.0, the following Faculty Special regulations apply:
The MPhil and PhD degrees are graduate degrees carried out through supervised research, but which may require coursework if deemed necessary by the Faculty of Education MPhil/PhD Coordinating Committee. Courses to fulfil such requirements must be approved by the FoE MPhil/PhD Coordinating Committee, the School of Graduate Studies and Senate. These degrees may be available through all Faculties and Departments of the Faculty of Education, through the School of Graduate Studies. Further studies, research and supervisory arrangements will be determined by the FoE MPhil/PhD Coordinating Committee and require approval of the School of Graduate Studies Board. It is not essential that these degrees be pursued in the same Faculty as the Bachelor’s degree was obtained, but normally the subject for study in the higher degree shall have been a major subject taken successfully at the Bachelor’s level. If the Bachelor’s degree has been earned in a different academic discipline, the student may be required to meet additional academic requirements.
In accordance with the General Regulations 50.1 with the following provisions:
50.1.3 Applicants who have obtained other qualifications and have relevant experience may be considered by the School of Graduate Studies Board on the recommendation of the FoE MPhil/PhD Coordinating Committee. Applicants may be required to pass a qualifying examination, set and organized by the Department concerned, who shall forward the results to the School of Graduate Studies Board through the FoE MPhil/PhD Coordinating Committee before a final decision on the applicant’s acceptability is made.
The courses are:
DAE800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Adult Education (MPhil)
EFH800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Counseling & Human Services (MPhil)
EFA800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Educational Management (MPhil)
EFB800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Gender Education (MPhil)
EFR800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Research and Evaluation (MPhil)
EFC800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Curriculum & instruction (MPhil)
ESM800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Mathematics Education (MPhil)
ESS800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Science Education (MPhil)
EPL800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Language Education (MPhil)
ELS800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Social Studies Education (MPhil)
EHI800 Supervised Research and Thesis in History Education (MPhil)
EGE800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Geography Education (MPhil)
EME800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Measurement and Evaluation (MPhil)
EIE800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Infant Education (MPhil)
EFN800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Food and Nutrition (MPhil)
ETC800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Textiles and Clothing (MPhil)
EHE800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Home Economics (MPhil)
PEC800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Physical Education and Coaching (MPhil)
EES800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Exercise Science (MPhil)
SRM800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Sports and Recreation Management (MPhil)
ESP800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Sports Psychology (MPhil)
ESE800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Special Education (MPhil)
EET800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Educational Technology (MPhil)
ECE800 Supervised Research and Thesis in Early Childhood Education (MPhil)
EVE800 Supervised Research and Thesis Environmental Education (MPhil)
EPL800 Supervised Research and Thesis Language Education (MPhil)
In accordance with the General Regulations 50.2 with the following provisions:
50.2.2 d) Applicants with previous research experience may be admitted directly into a PhD programme, upon recommendation of the FoE MPhil/PhD Coordinating Committee and approval by the School of Graduate Studies.
50.2.3 A prospective applicant must first discuss the proposed programme with the department(s) in which s/he proposes to work, to establish in general terms whether the research proposal is viable.
50.2.4 On receipt of completed application forms and supporting documents, in-cluding an acceptable outline of the proposed research, the School of Graduate Studies shall send one copy to the Chair of the FoE MPhil/PhD Coordinating Committee for review and recommendation.
50.2.5 Acceptances/Rejections shall be considered by the School of Graduate Studies Board after receipt of the recommendation of the FoE MPhil/PhD Coordinating Committee and verification that a qualified Supervision Committee is available.
The courses are:
DAE900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Adult Education (PhD)
EFH900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Counseling & Human Services (PhD)
EFA900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Educational Management (PhD)
EFB900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Gender Education (PhD)
EFR900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Research and Evaluation (PhD)
EFC900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Curriculum & instruction (MPhil)
ESM900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Mathematics Education (MPhil)
ESS900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Science Education (MPhil)
EPL900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Language Education (PhD)
ELS900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Social Studies Education (PhD)
EHI900 Supervised Research and Thesis in History Education (PhD)
EGE900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Geography Education (PhD)
EME900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Measurement and Evaluation (PhD)
EIE900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Infant Education (PhD)
EFN900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Food and Nutrition (PhD)
ETC900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Textiles and Clothing (PhD)
EHE900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Home Economics (PhD)
PEC900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Physical Education and Coaching (PhD)
EES900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Exercise Science (PhD)
SRM900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Sports and Recreation Management (PhD)
ESP900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Sports Psychology (PhD)
ESE900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Special Education (PhD)
EET900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Educational Technology (PhD)
ECE900 Supervised Research and Thesis in Early Childhood Education (PhD)
EVE900 Supervised Research and Thesis Environmental Education (PhD)
In accordance with the General Regulations 50.3.
Transfer from another University
In accordance with the General Regulations 50.4.
Duration of the Programme.
In accordance with the General Regulations 50.5
Supervision Committee: For each graduate student there shall be a student Supervision Committee of 3 academics, only one of which may come from outside the Faculty. The Committee will be led by the main supervisor who shall have been appointed by the SGS after receipt of a recommendation from the Coordinating Committee.
Where possible, one of the committee members may be a person of the student’s own choosing. In accordance with the General Regulations 50.6 1 to 50.6.6
In accordance with the General Regulations 50.7 1 to 50.7.2 governing the transfer from MPhil to PhD and from PhD to MPhil.
In accordance with the General Regulations 50.8 with the following provisions:
50.8.1 Submission of Title and Abstract of the Thesis
The title and abstract (not exceeding 500 words) of the Thesis must be submitted through the Supervisor and the FoE MPhil/PhD Coordinating Committee for approval by the School of Graduate Studies Board approximately three months before submission of the Thesis. After the title has been approved, it may not be changed except with the permission of the FoE MPhil/PhD Coordinating Committee and the School of Graduate Studies Board. The abstract may be edited before the final submission of the thesis.
In accordance with the General Regulations 50.9 with the following provisions:
50.9.1 Entry into the Examination
50.9.1.2 The final submission of the Thesis for examination may follow at any time within the permitted time limit, but the candidate must immediately beforehand inform the FoE MPhil/PhD Coordinating Committee in writing of the intention to do so, and also submit a signed statement from the Supervisor indicating his/her approval or otherwise, to the submission of the Thesis for examination.
50.9.1.3 In cases where the Supervision Committee has not approved the submission of the Thesis for examination, but all other procedures have been met, the candidate may submit the Thesis to the School of Graduate Studies without the Supervisor’s approval, through the supervision committee, after a successful appeal to the FoE MPhil/PhD Coordinating committee.
50.9.2 Appointment and Functions of Internal Examiners
50.9.2.1 There shall be one External Examiner and one Internal Examiner appointed by School of Graduate Studies Board on the recommendation of the FoE MPhil/PhD Coordinating Committee. In the exceptional event that no suitable Internal Examiner is available from within the University, a Second External Examiner in lieu shall be appointed.
50.9.3 Board of Examiners
50.9.3.1 Composition of the Board of Examiners The Board of Examiners for the degree of MPhil and PhD shall comprise at least three members from the following, as recommended by the FoE MPhil/PhD Coordinating Committee and approved by the School of Graduate Studies Board.
Chairperson: A Professor or Senior Academic normally from a different department of the relevant faculty provided s/he is not a member of the Supervision Committee.
Internal Examiner: An academic member of staff who is competent in the area of the work to be examined. In the exceptional event that no suitable Internal Examiner is available from within the University, a Second External Examiner in lieu shall be appointed.
External Examiner: A Senior Academic from outside the University of Botswana. The person must be competent in the area of the work to be examined, and an experienced researcher. S/he shall not be a former member of UB unless at least three years have elapsed since leaving UB.
50.9.3.3 In advisory capacity, at least one person may be recommended from the following. Such persons shall have no voting power on decisions to be made by the Board. One Senior Academic from a relevant Department. One Senior Academic from a cognate Department. One Expert in the relevant field from outside the University
50.9.3.4 In attendance: At least one from the following: Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Supervisor or Head of the relevant Department(s).
Notification of Results and Award of Degree
In accordance with the General Regulations 50.10 with the following provisions:
50.10.1 Candidates will be formally notified of their examination results by the School of Graduate Studies, after the reports from the Board of Examiners, FoE MPhil/PhD Coordinating Committee and School of Graduate Studies Board have been accepted and approved by Senate.
50.10.3 A student normally has the right of appeal to Senate on decisions taken under these regulations. The Appeal shall be made to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, for consideration by the FoE MPhil/PhD Coordinating Committee, with a recommendation to the School of Graduate Studies Board, within three months from the date of notification of the results. The appeals procedure shall appear in the School of Graduate Studies handbook.
A student should take and pass, at MPhil level, and before proceeding with research at PhD level, one course in research methodology from two such alternative generic courses, as recommended by the Faculty MPhil/PhD Coordinating Committee. Only in exceptional circumstances shall the SGS, acting on a recommendation from the FoE MPhil/PhD coordinating Committee, exempt a student from such courses.