Structure & schedule
Structure
Dissertation proposal & proposal defence
By the third year, students should have identified their research topic and have planned for their proposal defence. The proposal defence is in the form of a research seminar, open to all faculty members and graduate students of the School.
The objectives of the proposal defence are to:
- Assess the academic rigour and relevance of the proposed research
- Ensure that the proposed research topic is adequately defined and feasible
- Allow the doctoral student to receive feedback from faculty members and identify potential problems early in the dissertation process
A Proposal Defence Committee will examine the quality of the dissertation proposal. The Committee comprises of:
- Student's supervisor as Chairperson
- Two faculty members within the School
Based on the feedback and advice provided by the Proposal Defence Committee, the student will continue to develop and improvise the dissertation, based on the need for answers to questions posed in the area of study, or as a result of new theories in light of current literature.