General Overview on the Doctorate Degree Programme

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  • General Overview on the Doctorate Degree Programme

General Overview on the Doctorate Degree Programme

2.1.2 Admission to the Programme

2.1.3 Academic Qualifications of the Applicant

To qualify for admission to the doctorate programme in any area of specialization, applicants must possess the following qualifications.

(a)  Masters Degree or other equivalent research oriented Master’s Degree from recognized University.

(b)  The Master’s Degree should be in the field of proposed research or in case it is another field. The applicant must have participated in the course of Advanced Research Technique in the new proposed field and must have produced a research paper of the extent of a Washington Global College BA dissertation using this methodology.

(c)  An average of “A” or B+” with minimum average of 75% of Masters Course work.

(d)  “A” or “B+” with minimum average of 75% of Masters dissertation and (where applies) a paper on the new major of the same quality (assessed by the potential internal supervisor)

(e)  A convincing proposal of 20-25 pages to be approved by the supervisor and, to be defended during Proposal Colloquium Doctum, Washington Global College Academic Affairs Council.

(f)  Proficiency in English, which will allow the writing of a thesis of an international standard. The length of the thesis should be 250 pages. In case of doubt, the college may organize a special examination to the applicant.

Material to be submitted by the applicant

(a)  Curriculum Vitae (CV)

(b)  Certified transcripts of the provided academic studies

(c)  A Properly filled out application form

(d)  Medical and health forms provided by Washington Global College and filled out by a qualified physician after a thorough physical examination.

(e)  A letter of financial guarantee

(f)  A research proposal of 20-25 pages.

(g)  In case of a non-Washington Global College Masters (or equivalent) holder the applicant must enclose her/his masters dissertation (or equivalent) and the prospectus of the programme.

2.1.4 The Course Papers
The course papers will be graded as follows:

%

Washington Global College System

Grade

80 - 100

1

Distinction

70 - 79

2.1

Merit

60 - 69

2.2

Pass

50 - 59

3

Pass

40 – 49

 

Supplementable range

Below 50

Fail

Fail

2.1.5 Students who fail a study unit may be granted another possibility to remedy the situation. Otherwise the study unit will not be credited.          

2.2 Programme Requirements

2.2.1 Field of study: Applicants apply to enter in the doctorate programme in any of the available programmes.

2.2.2 Period of study: Candidates will pursue their research and studies involved for two academic years and must satisfactorily complete the studies of 510 credits hours under the direction of their supervisors.

2.2.3 Seminars and Colloquium: The candidate is encouraged to join local and international research programs and groups involved in the study in his/her field or related areas.

2.2.4 Minimum requirements: The minimum requirements for the doctorate degree are:

  1. Writing a thesis of an international standard
  2. Defending successfully the thesis in public
  3. Covering satisfactorily the 20 credits assignments given by the supervisors.

2.2.5 Progress Reports: The candidate must produce report of her/his studies and research every six months. The report must be endorsed by the supervisors and accepted by the college academic committee

2.2.6 Extensions: Candidates must present their thesis within the two years unless granted an extension by the college academic committee.

2.2.7 The Final Grade

The final grade will be the average of the 20 credits studies and will be based upon the following grading system.

%

System

Grade

80 - 100

1

Distinction

70 - 79

2.1

Merit

60 - 69

2.2

Pass

50 - 59

3

Pass

40 – 49

 

Supplementable range

Below 50

Fail

Fail

3. Thesis Requirement

1. Each candidate has to submit a research proposal when applying to enter the program and once admitted in the programming the candidate begins to work on the research as proposed.

2. Candidates are expected to do research under the supervision of two supervisors one of them being from Washington Global College and the other one from another University.

3. The thesis to be written has to be of an international standard, which is guaranteed by a careful selection of formally competent 2 supervisors who are experts of the field of the research of the student.

The Thesis
The Thesis is the verifying capstone of every doctoral student’s learning experience at Washington Global College. You will have the opportunity to address real world problem, bring new information to light, and make an original contribution to your field.

Since student’s interest and courses of study vary, the nature of Washington Global College Thesis also varies. The Thesis builds on your own interests and expertise, as opposed to that faculty. As you work toward completing your thesis, you will demonstrate your knowledge of research design and your ability to interpret research findings. Through the practical application of your unique research and insights, you can contribute to improving the caliber of professional practice.

The thesis process comprises the following steps:-
1. Nominate a three person supervisory committee
2. Prepare a thesis proposal/ presentation.
3. Conduct a research study/ data collection.
4. Report the study results in a five chapter dissertation. 
           Chapter 1 Introduction
           Chapter 2 Literature
           Chapter 3 Research Methodology
           Chapter 4 Findings
           Chapter 5 Summary, Conclusions and Implications

5. Present an oral defense of thesis (Public Defence)
You will be supported throughout the thesis process by a range of services and resources dedicated to your success, including the following:

4. Submitting and Defending the Thesis: Graduating

  • The doctorate degree shall be awarded in acknowledgement of the receiver’s satisfactory completion of the doctorate programme and a demonstration, through a publicly defended thesis, of a capacity to carry out an academic research project involving the independent use of the academic research, methodology of the subject hereby furthering research at a level corresponding to the international standard of doctorate degrees within the subject area.  
  • The eligibility requirements for the members of a minimum three persons assessment committee are the same as for the supervisors at least two members of the committee must come from outside of Washington Global College. One supervisor can be a member of the committee.
  • The assessment committee shall submit a recommendation as to whether the candidate through the publicly defended thesis has fulfilled the requirements of the Washington Global College doctorate programme. The assessment committee may allow changes or supplements are added to the thesis prior to the defense. This work of prior assessment can be done by the committee via email, telephone, or other communication.
  • Washington Global College decides the venue of the public defence and the student makes three copies of the thesis publicly available in the Washington Global College library at least a month before the defence.
  • The members of the assessment committee have to be present at the defence. The candidate is given the opportunity to explain the work and shall subsequently undergo an examination by the assessment committee. The person chairing the defense may permit other persons present to make a contribution during defense.
  • The assessment committee shall submit its recommendation as to whether the doctorate degree should be awarded immediately after the public defense. If the committee does not agree on a positive recommendation, the preliminary recommendation of the committee shall be sent to the candidate who shall be given a period of up to two weeks to comment on the recommendation, after which the final recommendation shall be made.
  • The doctorate degree shall be awarded if a positive recommendation has been by a unanimous committee. The recommendation contains as a mark given to the thesis. The recommendation has to be done within a month from the public defense.
  • Any complaints of the candidate concerning the assessment of the thesis are directed to the Washington Global College of academic committee.
  • The student is granted a doctorate certificate once all requirements of the degree are fulfilled and the assessment committee recommendation has been given from that onwards she/he may be called a “doctor”. The student have the right to participate in the following Washington Global College graduation ceremony from which onwards she/he is allowed to carry the academic signs of doctorate in an area of specialization of the institution.

Contact Details:

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Cell: (263) 773 108 994 / (263) 773 022 357/ (263) 733 811 294 | E-Mail: info@wgc.ac.zw | Website: www.wgc.ac.zw

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