Information for Supervisors
- Assessment criteria
- Resources
- Oral examinations
- Marking responsibility
- Examination procedure
- Multiple examiners
- Appeals
1. Assessment Criteria
Students’ research papers are to be assessed on the following criteria:
- Definition of the problem to be investigated.
- Demonstration of knowledge of the relevant literature and a capacity to analyse it in relation to the problem defined.
- Use of literature and proven techniques of investigation, to solve or to clarify the readers understanding of the problem being investigated.
- Explanations of limitations within the students own work and the nature of any contribution made.
- Demonstration of competence in technical and/or discipline specific writing.
- Assembly of a logical report that is well laid out (presentation).
2. Resources
It is requested that any resources and facilities required for completion of the project must be supplied by the faculty of the supervisor.
3. Oral Examinations
In some faculties an oral presentation will comprise part of the final assessment in this project. This needs to be detailed in the Supervisor Comments section of the initial Graduate Research Proposal (OEP R1), stating the percentage of the final grade that will be attributed from this presentation. In addition, the form used by the faculty to assess the oral presentation must be submitted to the OEP by the supervisor for consideration by the Director.
4. Marking responsibility
| Project | Marker |
|---|---|
| 950-611 (12.5 points) | Supervisor |
| 950-612 (25 points) | Supervisor and one other academic |
| 950-613 and 950-615 (50 points) | Two academics who are not the students’ supervisor |
5. Examination Procedure
Each examiner is expected to mark independently and will complete a Proforma Examiner’s Report, Research Projects (OEP R6). Each examiner should also produce a written report of approximately 300 words, which will be made available to the student.
Examiners should not contact each other or the student during the examination process (except on matters other than the research), and should not release their mark directly to the student.
Examiners should aim to complete the process within a period of four weeks.
At the completion of the marking process the examiner is to return the copy to the OEP. Masters coursework research projects are not required to be retained by schools or departments or deposited in university libraries. Any school or department that wishes to do so should make arrangements with students individually, and arrange for the cost to be borne by the school or department. The OEP will retain copies for a minimum of one year.
6. Multiple Examiners
In the case where a second and/or a third examiner is required the examiner can be from the same school or department as the student’s supervisor. Usually they are employed on a full-time basis; but sometimes they can come from outside the school or department or even outside the University, or be appointed on a sessional basis for reasons of special expertise.
Supervisors will notify the Director of the OEP of their selection of an examiner by emailing or sending a hard copy of the Approval to Submit Research Project (OEP R5) form to the OEP. Supervisors must indicate on the form that the nominated examiner has been contacted and agrees to return a report within a period of FOUR weeks from receipt of project.
The Director of the OEP will derive one mark, generally by averaging the two. If the difference between two examiners marks is greater than a whole grade level, the Director will consult with the examiners. If no resolution is possible, then a third examiner will usually be sought. The result of the third assessment will be forwarded to the OEP and the Director will derive a mark (by averaging the best two of the three). The final result will be recorded and signed using the Director’s Final Result (Research Projects) (OEP R7) form.
Only the final agreed grade and mark is released to the student. This will occur after it has been confirmed by the OEP. The OEP will do this by constituting a Board of Examiners comprising the supervisor, the Director of OEP and one other academic, generally to be an OEP Deputy Director.
7. Appeals
Students who wish to appeal against the grade, must make a case in writing to the Director of the OEP within a month of the official release of the results. The Director may dismiss the appeal if s/he believes an adequate case for re-marking has not been made. The Director may ask the supervisor to appoint an additional examiner who will make an independent assessment of the research project and provide a mark and a 300 word report to the Director.
The Director will then act as the arbitrator of the appeal process, based on the three reports and a letter from the supervisor indicating the supervisor's position. The original mark will then be confirmed or adjusted.
Any reduction (or change) in the mark as a result of the appeal, will be reported to the Academic Board. Students retain the right of appeal beyond the OEP to the Academic Board, but it should be noted that such appeals will address only procedural matters and not questions of academic judgment.