- Before submission of an initial thesis for oral examination, all RPg students must:
- complete their coursework with a stipulated qualifying GPA.
- satisfy the residence requirement.
- An RPg student and his/her supervisor(s) concerned, including the Chief Supervisor of the partner institution (if applicable), are advised to complete and submit Form GSB/2B as ‘Notice of Intention to Take Thesis Examination’ together with a brief description of the thesis (a maximum of three A4-size pages) to the relevant office, at least 4 months before the intended thesis submission date for the setup of the Board of Examiners (BoE) so that the BoE is in place to examine the thesis upon its submission.
RPg students admitted from the 2018/19 cohort onwards should submit the documents to the D/SGO while RPg students admitted in or before the 2017/18 cohort should submit the documents to the GS via the D/SRC.
- The thesis should be submitted to the abovementioned designated email account before the end of the Normal Period of Study. The RPg student is obligated to make a completed submission. The D/SGOs or the GS has the final discretion to determine the actual submission date of the thesis.
- If an RPg student is unable to complete his/her studies within the normal study period, he/she shall apply for continuing his/her studies beyond the normal period of study (but within the maximum period of study) for the D/SRC Chair’s approval.
Any RPg student who fails to submit his/her thesis to the relevant offices by the end of the normal period of study is required to pay a continuation fee regardless of whether or not he/she is receiving any scholarship.
- For students of regular RPg programmes
Under very exceptional circumstances, an RPg student shall be allowed to make a written request to the GSB for submitting a thesis for examination without the prior approval of his/her Chief Supervisor.
The RPg student should send an electronic copy (in PDF format) of his/her thesis in accordance with the thesis requirement and the Regulations on the Format and Presentation of Theses for RPg Degrees; and the completed Form GSB/62 (in PDF format) with detailed justification for the request and a full similarity report to the designed email account of the D/SGO or the GS.
Upon receipt of such request from the D/SGO or the GS, the GSB shall invite:- the Chief Supervisor to submit a written explanation of his/her assessment of the thesis;
- the student concerned to respond to the comments made by the Chief Supervisor; and
- the relevant D/SRC and FRC/SB to comment on the application.
Each party will be allowed one month to complete the task. Documents received will then be presented to GSB for consideration within four months.
For Collaborative PhD and Dual PhD students
A student registered for the Collaborative PhD Training or Dual PhD Degree programme is required to obtain the prior approval of his/her PolyU Chief Supervisor and the Chief Supervisor of the partner institution for thesis submission. The student shall be de-registered from the programme if he/she fails to submit the thesis with such approval to the office concerned upon the expiry of the maximum period of study.