Degree of Doctor of Science

RESOLUTION

The Degree of Doctor of Science is awarded under Resolution No. 577 of the University Court. The following are the relevant provisions of that Resolution.

1.   The Degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) may be awarded by the Senate of the University of Glasgow.

2.   The Senate may make regulations, which are subject to the approval of the University Court, governing the award of the Degree – these are set out in the section entitled ‘Regulations’. 

3.   All candidates for the Degree of Doctor of Science shall present a thesis or a published memoir or work which shall be a record of original research undertaken by the candidate in relation to science, and shall be accompanied by a declaration signed by them that the work has been done and the thesis composed by them. In the case of collaboration, the candidate’s individual contribution must be clearly defined. The thesis, or a major part of it, shall have been published either as a book or in periodicals of recognised standing, and shall be presented in such manner as the Senate may by regulation prescribe.

4.   The thesis shall be examined by one or more examiners appointed by the Senate from among the professors, readers and lecturers in the University, and by one or more additional examiners appointed by the University Court on the recommendation of the Senate. The reports of the examiners shall be submitted independently to the appropriate College Committee which shall, if it thinks fit, make a recommendation thereon to the Senate. The candidate shall be approved for the Degree only if, in the opinion of one of the Colleges of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences and Science & Engineering, and of the examiners, the thesis constitutes an original, substantial and authoritative contribution to scientific knowledge.

5.   The Degree of Doctor of Science shall not be conferred upon a person who has not satisfied the conditions set forth in the Regulations; provided always that it shall be in the power of the Senate to award the Degree as an Honorary degree under such regulations as may be made by the Senate with the approval of the University Court.

REGULATIONS

1.   The following categories of persons may, after being found by the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences or the College of Science & Engineering to possess prima facie a qualification for the Degree, be admitted as candidates for the Degree of Doctor of Science:

a)   A graduate of the University of Glasgow after the expiry of seven years from the date of his or her first graduation in the University of Glasgow.

b)   Any person who has held for a period or periods totalling at least four years such office or offices in the University of Glasgow as the University Court, on the recommendation of the Senate, may approve; provided either that they are a graduate of not less than seven years’ standing of a university likewise approved or that they have held for not less than seven years some other qualification specially recognised by the University Court, on the recommendation of the Senate, as equivalent for this purpose.

c)   Any person who has carried out research work, in terms of the Ordinance or Resolution for the time being in force for the regulation of research, for at least five years in the University of Glasgow (or in a college affiliated thereto); provided always that they are a graduate of not less than seven years’ standing of a university approved by the University Court, on the recommendation of the Senate.

2.   For the purpose of §1 of these Regulations, every prospective candidate for the Degree shall submit to the relevant College a summary of their proposed thesis, together with a list of the publications that are to be included in the thesis. The summary should be no longer than one thousand words. Only if it is the opinion of the College and of any adviser whom it may consult that:

a)   the work described properly falls into the area of science; and

b)   it is likely to be of the required standard

will the candidate be considered to possess prima facie the necessary qualification.

3.   Each qualified candidate must submit an electronic copy of their thesis as directed by the Graduate School and conforming to University Library specifications published at https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/research/enlighten/theses/formattingyourthesis/. In the event that electronic copies of any published works are not available the candidate should contact their Graduate School. If approved for the Degree, any submitted hard copies shall become the property of the University.

4.   In addition to making the declaration required under Section 3 of the Resolution governing this Degree, the candidate must identify any material in the DSc submission which has been, or is about to be, included in a submission by the candidate for any other higher degree or diploma in the University of Glasgow or for a higher degree or diploma in another institution; and they must lodge, together with their DSc submission, either a copy of such other submission (if available) or a precise statement of its scope. Material which has been included in a successful submission for another higher degree or diploma will not be taken into account in assessing a submission for the Degree of DSc of the University of Glasgow.

5.   Before acceptance for adjudication, a thesis, or an important part of it, shall have been published either as a book or in periodicals of recognised standing. The thesis may be presented in the form of a single memoir or writing containing a connected account of the candidate’s research or work. Published papers under various headings may be submitted in lieu of a single thesis provided that they are accompanied by a statement showing the relationship between the various studies and placing the whole work critically into perspective with the general state of knowledge in the field of investigation to which the candidate’s researches are related.