The Award of Posthumous Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates

  1. Modular Initial Degree Schemes
    An Examining Board may recommend to the University that a posthumous degree be awarded where the following is met:

    the candidate has achieved no fewer than two thirds of the credits required, at the appropriate levels, prior to death.

    Note: In the case of candidates following full-time Honours and General schemes, not fewer that 60 credits at level 3 (CQFW 6), taken in the final year, must be completed, whereas in the case of candidates following full-time Ordinary degrees, not fewer than 20 credits at level 3 (CQFW 6), taken in the final year, must be completed.
  2. The Award of Posthumous Undergraduate Certificates and Diplomas

    An Examining Board may recommend to the University that the award of a posthumous undergraduate certificate or diploma be made where a candidate has died prior to completion of an approved scheme, as follows:
    1. after completion of the taught element of the scheme, where the candidate has taken some of the required examinations, but has died before completion of all of the required examinations.
      In such a case, the Examining Board shall consider the candidate's performance in the completed examinations and in the coursework submitted.
    2. after completion of the taught element of the scheme of study, but prior to taking any of the required examinations.
      In such a case, the Examining Board shall consider the evidence available.
    3. prior to completion of the taught element of the scheme.
      In such a case, provided that the candidate has completed two terms of a one-year scheme (or the equivalent proportion of a longer scheme), the Examining Board shall consider the evidence available to it.
  3. Postgraduate Research Degree Schemes

    An Examining Board may recommend to the University that the award of a posthumous degree be made where a candidate has died:
    1. after the thesis has been examined, or submitted for examination, but before the oral examination (where required) can be held.
      In such a case, the Board shall consider the work presented and, provided that it is satisfied that the work is the candidate's own (by means of the receipt of reports from the Head of Department and the supervisor), may decide to recommend that an award be made.
    2. before submitting the thesis.
      In such a case, the Board shall consider available evidence of the research work completed by the candidate. Normally, such evidence shall be supplied by the candidate's supervisor, who shall also submit a report for consideration by the examiners. The Head of the Department concerned shall also submit an argued recommendation regarding the award of the degree. The following criteria must also be satisfied:
      1. enough of the research project must have been completed to allow a proper assessment to be made of the scope of the thesis;
      2. the standard of the research work completed must be of that normally required for the award of the degree in question, and must demonstrate the candidate's grasp of the subject;
      3. the written material available (draft chapters, published work, work prepared for publication, presentations to conferences/seminars, progress reports by the candidate for his/her department/institution/ sponsor) must demonstrate the candidate's ability to write a thesis of the required standard.
  4. Taught Master's Degree Schemes
    1. Part I (Taught Component)

      An Examining Board may recommend to the University that the posthumous award of a Postgraduate Diploma to a candidate for a Master's degree scheme may be made (regardless of whether a Diploma has been approved for the scheme in question) where a candidate has died :
      1. after completion of the taught element of the scheme, where the candidate has passed all of the required examinations, but has died before commencing the Master's dissertation;
      2. after completion of the taught element of the scheme, where the candidate has taken some of the required examinations, but has died before completion of all of the required examinations.
        In such a case, the Examining Board shall consider the candidate's performance in the completed examinations and in the coursework submitted.
      3. after completion of the taught element of the scheme of study, but prior to taking any of the required examinations.
        In such a case, the Examining Board shall consider the evidence available.
      4. prior to completion of the taught element of the scheme.
        In such a case, provided that the candidate has completed two terms of a one-year scheme (or the equivalent proportion of a longer scheme), the Examining Board shall consider the evidence available to it.
    2. Part II (Project and Dissertation)
      1. An Examining Board may recommend to the University that the award of a posthumous degree be made where a candidate has died before the submission of a dissertation, provided that the Board is able to consider available evidence of the research work completed by the candidate. Normally, such evidence shall be supplied by the candidate's supervisor/advisor, who shall also submit a report for consideration by the examiners. The Head of the Department concerned shall also submit an argued recommendation regarding the award of the degree. The following criteria must be satisfied before the examiners recommend to the University that the award of a posthumous degree be made:
        1. enough of the research project must have been completed to allow a proper assessment to be made of the scope of the dissertation;
        2. the standard of the research work completed must be of that normally required for the award of the degree in question, and must demonstrate the candidate's grasp of the subject;
        3. the written material available (draft chapters, published work, work prepared for publication, presentations to conferences/ seminars, progress reports by the candidate for his/her department/institution/ sponsor) must demonstrate the candidate's ability to write a dissertation of the required standard.
    3. The Award of Posthumous Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas

      An Examining Board may recommend to the University that the award of a posthumous postgraduate certificate or diploma be made where a candidate has died prior to completion of an approved scheme, as follows:
      1. after completion of the taught element of the scheme, where the candidate has taken some of the required examinations, but has died before completion of all of the required examinations.
        In such a case, the Examining Board shall consider the candidate's performance in the completed examinations and in the coursework submitted.
      2. after completion of the taught element of the scheme of study, but prior to taking any of the required examinations.
        In such a case, the Examining Board shall consider the evidence available.
      3. prior to completion of the taught element of the scheme.
        In such a case, provided that the candidate has completed two terms of a one-year scheme (or the equivalent proportion of a longer scheme), the Examining Board shall consider the evidence available to it.