2020-21

Degree of Doctor of Science in Medicine

RESOLUTION

The Degree of Doctor of Science in Medicine is governed by Resolution of the University Court with provision that:

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

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

a)   A graduate of the University of Glasgow after the expiry of seven years from the date of their 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.

3.   All candidates for the Degree of Doctor of Science in Medicine shall present a thesis or a published memoir or work, which shall be a record of original research in relation to science undertaken by the candidate, and shall be accompanied by a declaration signed by them that the work has been done and the thesis composed by themself. 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 College, who shall if they think fit make a recommendation thereon to the Senate. The candidate shall be approved for the Degree only if, in the opinion of the College and of the examiners, the thesis con­stitutes an original, substantial and authoritative contribution to scientific knowledge.

5.   The Senate shall have power to make such regulations governing the award of the Degree as may be approved by the University Court.

6.    The Degree of Doctor of Science in Medicine shall not be conferred upon a person who has not satisfied the conditions hereinbefore set forth; pro­vided always that it shall be in the power of the Senate to confer the Degree honoris causa under such regulations as may be made by the Senate with the approval of the University Court.

REGULATIONS

1.   For the purpose of Section 2 of the Resolution, every prospective candidate for the Degree shall submit to the 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 medical science; and

b)   it is likely to be of the required standard will the candidate be considered to possess prima facie the necessary qualification.

2.   Each qualified candidate must submit for the approval of Senate an electronic copy of the thesis, including the published works, to be examined. Candidates should contact their Graduate School in the event that electronic copies of any published works are not available. This shall be accompanied by a declaration signed by the candidate detailing the extent to which the research has been done and the work written by them. All copies of the works, if approved for the Degree, shall become the property of the University.

3.   In addition to making the declaration required under Section 3 of the Resolution, 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 in Medicine of the University of Glasgow.

4.   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.

5.   The submitted thesis should generally conform to University Library specifications published at: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/research/enlighten/theses/formattingyourthesis/. The thesis must include a summary (500-1,000 words), which must be an adequate and informative ab­stract of the work. The summary should be submitted with the thesis.

6.   If approved for the degree, one hard-bound copy of the thesis and one electronic copy shall be deposited with the University Library. Where agreed by the Graduate School and the Library, hard bound submission may be waived in favour of solely electronic submission. Any hard copy should normally be produced to the standard defined in BS4821:1990 available from the Library, and the electronic copy must conform to University Library specifications published at  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/research/enlighten/theses/formattingyourthesis/. It is the University's normal practice to make any bound copy available for consultation in the Library, and to permit computer download of the electronic copy through its repository service, Enlighten. Such access may, however, be restricted under provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 or the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

7.   No candidate may apply for re-examination for the Degree of DSc in Medicine until the elapse of at least three years from the date of the previous submission.

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