Research M.Phil./ Doctorate, Vancouver University WorldwideNorth American readers please note. This document is in a special context - research degrees. More typical North American master degree options are facilitiated in the Degrees and Teaching Degrees documents.1. This present document is to advise prospective candidates and prospective external (adjunct) faculty how they may participate in our Research M.Phil./ Doctoral process. Ours tends to be a traditional British-style research (or creative-outcome) degree (either M.Phil or D.Phil, as appropriate) based on completion of a significant dissertation rather than an emphasis on courses. Candidates may nevertheless collaterally enroll in research methodology and other courses - online or at any appropriate institution - as appropriate and if recommended. The thesis / dissertation affirmation form is used for all postgraduate degree candidates providing thesis / dissertation. (For persons who are really interested in an on-line *two years of courses +* process, a recommended alternative is R1edu). Our degrees originated in customary and statutory context. We collaborate in the quality concern and other academic organizations listed here. (For post-2004 in-BC degree context, see update). 2. In our research degree context, candidates ordinarily have an undergraduate degree and any necessary graduate/research methodology courses. Often with advice from a collaborating mentor (usually a professor or adjunct professor of an institution other than Vancouver University), they complete and document a substantial work of research or other comparable creativity. Although this may be presented in other form - film, video, software program, etc - the work must primarily or also be described in publishable form, print or online. [Barron's and a number of other publishers sell helpful guides for the preparation of graduate dissertations; and examples of comparable work are available for scrutiny at any university library, including ours]. Occasionally we are approached with completed dissertations which have been rejected at doctoral level at another institution, and the institutional departure so uncomfortable that the author does not wish to proceed to further revisions there. We accept the possibility of being an alternative-outcome option in such cases, so long as any and all needed revision/improvement of the dissertation occurs. External (and internal) examiners are still required to evaluate, to affirm quality, and be assured as to authorship. 3. The completed work is presented to 'internal' and 'external' readers (examiners), ordinarily holding relevant doctorates. Per commendation of the readers - their perception of degree of merit - either the M.Phil or D.Phil is awarded. Because Vancouver University Worldwide is a consortium of colleges and collaborating institutes, the 'internal' reader may be at a constituent / affiliate college or institute, or may be otherwise specially appointed. At appropriate stage, the candidate and readers (further described in the next paragraph) preferably meet physically, or by online videoconferencing where feasible. [We are also about to embark upon a trial with the software, which will permit large documents to be posted and 'defended' by the candidate and panel on-line]. The dissertation, and resulting official transcript, is an open public document (unlike more usual course-graded transcripts). Examples. 4. Any professor of another university, or emeritus thereof, may be designated an 'external' reader and/or mentor with respect to a particular candidacy. Such person would ordinarily be a senior (full) or associate professor on staff at such other university; or hold similar rank (adjunct senior, adjunct associate) if working primarily in a research facility or the like, corporate or otherwise. Often a candidate and mentor (if there need be such) would be in direct contact with each other for discussion of ongoing work. Or they may be able to communicate effectively by other exchange of documents, graphics, etc. 5. Open University Press and a few other publishers sell guides to the postgraduate (particularly doctoral) process. We also strongly recommend Graves, Varma Working for a Doctorate: A Guide for the Humanities and Social Sciences, Routledge, London & NY. If not available at your nearest metropolitan bookstore, such guides may be in the library at your nearby university. 6. All special costs of mentoring (if needed), research, travel, etc., are the responsibility of the candidate. The candidate's registration fee and doctoral fee (see degrees application form) is expended by Vancouver University Worldwide for administrative costs and overhead, inclusive of membership fees in relevant academic entities. The primary motive of faculty and others in this program is the encouragement of research and creativity in a topic of particular intellectual interest. When a mentor devotes a considerable amount of time to a candidate, a token honorarium of $1250 from the candidate to the mentor is appropriate. Any use of another institution's resources would, of course, need to be by agreement with appropriate personnel (e.g., department head) of that institution - the exception being where the resource, such as a library, is regularly open to public use. 7. The credibility of dissertation - particularly doctoral - must be outstanding, given the fact that Vancouver University struggles as the only secular non-profit independent university in a Canadian provincial academic environment which is otherwise exclusively public-sector or denominational. Only a small number of candidates are accepted and special inter-institutional arrangements are usually required, so after initial inquiries you will be referred to our Office of President and University-affiliates Services - OPUS. The president is Raymond Spencer Rodgers - BA Concordia [SGWC] (Montreal), Ext. Dipl. in Geography (U. of London), MIA and PhD (Columbia, NY). [Dr Rodgers' own published studies, in polymath disciplines, are variously available at the National Library Ottawa, VPL, UBC, and SFU etc libraries]. 8. The focus of the program to-date has been in particular aspects of the social sciences and humanities. We have particularly welcomed postgraduate research in subject matters which we have offered at associate degree level since 1970, and bachelor level since 1983. With provision of appropriate funding support , the program can extend to accomodate other sciences. Vancouver University Colleges Society has charitable status with both Revenue Canada and the US IRS. [Since 1983, Vancouver University Worldwide has also granted four (only) honorary doctorates - all to persons instrumental in its enhancement to university status, including long-standing board chairpersons Thomas N. Tong and Grant A. Lucas. Past Honorary Governor Rita Johnston had prior been Premier of British Columbia. Charles Woodward, similarly honoured, donated initial premises]. |