Dissertation Defense At UNISA

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Economist, May 12, 2009.

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  1. Economist

    Economist New Member

    I would like to ask all participants in this forum who got their doctoral degree from UNISA if they have had to go to the RSA for their dissertation defense.

    Was anyone given a choice between long-distance defense and an "in-person" defense?
     
  2. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I think that you will find that, in general, people are not required to travel to South Africa to defend their doctoral thesis (in South Africa it's a doctoral thesis and a Masters dissertation). However, the school reserves the right to require you to show up in person to make a defense, however unlikely that might be.
     
  3. Haggai12

    Haggai12 Member

    Agree with Kizmet.

    I was not required to defend in person, but it is an option for the school.
     
  4. Economist

    Economist New Member

    Thank you both for the helpful feedback.
     
  5. Scott Henley

    Scott Henley New Member

    Just curious... if not required to defend in person, how did you defend?
     
  6. RoscoeB

    RoscoeB Senior Member

    Univ. of Pretoria

    I will be doing mine by phone. My supervisor said the last time they tried to do it by teleconference they ran into problems. He said I'm allowed to do it by phone because I enrolled in '06, before they changed their policy.

    Personally, I think I would prefer seeing the faces of the people I'm addressing. Don't think I'll be comfortable with the phone. I was planning to use a room at a local school or possibly the SA embassy in D.C. Now I'll just do it from home.

    Roscoe
     
  7. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Hi Roscoe - Out of curiousity, what is the policy for those who have enrolled more recently?
     
  8. RoscoeB

    RoscoeB Senior Member

    Hi Kizmet,

    Good question. I will find out.

    Roscoe
     
  9. Haggai12

    Haggai12 Member

    Did my MTh [dissertation] via conference call. Not ideal, but it works.

    The doctorate at Unisa gives the school the option to require an 'in person' examination, but usually it is done via telephone or e-mail, or not at all. Just depends on the [sorry] whims of the particular faculty and examiners [from other universities].
     

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