Supervision, Examination and Marking of Graduate Research Units

THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Eligibility

1. Students require a Distinction average (70%) in a minimum of 24 units of courses taken in the Graduate Program in Law. (or at the discretion of the Director, Postgraduate Coursework Program with the support of the potential supervisor in special circumstances); and
2. Topic and agreed potential supervisor have been identified and approved by the program/specialisation convenor and/or Director, Postgraduate Coursework Program.

Supervision of Graduate Research Units

1. The student should arrange a time to meet with the relevant program/specialisation convenor to discuss possible topics for papers and supervision arrangements.

2. After the initial discussion with the relevant convenor, the student should prepare and submit a brief outline of the proposed research topic to the convenor. The outline should comprise the proposed research topic and the key issues to be addressed. It should also identify primary and secondary sources and the methods to be employed. The student may discuss the proposed research topic with any Faculty member.

3. After consideration of the outline and, if necessary, further discussion between the relevant convenor and the student, the Director, in consultation with the relevant convenor, will appoint a supervisor.

4. A student may reasonably expect that the supervisor will

5. The supervisor and student should be provided with a copy of these guidelines and any other relevant information on graduate supervision at the ANU.

Citation
The Faculty recommends students use Australian Guide To Legal Citation available in the Law Library or on the web at http://mulr.law.unimelb.edu.au/PDFs/aglc_dl.pdf

Word Limit

1. The Graduate Research Unit requires a paper of between 12,000 and 16,000 words in length.

2. The word count for a paper will be the count carried out by Microsoft Word, and will include footnotes and all other material, other than a bibliography or appendices which merely reproduce primary materials for the aid of the examiners.

3. If an extension to the word limit is sought, a student must submit a written application to her/his supervisor. The relevant convenor shall decide on whether an extension to the word limit is to be granted.

Submission Date

1. Graduate Research Unit papers must be submitted by the due date which is as follows:
(a) 15 June for semester one enrolment;
(b) 15 November for semester two enrolment;
(c) 1 March for summer session enrolment.

Where the due date falls on a weekend or a public or University holiday the due date will be the next working day
Students should advise the Faculty Office in writing when submitting their paper if a result is required to enable graduation at the next ceremony.

2. A student may only be granted an extension of time upon application to the relevant convenor or the Director, who will consult with the student's supervisor. Extensions will be granted only on the grounds that the student has suffered a serious interruption in the preparation of the paper for medical or other good reasons, or that there are circumstances which would, in the case of assessment by examination, justify the granting of a special examination. Late submission not covered by an approved extension will attract a mark penalty.

3. The paper should be submitted in hard copy to the Postgraduate Administrator, Students, Faculty Office using the cover sheet and including the word count.

Appointment of Examiners

1. Two examiners for each Graduate Research Unit paper will be appointed by the Director in consultation with the relevant Convenor.

2. One of the examiners so appointed will usually be the supervisor of the paper. The other examiner will, whenever possible, be a member of the staff of the Faculty. Where no member of the staff other than the supervisor is competent to examine the paper, an outside examiner will be appointed. If possible, this will be a member of staff of the University. The need to appoint a suitable examiner should be borne in mind by members of the Faculty when approving topics.

3. Students are entitled to know the names of their examiners.

Examination of Graduate Research Unit Papers

1. Both examiners should regard themselves as first examiners of a Graduate Research Unit paper and should, therefore, read the paper independently before consulting on the mark that is to be recommended.

2. The examiner of the Graduate Research Unit paper who has not been the supervisor should prepare a report, commenting on the strengths and weaknesses of the paper and recommending a mark. The other examiner may indicate agreement with that report and mark, or prepare a separate report recommending the same or a different mark.

3. It is suggested that examiners should comment on the following matters, in addition to any other comments they may wish to make:

a. the degree of originality, depth of research, whether the paper makes a useful contribution to legal knowledge;
b. the quality of arguments or reasoning;
c. the organisation of the paper;
d. the use of authorities, including some indication of their accuracy; and
e. literary style.

4. The marks for the Graduate Research Unit papers are graded on the normal scale of High Distinction, Distinction, Credit, Pass, Fail.

5. After the results of Graduate Research Unit papers have been published, students will be notified of the final mark awarded by the Faculty, and they will also be entitled, on request, to know the marks suggested by the examiners and to have copies of their examiners' reports.

6. For the purposes of the Examinations (The Faculties) Rules, the Chairperson of Examiners for the unit will be the relevant Convenor. These Rules provide that it is the duty of the Chairperson of Examiners in a unit to ensure that the academic performance of each student in that unit has been adequately and fairly assessed.

SJH
8 August 2005