Online Theology Degrees

General Degree Regulations for Greenwich School of Theology distance learning degrees

1. A Research Proposal (RP) completed to meet the University’s regulations must be submitted first to the tutor and then to the co-tutor. This will be examined by the appropriate department and, with approval, by the Faculty’s Committee for Advanced Degrees (CAD). After being examined by NWU, the tutor and the student will receive a written report on the feasibilty of the RP. If modifications are required during the process, these must be completed promptly and the RP re-submitted for full approval.
2. All degree submissions will be examined by at least two examiners appointed by GST; submissions are also examined by two examiners from the Faculty of Theology of the University and two external examiners appointed by NWU. The criteria for assessment are provided to students in a separate document.
3. Students are required to use the Harvard System of Citation. A guide to the use of this is made available to students.
4. A candidate may pass, fail, or be referred at the end of any distance learning course. In cases of referral, the NWU Director of Research, together with the examiners, will recommend to the student, via his/her tutor, the remedial steps to be taken.
5. All students and tutors are required to sign a Code of Conduct and to agree a Student Work Schedule at the start of each year of the distant learning programme. No student may submit work for examination which has not been assessed and approved by the tutors.
6. All modules for the degree BA (Hons) programme must be submitted to the tutor at regular intervals to be assessed. The tutor will submit the module with his/her mark and written comments to the GST examiner. The module essays will be returned to the tutor with the assessment of the examiner. The student will receive a report on his/her work and the final grading. Preparation of the mini-dissertation must be preceded by the submission of a Research Proposal. A Guide is provided for this purpose.

General Regulations concerning Theses, Dissertations and Examinations for all Greenwich School of Theology distance learning degrees. For the purpose of these regulations:

… a thesis for a doctoral degree (in theology) is defined as a piece of written research embodying 60,000 to 80,000 words and which forms a distinct contribution to knowledge and professional skills and affords evidence of originality

… a (mini-) dissertation and a module are ordered and critical expositions of existing knowledge

A thesis or (mini-) dissertation must not have been submitted in substantially the same form for the award of a higher degree or qualification from another University or College. Before submission, each student is required to sign the ‘Solemn Declaration’ document to confirm this.

• A mini-dissertation for the degree of BA (Honours) should not normally exceed 12,000 words.
• A dissertation for the Masters degree in theology (MA) should not normally exceed 35,000 to 40,000 words.
• A thesis for the PhD degree in theology should not normally exceed 80,000 words.
• Sections of a thesis/dissertation that have been published or submitted for a higher degree or qualification elsewhere must be clearly indicated.
• There are two submission dates for Greenwich School of Theology distance learning degrees in any year for Bachelors, Master’s and Doctoral degrees:

May (results due in September) and

November (results due in February).

However, it is vital that theses and dissertations be submitted to the GST Liaison Administrator TWO months before the dates given above so that the language editing and any required revisions can be completed in good time.

• ONE electronic copy of the completed mini-dissertation for  BA (Honours) must be submitted to the Liaison Administrator who will arrange for language editing prior to submission for examination.
• ONE electronic copy of the dissertation for Master’s and ONE electronic copy of the Doctoral thesis  must be submitted to the GST Liaison Administrator for language editing prior to submission for examination. GST provides unbound copies for GST examiners and NWU provides unbound copies for their examiners.
• Once the degree has been awarded, SIX bound copies are produced at North-West University (South Africa)  for the faculty library and the university main library and ONE bound copy is produced for Greenwich School of Theology; this is archived at St Deiniol’s library, Hawarden.
•  BA (Honours) students are required to provide ONE bound copy to the GST Liaison Administrator.

 

Format for the Presentation of Theses and (mini-) Dissertations

Binding

The binding must be of a fixed kind in which the leaves are permanently secured. The boards must be sufficiently rigid to support the weight of the work when the book is standing on a shelf. The covering must be in the standard form of black waterproof buckram cloth except in the case of Doctoral (PhD) degrees, which must be bound in scarlet.

Cover Title

The outside front cover must bear the following: a full title and sub-titles (if any) of the work at the top in at least 18pt (5mm) gold lettering; the initials and surname of the candidate; the qualification in brackets for which the thesis is submitted and the year of submission. The lettering must read from top to bottom, i.e. so as to be readable when the volume is lying flat with the front cover uppermost. If the work consists of more than one volume, the spine and front cover must also bear the number of each volume. The title and candidate name may also be suitably arranged on the spine of the bound work.

Type

Theses and dissertations must be presented in typescript or print. Copies produced by xerographic or comparably permanent processes are acceptable. White paper of A4 size must be used, which must be of good quality and of sufficient opacity for normal reading and printed on one side only.

Lay-out

• Margins at the binding (left hand side) edge must be not less than 40mm, and other margins not less than 20mm.
• Line spacing should be 1.5 (except for indented quotations where single spacing must be used).
• Font sizes vary but 12 is a good size to use.
• Paragraphs must be blocked and separated by double spacing.
• No section must be started within the last 5 lines of any page.

Pagination

Pages must be numbered consecutively throughout the thesis including photographs and/or diagrams where possible.

Title Page

The title page must give precise information. The thesis/dissertation title must be exactly as shown on the NWU ‘Registration of Title’ document. There must be no full capitalisation of the title.

The student number is required after the student name.

Chapters

Chapters should each start on a fresh page.
Chapter headings should be placed to the left of the page; chapters and subsections of chapters should be numbered to correspond with those designated in the Research Proposal. Numbering should be numerical not alphabetical; hence 1.1.

Abbreviations

Where abbreviations are used a key should be provided. As a general rule, however, abbreviations should be avoided where possible.

Drawings, Maps, etc

Wherever practicable, such illustrative matter must have a binding margin of at least 40mm and, if possible, be bound in the thesis near the appropriate text. Material that cannot be conveniently bound in the work may be included as Annexures (See Compiling the Dissertation or Thesis document - page 4 - for further details).

Consistency

Whatever style is used, for instance for writing numbers (ie words or digits), for lay-out etc, it is important to be consistent throughout the work.

Bibliography

Specific regulations must be followed in the presentation of this aspect of the thesis. A separate document provides details of these.

Language Read

It is now a stipulatory requirement by the accrediting University in South Africa that all essays, monographs, mini-dissertations, dissertations and theses be subject to a full language read (i.e. proofread) prior to final submission. This facility is arranged by the GST Liaison Administrator for a fee of £3.50 per thousand words or part thereof, which is based on the presented draft, NOT the final copy. Students are reminded, therefore, of the requirement to delimit the focus of their study as detailed in the compilation document.

Fees and Tuition

Details of fees, tuition payments and payment plans for all theology distance learning degrees at Greenwich School of Theology are available on a separate information sheet. The School attempts to keep the fees at a reasonable level but reserves the right to increase fees as is necessary without prior notice being given. Fees are payable directly to the Finance Officer and remittances should be made payable ONLY to Greenwich School of Theology.

Academic Dress

Details of the Academic Dress of North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus) for the purpose of graduation ceremonies are available from the School Secretary.

The Greenwich School of Theology reserves the right to make changes in fees, course programmes, and all administrative structures described in this prospectus and elsewhere without prior notice being given. This prospectus does not form any part of any contract between the Greenwich School of Theology and any student.