Solusi University / Graduate Research
The postgraduate research framework for Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy candidates.
Entry, supervision, milestones, examination and publication requirements in one place. The complete regulations follow below.
A substantial research contribution grounded in critical engagement with the field.
Original research that advances knowledge and meets a publishable standard.
Summary figures reflect sections 2.6, 7.1 and 9.10. Refer to the full regulations for conditions and approval processes.
Only active MPhil and PhD programmes appear here. Select a programme to open an application with that choice already filled in; the application form will show postgraduate research programmes only.
Faculty of Education, Humanities, Agriculture, Science and Health Professions
Apply for this programmeFaculty of Education, Humanities, Agriculture, Science and Health Professions
Apply for this programmeFaculty of Education, Humanities, Agriculture, Science and Health Professions
Apply for this programmeFULL TEXT / SOLUSI UNIVERSITY
Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). The text below recreates the supplied framework as a readable web page. Section and regulation numbers are retained for reference.
The general regulations lay down the rules concerning admission, registration, the appointment of supervisors, and supervision of the degrees by research and thesis (MPhil and Ph.D. programmes), research procedures, submission of theses, examining procedures, and awarding of higher degrees at Solusi University (SU).
The Degrees by Research and Thesis aim at:
(a) Empowering students to make significant contributions to the existing body of knowledge.
(b) Offering a thorough grounding in research methodology, methods and techniques;
(c) Developing essential skills necessary for producing an original research-based thesis, including: independent research, academic writing, synthesis and analysis and
(d) empowering students to critically evaluate current research and understand emerging trends from an interdisciplinary perspective and the ultimate spiritual, economic, and social value creation.
The MPhil degree may be awarded to a student whose postgraduate research work makes a significant contribution to knowledge and demonstrates a critical understanding of existing literature in the field. The research must be presented coherently in a theses that is critical, well-structured, and articulate. Additionally, it should provide clear evidence of thorough analysis and discussion of the results.
The PhD degree may be awarded to a student whose postgraduate research work constitutes a substantial and original contribution to knowledge within the field. This work must demonstrate a deep critical engagement with existing literature and contain elements that are of publishable quality. The thesis must be articulated coherently, showcasing a critical, literary, and methodically organized presentation. Furthermore, it should provide robust evidence of comprehensive analysis and insightful discussion of the results, reflecting the student's ability to contribute meaningfully to academic discourse.
In order to qualify for the award of a degree by research a student must:
(a) Be enrolled as a research student of the University
(b) Pursue a course of research within the time limits set forth by these General Regulations,
(c) Present and submit a satisfactory dissertation or thesis that meets the required academic standards,
(d) Successfully undergo a viva voce examination to assess the research work,
(e) Publish at least one conference paper for MPhil and publish at list one journal for PhD related to the topic of study.
(f) Pay the appropriate fees and fulfill all other obligations to the University.
The typical entry requirement for registration in the MPhil degree is a First or Upper Second Class undergraduate degree in a relevant subject, or an equivalent qualification in a discipline appropriate to the program being pursued. Candidates with vast experience (minimum of 2 years) in the field of interest of study may be considered on submission of a portfolio of evidence to the associated Faculty Higher Degrees Committee.
Applicants for the PhD degree should generally possess both a Master's degree and a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree in a relevant field. Additionally, they should have experience in the area of professional practice they wish to research or have met the criteria for transfer from MPhil to PhD. Candidates with vast experience (minimum of 2 years) in the field of interest of study may be considered on submission of a portfolio of evidence to the associated Faculty Higher Degrees Committee.
Students enrolling for either the MPhil or PhD must register provisionally until full registration is granted. They are required to comply with the statutes, rules, and regulations of the University..
Students must re-enroll at the beginning of each academic year. Failure to re-enroll may result in the lapse of registration. No student is permitted to register or re-enroll unless the prescribed annual fees for the year have been paid.
The registration for MPhil and PhD programs may be cancelled upon the expiration of the registration period, or if the Higher Degrees Committee, based on the supervisor's report and departmental endorsement, determines that the candidateΓÇÖs progress is unsatisfactory.
The MPhil program requires a minimum duration of two years fulltime or three years parttime and a maximum of four years fulltime or six year parttime. In contrast, the PhD program mandates a minimum duration of three years fulltime or four years parttime and a maximum of six years fulltime or eight years parttime.
The proposal serves as an integral part of the screening process for higher degree candidates. It provides Departments and prospective supervisors with insights into the candidateΓÇÖs ability to articulate their ideas, the potential contributions of the study to the field of research, and the feasibility of the proposed project.
At a minimum, any research proposal should include the following elements:
i. Title of Thesis
ii. Introduction and Rationale
iii. Statement of the Problem
iv. Research Aim, Objectives and Research Question(s)
v. Theoretical Framework (where applicable)
vi. Research Design and Methods
vii. Research value, spiritually, economically, technologically and socially as applicable
vii. Provisional Chapter Layout and Timeline
viii. Budget
ix. Ethical Considerations
A template of the Recommended format of the MPhil and PhD proposal is available here (see attached and link ).
The process of submitting a proposal is as follows:
i. The preliminary proposal of not more than 1 200 words is submitted to the relevant Department along with a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a full academic transcript(s) and any other documentation specified by the Department.
ii. If the preliminary proposal is accepted and the Department has the capacity to supervise it, they will assign a supervisor(s).
The appointment of supervisors shall be subject to the Higher Degrees Committee and Senate approval
A supervisor of MPhil and PhD students should have a doctorate, and appropriate research and publication record. A supervisor who retires from service may be requested to continue supervising the student for continuity purposes.
Where the nature of the research is such that expertise in more than one field of study is required or where the research methodology requires it, the appointment of a co-supervisor from another field of study or an expert on the research methodology may be considered. The supervisor of MPhil or PhD candidates need not be a lecturer at the university. If they are not, the co-supervisor must, however, be an appropriate academic in the relevant Department at the University.
Supervisors/ Co-supervisors hired from outside the University and whose expertise is not available in the Department concerned, will be paid using general tariffs for external supervisors and co-supervisors, as determined from time to time by the University.
The supervisor works with the student to finalise the proposal, and in the case of a doctoral study it should be submitted for review by the Higher Degrees Committee.
Once a supervisor is satisfied with a prospective candidateΓÇÖs research proposal, the Department nominates members of an Admission Committee. The committee should at least have five members, all of whom, should normally have doctorates composed as follows: (a) the supervisor, (b) the chair of the Department (or a senior member of the Department or a related Department if the chair is the supervisor) who acts as the chair of the committee, (c) an additional member who is a senior colleague in the Department or a related Department, (d) two further members who each represent different Departments. The names and Departments of the members of the committee must be submitted by the Departmental chair to the Dean of the respective Faculty, and must be approved by the Dean before the committee can begin with its activities.
The committee uses the ΓÇÿPro forma cover page for doctoral submissions for recommending the research proposal. The committee must write a recommendation in which it comments on the following: a) the merit of the study, b) the ability of the candidate to conduct the research, and c) points of advice and potential concern, including ethical considerations.
The recommendation must be submitted to the Programme Coordinator for forwarding to the FacultyΓÇÖs Higher Degrees Committee for consideration. If accepted by the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee, the proposal is recommended to the Higher Degrees Committee, and the Senate.
If the Higher Degrees Committee does not accept the proposal, the candidate will have the opportunity to revise and resubmit it, taking into account the specific reasons provided and the corresponding resolutions offered by the committee
The responsibilities of the student and the supervisor should be discussed as soon as possible after admission and commencement of the study. Such a conversation forms part of a written agreement between the supervisor and the candidate.
Once the research proposal is approved by the Senate, the candidate may be considered fully registered.
Students are required to register every calendar year (January- March) for the entire duration of their study until the degree is conferred.
If student fails to register in any year before the prescribed date, their registration will lapse.
Students wishing to re-enter the degree program after a lapse must submit a written application for re-admission. They will need to register for the program from the beginning and pay all required fees.
Further registration will only be permitted if the departmental chairs or supervisors grant permission for the students to continue their studies based on a satisfactory progress report.
A student whose registration would have lapsed (as per 4.3 above) may, with the recommendation of the faculty and granted permission be allowed to re-register for the resumption of their studies from the date of their last registration, with the understanding that the student will pay all the fees and levies for the period of absence. In such cases, the student should have submitted a written application for such resumption with a detailed explanation motivating why they should resume from the last date of registration. Failure in this regards would result in the provisions 4.4 above being applies.
The degree shall only be awarded to a student who has completed the academic requirements of the programme and had registered for all academic periods during the study and cleared financial obligations due to the University.
Any changes to the research topic in MPhil and PhD studies must be submitted to the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee through the Programme Coordinator and the Higher Degrees Committee. The Faculty Higher Degrees Committee must recommend the change before it is approved by the Senate. ΓÇó If the change in topic involves more than a simple refocusing of the original topic, a new research proposal must be prepared and submitted to the Senate Executive via the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee. ΓÇó If the change is merely a refocusing of the original topic, it must still be submitted along with a written justification to the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee via the Programme Coordinator and the Higher Degrees Committee.
In exceptional cases, a student may apply to the Registrar for their MPhil registration to be converted to a doctorate, or vice versa. This application must include a written recommendation and justification from the supervisor. The relevant Department will consider the application and make a recommendation to the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee, which will then submit its recommendations to the Registrar.
Students may, depending on their circumstances and in consultation with their supervisor, apply for either an interruption of study or withdrawal from the programme.
i. Applications for interruption of study must be submitted to the Programme Coordinator by the last day of the academic year.
ii. Applications for interruption will normally not be considered at the beginning of the academic year, assuming the student has already registered for that year.
iii. Approval for the interruption will be based on recommendations from the supervisor and the Chairperson of the Department.
iv. Approved applications must be included in the next Faculty report and submitted to the Senate Executive and Senate for final approval.
v. Interruptions of study will not be permitted for periods shorter than a year.
vi. In the MPhil programme, permission for interruption will be granted only once and for a maximum period of one continuous year. In the case of doctoral studies, permission may be granted up to twice for one-year periods each, or once for a two-year period during the course of the programme.
If a student wishes to withdraw from their research programme, they must notify their supervisor and their respective Department, providing reasons for their departure.
If unsatisfactory progress occurs due to an extended lack of communication (lasting at least three months), and reasonable efforts to contact the student have been made, the supervisor may recommend to the Dean, through the Departmental Chairperson, that the student be deemed to have voluntarily withdrawn from the programme. The Dean will formally notify the student of this decision and will allow a reasonable period of fourteen days for the student to present any mitigating circumstances.
While formatting specifications may vary between Departments, the following general guidelines apply:
i. Length: The recommended lengths for theses aligned to the demands of the field as needed are as follows: a) PhD theses: 80,000-85,000 words (approximately 220 pages) b) Full MPhil theses (180 credits): 40,000-42,000 words (approximately 100- 110 pages
ii. Title Page: The required format for the thesis title page can be found in Annex... and the thesis declaration in Annex...
iii. Plagiarism Check and Declaration: All theses must be submitted to Turnitin or an equivalent plagiarism software before they can be handed in for examination. The supervisor must confirm in their 'permission to submit' form that the plagiarism check results from Turnitin are satisfactory.
A notice of intention to submit a thesis for examination must be sent to the Higher Degrees Committee well in advance of the submission deadline set by the Higher Degrees Committee. The student, on the recommendation of the supervisor, must inform the Degrees Committee in writing of their intention to submit at least three months before the final submission date. Theses must be submitted to the Higher Degrees Committee by the date specified at the beginning of each year. Examiners will have six weeks to complete their evaluations and submit their reports to the Higher Degrees Committee.
The declaration from the supervisor regarding the submission of the thesis for examination must be submitted along with the provided thesis form. If the supervisor does not grant permission for the work to be submitted but the candidate wishes to proceed, they may appeal to the Dean through the Department. The Dean may recommend to the Higher Degrees Committee that the candidate be allowed to submit the work for examination after consulting with the supervisor and/or the Chairperson of the Department.
Candidates must submit the following documents:
i. A single PDF document of the complete and collated work emailed to the Higher Degrees Committee (to be forwarded by the Higher Degrees Committee to the examiners).
ii. The declaration from the supervisor confirming that the work may be submitted for examination (form provided).
iii. For MPhil theses, a cover letter from the supervisor or Department indicating the scope and credit weighting of the work.
The Higher Degrees Committee, in conjunction with the Department and the supervisor, nominates examiners to evaluate the thesis. The procedure for appointing examiners is the same for both MPhil and PhD theses, with the following distinctions: ΓÇó MPhil requires two examiners, while PhD requires three.
i. The supervisor must carefully verify the institutional affiliations of the examiners.
ii. All examiners must have no connections to the writing of the thesis.
iii. At least one examiner must have an academic affiliation with the University, while the others should be external, either from other tertiary institutions or suitably qualified professionals from the private or public sectors. For doctoral examinations, at least one examiner should be from outside Zimbabwe. This is dependent on the needed expertise to assess the subject matter appropriately.
iv. Extraordinary professors and honorary professors cannot serve as external examiners but may serve as internal examiners pro bono.
v. Teaching associates and research associates can act as internal examiners during their formal association with Solusi University but cannot serve as external examiners for three years after leaving the University.
vi. Retired academics from Solusi University may act as internal examiners for three years post-retirement, after which they may serve as external examiners.
vii. Supervisors or co-supervisors are not permitted to act as examiners.
The Departmental Chairperson submits the names of the examiners to the Programme Coordinator for presentation to the Higher Degrees Committee. For MasterΓÇÖs examinations, examiners may already be nominated through a block appointment and need not be sent to the Higher Degrees Committee.
i. Examiner names can be submitted to the Higher Degrees Committee alongside the research topic or at any time prior to the deadline.
ii. The name of examiners shall be confidential to students throughout the examination process.
ii. Supervisors must verify the full and correct contact details of the examiners before final submission.
iii. To ensure timely completion of examinations for a specific graduation ceremony, it is crucial to meet the deadlines for appointing examiners. Missing the deadline will result in the graduation being postponed to the next event.
iv. The Higher Degrees Committee forwards the nominations to the Senate Executive for Senate approval.
v. Following the Senate approval, the Higher Degrees Committee sends a nomination letter to external examiners for their written acceptance.
The procedures and documentation required for changing examiners are the same as those for appointing them.
The supervisor, in consultation with the Chairperson of the Department, selects a suitable individual to serve as the Non-Examining Chair of the doctoral examination committee. This person must belong to a different department than the one in which the candidate is registered. The names of the Non-Examining Chair and other committee members are submitted via the Programme Coordinator to the Higher Degrees Committee for approval.
If examiners cannot reach a consensus on the examination outcome, an independent assessor is appointed. The non-examining chair of the examination panel manages this process and reports to the Higher Degrees Committee via the Programme Coordinator, following the facultyΓÇÖs established practices.
i. Criteria for the Assessor: The independent assessor must be a senior academic from another institution with expertise in the dissertation or thesis's specific field. The chair of the examination panel, in consultation with the supervisor, appoints the assessor on an ad hoc basis for each dispute case.
ii. A written justification for the appointment of the specific assessor must be submitted to the Higher Degrees Committee, along with the necessary documentation.
iii. Remuneration: The independent assessor is compensated at the normal rate remuneration of an external examiner, with payment arranged by the Programme Coordinator
Candidates must not be informed of the identities of their examiners and cannot communicate with them about the examination between submitting the dissertation or thesis and receiving the final result. The supervisor should also refrain from contacting the examiners regarding the examination until the non- examining chair has confirmed that a final result has been reached.
Supervisors of MPhil theses (but not doctoral theses) are required to submit a report on their supervision of the research. This report provides the examination panel with valuable information for assessing the student's work. It is not sent with the thesis to the examiners but is for the examination panel's use after receiving the examiners' reports. The report may include:
i. The study's contribution to the field of research.
ii. The appropriateness of the methodological framework.
iii. The degree of independence exhibited by the student.
iv. Any difficulties experienced by the student.
v. Reflections on the use and correct citation of published and unpublished works.
Examiners' reports are confidential and will only be made available to the candidate with the examinerΓÇÖs explicit permission.
i. Thesis examinations consist of two complementary processes: independent written reports from each examiner and an oral examination where the examination committee (chaired by the non-examining chair) engages with the candidate. The written reports are the primary evaluation tools, determining whether the candidate passes. Reports should be 1 to 2 pages long.
ii. The Higher Degrees Committee circulates the examinersΓÇÖ reports prior to the internal oral examination, which allows examiners to clarify issues raised in the written reports or address new topics, serving as a secondary evaluation tool. Supervisors may only view the reports after the oral examination is complete. The marks given by the external examiners will be final, and examiners may submit an additional report with a revised mark if they choose to do so after the examination.
iii. Each examiner submits an independent written report evaluating the thesis based on established assessment criteria. Examiners should provide a clear statement on how the candidate meets each criterion, supported by examples from the dissertation or thesis. They may also comment on aspects not covered by the criteria.
Examiners should consider the following criteria in their assessment:
i. Delimitation and conceptualization of the research field and subject.
ii. Command of the relevant research methodology.
iii. Familiarity with recent pertinent literature.
iv. Clear and systematic presentation of material and logical argumentation.
v. Proper documentation and support for the results of independent research.
vi. Adherence to recognized ethical standards.
vii. Acceptable linguistic and stylistic presentation.
viii. Quality of the published material/s in the field of the dissertation and thesis.
ix. The dissertations in depth of methodological approaches and application in practical areas of the field.
x. The thesisΓÇÖs new contribution to the body of knowledge in its field.
Each examiner must comment on the suitability of all or parts of the thesis for publication. In addition to the written report, examiners must complete and submit the Standard Report Form, indicating whether their comments may be shared with the candidate. The report and Standard Report Form should be directed to: Postgraduate Examinations Office Solusi University PO Solusi, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Phone: +263 292 885982 E-mail: postgrad@solusi.ac.zw
The Higher Degrees Committee communicates the examiners' findings to the other examiners and the supervisor via the non-examining chair. Reports and forms should not be sent directly to the supervisor or Departmental Chair. The Department, through the Chairperson, will submit the report to the Higher Degrees Committee, which will make a recommendation to the Senate Executive regarding the degree award or other outcomes of the examination process. Senate approves all final outcomes of postgraduate degrees.
The examinersΓÇÖ recommendations regarding the outcome (as per the Standard Report Form) may include:
i. The degree may be conferred upon the candidate, contingent on completing any required revisions to the satisfaction of the supervisor.
ii. The degree may be conferred upon the candidate, provided more substantial revisions are completed to the satisfaction of the examiner/s, as agreed upon by the examination panel.
iii. The candidate must revise and resubmit the dissertation / thesis for examination (indicating failure in its current form but potential for passing upon substantial revision and re-examination by the same examiners).
iv. The degree may not be conferred upon the candidate, and the work may not be resubmitted for examination.
An oral defence examination is required for a doctoral degree. The oral examination may cover:
i. The thesis.
ii. Research articles (in the case of a PhD by publication).
iii. The field related to the thesis.
The oral examination is conducted by at least two of the three examiners, the departmental experts and is chaired by the faculty dean or their assigned senior academic staff. If examiners cannot attend in person, they may participate online. The absent examiner can submit questions or comments in advance, which the chair will direct to the candidate.
The examiners, chaired by the non-examining chair, constitute the examination committee. The supervisor is invited to attend the oral examination as an observer and does not participate in discussions unless requested by the chair. Refer to section 8.4 of these regulations for further details.
The Higher Degrees Committee /Board arranges the time for the oral doctoral defence examination in consultation with the non-examining chair. ExaminersΓÇÖ written reports and Standard Report Forms must be submitted to the Higher Degrees Committee. Once all reports and forms are received, the Higher Degrees Committee sends them to the non-examining chair and circulates them to the examiners.
Neither the candidate nor the supervisor sees the reports or gains insight into their content before the oral examination. Reports are confidential, and the names of the examiners are disclosed only with their explicit permission. The Standard Report Forms should never be disclosed to the candidate. Only relevant portions of the reports that help the candidate make necessary changes may be shared, unless the examiner has permitted the entire report to be passed on. After the oral examination, the supervisor is responsible for summarizing the report.
After the oral examination, the non-examining chair completes the final result in the required form, which is signed by the examiners. The non-examining chair may sign on behalf of examiners participating virtually.
Any results communicated to candidates during the oral examination are provisional until ratified by the Senate Executive and approved by Senate. Official results are communicated to the candidate by the Senate secretariat. The non-examining chair delivers the final result to the Higher Degrees Committee along with an accompanying letter. The Higher Degrees Committee then forwards the letter, form, and original examinersΓÇÖ reports and Standard Report Forms to the Senate secretariat.
Supervisors must report to the Senate secretariat before signing off on the work to be uploaded into the Library system, confirming that all final changes or amendments suggested in the examination reports have been completed. The Senate secretariat is also responsible for arranging the remuneration of external examiners.
The final report of the examination committee, along with the original reports of the examiners, must be submitted to the Senate secretariat in time for further submission via the Programme Coordinator to the Higher Degrees Committee, Senate Executive, and Senate by predetermined deadlines. While reports of examiners do not serve before the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee, members of the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee have the right to inspect them.
Candidates pursuing an MPhil are expected to publish at least one high-quality conference paper. Candidates pursuing a PhD are required to publish at least one high-quality peer-reviewed journal article in a journal ranked at least Quartile 2.
The University encourages postgraduate students to publish their research as accredited articles and to present their findings at academic forums. The respective Dean, with support from the University Research Board funding, provides incentive funding to facilitate such publications. Students should explicitly mention their association with the University in these publications.
Questions about programme requirements or the examination process? Contact the Postgraduate Examinations Office at postgrad@solusi.ac.zw.