Statute 29: THE DIRECTORATE OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES (DPGS)

  1. There shall be a Directorate of Postgraduate Studies whose mandate shall be to make recommendations to the Senate on the conduct and quality of postgraduate studies.
  2. The Directorate shall perform the following functions:
  • Harmonising postgraduate curricula and regulations;
  • Admitting postgraduate students on the recommendation of Faculties/Schools/Institutes;
  • Assuring quality and enforcing standards of postgraduate programmes;
  • Soliciting and administering postgraduate scholarships and research grants;
  • Making available to Faculties/Schools/Institutes/Campus Colleges/ Campuses and relevant offices information relating to postgraduate studies throughout the University by publishing a prospectus and bibliographic records of postgraduate research done and being done within the University;
  • Maintaining a database of ongoing and published work arising from postgraduate research in the University;
  • Maintaining records of all past and present postgraduate students;
  • Ensuring that the approved research projects, theses, or similar presentations are deposited in the Library both as electronic and hard copies;
  • Coordinating the Award Scheme for academic excellence amongst postgraduate students and forwarding recommendations thereon to the Deans Committee;
  • Revising the Postgraduate Students Handbook;
  • Coordinating postgraduate students’ supervision according to the following principles and requirements:
    • That supervisors are appointed immediately after the students have commenced their studies;
    • That postgraduate research supervisors are competent and specialised in the subject area within which the proposed research falls;
    • That supervisors keep regular contact with their students (at least once in three (3) months);
    • That supervisors ensure that students defend their Research Proposals and have them approved by the Board of Postgraduate Studies within six (6) months of completion of coursework;
    • That joint supervisors maintain regular consultations with one another regarding the progress of students;
    • That supervisors submit progress reports on their students’ research work on a quarterly basis;
    • That progress reports on students are evaluated by the Board on a quarterly basis;
    • That the student’s role as a researcher is fully reflected in any joint publications with the supervisor;
    • That the supervisor ensures that s/he works efficiently and harmoniously with the student;
    • That students’ complaints regarding supervision are addressed in a timely manner and objectively;
    • That appropriate disciplinary or other action is recommended to the relevant authority in relation to any supervisor who fails to perform the duties of supervision;
    • That the maximum number of students per supervisor at any one time shall be five (5) for the Master’s and three (3) for the Doctor of Philosophy degree.
  • Coordinating the administration and processing of Master’s Research Projects, Master’s Theses, and Doctoral Theses, which shall include:
    • Appointing nominated Supervisors;
    • Appointing Examiners;
    • Coordinating the forwarding of submitted Master’s Research Projects, Master’s Theses, and Doctoral Theses to Examiners;
    • Coordinating defences;
    • Overseeing all defences;
    • Forwarding the recommendations of the Board of Examiners to the Chairperson of the Senate for approval on behalf of the Senate.
  • Receiving reports on the welfare and conduct of students, deliberating upon and making such recommendations thereon to the Senate.
    • The Directorate shall perform such other functions as may be lawfully delegated to it.
    • There shall be a Director of the Directorate in accordance with Statute 22(17).
    • The Director of the Directorate shall report to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics, Research and Extension).
    • The Directorate shall have a Board in accordance with Statute 22(10).
    • The membership of the Board shall be:
  • The Director of the Directorate– Chairperson;
  • The Director (Research and Extension);
  • The Director, Directorate of Undergraduate Studies and Career Services;
  • The University Librarian;
  • One (1) representative of each Faculty, School, and Institute at the rank of Senior Lecturer and above as recommended by the Faculty/School/Institute Board for a period of three years non-renewable;
  • One (1) postgraduate student representative, Egerton University Students Association;
  • Secretary – Shall be provided by the Office of the Director;
  • Co-opted members, provided that such members shall not have the right to vote and shall not constitute more than one-third of the membership of the Board.
    • The Board shall adopt procedures in accordance with Statute 22(12).

PROGRAMMES AND PROCEDURES FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS

Programmes Offered

Currently, the University offers five Postgraduate diploma programmes; 70 Master’s programmes and 61 Ph.D. programmes, all accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

DURATION OF THE PROGRAMMES

The University, through the Graduate School, offers three levels of programmes:

  • Postgraduate Diploma programmes, whose duration is between one academic year and a maximum of two years;
  • Master’s programmes, whose duration is two academic years. They can extend to a maximum of three years (for full time students) or four years (for part-time students);
  • Doctoral programmes, whose duration is three years can extend to a maximum of four years (for full -time) or six years (part-time).

Note: All programmes Masters and PhD are by Course work, Examination, Research and project /Thesis/dissertation.