Higher Education Act, 1997 (Act No. 101 of 1997)NoticesInstitutional Statute of North West UniversityChapter 6 : Qualifications and Awards78. Conferring and awarding qualifications |
| (1) | A meeting of the members of the university, known as the congregation, must be convened at least once a year for the purpose of conferring degrees and awarding diplomas and certificates. |
| (2) | The senate determines the time, place and manner for convening a congregation with the approval of the council. |
| (3) | The chancellor or the vice-chancellor or, if both are absent, the vice-principal or a member of the senate, chairs the congregation. |
| (4) | A degree may not be conferred, or diploma awarded, upon any person unless the senate is satisfied that all the requirements for the degree, diploma or certificate have been met. |
| (5) | A person is not entitled to the privileges of a degree, diploma or certificate until the degree has been conferred, or diploma or certificate been awarded at a congregation. |
| (6) | A degree may be conferred or diploma or certificate awarded in the absence of the graduate or diplomate, or posthumously. |
| (7) | An official original certificate verifying the award and conferral at a congregation of a qualification is issued once only. |
| (8) | Despite subparagraph (7), the certificate may, upon written request and after payment of a fee determined by the senate, be mailed to the student if the degree was conferred or the diploma awarded in the absence of the student in terms of subparagraph (6). |
| (9) | If a student has met the requirements for a degree or diploma and the degree or diploma certificate has not yet been issued, or if a degree or diploma certificate has been lost, the registrar may issue, at the written request of the student and after payment of a fee determined by the senate, a document stating that the student has met the requirements for the degree or diploma and that the certificate will be issued on a certain date, or that it had already been issued on a previous date. |
| (10) | The registrar may issue a complete official academic record, including a certificate of conduct, or proof of subjects passed, to a student upon written request and after payment of a fee determined by the senate. |
| (11) | The senate determines the procedure for the presentation of the persons receiving degrees or diplomas at a congregation, the conferral of a degree and awarding of a diploma in the absence of a student, academic attire and all other matters relating to the congregation, and for which the statute or the rules do not provide. |
| (12) | The registrar may issue a certificate in respect of a short learning programme offered by the university to a candidate who has met the requirements in the format, on the occasion, and in the manner determined for that purpose by the rules and in accordance with the annual university calendar. |