The Doctor of Philosophy involves a three year full-time (or part-time equivalent) research program which culminates in the submission of a thesis. The course consists of the preparation of a research proposal, the conduct of research, the preparation of a thesis, and participation in seminars and conferences.
 
This course refers to the following fields of study in the Doctor of Philosophy degree:

• Education.

Admission to the program will be dependent upon the availability of a principal supervisor with expertise in the field of inquiry.

Academic Qualifications

(i)   Bachelor of Education with Honours First or Upper Second Class (2A); or

(ii)  Master of Education by coursework or thesis; or

(iii) Bachelor degree with First or Upper Second Class Honours in a discipline other than Education, plus one year full-time or equivalent study in a relevant area of Education; or

(iv) a Master degree in a discipline other than Education, plus one year full-time or equivalent study in a relevant area of Education.

Professional Experience

Applicants would normally be expected to have relevant professional experience.

Additional Evidence

International applicants require an Academic IELTS overall band minimum score of 7.0 (no individual band less than 6.5)

Conditions for Continuation in Good Standing

Applicants for Doctor of Philosophy are accepted in the first instance on condition of a successful written submission and candidature is confirmed by oral defence of a detailed research proposal. If the defence is successful, continuation in the Doctor of Philosophy program is granted. Normally this occurs within 6 months after admission if full-time or 12 months after admission if part-time.

The Doctor of Philosophy program comprises a study program of two to three years full-time, or four to six years part-time involving research culminating in the submission of a thesis which makes a significant and original contribution to the area of study. Candidates are expected to participate in seminars and workshops on topics of research and related study areas. A panel of supervisors will oversee the development and progress of the student’s research.

A prime requirement is that a Doctor of Philosophy must make a substantial contribution to knowledge in a designated field of study. It should show how theory is extended or tested to provide new knowledge. The research methods can be either quantitative or qualitative. The thesis should consist of 75,000-100,000 words. An adapted version of the Doctor of Philosophy thesis should be of a standard that could be suitable for publication in a reputable journal.

Students in the doctoral program are required to make satisfactory progress in each semester. Students who do not make satisfactory progress will not be eligible to remain in the course.

ENROLMENT IN THESIS UNITS

Each semester students enrol into the research thesis unit: EDU7200 at 50 or 100% of full-time enrolment.

Students are required to continue re-enrolling in the thesis component of their study until the thesis is submitted for examination. Doctoral candidates will normally complete no less than two years and no more than four years of full-time equivalent study by the time their thesis is submitted for examination.