Doctor of Philosophy

Overview
The research involved in producing a doctoral (PhD) dissertation involves a significant contribution to a field of knowledge. This degree is the pinnacle of academic achievement, and, normally, a necessary requirement for permanent academic employment at a university or research centre.

Entry Requirements
To enrol in the degree, students need a Bachelor of Arts (or equivalent qualification) with Honours at Class II Division ii or higher, or a Master of Arts - Research with a strong performance in the major thesis.

Course Requirements
The Doctoral Thesis must be a minimum of 80,000 words and no longer than 100,000 words in length. The thesis will be on a topic to be decided by the student in consultation with the appointed supervisors.

Each PhD candidate has two supervisors. Before accepting a PhD candidate, the Faculty will ensure that two supervisors with appropriate expertise are available.

A full-time candidate should normally complete the Doctorate in three years. The Faculty requires the candidate to complete in not less than four (4) consecutive sessions, not including Summer sessions, and not more than eight (8) consecutive sessions, not including Summer sessions, from the date of registration. A part-time candidate shall complete the Doctoral Thesis in not less than six (6) consecutive sessions, not including Summer sessions, and not more than sixteen (16) consecutive sessions, not including Summer sessions, from the date of registration. Candidates may be extended beyond the maximum time period following a satisfactory review of progress.

Fields of Study
Students of the Faculty enrol for the PhD in one of the following discipline or interdisciplinary areas, related to one of the Faculty’s major research themes.

Asia-Pacific Studies
Communication and Cultural Studies
English Studies
French
History
International Relations
Italian
Japanese
Linguistics
Philosophy
Politics
Science, Technology and Society
Sociology

Assessment
Students meet regularly with their supervisors to ensure that they are proceeding to plan. Each year, the student and supervisors must submit a progress report. The annual report is the means by which the University assesses whether the candidature will continue into the following year.

When the thesis is submitted, it is examined by two external examiners chosen by the supervisors in consultation with the student.

For further information about the Faculty’s research themes and researchers, please consult the Faculty website at: http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/

For more technical information about the degree process, please consult the website of the University’s Office of Research at: http://www.uow.edu.au/research/current/index.html