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 adequate supervision and facilities for the proposed work 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 eight (8) consecutive sessions (not including Summer sessions), and not more than sixteen (16) consecutive sessions (not including Summer sessions), from the date of registration. Under special circumstances, 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

− Communications

− English Literatures

− French

− History

− International Relations

− Italian

− Japanese

− Linguistics

− Media and Cultural Studies

− Philosophy

− Politics

− Science, Technology and Society

− Sociology

Assessment

Students meet regularly with their supervisors to ensure that they are proceeding to plan. On commencement, candidates and their supervisors complete a Confirmation of Candidature Form that identifies key milestones, resource needs, and skills required for completion of the research project. This is followed by a First Year Research Proposal Review towards the end of the first year of candidature. In addition, each year the student and supervisors must submit a progress report. The Annual Progress Report (APR) is the means by which the University assesses whether the candidature will continue into the following year. Supervisors who are concerned about a student's progress may also initiate a progress review at other times during a student's candidature.

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

Students are advised to consult the University's Code of Practice - Supervision at the following web address: www.uow.edu.au/handbook/codesofprac/cop_supervision.html

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

Last reviewed: 12 January, 2007