University of Technology Sydney

C02106v1 Doctor of Philosophy

Award(s): Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
CRICOS code: 110094G
Course EFTSL: 4
Location: City campus, Distance mode

Notes

Research degrees are offered on a sponsored, scholarship or full-fee-paying basis. Contact the Institute for Sustainable Futures or the UTS: Graduate Research School for further details.


Overview
Course aims
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Other information

Overview

The PhD is a University-wide research degree which involves an intense period of supervised study and research, leading to an original and significant contribution to knowledge. This is a degree of the future and is a recognised path for those wishing to assume leadership positions in their field of specialisation.

This course prepares graduates for a leadership role in the widely diverse range of industries and organisations that rely on research or research skills to solve real-world problems, including but not limited to academia, business, government, cultural and community organisations.

Course aims

The institute aims to support students taking a trans-disciplinary or interdisciplinary approach to research while building on their existing expertise.

Career options

This research degree is especially valuable for students to gain deeper understanding of a subject area and develop analytical, problem solving, communication and project management skills. These are highly valued and enable graduates to pursue an academic career or careers in industry, research, government non-government organisations.

Course intended learning outcomes

1.1 Demonstrate an integrated knowledge of the theoretical underpinnings of the relevant specialised field necessary for a career in academia or relevant professions.
1.2 Integrate research principles and concepts and apply them to relevant academic and/or professional disciplines
2.1 Critically reflect, synthesise and evaluate existing academic and other relevant literature in the research field
2.2 Apply critical and creative thinking to address major research issues in the field of specialisation
2.3 Develop, adapt and implement research methodologies to extend and redefine existing knowledge, including for creative or professional practice
2.4 Communicate research clearly and fluently, in high-quality forms appropriate for academic and/or professional audiences, and where feasible to lay or public audiences
3.1 Understand and rigorously apply ethical research and the core professional obligations, values and operations of researchers as appropriate to the relevant discipline and field of professional practice
3.2 Generate original knowledge and understanding to make a substantial contribution to knowledge, including for creative or professional practice
4.1 Consider the implications of research in relation to Indigenous peoples and communities in Australia and global contexts, where relevant

Admission requirements

Applicants must have completed a UTS recognised master's by research or bachelor honours degree with first class or second class / division 1 honours, or an equivalent or higher qualification, or submitted other evidence of general and professional qualifications that demonstrates potential to pursue graduate research studies.

Selection criteria also include: research potential, research experience, quality of the research proposal, alignment with the UTS Research Strategy and the strategic goals of the field of specialisation, and the Faculty's ability to offer appropriate supervision in the applicant's chosen field.

Applications to the Institute for Sustainable Futures are assessed based on the following four criteria:

  1. professional experience – strength and relevance to the candidate's opportunities (impact)
  2. research output (quality and impact)
  3. research proposal (quality)
  4. academic merit (quality).

The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 7.0 overall with a writing score of 7.0; or TOEFL: paper based: 584-609 overall with TWE of 5.0, internet based: 94-101 overall with a writing score of 27; or PTE: 65-72 overall with a writing score of 65; or C1A/C2P: 185-190 overall with a writing score of 185.

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

International students

Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.

Course duration and attendance

The maximum course duration is four years of full-time or eight years of part-time study. Students can complete the course in less than the maximum time. Some courses have a strong preference for research undertaken at a full time pace.

The work may be carried out either on university premises or at a site external to the university, or some combination of both. Candidates are recommended to make contact with their supervisor(s) at least once a month to discuss the progress of their research. In some fields of specialisation, students may be expected to complete campus-based or other research activities on a prescribed basis.

Course structure

There are three specific stages to the doctoral program. In the first stage, candidates must complete a formal assessment to confirm their candidature. In the second stage, a progress confirmation assessment to ensure their progress is consistent with completion of the research program within the prescribed time and demonstrates potential to complete the work to standard. Candidates are required to complete a third stage in order to confirm readiness to submit their thesis for examination.

Within this framework of stages, doctoral students design their own Graduate Research Study Plan in discussion with their supervisory panel. This draws from the UTS HDR Capability Framework that shapes what it means to be a research student at UTS. A Review of Progress is conducted each year, in a process that is separate from the Stage Assessments.

Students may be required to undertake some coursework, for example in research methods or in theoretical knowledge in the field of specialisation. Students have the opportunity to complete an industry-based HDR internship experience, with government, business or community.

Course completion requirements

95582 PhD Thesis: Sustainable Futures 

Other information

Further information is available from the Institute for Sustainable Futures on:

telephone +61 2 9514 4950
email isf@uts.edu.au
www.isf.uts.edu.au

Applicants may also contact the UTS: Graduate Research School