Doctor of Philosophy

Schedule of Qualification Categories

Entrance Standard

The minimum qualifications for admission to PhD candidature is a:

• Bachelors degree requiring at least four years of full-time study, and which normally includes a research component in the fourth year, leading to an honours degree class I or class IIA level; or
• Masters degree by research; or
• Qualification which in the opinion of the Research Graduate School Committee are equivalent or a satisfactory substitute.

A candidate for the PhD must be formally enrolled in a course in the appropriate faculty.

Duration

Duration is consistent with cumulative sequential study in the field for seven to eight years.  This would comprise four years of study at undergraduate level including an honours year (or equivalent), followed normally by three to four years of postgraduate research (or a minimum of two years full-time equivalent to a maximum of four years full-time equivalent study).

Exit Standard

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) signifies that the holder has completed a course of postgraduate training in research under proper academic supervision, has submitted a thesis that external examiners have declared to be a significant contribution to knowledge, and that demonstrates the candidate’s capacity to carry out independent research.

Examiners will expect a thesis to:

1. make a significant contribution to knowledge and understanding of the field concerned;
2. contain material worthy of publication in a form suitable to the discipline; and
3. have a satisfactory format and literary presentation.