Doctor of Philosophy candidates undertake supervised research with the aim of making a significant and original contribution to a discipline or profession.

Candidates complete research, which may be pure, exploratory, applied, experimental and/or creative. They must submit a written research thesis, or a written research thesis including associated papers, of between 70,000 and 100,000 words.

The graduate certificate aims to support students’ doctoral research and enhance their capacity to contribute significantly to knowledge in their discipline. The course also seeks to enhance students’ career prospects and employability through innovative research coursework and workshops. Students may also have the option of undertaking a work placement as an elective unit.

Course structure

The Doctor of Philosophy degree is generally completed over a period of four years full-time or eight years part-time. Candidates undertake research, which may be pure, exploratory, experimental and/or creative, and are required to submit a written research thesis, a written research thesis including associated papers, or an artefact with an accompanying exegesis. The examinable outcome will normally be equivalent to 70 000 to 100 000 words. Where the examinable outcome takes the form of a thesis, it is acknowledged that thesis length can vary according to the nature of the work and the discipline.

Throughout your candidature you will receive guidance and support from your research supervisors. You will also have the opportunity to participate in a number of research training sessions on topics such as thesis writing, publishing and presenting.

 

For the Graduate Certificate component, students are required to complete 50 credit points comprised of four units of 12.5 credit points each:

• 2 core units of study (25 credit points)
• 2 elective units of study, or equivalent (25 credit points)

At the commencement of their PhD, students will be enrolled into the two core units. They are required to complete these units within the first 12 months of candidature (prior to Confirmation of Candidature). Swinburne Research will deliver the two core units through a mix of online learning and face-to-face workshops on Hawthorn campus.

In consultation with the supervisory team, students take two elective units at any stage during the PhD candidature. The relevant faculty will deliver elective units, which can be online, multi modal, or on campus.