Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated)

Course Description

The Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated) is a four-year research degree which incorporates a traditional three-year PhD thesis with one year of coursework subjects, combining generic research training and discipline-specific content into a single degree.

The coursework, which is undertaken in the first year of the degree, comprises research training skills and individual coursework subjects. Research skills are tailored for each faculty, but typically include: research methodology; literature review, critical analysis, or laboratory projects; and advanced topics or a minor research project. The individual subjects are normally chosen from options within the Masters by Coursework degrees within the relevant faculty, thereby allowing students to obtain deeper content knowledge in a specific discipline area.

International students intending to become university researchers and teachers in their home country will benefit from exposure to Australian teaching methods through these subjects.

The research component is the same as for the three-year PhD program, leading to the production of a written thesis which involves a significant contribution to a field of knowledge. Each PhD candidate has two supervisors.

In order to progress to the research component, PhD Integrated students must complete the first year with an average of 65%, including 65% in each research training skills subject. Students progressing to the research component will have developed their specific research topic before commencing the research component.

Specific information relating to research being undertaken within the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health can be found on the Faculty Research Students webpage.

Entry Requirements

Schools/disciplines have varying entry requirements, information on academic requirements, English requirements and credit transfer information can be found in Course Finder.

Course structure

Year 1: Coursework

All students complete one year (48 credit points) of coursework in the first year, comprising:

Research Training Skills

Between 12-30 credit points must be completed from research training skills subjects offered by the Faculty, typically including one or more of:

• Research methodology

• Literature review, critical analysis, or laboratory projects

• Advanced topics, or a minor research project

All students will also complete modules from the suite of student seminars and workshops coordinated by the Research Students Centre. Modules which develop thesis writing skills will be emphasised.

individual coursework subjects

The remaining 18-36 credit points are chosen from the postgraduate coursework programs available within the Faculty, in consultation with the academic supervisor. This will allow students to obtain deeper content knowledge in a specific discipline area.

# RESH900 Fundamentals for HDR Writing is designed to help international Higher Degree Research (HDR) students with their thesis writing skills in the early stages of their degree. Enrolment in this subject is compulsory for all PhD (Integrated) international students who are from a Non English Speaking Background (NESB).

Years 2-4: Research

The research component is the same as for the three-year PhD program and leads to production of a written thesis.

In order to progress to the research component, PhD Integrated students must complete the first year with an average of 65%, including 65% in each research training skills subject. Students progressing to the research component will have developed their specific research topic before commencing the research component.

Students not meeting the progression requirement into Year 2 may be offered an alternative of transferring into a Master’s program.

Rules and procedures for Doctoral degrees by Thesis are listed in the Course Rules. Doctoral candidates are urged to be familiar with the Code of Practice - Supervision and General Course Rules governing Thesis and Research Degrees, including the regulations regarding preparation and submission of the thesis.

Under the current higher education legislation, it is not possible for students in a research degree to exit with a coursework degree. Students may transfer between research degrees, cease HDR enrolment and apply for admission to a coursework program as a new course. More information on this is available in the General Course Rules.

SPECIALISATIONS

School of Biological Sciences

School of Chemistry

School of Earth and Environmental Sciences

School of Medicine

School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health

WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING/INTERNSHIP SUBJECTS

GLOBAL WORKPLACE PRACTICE (GWP800) 

An informative and intensive subject designed to meet the employment aspirations of international students to undertake work in Australia. This subject crosses boundaries between theory and practice and will maximise the student's potential to access workplace experiences leading to formal post-university employment options. Students will acquire and develop work-based learning skillsets; will critically examine the discourses and theories of intercultural competence, as well as develop cultural awareness and business communication skills that are fit-for-purpose regardless of students' career aspirations. It also provides an opportunity for students to integrate and apply their university knowledge in an industry context. 

Trimester 2 and Spring 2014 applications for GWP800 on Wollongong Campus are now OPEN.

For more information on GWP800, visit the Work Integrated Learning website.

Other Information

Further information is available at:
UOW Course Finder
Email: smah-students@uow.edu.au