Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated)

Overview

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.

Some information relating to research in the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health can be found on the Faculty Research Students webpage. Students should note that this site does not contain an exhaustive list of possible topics; instead it provides information on a sample of potential areas of interest. Students are encouraged to talk to potential supervisors to discuss research topics. Information regarding UOW's research activity, research strengths, scholarships and services can be found under Research & Innovation.

Entry Requirements

Schools/disciplines have varying entry requirements. Academic requirements and English requirements are available from the Course Finder.

Course Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated) will be able to:

1. Demonstrate expert and specialised technical and research skills in a discipline area to independently and systematically generate original knowledge and understanding to make a substantial scholarly contribution to a discipline
2. Critically reflect on, synthesise and evaluate a substantial and complex body of knowledge at the frontier of a discipline area
3. Communicate research findings, explaining and critiquing theoretical propositions, methodologies, results and conclusions to peers and to the community.
4. Apply detailed knowledge of research, research integrity, ethics and the rights and safety of others, to plan and execute original research with intellectual independence and with full autonomy, authoritative judgement, adaptability and responsibility for personal outputs. 

Course Structure

Year 1: Coursework

All students complete one year (48 credit points) of coursework in the first year. Between 12-30 credit points must be completed from research training skills subjects offered by the Faculty.

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.

Year 1: Research Training 

Individual Coursework Subjects

The remaining 12-36 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).

Plus the following elective subject may be taken:

For more information, visit the Work Integrated Learning website.

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 or 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

Students will identify their area of research and specialisation in consultation with their academic supervisors

Credit Arrangements

Credit and articulation arrangements are available from the Course Finder. Refer to UOW's credit arrangements for information on how to apply for credit.

Other Information

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