Course Information

Doctor of Philosophy

Effective from 01-JAN-2025 : Code L61

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is an opportunity to pursue a topic you are passionate about at the highest academic level. A PhD consists of an independent, supervised research project that is assessed on the submission and oral defence of a thesis or creative work and exegesis. The thesis or creative work and exegesis is examined externally and must demonstrate a significant contribution to new knowledge, and an ability to carry out independent research of high quality. A PhD may be undertaken in any School within ECU, provided there are supervisors available in your proposed research area, and the resources and facilities required to complete your proposed project are accessible. ECU encourages interdisciplinary research that may span multiple research fields or Schools to solve global problems. We encourage you to view the Research Activity pages of the School websites for ECU's areas of research focus. As a PhD candidate, you will be expected to develop a project that can be completed in three years full time. You may submit your thesis any time after 2 years of full time study, and the maximum course duration for a PhD is four years full time. A PhD is a significant undertaking, and if enrolled full time you are expected to commit at least 35 hours per week to your research..

Disclaimer

This course information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester. In particular please check the course requirements and the unit and unit set offerings, as these differ according to course delivery location.

Course Learning Outcomes

  1. Integrate substantial and systemic understanding of complex discipline knowledge with research principles and methods to demonstrate expertise in the field.
  2. Use expert skills and authoritative judgement to adapt and implement research methodologies and conduct systematic and independent investigation of theory and/or practice at the frontier of a discipline.
  3. Apply communication skills to explain and critique theoretical propositions, methodologies and conclusions, and cogently present findings of a complex and original investigation to peers and the broader community.
  4. Take responsibility and show initiative for designing and executing original research, demonstrating capacity to generate new knowledge with intellectual independence.

Admission requirements

Admission requirement (Band 11)

  • Masters Degree (Research); or
  • Bachelor Honours Degree (First or Upper Second class); or
  • Demonstrated capacity to undertake original PhD-level research.

English Language requirement (Band 4)

English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

  • IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.5 (no individual band less than 6.0);
  • Bachelor degree from a country specified in the Admissions Policy;
  • Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
  • Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience; or
  • Other tests, courses or programs as defined in the Admissions Policy.

Course Specific Admission Requirements

All applicants are required to have the equivalent of 6 months full time research (which must involve a research output which includes the conception and design of the project, and analysis and interpretation of findings) if applying with a Masters qualification other than a Master by Research. Applicants seeking online study will be required to provide additional information to support their application, as not all projects nor disciplines are suited to online study. Special entry may be considered for applications to the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) who will be required to attend an audition and/or interview.

English Language Requirements for Nursing and Midwifery:
International students (other than those students schooled in a recognised country as defined by APHRA at http://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registration-Standards/English-language-skills.aspx) are required to provide any English language test approved by AHPRA with a score equivalent to an IELTS Academic overall minimum score of 7.0 (no individual band less than 7.0). Internationally schooled applicants may also be required to meet this requirement or we may require additional information to confirm that requirements have been satisfied.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 10 Doctoral Degree Award.

Course Duration

  • Full Time: 4 Years
  • Part Time: 8 Years

Course Delivery

  • Joondalup: Full Time, Part Time
  • Mount Lawley: Full Time, Part Time
  • South West (Bunbury): Full Time, Part Time
  • Online: Full Time, Part Time

Course Coordinator

Dr Kate BISCHOF

Course Structure

Students are required to continue re-enrolling in the relevant discipline-specific thesis unit of their study until the thesis is submitted for examination.

For candidates commencing from 2018 the examination process will consist of both a written and oral component.

Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
AGR7200 ^Doctor of Philosophy Thesis (Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies)
ARC7200 ^Doctor of Philosophy Thesis (Architecture and Building)
ART7200 ^Doctor of Philosophy Thesis (Creative Arts)
COM7200 ^Doctor of Philosophy Thesis (Management and Commerce)
ERT7200 ^Doctor of Philosophy Thesis (Engineering and Related Technologies)
ETN7200 ^Doctor of Philosophy Thesis (Education)
HLT7200 ^Doctor of Philosophy Thesis (Health)
INF7200 ^Doctor of Philosophy Thesis (Information Technology)
NAT7200 ^Doctor of Philosophy Thesis (Natural and Physical Sciences)
SCL7200 ^Doctor of Philosophy Thesis (Society and Culture)

^ Core Option

Unit sets that can be studied as part of this course


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

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