The University of Western Australia
Future Students

PhDs and professional doctorates

Professional doctorates and PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy) are supervised research degrees.

  1. Research project
  2. Coursework
  3. Combined PhD programs
  4. Preparing for a research project
  5. PhDs, Professional and Higher Doctorates

Research project

Professional and higher doctorates and PhD programs consist of a research project mutually agreed upon by a student, supervisor, head of school and the Board of the Graduate Research School. The programs require the development and implementation of a rigorous research plan, based on a comprehensive understanding of the relevant literature and the need for answers to questions posed in that literature or as the result of a new theory.

A thesis at this level will demonstrate, in the context of a substantial and original contribution, mastery of the subject as well as a furthering of understanding in that field of knowledge, through the discovery of knowledge, the formulation of theories, or the innovative re-interpretation of known data and established ideas.

The thesis arising from the research should show a student's ability to document and interpret results, to formulate theories and to discuss the results in the light of the current literature to a level of competence required in published materials.

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Coursework

There are usually no examinable coursework components to a PhD.

There are coursework components to some professional and higher doctorates. You should check the details on individual programs.

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Combined PhD programs

UWA also offers combined PhD programs which allow students to complete coursework programs alongside a PhD program:

Normally the coursework components are interleaved with the thesis component in a complementary fashion.

The PhD component of these courses is administered by the Graduate Research School and the coursework component by the relevant faculty.

Application and admission to these courses requires the approval of the Board of the Graduate Research School.

Regulations can be found in the postgraduate handbook.

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Preparing for a research program

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PhDs, Professional and Higher Doctorates

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Further Information

Fellowships and postdoctoral awards

Research

Footnote links and information

University information

CRICOS Code: 00126G

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Last updated
Friday, 7 September, 2012 4:15 PM
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