Doctor of Philosophy Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

A Doctor of Philosophy graduate is expected to be able to:

• conduct independent research at a high level of originality and quality
• independently conceive of, design, conduct and complete a research project or program
• understand their given substantive area as well as the given methodological approach(es)
• communicate an argument convincingly, with clarity and relevance to appropriate audiences.

Other key skills obtained by research graduates include:

• Independent thinking
• Decision-making skills
• Good judgement
• Logical thought, rationality
• Communication skills
• Project management skills
• Data analysis
• Problem solving
• Critical thinking

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.