Doctorate (PhD)
School of Health Sciences, Fremantle Campus
The University of Notre Dame Australia is dedicated to building a strong and innovative research culture. The Doctor of Health Science is a specialised degree that combines coursework and research with strong workplace connections. You will be required to complete four research training and writing courses in your first semester, before commencing the research program under the supervision of leading health academics. Your research may be undertaken in collaboration with industry or with a professional mentor connected to your field of study.
The following criteria apply to students seeking admission to the Professional Doctorate program:
You may be required to demonstrate an ability to understand and communicate in both written and spoken English at a level adequate for the purpose of pursuing the program of study.
The Professional Doctorate is a research degree designed to meet the needs of professionals who aspire to achieve academic excellence and lead the development of knowledge within their profession. The program seeks to examine crucial professional topics and integrate professional experience with scholarly inquiry. In particular, it aims to generate a research-based approach, providing answers to questions relevant to the professions or industry and encouraging a systematic way of collecting, analysing and interpreting data. For this reason, we recommend you seek the support of a relevant professional body, employer or industry group in defining your research area.
The Professional Doctorate comprises coursework and a substantial research component leading to the submission of a thesis. The coursework component includes four compulsory research training courses to be completed as a prerequisite to your individual research project. The coursework will provide opportunities for you to formulate substantial elements of your planned research (e.g. topic refinement, identification and justification of the preferred research method(s), preparation of a draft proposal), and to develop personal competencies in critical analysis and scholarly writing relevant to your profession.
The completion of the coursework is facilitated by a course delivery schedule which takes into consideration that you may also be in employment during your candidature.
Full details of the program are contained in the Program Regulations & Planner.