Policy

Professional Doctorates - Policy

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1. Purpose and Objectives

This document sets out the policy statement for Professional Doctorate qualifications offered at The University of Queensland.

2. Definitions, Terms, Acronyms

Academic programs – sequence of study leading to the award of a qualification such as an undergraduate degree or diploma, and/or postgraduate coursework qualification.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) – a single comprehensive national qualifications framework that represents the national policy for regulated qualifications in Australian education and training.

Volume of Learning – identifies the notional duration of all activities required for the achievement of the learning outcomes specified for a particular AQF qualification type. It is expressed in equivalent full time years.

Learning Outcomes – the knowledge, skills, and application of knowledge and skills required to be met by graduates of a particular AQF qualification type.

3. Policy Scope/Coverage

This policy is applicable to all Professional Doctorate programs offered at The University of Queensland. The policy reflects, and gives effect to, the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

4. Policy Statement

The Professional Doctorate is a structured program of learning designed to make a significant contribution to original knowledge and/or research integrated practice developed in collaboration with relevant statutory and regulatory bodies. These programs serve to generate advanced competency in the application and generation of knowledge in the professional context.

This policy reflects, and gives effect to, the TEQSA Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2011 at http://www.teqsa.gov.au/regulatory-approach/higher-education-standards-framework

Custodians
Dean, Graduate School

Procedures

RTP-Funded Professional Doctorates - Procedures

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1.0    Purpose and Scope

  1. This procedure supports the implementation of the Professional Doctorates Policy.

  2. This procedure covers the design, structure, admission, progression and examination requirements for those professional doctorate programs offered at The University of Queensland which are eligible to be funded by the Research Training Program (RTP).

  3. This procedure applies to all prospective and currently enrolled candidates for an RTP-funded professional doctorate program, as well as to staff of the University and external personnel involved in relevant activities such as supervision or examination.

  4. This procedure reflects, and gives effect to, the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) for professional doctorates. All professional doctorates offered at The University of Queensland are delivered as level 10 doctoral degree qualifications, in accordance with the AQF.

2.0    Process and Key Controls

  1. All professional doctorates must incorporate a minimum of two years of research that makes an original and significant contribution to knowledge in the context of professional practice.

  2. The program may include an industry placement where feasible and dependent on accrediting body requirements.

  3. Professional doctorates must be designed to provide a program of structured learning and independent supervised study that produces significant and original research outcomes, culminating in a thesis, for independent examination by two examiners. The examiners must not be staff members of the University.

  4. Professional doctorates must incorporate advanced coursework and research-integrated practice that will support the research outcomes. At least 50% of this component must be from courses coded at level 8.

  5. Professional doctorates that are RTP funded are managed by the Graduate School, with candidates enrolled as research students from the commencement of their program in accordance with the policies and procedures applicable to Higher Degree by Research Candidates.

3.0    Key Requirements

  1. The skills and knowledge taught within a professional doctorate should have clear relevance to a specific profession (and in some instances more than one profession), with an identifiable career outcome for each program.

  2. Professional doctorate programs emphasise advanced professional practice and are considered a substantial advance in terms of depth and breadth of knowledge and skills, over and above masters coursework programs, with content that is clearly distinct from the doctorate (research PhD), masters (research) and masters (coursework) programs. Where relevant, professional doctorates may build on strong and focused masters coursework programs in the same discipline(s).

  3. All professional doctorates must have a set of graduate attributes that build on the University’s graduate statement and graduate attributes that are mapped onto the four program components:

    1. basic knowledge of the discipline;

    2. advanced knowledge in a focused area;

    3. professional skills and practice; and

    4. research.

  4. The graduate attributes from the research component should be at least equivalent to those for the Master of Philosophy degree (as specified in the Research Higher Degree Graduate Attributes).

  5. Admission

    1. Applications for the program are managed by the Graduate School in accordance with the requirements specified in the Higher Degree by Research Admission Procedure.

    2. Any departure from the admission prerequisites of the program must be referred to the Dean of the Graduate School for consideration.

    3. Where relevant, external professional registration is processed at the admissions stage by the relevant faculty.

  6. Scholarships

    1. Candidates will be eligible to apply for a UQ awarded higher degree by research scholarship in accordance with the UQ and RTP Research Scholarships Policy, Procedure and Guideline.

  7. Candidature enrolment and progression

    1. Changes to enrolment will be managed in accordance with the Higher Degree by Research Candidature Policy and Procedure.

    2. Progression will be subject to the applicable program requirements in the Programs Catalogue and the Higher Degree by Research Candidature Progression Policy and Procedure.

  8. Examination

    1. Candidates will have their research component examined in accordance with the Higher Degree by Research Examination Policy, Procedure and Guidelines.

  9. Withdrawal and Termination

    1. Withdrawal and termination of candidature will be managed in accordance with the Higher Degree by Research Candidature Policy and Procedure.

    2. Candidates who cannot submit under the professional doctorate rules may be eligible to transfer to a Master of Philosophy, Doctor of Philosophy, or a coursework master’s program.

  10. Program approval

Submissions for the introduction of new RTP-funded professional doctorate programs, or for changes to existing RTP-funded professional doctorate programs, must receive endorsement from the Higher Degree by Research Committee (HDRC) in addition to the process outlined in the Program Approval Procedure.

4.0    Roles, Responsibilities and Accountabilities

  1. Dean of the UQ Graduate School
    The Dean of the UQ Graduate School approves admission to all HDR Programs at UQ. Delegation may be given to the Deputy Dean when required.

  2. Director of Higher Degree Research (DHDR)
    The DHDR makes an assessment of the HDR applicant quality, project viability and resourcing, and supervision and recommends an applicant to the Dean for admission on behalf of the Head of the Academic Organisation Unit (AOU).

  3. Principal Advisors
    Principal Advisors are approved UQ staff members who take primary academic responsibility for the candidate during their candidature.
    The detailed academic role, accountabilities and eligibility for principal advisors are specified in the Eligibility and Role of Higher Degree by Research Advisors Policy.

  4. Advisors
    Advisors are suitably qualified persons who provide expertise related to the candidate’s research and are available to provide advice throughout candidature.
    The detailed academic role, accountabilities and eligibility for advisors are specified in the Eligibility and Role of Higher Degree by Research Advisors Policy.

5.0    Monitoring, Review and Assurance

  1. Review of, and compliance with, this procedure is overseen by the Dean, UQ Graduate School and the Academic Board's Higher Degrees by Research Committee.

6.0    Recording and Reporting

  1. All applications must be lodged via UQ’s student application system.

  2. All candidate records including progress review outcomes and University decisions are filed in the candidate’s electronic record.

  3. All thesis examination transactions, activities and approvals are recorded within UQ’s student system.

  4. All student applications and University decisions are filed in the student’s personal record in UQ’s digital student record system.

7.0    Appendix

7.1    Definitions, terms and acronyms

Academic program – a sequence of study leading to the award of a qualification such as an undergraduate degree or diploma, and/or postgraduate coursework qualification.

Academic Organisational Unit (AOU) – means an academic organisational unit that directly enrols HDR candidates.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) – a single comprehensive national qualifications framework that represents the national policy for regulated qualifications in Australian education and training.

Discipline expertise – a school, faculty, institute or centre may be recognised as having discipline expertise through:

  • Either—

    • its leadership in teaching and research in the discipline; or

    • its leadership in teaching and research in the application of disciplinary knowledge in a professional context; and

  • acknowledgement by the University.

Professional doctorate – The AQF defines the professional doctorate as a structured program of learning that typically includes advanced coursework and research and is designed to enhance the candidate’s capacity to make a significant contribution to original knowledge in the discipline and/or research-integrated practice developed in collaboration with a relevant professional, statutory, or regulatory body.

Relevant Faculty – means the faculty with the recognised discipline expertise of the doctorate program.

Research Training Program – Commonwealth block grant provided, on a calendar year basis, to higher education providers to support domestic and overseas students undertaking a research higher degree.

Custodians
Dean, Graduate School

Guidelines

Professional Doctorates - Guidelines

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1. Purpose and Objectives

These guidelines supplement PPL 4.70.03 Professional Doctorates and provide practical advice to those involved in administering or undertaking a professional doctorate.

2. Definitions, Terms, Acronyms

Associate Dean - means the associate dean of the relevant faculty

Dean - means the dean of the Graduate School

Discipline expertise - a faculty may be recognised as having discipline expertise through:

  • its leadership in teaching and research in the discipline; and
  • acknowledgement by the University.

Relevant faculty - means the faculty with the recognised discipline expertise of the doctorate program

Research Training Program - block grants provided annually by the Federal Government to institutions to support research training for domestic students undertaking research doctoral and research masters degrees

RTP funded - Professional doctorate structure that allows domestic students to undertake the program as part of the Research Training Program

Non-RTP funded - Professional doctorate structure that does not allow domestic students to undertake the program as part of the Research Training Program or where a determination has been made by the relevant faculty that RTP funded places will not be made available.

3. Guidelines Scope/Coverage

These guidelines apply to the design and structure of all professional doctorate programs offered at The University of Queensland.

4. RTP Funded Professional Doctorate Model

4.1 Admissions and graduations

  • Applications for the program are managed by the Graduate School.
  • Assessment of research preparedness for admission and selection of successful applicants is undertaken by the relevant faculty. The Research Preparedness Statement provides a reference point for assessing applications.
  • Any departure from the admission prerequisite must be referred to the Dean for consideration.
  • Where relevant, professional registration is processed at the admissions stage by the relevant faculty.
  • The Graduate School is responsible for confirming graduation eligibility.

4.2 Research component

  • The Graduate School manages the research component of the program.
  • The Graduate School MPhil milestone process applies to the research component, unless otherwise stated in the program rules. The Graduate School applies the same approach to managing milestones, communicating with students and liaising with enrolling units as it does for the PhD and MPhil programs; there will be no departure from this process for professional doctorate students.
  • Advisory teams for the research component will be appointed when students are undertaking a research methods course or prior to commencing the research component of the program if not undertaking a research methods course.
  • Advisory Team composition must comply with PPL 4.60.01a Eligibility and Role of Higher Degree by Research Advisors which states that at least two advisors are to be in place by the confirmation milestone.
  • The Graduate School thesis examinations process, as described in PPL 4.60.08a Higher Degree by Research Thesis Examination, is applied by the Graduate School with the Dean making the final decision on the thesis. There will be no departure from this process for professional doctorate students.
  • The Graduate School manages matters on an individual student level regarding milestones (including extensions), and thesis submission and examination (taking into account some students may be fee-liable). Faculties deal with matters on a student cohort level in accordance with University and program rules.
  • Students may have various options if they cannot submit under the professional doctorate rules for example, exit with MPhil, transfer to a PhD or a coursework masters.
  • Part 4 of the General Award Rules govern the process referred to above that apply to students undertaking RTP funded professional doctorates.

4.3 Scholarships

Students undertaking an RTP funded professional doctorate will be eligible to apply for a UQ awarded higher degree by research scholarship.

5. Non-RTP Funded Professional Doctorate Model

5.1 Program ownership

The ownership of the program remains with the relevant faculty.

5.2 Admission and graduations

Applicants will be admitted to the program by the relevant faculty and in accordance with the program rules.

5.3 Research component

The relevant faculty manages the research component of the program.

6. Coursework and Placements Component

The faculty manages the coursework and placements component (if relevant) of the program.

The Associate Dean (Academic) may grant coursework credit up to a maximum of 24 units for other study.

Custodians
Dean, Graduate School
Custodians
Dean, Graduate School