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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