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Professional Doctorate in Science

Official Abbreviation ProfD
Course Type Postgraduate
Commencement Sem 1 and Sem 2 if available
Study Mode On and Off Campus
Course Duration
  • 3 Years Full-time
  • 6 Years Part-time
Fees CSP or Full Fee
Total Credit Points 144
Overview

The Professional Doctorate is designed for graduates with appropriate experience in industry/research/teaching and is designed to: provide a breadth of knowledge to allow interpretation and application of research within a professional or industrial or commercial context; provide research experience with a professional and applied focus making a significant contribution to professional practice, and to a lesser extent, to an area of knowledge; to produce critical consumers of research with a good understanding of the research process, research policies and strategies, and a knowledge of the relationship between research and professional practice.
Intensive Schools N/A
Entry Requirements

Applicants for admission to candidature to the Professional Doctorate must have at least five years of relevant professional experience and hold a Bachelor degree with First or Second Class Honours in an appropriate field or have completed at least one year full-time of a Master degree or equivalent.
Additional Entry Requirements N/A
Course Rules

1. Admission to Candidature
1.1. An applicant for admission to candidature for the degree of Professional Doctorate in Science shall:
(a) have five years of relevant professional experience; and
(b) have completed the requirements for a degree of bachelor with First or Second Class Honours in an appropriate field of study; or
(c) have completed at least one year of a full-time master degree or equivalent.
1.2. Applications for admission to candidature shall be made to the faculty on the form prescribed.
1.3. Admission to candidature and the date of commencement of candidature shall be determined by the faculty on the recommendation of the relevant course coordinator.

2. Appointment of Supervisor
At the time of an applicant’s admission to candidature a principal supervisor and an associate supervisor, under whose general guidance the candidate shall work, shall be appointed by the faculty on the recommendation of the appropriate head of school. The principal supervisor shall be a member of the staff of the University of the rank of senior lecturer or higher and the associate supervisor will normally have experience in a professional area relevant to the field of study.

3. Requirements for the Degree
3.1. Each candidate shall complete a course of study approved by the faculty and pass such examinations as shall be prescribed.
3.2. The course of study shall comprise the completion of units with a total value of 144 credit points consisting of:
(a) graduate level units to the value of 72 credit points of which one shall be SCI 700, which shall normally be completed during the first year of candidature; and
(b) the dissertation, which must be submitted for SCI 795 within three consecutive semesters of first enrolment in SCI 795 for full-time candidates and within six consecutive semesters for part-time candidates, shall embody the results of a research project completed in a professional area relevant to the field of study, approved by the faculty.
3.3. Depending upon the candidate’s academic and professional background and the nature of the research project, the faculty may permit the candidate to undertake part or all of the course of study away from the University.
3.4. A candidate permitted by the faculty to pursue a course of advanced study and research at some approved place outside the University shall be required, in any or all of the years of candidature, to attend the University during such period or periods as the faculty may specify for each candidate.
3.5. The candidate shall report orally or in writing from time to time as required by the supervisor on the progress of his or her study or research; in general, reports in writing shall not be required more than twice each semester.

4. Advanced Standing
A candidate may be granted advanced standing for graduate-level units towards the Doctorate in terms of Advanced Standing Rule 2 provided that:
(a) there shall be no maximum to the advanced standing which may be granted in terms of Advanced Standing Rule 2.1(a);
(b) the maximum advanced standing which may be granted under Advanced Standing Rule 2.1(b) shall be for graduate-level units to the value of 24 credit points;
(c) advanced standing shall not be granted in terms of Advanced Standing Rule 2.2(b).

5. Supervisor’s Reports
At least once during the completion of SCI 795, and at any other time that the supervisor or the faculty considers expedient, the supervisor shall report to the faculty on the candidate’s progress.

6. Period of Candidature
The requirements for the degree shall be completed over a period of not more than six semesters in the case of full-time candidates or over a period of not more than 12 semesters in the case of part-time candidates.

7. Presentation of Dissertation
7.1. The dissertation shall be written concisely in English and, except with the special permission of the faculty in exceptional circumstances, shall not exceed 30 000 words, exclusive of tables, plates, figures and appendices. A successful dissertation shall make a significant contribution to professional practice in a professional area of relevance to the field of study. The candidate shall state generally in the preface and specifically throughout the dissertation the source of his or her information and the extent to which he or she has used the work of others. The candidate may not present as the dissertation any work that has been the basis of the award of a degree of this University or other institution but is not precluded from incorporating such work in the dissertation provided that, in presenting the dissertation, the candidate indicates the part of the work that has been so incorporated.
7.2. The candidate shall submit to the Student Centre two copies of the dissertation, which shall be bound in a form approved by the faculty. The candidate shall submit with the dissertation a statement from his or her principal supervisor certifying that the dissertation is in a form suitable for examination.

8. Examination
< Examination of Theses Rule 2.4>. shall apply.
Career Opportunities

The Professional Doctorate provides graduates with the breadth of knowledge to allow interpretation and application of research within a professional, industrial or commercial context and produces graduates with a good understanding of research processes and research policies and strategies. Graduates are well-qualified for senior management positions in research organisations, universities, government departments and commercial enterprises.
Practical, Clinical or Work Experience None
Double Degree Opportunities None
Advanced Standing Up to 24 credit points of advanced standing may be granted for study completed at recognised tertiary institutions.
Fast Track None
Other Benefits

The program provides research experience with a professional and applied focusmaking a significant contributionto professional practical and to an area of knowledge, producing critical consumers of research.

Candidates also have the opportunity to complete up to 24 credit points of studyat other institutions with a view to broadening the knowledge base and experience of candidates.
Honours None
Scholarships None
Further Information

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