Key facts
Entry is based on a master's qualification and 3 years of relevant professional experience, a bachelor honours qualification and 5 years of relevant professional experience, an AQF Level 7 qualification with a Distinction average and 7 years of relevant professional experience, or sufficient work towards a higher degree by research at UNE with additional requirements and 2 years of relevant professional experience.
View full entry requirements- 4 years full-time
- 8 years part-time
- 2 units (12 credit points)
| Start Dates and Campus | Research Period 1 | Research Period 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Online | Offered | Offered |
| Armidale Campus | Offered | Offered |
| Sydney Campus | Not Offered | Not Offered |
Course information
Download course brochure
Practice-based research drives better decisions, stronger services and measurable outcomes. UNE’s Professional Doctorate provides foundational research training with a research thesis, supporting experienced professionals to contribute to the development of original knowledge that improves professional practice in their fields.
Co-design a workplace-embedded project with your UNE supervision team and your organisation, aligning rigorous methods with real-world challenges. Your examinable output is tailored to your discipline — for example, a thesis, a dissertation with artefacts, or an exegesis with a portfolio of creative, technical or performance works.
Why study the Professional Doctorate with UNE?
This course gives you the opportunity to become a leader in evidence-based professional practice. You’ll gain advanced research and analytical skills that enable you to investigate real-world challenges within your workplace or industry, evaluate outcomes, and implement meaningful solutions. With UNE’s extensive expertise across disciplines — from business, education, and health to science, law, and the humanities — you’ll be supported by supervisors and research training tailored to your professional field, ensuring your project has both academic rigour and practical impact.
At UNE, we are committed to maintaining our strong research culture, underpinned by high research training standards. Our diversity of research strength makes UNE an outstanding place to complete your Professional Doctorate.
We have been awarded 5 stars – well above world standard – in 18 separate fields of research by the Australian Research Council's Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) research evaluation program. We have been rated world standard and above (3 and 4 stars) in a further 23 fields of research.
Our research is underpinned by 5 thematic priorities:
- Securing Australia's future food and water through smart science and smart technology.
- Climate change and environmental sustainability, protecting biodiversity and developing effective policies.
- Health and wellbeing in rural communities, focusing on areas such as social exclusion, health inequity, mental health and social policy.
- Regional and rural development, sustainability, prosperity and peace.
- Our past, present and future: documenting, protecting and promoting cultural heritage, history, memory and identity in Australia and internationally.
Year after year, students award UNE the maximum 5-star ratings for Overall Experience and Student Support in The Good Universities Guide.
What makes our course different?
At UNE you will work with supervisors who are acknowledged experts in their fields of research, as well as receive the flexibility to target the specific area of interest to you. The UNE Professional Doctorate provides opportunities for:
- Workplace-embedded research with real impact. Co-design projects with your organisation and UNE to address specific professional challenges and deliver implementable outcomes.
- Structured research training tailored to your field. Complete two foundational research units at the start of your studies, plus two 500-level electives chosen with your supervisor to strengthen your methods and domain expertise.
- Flexible research output formats. Produce a thesis, an exegesis with artefacts, or a portfolio — aligned with disciplinary norms and your own professional context.
- Strong supervision models with industry connections. You will study under at least two UNE academic supervisors, with a strongly encouraged external co-supervisor from your workplace to deepen practice alignment.
If you are an Australian or New Zealand student and meet the criteria for entry to the Master of Philosophy, you may be funded under the Australian Government's Research Training Program (RTP) and may not incur tuition fees for the normal duration of the course. If you are an international student, you will incur tuition fees.
Internal funding is available to support research projects and UNE offers a range of scholarships for Higher Degree Research students.
Study online
Most of our students choose to study online across three study periods with 24/7 tutor support* and fit study around work and family commitments. Uniquely, our online students are mostly over 30 and bring valuable experience with them. They form a community of adults juggling the same challenges and priorities and who bring their life and work experience together at UNE in order to become future-fit and better respond to a rapidly changing world.
Study on campus
Many of our students choose to take advantage of the on-campus lifestyle in Armidale, in the beautiful New England region, with access to unparalleled support, accommodation and sporting facilities. These students are often starting their first degree and have left school recently. Through access to academic and career support they get a fantastic start to their careers.
* 24/7 tutor support includes: essay feedback (within 24 hours); live chat 24/7 for generic feedback on academic writing; and subject-specific help at a foundation or first-year level for subjects including mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, business, accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics. There are also a wide range of workshops, resources and courses available in academic skills support to assist you and help you to succeed.
Entry requirements
To be eligible to apply for this course you must meet one of the following entry requirements:
- You have completed a Master qualification (AQF Level 9 or overseas equivalent), and have a minimum of 3 years relevant professional experience
- You have completed a Bachelor Honours qualification (AQF Level 8), and have a minimum of 5 years relevant professional experience.
- You have completed a degree at AQF Level 7 with a Distinction average, and have a minimum of 7 years relevant professional experience.
-
You have previously undertaken work of a sufficiently high standard towards a higher degree by research (AQF Level 9 or 10, or overseas equivalent) which you have not submitted for any qualification, and have a minimum of 2 years relevant professional experience.
In considering the admissions criteria, the University will have regard to the recency of the applicant’s formal qualifications and/or professional experience.
You must provide evidence of all relevant professional practice that relates to the proposed research project. This include a Resume or CV and written confirmation from the industry body in which you are currently engaged stating your position details and the length of time you have been employed.
For workplace based projects, you must also provide written evidence of organisational support and approval for the proposed research to be conducted within the work setting.
Eligibility for admission is reviewed by the Associate Dean Research or delegate. The Dean Graduate Research has final authority for approved admission to HDR courses.
All admissions are subject to the HDR Admission and Enrolment Policy.
Please note: The version of the HDR or research-related policy at the time of admission will continue to apply for duration of your candidature. When following a link to a specific policy please ensure you confirm whether the current or a historical version of the policy applies to you.
See our Glossary for help with university terms.
These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.
When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.
International applicants, please note: You may also need to show evidence of your English language proficiency to the Department of Home Affairs if you are applying for a Student Visa.
Some courses require you to provide documentary evidence, or interviews to support your application. The following documents are required to support your application:
Previous qualifications documentation. You must provide a certified/notarised copy of your official transcript(s) and certificate(s) for all previous tertiary study. You do not need to provide transcripts for any previous study completed at UNE. For information on getting your documents certified/notarised, please refer to our Document Certification Guidelines.
Evidence of supervision. You must provide evidence that at least one UNE academic staff member has agreed to support your application/supervise your research. For example, email communication with your proposed supervisor or an approved Expression of Interest form.
Research proposal. You must submit a research proposal which you will complete in consultation with your potential supervisor. Your proposal must not be longer than three A4 pages. Please refer to the HDR Application Guidelines for the suggested format.
Referee reports. You must nominate two people (at least one referee should not be a member of your proposed supervision team) who can testify to your academic or professional achievements. You will need to contact your referees prior to lodging your application and request that they complete the online HDR Referee Report form. UNE cannot request these reports on your behalf.
Proof of identity and citizenship. All documents provided must be a certified/notarised copy. Australian citizens must provide a birth certificate, passport or citizenship certificate. New Zealand citizens must provide a passport and visa. Australian Permanent Residents must provide a passport and visa, and the date you became a permanent resident. International applicants must provide a passport, and evidence of the country you hold citizenship in; for example, a foreign government identity card.
Evidence of Relevant Professional Practice. You must provide evidence of all relevant professional practice that relates to the proposed research project. This include a Resume or CV and written confirmation from the industry body in which you are currently engage stating your position details and the length of time you have been employed. For workplace based projects, you must also provide written evidence of organisational support and approval for the proposed research to be conducted within the work setting.
Evidence of English Language Requirements satisfied. If you have completed a UNE-approved English test within the past two years, please provide a copy of the test results with your application.
Advanced Standing is credit or recognition of your previous study, work and/or life experience. This can reduce the cost and length of your studies.
Requests for Advanced Standing should be made at the time of application and can be assessed on the basis of academic or professional experience. The relevant unit coordinator/s and HDR Coordinator/s will assess and approve requests for advanced standing.
Fees and scholarships
How much will it cost?
Estimated fees for your first year of study in this course are:
| Fee type | Cost |
|---|---|
| International | $34,496* |
| Research Training Program | $0* |
| Estimated amenities fee per year if studying full-time | $373 |
Scholarships are available for both Domestic and International Higher Degree Research (HDR) Students. HDR scholarships can include funding for many things including tuition fees, living allowance stipends, relocation, travel and research specific projects. There are also targeted scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
HDR Scholarships are confidential and the application process is free. Please visit the HDR scholarships webpage for current scholarship opportunities.
Your career
Graduates of a Professional Doctorate at UNE demonstrate expert knowledge in an area of research relevant to their current or anticipated field of professional practice. Their ability to conduct independent research, exercise evidence-based judgement, and undertake high-level analysis positions them strongly for career advancement.
Graduates typically pursue senior-level careers across a range of sectors, including business, the public service, education and other government sectors, private enterprise, and non-profit organisations. Many also go on to build academic and professional careers within the higher education sector.
Completion of a Professional Doctorate signifies a high level of autonomy, authoritative judgement, adaptability, and responsibility. Students have the opportunity to acquire a suite of transferable skills highly valued in contemporary workplaces including initiative, perseverance, resilience, and critical thinking. Throughout their studies, candidates are supported to further develop skills in teamwork, leadership, project management, and public speaking, all of which provide significant career advantages across a broad range of professional environments.
Course outcomes
- Demonstrate Advanced Professional Knowledge and Understanding by: a) Exhibiting systematic and critical understanding of complex knowledge at the forefront of professional practice b) Synthesising and evaluating theoretical and practical knowledge to address complex professional challenges c) Generating original insights that substantially contribute to advancing professional practice in the field
- Apply Expert Research and Professional Skills to: a) Independently design and implement sophisticated research methodologies that extend or redefine professional practice b) Engage in critical reflection and evaluation of complex professional problems and their solutions c) Effectively communicate and promote new insights and innovations to both professional peers and the broader community
- Exercise Professional Leadership and Judgment through: a) Demonstrating autonomy and authoritative judgment in leading professional practice and innovation b) Adapting and implementing advanced approaches to address emerging challenges in the field c) Taking responsibility for generating and translating new knowledge that advances professional practice and influences industry standards
Excellence in experience, equity and employability
Five Stars,
20 Years in a Row
UNE is the only public uni in Australia awarded 20 straight years of five stars for Overall Experience.
Good Universities Guide 2007-2026
Five Stars for
Social Equity
UNE rates among the top 20% of universities nationally and is #1 in NSW for Social Equity.
Good Universities Guide 2026
Five Stars for
Graduate Employment
UNE rates among the top 20% of universities for Graduate Full-Time Employment and Starting Salary.
Good Universities Guide 2026 (Undergraduate)
Diamond-Rated Digital Learning
UNE’s leadership in digital learning earned the highest ‘Diamond’ rating in a peer review.
ASCILITE TELAS 2025
Studying online
At UNE we know it takes more than just being online to be a great online university. It takes time and experience. We pioneered distance education for working adults back in the 1950s, so we’ve been doing this longer than any other Australian university.
We understand the challenges faced by busy adults studying at home. We know that a vital part of online study is your engagement with the learning community. Communication with your classmates, teaching staff and university support staff will enhance your study experience and ensure that your skills extend beyond the subject matter. UNE’s teaching staff are experts in their field which is why UNE consistently receives five stars from students for teaching quality, support and overall experience.*
*The Good Universities Guide
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Why study with us?
The most enjoyable part of my studies is the sense of achievement and being part of something bigger than myself.
How to apply
Applying to UNE is quick and easy. You can apply for this course at any time — there are no closing dates for applications.
If you would like to apply for a scholarship, closing dates do apply and are specific to each individual scholarship. Please see the HDR Scholarships webpage for further information.
Preparing to apply
The documents you will need to include in your application depend on:
- Your chosen HDR program
- Your personal circumstances
Please review the course rules and entry requirements above before you apply. If you have any questions or need help with your application please contact the Graduate Research School team.
