Doctor of Philosophy

This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

Horizontal Articulation

• Doctor of Science, NQF Level 10.
• Doctor of Agriculture, NQF Level 10.

Vertical Articulation

• Post- Doctoral studies.

The PhD Degree by dissertation is comparable to those doctoral degrees through dissertation offered by the following international institutions.

The following international qualifications are similar to the South African qualification (i.e., the qualification is by supervised, independent research thesis only. No coursework is offered:

Country: Canada

Institution: University of Lethbridge

Qualification Title: Doctor of Philosophy (By Research Thesis).

This qualification was selected as Lethbridge is considered one of Canada's leading universities.

The qualification consists of

Thesis

Coursework

Comprehensive examination

The PhD program is thesis-based and offered in several areas of study. Depending on the academic background, learners may be required to take up to six courses in their area of study; the number and details of the courses are determined in consultation with the supervisor at the time of admission to the program.

The thesis forms the central requirement of the program which involves close collaboration between the supervisor and learner; as a result, learners need to be on campus to conduct research with their supervisor.

Research in this program emphasises the interactions of organisms with both biotic and abiotic components of the environment. Areas of research include animal ecology, plant ecology, microbial ecology, parasitology, molecular systematics, biogeography, physiological ecology, remote sensing, environmental genetics, toxicology, developmental biology, phytochemistry, and plant physiology. In their programs, the researchers use a wide range of techniques to study a wide range of organisms, including animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi. Many research programs include a combination of laboratory and field studies.

Country: New Zealand

Institution: University of Auckland

Qualification Title: Doctor of Philosophy (By Research Thesis).

Duration: Full-time: 3 to 4 years and Part-time: 6 to 8 years

Credits: 120 points per year of full-time study

Entry requirements

• Candidates must have completed a significant research project such as a dissertation or thesis, at the university level.

Or

• Have completed a postgraduate bachelors (honours) degree with a University of Auckland equivalent B+ grade.

Or

• A masters degree with a University of Auckland equivalent B+ grade in a relevant field.

Rationale

The PhD is a globally recognised postgraduate research degree and the highest level of degree learners can achieve. PhD learners are critical, curious, creative thinkers who undertake original research over at least 3 years.

The University of Auckland PhD is a globally recognised postgraduate research degree, available in over 100 different subjects. Candidates will undertake independent and original research, supervised by academic experts and research leaders. During doctoral studies, learners will have opportunities to expand and develop their personal, professional, and academic skills. The doctoral candidates present their work at local and international conferences and are encouraged to network and collaborate with a wide range of experts in their research field.

PhD graduates are successful in a wide range of fields and careers, as well as the traditional academic research career path. The PhD gives learners extensive specialist and transferable skills, which are sought after in many sectors, including industry and government, and can even help learners to develop entrepreneurship skills to run their own startup. With focused development opportunities available throughout learners PhD study, and dedicated postgraduate career advice can help learners to explore and meet their own career goals, no matter what direction learners take.

General Requirements

• Candidates for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) are required to undertake an original and coherent research project and to present the outcome of that research project for examination as a thesis.
• The research project, which may include scholarly creative practice, must involve enquiry that is experimental and/or critical and be driven by an intellectual hypothesis, position, problem, or question(s) capable of being rigorously explored and of making an original and significant contribution to knowledge and/or understanding in the relevant field(s) of study.
• The research project must be conducted under supervision and throughout enrolment in the PhD programme and must be conducted in accordance with the Research Code of Conduct Policy.
• The thesis requirement at Regulation 1 must be satisfied by a cohesive written document, which shall not normally exceed 100,000 words. Scholarly creative work that is written, or otherwise that forms an integrated whole with the written document may be submitted for examination as part of the thesis requirement.
• The thesis must be undertaken and completed in accordance with the doctoral thesis policy and procedures and, where scholarly creative work is (to be) presented for examination as part of the thesis requirement, with the policy and procedures for including scholarly creative work in a PhD.
• In order for the PhD degree to be awarded, Regulation 47 must be satisfied, and the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate[s]) must be satisfied that, subject to Regulation 43, the candidate has performed at the doctoral level in an oral examination held in accordance with this Statute and on the subject of the thesis and the field(s) to which the subject belongs, and satisfied, by the examination process prescribed by this Statute, that the thesis a makes an original and significant contribution to knowledge or understanding in its field(s), and meets internationally recognised standards for such work, and c demonstrates knowledge of the literature relevant to the subject and the field(s) to which the subject belongs and demonstrates the ability to exercise critical and analytical judgement of that literature, and is satisfactory in its methodology, in the quality and coherence of its expression, and its scholarly presentation and format.

Duration

• The thesis must be submitted within a maximum of 48 months of full-time equivalent enrolment from the initial date of enrolment in the PhD programme unless a later submission date is permitted by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) in accordance with the policy and procedures for extension of doctoral enrolment. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions pertaining to the submission of the "thesis" in this regulation and the remainder of this statute apply to all work (to be) presented for examination in fulfilment of the thesis requirement at Regulation 1.
• The thesis must not be submitted in less than 36 months of full-time equivalent enrolment from the initial date of enrolment in the PhD programme unless permission is granted by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate).
• Permission for submission of the thesis must not be granted where a candidate has been enrolled for less than 24 months full-time equivalent from the initial date of enrolment in the PhD programme.
• Part-time enrolment may be permitted, subject to the policy and procedures for full-time and part-time PhD enrolment.
• A candidate may be permitted to suspend their enrolment subject to the policy and procedures for suspension of doctoral enrolment.
• Unless permitted under the master's thesis transfer policy and procedures, the initial date of enrolment in the PhD programme may not be backdated except in exceptional circumstances as approved by the Board of Graduate Studies (or delegate) and up to a maximum of six months.

The qualification was selected because the University of Auckland is ranked 179 on the world university rankings and is an internationally respected institution.

Country: United Kingdom

Institution: University of Glasgow

Qualification Title: Doctor of Philosophy (By Research Thesis).

Duration: 3 years full-time; 5 years part-time

Entry requirements

Upper Second-Class Honours degree in philosophy, although candidates will usually also have completed or have undertaken a Masters qualification in philosophy.

Research proposal

Candidates are required to provide an outline of the proposed research subject in about 1000 words. This need not be a final thesis proposal but should include:

• Straightforward, descriptive, and informative title.
• The question that learners research will address.
• An account of why this question is important and worth investigating.
• An assessment of how learners own research will engage with recent studies in the subject.
• A brief account of the methodology and approach learners will take.
• A discussion of the primary sources that the research will draw upon, including printed books, manuscripts, archives, libraries, or museums.
• An indicative bibliography of secondary sources that have already consulted and/or are planning to consult.

Qualification structure

The qualification consists of a wide range of the core areas of philosophy, including

• Aesthetics.
• Ethics.
• Epistemology.
• History of analytic and early modern philosophy.
• Logic and philosophy of logic.
• Metaphysics.
• Philosophy of language.
• Philosophy of mathematics.
• Philosophy of mind.
• Political philosophy.

The qualification was selected because the University of Glasgow is ranked 99 on the World University Rankings.

Country: Australia

Institution: La Trobe University

Qualification Title: Doctor of Philosophy (By Research Thesis).

Duration: 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent

NQF Level: Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 10

Entry requirements

To apply for candidature, learners must have completed

• Masters by research degree in a relevant discipline completed within the last ten years assessed at a La Trobe Master by research standard of 70 or above.

Or

• Bachelor (Honours), Masters by coursework or ungraded Masters by research degree completed within the last ten years with a weighted average mark of 70 or above across any coursework subjects in their qualifying degree and:

their qualifying degree includes a research thesis of typically 15,000 - 20,000 words assessed at a La Trobe Masters by research standard of 70 above.

OR

• Their qualifying degree includes a written research component comprising at least 3/8 of one year of their qualifying degree assessed at a La Trobe Masters by research standard of 70 or above.

OR

• They are the lead author of a peer-reviewed publication or other research published within the last ten years assessed at a La Trobe Masters by research standard of 70 or above.

Rationale

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree is an internationally recognised advanced research qualification.

Each PhD candidate undertakes a substantial piece of independent and sustained research on an original topic under academic supervision and leads to the submission of a thesis for examination. The research is expected to make a significantly new and innovative contribution to the discipline.

Candidates are supported by at least two accredited supervisors with a demonstrated track record in the proposed area of investigation as outlined in the Graduate Research Supervision Policy. Progress throughout the degree is tracked and managed in keeping with the University's Graduate Research Progress Policy. Candidature may be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis, subject to the restrictions of the learner visa.

The thesis must be submitted in no more than four years (or part-time equivalent) of commencement in the degree. All PhD programs are administered by the La Trobe Graduate Research School.

The qualification awarded on graduation is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as Level 10 - PhD.

The Doctor of Philosophy is an internationally recognised intensive research doctoral degree that will equip graduates for employment in a range of occupations and positions across academic, government, non-government, education, and private industries.

On successful completion learners will be able to

• Mastery of a substantial body of knowledge at the frontier of a field of research or learning, including knowledge that constitutes an original contribution.
• Provide a critical appraisal of relevant literature and available research, to appreciate and understand the relationship of the investigations undertaken by the candidate to the wider field of knowledge in which these investigations are located, and to draw out the contribution to knowledge made by these investigations.
• Knowledge and understanding of the methodological techniques relevant to the field of research as well as identify and allow for any shortcomings associated with these techniques.
• A satisfactory level of literary presentation reflecting an ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and authoritative manner appropriate to the field of research and to the scholarly community to which it is

addressed.

The qualification was selected because La Trobe University is one of the leading universities in the field of natural science.

Qualification structure

The qualification is offered by the thesis.

Qualification Feature consists of Work-Based learning and internships.

Work-based learning (placement) requirements

A range of work-based learning opportunities is available, including internships, mentoring, and industry-linked projects.

Internships: Candidates who have successfully confirmed their candidature and who are making satisfactory progress may apply to participate in an internship at least one month before they submit their thesis.

Candidates will apply separately to participate in an internship through a process detailed on the Graduate Research School website.

Similarities

The international qualifications are comparable in terms of scope of content, duration, and the requirement of a research dissertation/thesis to complete the qualification.

Differences

The South African qualification does not have any compulsory modules (coursework) as do the international qualifications, but all have a thesis/dissertation component.

Conclusion

Best practices have been identified from leading institutions locally and abroad, ensuring that the curriculum and content are relevant and address the needs of both industry and prospective learners. The South African qualification is comparable to the above international qualifications in terms of content, purpose, rationale and learning outcomes.