The ins and outs of PhD

Professor Acram Taji

What Will I Cover?

• Some background• Features of QUT research• Minimum entry requirements for PhD• How to apply• Finding a supervisor • How to write a research proposal • Models of study• Joint PhD• Milestones in PhD journey• Quality assurance • Funding models• Scholarships

QUT’s two campuses are located in Brisbane

QUT Campuses

Interdisciplinary approach to research through renowned Institutes, Cooperative Research Centres and Centres of Excellence

• The Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation

• The Institute for Creative Industries and Innovation

• The Institute for Future Environments

Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI)

Hub of activities for more than 200 researchers from science, bio-engineering, health and biotechnology

With research in five main domains: • Cells and tissue

• Human health and wellbeing

• Injury prevention and rehabilitation

• Medical devices

• Vision improvements

QUT’s research flagship the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation

Institute for Future Environments

An exciting new institute bringing together leading QUT experts in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to deliver research programs covering:

• sustainable infrastructure

• sustainable environment

• information and communication technologies

• enabling technologies related to sustainability

Institute for Creative Industries and Innovation (ICI)

ICI is a global hub for excellence in creative innovation, innovation policy, and creative human capital

ICI combines researchers and doctoral students from Creative Industries, Business, and Education in ground breaking research and commercialisation ventures

A AUD$250 million Science and Engineering Centre at the Gardens Point campus focussing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in a world-leading model.

The theme of research is sustainable and secure infrastructure in key areas of national interest such as:

• Climate change • Infrastructure • Food, water and energy security

Investing in STEM Teaching and Research

Research Strengths of Faculties

Science and Engineering Centre

Faculties at QUT

Six Faculties • Business• Creative Industries • Education• Health• Law• Science and Engineering

Business

Research Strengths:• Advertising & Communication• Applied Econometrics• Behavioural and Health

Economics• Consumer Behaviour• Entrepreneurship• Infrastructure Management• Philanthropy and Non-profit

studies• Services Innovation• Wealth Management and

Financial Literacy

• Creative writing and literary studies• Film and television, Dance• Architecture• Industrial Design• Interior Design• Landscape Architecture• Urban Design• Visual and interactive design• Fashion

Creative Industries

Education

Research Strengths:• Early years• Mathematics education and

curriculum• Literacies, curriculum and

pedagogies• Learning for professional futures

Health

• Cancer• Chronic Disease, Supportive and Palliative Care• Environmental Health• Equity and Health• Exercise, Nutrition and Metabolism• Health Services• Infectious Diseases• Injury Prevention• Mental Health and Wellbeing• Musculoskeletal Disease• Vision Improvement• Wound and Tissue Restoration

Law

Research Strengths:• Property and Environment

Credit• Commercial and Consumer Law• E-business and E-government• Human Rights & Governance• Intellectual Property: Knowledge

Culture and Economy• Health Law• Criminal Justice• Scholarship of Higher Education

Science & Engineering

• Airports and Aviation• Complex Urban Systems Design (CUSD)• Energy• Orthopedics and Trauma• Smart Transport Systems• Environment• Food • Information• Security

Minimum Entry Requirements to PhD

• A Masters degree with minimum 25% research of the total degree

• A GPA of at least 5.0 on a 7 point scale or equivalent standing as certified by the relevant faculty

• Coursework Masters with no research component are not considered adequate for admission to the PhD program unless additional level of research experience and potential which is deemed acceptable to the faculty and approved by the Research Degrees Committee (e.g. journal publications)

• English proficiency- e.g. IELTS 6.5 with no sub-band less than 6.0

How to Apply

A complete application will include the following:

• Research proposal • Certified/notarised award certificate and academic transcripts in

the original language as well as the English translation. • Curriculum vitae (CV) which includes evidence of your research

experience. • Referee reports in English • Proof of English language proficiency

Finding a SupervisorImportant to pick supervisor rather than University or Faculty

• Previously known to you- for example s/he was your Honours supervisor • Via literature• Met at a conference • Introduced by a colleague• Via universities’ websites. E.g. QUT’s Staff Profiles http://staff.qut.edu.au/

Check the credential of supervisors:• Does their field of research aligns with yours• How many students are they supervising at present

• Too many?• Not many?

• How many students have completed in their lab?• Average length of time taken to PhD completion for their students?

How to Write a Research Proposal

About 500 words. Your proposal should be presented under headings that provide the following information:

• Proposed title of the study • Purpose of the proposed study • Brief relevant background literature • Research questions or hypotheses • Brief research methodology including ethical consideration • Significance of the research • Resources required for the research • Bibliography

This proposal normally is developed in collaboration with a prospective supervisor.

The Critical Ps

• Proposal must be doable within the designated timeframe• Purpose- must be clear • Plan- must be robust • Procrastination- to be avoided• Perfect work- is a dream rather than reality

Models of Study

• Full-time on campus- Majority of our international HDR students enrolled in this mode- our preferred model

• Full-time external- Few students • Part-time on campus- Not many due to government limitations • Part-time external- mostly domestic students • Blended model • Joint PhD

Overview of Joint PhD Requirements

• Simultaneous enrolment at QUT and at one of our partner universities • One thesis for recognition by both universities • Minimum one year of candidature must be spent at each university • Students must meet the admission requirements for both universities• Must meet mutual institutional requirements• An existing Memorandum of Understanding/ International Cooperation

Agreement must be in place before proceeding • All QUT policies as applies to PhD must be adhered to• Five yearly review of the agreement• Part C (specific student data) must be agreed upon before student

commencing

Overarching AgreementGeneral Principles

• Candidate must be admitted separately by QUT and the partner institution English language requirements • IELTS• TOFEL• Others as approved by Research Degrees Committee

• Duration of joint PhD- standard 3 to 4 years (based on AQF)• Residency- Total period at each institution is one year- can be broken to

small bits • Enrolment- Minimum entry requirements acceptable to each institution• Supervision- Minimum one supervisor in each institution. Inclusion of

industry supervisors is permissible as per regular PhD

General Principles- continue………

• Periodic evaluation- as per course rules of each institution e.g. APR at QUT• Thesis

• One single thesis written in English • The statement of original authorship must refer to the joint PhD framework

• Examination• Harmonisation of thesis examination is detailed in the Joint PhD agreement

• Grading• May be required by partner institution

• Award of the degree• The degree certificate/testamur of each institution must attest to the joint framework under

which the student completed the joint PhD program

QUT’s Testamur

<Name>

having fulfilled all the conditions of a joint program prescribed by the Queensland University of Technology and the <insert name of the university> in <insert name of the country> has been admitted

to the degree of”

Doctor of Philosophy

Ms Shard Lorenzo Registrar

Professor Peter CoaldrakeVice-chancellor

Mr Timothy Fairfax Chancellor

QUT Seal

Conferral date and student ID

General Principles- continue………

• IP issues • The protection of the thesis content ………. will be subject to the regulations of both

Institutions (as per article 14 of joint PhD agreement)• If required specific agreements will be arranged

• Administration matters• Each Institution shall designate one individual to fulfil the responsibilities of Coordinator of

the Joint PhDs in order to facilitate student exchanges under the terms of this agreement. Office of DIGR at QUT (as per Article 15 of the joint PhD agreement)

• Tuition fees • Student be supported by a scholarship, stipend or grant • QUT may grant a tuition fee scholarship subject to satisfactory progress

• Health insurance & protection measure as per Article 17 and consistent with the requirements for any international student

• Disagreement and Dispute • Infrastructure support

Milestones in PhD Journey

Commencement

Stage 2

Confirmation of

Candidature

Annual Progress Report

Final Seminar

Thesis lodgement

Publishing high quality articles along the way

Quality Assurance

QUT has a robust quality assurance system in place during all stages of PhD journey:

• Selection of students

• Accreditation of supervisors

• Oversight of progression including periods of under review if required

• Thesis examination including selection of high quality international examiners

QUT is accredited by Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). This agency regulates and assures the quality of Australia’s higher education sector:

• Compliance assessment

• Quality assessment

Funding Models

• Full scholarships provided by QUT- e.g. IPRS, QUTPRA• Full scholarships provided by students’ home government or institution • Living stipend provided by institutions (private or public) overseas and tuition

fee sponsored by QUT- cohort based• Fully private students- tuition fee and living stipend paid by students• For Joint PhDs tuition fee is normally waived by QUT. Living stipend need to be

sponsored either by home university or by Supervisor/School/ Faculty or combination from QUT and partner university

Scholarships for International HDR students

• IPRS- International Postgraduate Research Scholarships • QUTPRA- QUT Postgraduate Research Awards• Tuition Fee- Living stipend is required (Supervisor, School, Faculty or a Company or

organisation)- Examples: CSC, CMRU• Excellence Top-Up Scholarships

• Vice Chancellor • Deputy Vice-Chancellor• Faculties• Institutes• Others

• AusAID• CRCs

Criteria for receiving a full scholarship?

• Research qualifications • Bachelor degrees with First Class Honours• Research Master degrees • Coursework Master degrees longer than 3 semesters with one year designated to

high level research• GPA of the last degree earned more than 2.70 out of 3 (i.e. equivalent to 90%)• Area of proposed research aligned with key research areas of QUT

• Availability of facilities and equipment• Accredited supervisors available to supervise the project

Steps in higher degree by research

HDRApplication

Admission

Progression

Retention

Completion

Graduation

Alumni

Sri Lanka

• Ministry of Higher Education in Sri Lankahttp://www.mohe.gov.lk/

• The University Grants Commission (UGC)http://www.ugc.ac.lk/

• Ministry of Higher Education Science and Technologyhttp://www.scienceandtechnology.go.ke/

Thanks for your attention

Professor (Mrs) Acram Taji Queensland University of TechnologyGPO Box 2434Brisbane, Qld., 4001, AUSTRALIAPhone: +61-7-3138 6800Email: acram.taji@qut.edu.au CRICOS No. 00213J