Doctor of Philosophy - Faculty of Business

What is this course about?

CSU's Doctor of Philosophy (Business) is a research degree for students who have an excellent academic record in business and who wish to undertake original and significant research in an approved area. To qualify for the award, candidates will be required to submit a thesis embodying the results of their research.

Why do this course?

The Doctor of Philosophy is designed to develop an advanced level of research capability which equips candidates with a knowledge base to make a significant contribution to knowledge in a discipline or cross-discipline through the conduct of original research. To qualify for the award, candidates will be required to submit a thesis embodying the results of their research.

Students with a significant body of published research may also be eligible for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy by publication, enabling them to gain formal recognition for their existing research and published material.

Graduates will have demonstrated the capacity to:

• design and implement at a high level of originality and quality, either an original research project(s) of significance to a discipline or cross-disciplinary field
• present a substantial and intellectually coherent  thesis or dissertation for submission to external examination against international standards.

Find out where this course can take you

Why study this degree?

Flexible offering

As with all our courses, the Doctor of Philosophy is designed and delivered with study flexibility in mind. Our students choose between full-time and part-time study options so as to fit in with work and lifestyle commitments.

This course is available by both on-campus delivery and distance education. Applications for admission are considered at any time during the year. The Doctor of Philosophy has a minimum full-time duration of three years.

Credit/pathways

Students may receive transfer credit for up to 50% of the course for prior study if they can demonstrate that study was completed at a recognised higher education institution within the last 10 years at the postgraduate level. To apply for credit, students are required to submit with their application for admission a certified transcript of results and subject outline / curriculum of those subjects.

More information on credit and pathways.

Career opportunities

The Doctor of Philosophy is a qualification which can be used in the pursuit of an academic career within a university.

PhD graduates also gain employment in private and public sector organisations in senior research positions.

Admission requirements

To qualify for candidature for the Doctor of Philosophy, applicants should have either:

• qualified for the award of a Master by research at an acceptable level

or

• hold an appropriate bachelor degree with Class 1 or Class 2 (Division 1) Honours from an Australian university, taken over a minimum of four years (full-time equivalent), or an award accepted by the Board of Graduate Studies as equivalent, and/or have demonstrated in study and/or professional performance potential to undertake research at a Doctoral level.

Intending applicants should contact the Sub-Dean, Graduate Studies to discuss the proposal before submitting the prescribed application form. In addition, applicants must complete a form describing their area of interest, which should accompany their application. Please phone info.csu on 1800 334 733 for the contact details of the appropriate person.

Admission to candidature is subject to approval by the Board of Graduate Studies.

Doctor of Philosophy by publication

Applicants should be experienced researchers with a significant refereed publication record of Doctoral standard.

They should hold one of the following:

• a Master degree by research
• an appropriate bachelor degree with Class 1 or Class 2 (Division 1) Honours from an Australian university or international equivalent, undertaken over a minimum of four years
• other appropriate combination of undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications, such as graduate diplomas, and research experience demonstrating to the Board of Graduate Studies that the candidate is capable of undertaking research at Doctoral level.

The Board of Graduate Studies will base its decision on proposed candidature on the following evidence:

• the publications (which may include books and non-print materials) that will be included in the submission presented for examination
• any information on the quality and citations of the publications to be included in the submission
• a statement making clear the applicant's contribution to all jointly authored publications
• a statement from the co-authors of any jointly authored publications confirming the extent of the applicant's contribution to these publications
• a statement of no more than five pages that:
• • indicates the way in which the work has developed
  • demonstrates the contemporary relevance of each publication
  • makes clear the way in which the publications make an original scholarly contribution to knowledge
  • provides a thematic overview which links the individual publications to an integrated whole
  • confirms the papers have not previously been submitted as part of a degree.
• a statement indicating whether or not additional research activity may be required in order to convert the publications to an integrated whole, and if so, an outline of the necessary work
• the names of two persons who are able to provide academic references relevant to the proposed PhD candidature
• the qualifications and experience of the applicant
• the proposed area of research
• an indication of willingness to supervise the proposed research from a supervisor
• certification from the Faculty that:
• • the proposed program of study and research is at a level appropriate to the degree being sought
  • the proposed program falls within an approved University field of research for higher degrees
  • adequate supervision and physical resources are available.

  Internet access

  CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

  The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

  Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

• English proficiency

  Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they

  1. have undertaken an academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with an average score of 7.0, and with no score lower than 6.5, within the last 12 months;  or
  2. undertaken a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 577 (or computerised TOEFL score of 233), with a Test for Written English Score (where reported) of at least 5.0 or an Internet-based score of 90 with a written score of 24 within the last 12 months; or
  3. undertaken other equivalent examinations, as determined by the Board of Graduate Studies;  or
  4. completed a university degree where the language of assessment is in English;

  The Presiding Officer of the Board of Graduate Studies may, in special circumstances, on behalf of the Board waive the above proficiency requirements after consulting the relevant Dean, Sub-Dean and nominated Supervisor.
  
  NOTE: A Faculty may require a higher standard of proficiency than that specified above for programs deemed to be linguistically demanding.

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