Doctor of Philosophy (Business)

Course Code: A001 CRICOS Code: 064191C

Duration	Campus and Intake	Fee*
48 Month/s	Hawthorn ((SR) January, (SR) February, (SR) March, (SR) April, (SR) May, (SR) June, (SR) July, (SR) August, (SR) September, (SR) October, (SR) November)	A$22,500 (annual for 2012)

*The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students studying on-campus in Australia for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

About the course

Course Description:

Graduates who hold a bachelor degree with a first class honours or a master degree and who have shown a high standard of academic achievement in that course may be admitted to candidature for Doctor of Philosophy. The higher degree programs currently available require the presentation of a major thesis based on original research, investigation or development work.

The Faculty of Business and Enterprise has a strong commitment to research in entrepreneurship, management and associated business disciplines (see a list of key disciplines below). There are currently many PhD theses in progress including research into the commercialisation of Australian research, government policy on the development and performance of small manufacturing businesses, factors influencing strategic alliances in high-tech industries and evaluating the value of training investment. There are also a small number of students undertaking master degrees by research.

Aims & Objectives:

The PhD degree provides training and education with the objective of producing graduates with the capacity to conduct research independently at a high level of originality and quality. The student ought to be capable, by the end of his/her candidature, of conceiving, designing and carrying to completion a research program without supervision. The PhD candidate should uncover new knowledge either by the discovery of facts, the formulation of theories or the innovative re-interpretation of known data and established ideas.

Course Structure:

Each candidate undertakes an individual research project under the supervision of two supervisors. Attendance at a Research Methodology course is also required for candidates who have not completed a research master/ honours program. To be assessed for a Doctor of Philosophy, a thesis of up to 100,000 words that makes an original contribution to knowledge must be submitted for examination.
The candidate’s research program must be such as to ensure the likelihood of completion of a thesis within the specified time (four years equivalent full-time). Candidates normally undertake the research at Swinburne for the appropriate duration and must be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Faculty of Business and Enterprise Research Committee and the Higher Degrees Committee that they are able to meet with their supervisors in person to discuss progress at least once every calendar month, or have made satisfactory arrangements for discussion to occur by other means (e.g. via email).

All candidates are expected to demonstrate satisfactory progress on an annual basis. To be assessed for a Doctor of Philosophy, candidates must present a major thesis based on original research, investigation or development work carried out under Swinburne staff supervision either at Swinburne or externally.

Please note that due to government regulatory requirements, international students holding student visas must enrol in the full-time program.

Employment Outcomes

Career opportunities:

This PhD degree is designed to provide training and education to produce graduates with the capacity to conduct independent, advanced research. On completion, the student should be capable of conducting a complex research program without supervision.

How To Apply

How to apply:

Apply for this course by following the step-by-step process on our How to Apply page.

English Language Requirements:

Swinburne College English for Academic Purposes Advanced level certificate at the postgraduate level (EAP 5: PG-70%); OR, obtaining a minimum IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0; OR, a TOEFL (Paper-based) minimum score of 575 (with Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Computer-based) minimum score of 232 (with Written Writing score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Internet-based) minimum score of 90 with no band less than 20.

Refer to the English Language Requirements website for further information.

Academic Requirements:

Applicants must have completed at least four years (or equivalent) of tertiary education studies at a high level of achievement. For example:
• a four year degree (eg: engineering, information technology, education etc.);
• a three year degree and an Honours year;
• a three year degree and one year of a Masters by coursework;
• a three year course and one year of a Masters preliminary or other qualifying program; or
• a three year degree and a postgraduate diploma

Please visit the Guidelines on Application for Candidature at the Swinburne Research website.

There are several scholarship opportunities available to International Students seeking admission to a research based degree such as the Doctor of Philosophy or Masters by Research programs. The closing date for applications is normally the end of October. Further information can be obtained from the Office of Research and Postgraduate Studies Scholarships website.

Find Out More

For further information:

Enquire online: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/international/enquiry

Email: international@swinburne.edu.au

Phone:
+613 8676 7002 (outside Australia)
Freecall 1800 897 973 (within Australia)

Information Sessions:

Visit our Meet Us page to see when we are visiting your home country (or here in Australia)