Professional Doctorate (Research)

What is a Professional Doctorate?

The Professional Doctorate (Research) embeds research training through coursework and practice in a reflective manner, resulting in new discipline knowledge through research.

Graduates at this level require a systematic and critical understanding of a complex field of learning and specialised research skills for the advancement of new knowledge. Graduates will also have systemic and critical understanding of a substantial and complex body of knowledge at the frontier of a discipline.

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Learning outcomes

• Demonstrate systematic and critical understanding in the profession by planning and generating a substantial and original contribution that advances scholarship for professional practice.
• Synthesise, apply, and analyse existing and new knowledge using critical thinking, digital literacy and problem solving to develop new concepts for advanced professional practice.
• Critically evaluate wide variety of research approaches and methodologies and select an appropriate research methodology and method(s) to conduct your research project.
• Plan and execute ethical research that demonstrate the capacity to scope, design and conduct research projects independently.
• Use appropriate and coherent communication skills to report, present, publish and disseminate research data and findings to peers and the community.
• Exhibit autonomy, authoritative judgement and leadership in workplace research and advanced professional practice.

Applicants with formal study: Direct Entry

A person may be considered for direct entry admission to study for the degree of Professional Doctorate (Research) if they have been awarded from the University or other approved institution:

a) a relevant three or four-year Bachelor’s degree with a distinction average GPA; or
b) a relevant Honours degree; or
c) a relevant Master’s degree by coursework with a credit average GPA.

AND

Seven years’ practice at an advanced level in a position of responsibility or five years practice at an executive level and currently in a position of influence in the chosen profession,

OR

An extensive track record of executive achievement in the workplace or in professional practice.

Applicants with work and life experience

Students without an Master's degree may pathway to the Professional Doctorate (Research) with RPL based on:

Seven years' practice at an advanced level in a position of responsibility or five years practice at an executive level and currently in a position of influence in the chosen profession;

OR

An extensive track record of executive achievement in the workplace or in professional practice;

AND

A discipline-specific portfolio based on competency-based learning and non-formal learning;

AND

A letter of recommendation from two most recent employers.