UTS course code: C02029
Testamur title: Doctor of Philosophy
Abbreviation: PhD
Course fee: see note (local); $8,250 per semester (international)

Note: Research degrees are offered on a sponsored, scholarship, faculty part-sponsored, or full-fee-paying basis. Students should contact the Faculty or the University Graduate School for further details. There are, however, student service fees to be paid (see Fees and costs). The Faculty of Information Technology offers fee waivers to all students and these are applicable to both local and international students.

Overview
Admission requirements
Attendance
Course duration
Course structure

Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is intended for students who wish to pursue research at the highest level. Such research is expected to demonstrate significant originality and make a substantial contribution to computing knowledge. For specific areas of interest in research work in the Faculty of Information Technology, see the section on Research areas. A limited number of stipends are available at $22,000 per annum from the Faculty of Information Technology.

Admission requirements

Application

Application forms for all postgraduate courses may be obtained from the UTS Student Info & Admin Centre. Applicants should hold a First Class or Second Class (Division 1) Honours degree with a major computing component, or a Master's degree in an appropriate area, or have previously undertaken other post-graduate studies in computing. Prospective applicants are expected to have developed interests in a specific area of research, and should have one or more outline proposals for research work in that area. Before submitting a formal application for admission to this degree course, applicants should first seek the approval of the Faculty for their proposed research work. To gain this approval, applicants should initially:

• send a summary proposal of approximately 1,000 words to the Program Leader for Postgraduate Research Degrees, Faculty of Information Technology, containing references to seminal works in the area of proposed research. If the proposal is appropriate for the Faculty, the Program Leader for Postgraduate Research Degrees will then refer the applicant to a suitable member of staff for further detailed discussion, or
• approach a suitable member of the Faculty's academic staff directly and discuss the proposed research area.

All Doctor of Philosophy students at UTS are required to have at least two supervisors for their research work, one of whom should be an academic staff member of the University and, normally, one of whom should hold a Doctoral degree. Of the two supervisors, one will be the principal supervisor and the other the alternate supervisor.

Prospective applicants should seek agreement from a member of the Faculty's academic staff to act as a (principal) supervisor for the proposed research if the application is successful. Once this agreement has been obtained, applicants may then apply formally for admission by completing an Application for Admission – Higher Degree by Research form and submitting it to the University Graduate School, or for International Students the UTS International Office.

Attendance

The Faculty of Information Technology has a strong preference for research work that proceeds at a full-time pace. This preference should not be seen as a deterrent to those students who wish to remain in employment. Students who are working in a full-time job are encouraged to select a topic for their research which is closely aligned with their professional work. Once such a topic has been selected, the Faculty usually requires that the student's employer provide a statement to the effect that at least half of the student's working week will be devoted to work which is directly relevant to the research. The student is then expected to contribute some of his or her own time to the project so that the total number of hours devoted to research is that expected of full-time attendance.

Course duration

The Doctor of Philosophy degree is available on both a full-time and a part-time basis. The normal duration of enrolment is three years for full-time attendance and four-and-a-half years for part-time attendance. Candidates who already possess a degree at the Master's level may be permitted to complete their PhD in two years of full-time research, or three years of part-time research.

Course structure

Progress reports

All Doctor of Philosophy students are required to submit, in consultation with their supervisors, a progress report at the end of each semester. The University Graduate School contacts each student and their supervisor(s) to initiate this process. Students are also required to complete a Doctoral Assessment and seminar.

Submission of thesis

All candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy should give the Registrar two months' written notice of intention to submit their written thesis. Appropriate forms and the information brochure Presentation and Submission of Theses for Higher Degrees are available from the University Graduate School.