Key research contacts

Director of Research

Responsible for the oversight and quality of the research programs and Chair of the Faculty Research Committee:

Associate Professor Jane Stein-Parbury
KG05.2.19; telephone (02) 9514 5260

Research and Project Officer

The first point of contact for research candidates for administrative matters:

Cath Nettleton
KG05.3.95; telephone (02) 9514 5727

University Graduate School

Provides administrative support to all UTS research students, including application, enrolment, progression and examination processes.

CB10.6; telephone (02) 9514 1336

Overview

The Faculty offers research training degrees at Master's and Doctoral levels. In 2004, the Master of Nursing (Honours) and Master of Midwifery (Honours) (see page 96) degrees replace the previously offered Master of Nursing (by thesis) (C03023) degree. The University rules and procedures for Master's degree by thesis (Rule 3.4) apply to Master's (Honours) students. Doctoral programs include a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and two professional doctorates, the Doctor of Nursing (DNurs) and the Doctor of Midwifery (DMid). University rules and procedures for Doctoral degree students (Rule 3.5) apply to all Doctoral students in the Faculty.

All research degrees require the independent preparation of a thesis that makes an original contribution to knowledge. The Master of Nursing (Honours) and Master of Midwifery (Honours) degrees, and the professional doctorates include required coursework in addition to the preparation of a thesis. Skilled supervisors who are actively engaged in nursing, midwifery and health care delivery research support research degree students.

Admission requirements

Master of Nursing (Honours), Master of Midwifery (Honours) and Doctor of Philosophy

Applicants for the Master of Nursing (Honours) are required to be registered nurses who hold a Bachelor's degree with at least a Credit average or equivalent. Applicants for the Master of Midwifery (Honours) will have authority to practice midwifery and hold a Bachelor's degree with at least a Credit average or equivalent. Applicants to the accelerated Master's Honours programs must demonstrate their academic writing capacity by submission of a recent academic paper. Applicants for the Doctor of Philosophy are required to hold a Bachelor's degree with First or Second Class Honours Division 1 or a Master's degree which included research coursework.

Applicants for all research degrees are asked to demonstrate their ability to undertake research, both academically and professionally, at the higher degree level as part of the application procedure. This is demonstrated by a brief (approximately 1,500 words) preliminary research proposal submitted as part of the application process.

Doctor of Nursing and Doctor of Midwifery (Professional Doctorates)

Candidates should normally have recognised Nursing Registration/Authority to Practice Midwifery; substantial relevant professional/administrative experience (usually of at least five years) as evidenced by their professional résumé; usually a Master of Nursing (by coursework) degree or equivalent; and relevant industry access sufficient to undertake a program of practice-focused research.

There is an expectation that the Master's (by coursework) would include research subjects, and that applicants display evidence of research understandings at postgraduate level. Experience with empirical research and data analysis is desirable, but not essential. Familiarity with a range of research approaches is assumed.

In accordance with UTS Rule 3.5.2.2 all students are expected to be proficient in English comprehension and expression.

Guidelines for appraisal of research degree applicants

The Faculty uses a scoring system to assist in the selection of candidates for places within research degree programs.

Prior to scoring applications, it must be ascertained that the minimum educational qualifications are met by each applicant and that supervision resources to support proposed research are available within the Faculty.

The criteria used to evaluate applications include: academic qualifications; professional experience; research experience, especially related to research endeavours and leadership capacity; quality of preliminary proposal and continued presentations.

Fees

International fees

Research programs undertaken by international students will attract a fee in 2004 of $7,500 per semester.

Further information about admission requirements for the Master of Nursing (by thesis), Doctor of Philosophy and Professional Doctorates may be obtained by contacting the Faculty's Research and Project Officer.