Postgraduate course information

The UTS Business School offers a range of master's degrees, graduate diplomas and graduate certificates by coursework. In addition, doctoral programs are also offered.

Postgraduate coursework

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is based on prior completed undergraduate and completed or partially complete postgraduate studies at a UTS recognised university or institution, and is granted subject to University Rules and UTS Business School guidelines. Applicants are required to provide the information specified and meet the processing deadlines set by UTS in relation to recognition of prior learning applications. Students should lodge an application for subject exemption if they wish to apply for exemptions from subjects within their enrolled course.

Postgraduate subject exemptions are not normally granted where prior studies were undertaken more than 10 years previously. Postgraduate recognition of prior learning is not granted for prior sub-degree TAFE studies and recognition of prior learning for electives is considered based on prior postgraduate studies.

The maximum number of subject exemptions allowed in each course under the Faculty of Business policy is detailed below.

Graduate certificates

Exemptions are not permitted except where an exemption has been approved for a specified UTS executive development course.

Graduate diplomas

A maximum of five subject exemptions is permitted, of which two core subjects can be approved from prior undergraduate study.

Master's degrees (excluding MBA)

A maximum of eight subject exemptions is permitted, of which four core subjects can be approved from prior undergraduate study.

MBA

A maximum of 10 subject exemptions is permitted, of which four core subjects can be approved from prior undergraduate study. Exemptions will not be permitted for the subjects 21715 Strategic Management and 21878 Organisational Dialogue: Theory and Practice.

Articulation/Internal course transfer

While courses are offered as stand-alone qualifications they are also components of integrated programs of study that enable students who satisfactorily complete a graduate certificate or graduate diploma to apply for entry to a higher-level course within their chosen field of study. Where a student articulates from one level of study to another, only one testamur is issued. Further information is available from the UTS Business School.

Existing postgraduate students can apply for a different award by completing an internal course transfer. Further information is available from the Student Centre.

Progression

All UTS postgraduate students are subject to the Student Rules, Section 10 – Academic progression requirements. If students do not meet these requirements they can be excluded from their course. Full details are provided in the rules.

• Assessment of rate of progress (rule 10.2): UTS Business School postgraduate coursework students will have their enrolment discontinued if they fail:
  • two subjects in a graduate certificate
  • three subjects in a graduate diploma
  • four subjects in a master's degree, or
  • five subjects in the MBA and postgraduate extension degrees.
• Failure to maintain minimum rate of progress (rule 10.4)
• Maximum time to complete course requirements (rule 10.5)
• Repeated failure in a subject (rule 10.6)
• Academic caution (rule 10.7)

Early intervention

Early intervention applies only to international students and is a requirement of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS). International students who, because of poor results, are identified as being at risk of failing to make satisfactory academic progress if they failed 50 per cent or more of their enrolled subjects in the previous half year. If students are placed on early intervention following the release of results for a session, they receive a letter by email from UTS to their UTS email account advising them to undertake certain activities to help improve their academic performance.

Electives

Postgraduate students are not permitted to undertake undergraduate subjects, including language subjects, as electives in any Business postgraduate program. Students may only choose and enrol in postgraduate subjects as electives.

Majors and sub-majors

To have a major or sub-major noted on a final transcript, students must complete at least 75 per cent of the subjects in that major at UTS, under any approved postgraduate course.

Session load

Full-time study is usually undertaken at the normal load of 24 credit points a session. Students who wish to undertake more than the normal full-time load in one session must consult the Student Centre.

Part-time study is usually undertaken at the normal rate of 12 credit points a session.

Attendance

Postgraduate degrees at the UTS Business School are offered on campus only, but some subjects are also offered in block mode. The usual attendance for each subject is three hours a week, while subjects offered in block mode usually involve five or six full days of attendance spread over the session. The UTS timetable provides information on the location, day and time that individual subjects are offered.

Most degrees are offered part time (one or two subjects a session) or full time (three or four subjects a session).

Local students may attend part time or full time. International students must complete their course by the end date specified on their Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).

Subject attendance requirements

Students are required to be punctual and regular in attendance for all classes in which they are enrolled. It is the student's responsibility to study all material provided, or required to be accessed, to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the subject and to be informed of subject-related activities and administration.

International students in Australia are advised to attend all classes at their campus. Failure to attend may infringe on the conditions of the student visa.

The UTS timetable provides information on the location, day and time that individual subjects are offered.

Forms

Most postgraduate forms are available from Student forms, apps and systems except the faculty-specific Recognition of prior learning (exemption) form.

Postgraduate research

Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission to the UTS Business School's Doctor of Philosophy program an applicant should:

• hold a relevant bachelor's degree with first or second class honours (division 1)
• hold a master's by research degree
• possess an equivalent qualification, or
• submit other evidence of general and professional qualifications that demonstrates potential to pursue graduate research studies.

To apply for a postgraduate research degree with the UTS Business School, applicants are required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the UTS Business School Research Office.

Course structure

Based on the candidate's EOI, the UTS Business School allocates a supervisory panel with expertise in the proposed area of research.

While candidates may be required to undertake some coursework, the final assessment for the degree is based on submission of a thesis of approximately 50,000–70,000 words. The thesis is examined by two examiners, external to the University, who are experts in the area of research addressed in the thesis.

The candidate and the candidate's supervisory panel are required to submit a Graduate Research Study Plan (GRSP) and a Review of Progress (ROP) at the end of each session. The GRSP is a documented, formal study plan agreed between supervisors and the graduate research student identifying goals, resources, knowledge and skill development needs and progress tracking from enrolment through the candidature assessment stages, to final submission of thesis, and completion of the degree.

In addition, a student's candidature comprises three stages which progressively reflect advanced disciplinary knowledge and research skills.

1. The purpose of candidature Stage 1 is to confirm the student's candidature. Activities include coursework, other forms of training, workshop participation, etc. The candidature time for Stage 1 is within 12 months of enrolment (full time) and 24 months of enrolment (part time).
2. The purpose of candidature Stage 2 is to confirm the student's advanced progress in the candidature. Stage 2 focuses on research and development within self-determined guidelines. The candidature time for Stage 2 is within 24 months of enrolment (full time) and 48 months of enrolment (part time).
3. The purpose of candidature Stage 3 is to confirm the student's readiness to submit their thesis. Stage 3 focuses on research informing and enlarging the field. The candidature time for Stage 3 is within 36 months of enrolment (full time) and 72 months of enrolment (part time).

Contacts and inquiries

UTS Business School Research Office
telephone +61 2 9514 3691
email research.business@uts.edu.au

Postgraduate Research (PhD)