C02028v6 Doctor of Philosophy
Award(s): Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)CRICOS code: 008681E
Course EFTSL: 4
Location: City campus
Overview
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Inherent (essential) requirements
Applications
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Other information
Overview
The PhD is a university-wide degree which involves an intense period of supervised study and research, culminating in the submission of a thesis. The PhD is awarded to candidates who make an original and distinct contribution to knowledge in their field of specialisation.
This degree is particularly valuable for students wishing to pursue a career in research or academia.
Career options
Career options include positions in universities undertaking research, making contributions to public policy, or other academic work, including teaching, interest groups and legal publishing.
Course intended learning outcomes
| GA1.0 | An advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of legal knowledge, including the Australian legal system, social justice, cultural and international contexts, the principles and values of ethical practice, and contemporary developments in law and its professional practice |
| GA2.0 | An advanced and integrated capacity to value and promote honesty, integrity, accountability, public service and ethical standards, including an understanding of approaches to ethical decision-making, the rules of professional responsibility, an ability to reflect upon and respond to ethical challenges in practice, and a developing ability to engage in the profession of law and to exercise professional judgment |
| GA3.0 | A capacity to think critically, strategically and creatively, including an ability to identify and articulate complex legal issues, apply reasoning and research to generate appropriate theoretical and practical responses, and demonstrate sophisticated cognitive and creative skills in approaching complex legal issues and generating appropriate responses |
| GA4.0 | Well-developed cognitive and practical skills necessary to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues and demonstrate intellectual and practical skills necessary to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, legal methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions |
| GA5.0 | Effective and appropriate professional communication skills, including highly effective use of the English language, an ability to inform, analyse, report and persuade using an appropriate medium and message and an ability to respond appropriately |
| GA6.0 | A high level of autonomy, accountability and professionalism, the ability to implement appropriate self-management and lifelong learning strategies, including initiating self-directed work and learning, judgment and responsibility, self assessment of skills, personal wellbeing and appropriate use of feedback, and a capacity to adapt to and embrace change |
Admission requirements
Applicants must have completed a UTS recognised master's by research or bachelor honours degree with first class or second class / division 1 honours, or an equivalent or higher qualification, or submitted other evidence of general and professional qualifications that demonstrates potential to pursue graduate research studies.
Support for the project, availability of supervision, availability of places, evidence of research capacity in a relevant discipline and the applicant's overall abilities and experience are all taken into account.
The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 7.0 overall with a writing score of 7.0; or TOEFL: paper based: 584-609 overall with TWE of 5.0, internet based: 94-101 overall with a writing score of 27; or AE6: Pass; or PTE: 65-72 overall with a writing score of 65; or C1A/C2P: 185-190 overall with a writing score of 185.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
International students
Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.
Inherent (essential) requirements
Inherent (essential) requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential to the successful completion of a course.
Prospective and current students should carefully read the Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement below and consider whether they might experience challenges in successfully completing this course. This Statement should be read in conjunction with the UTS Student Rules.
Prospective or current student concerned about their ability to meet these requirements should discuss their concerns with the Academic Liaison Officer in their faculty or school and/or UTS Accessibility Service on 9514 1177 or at accessibility@uts.edu.au.
UTS will make reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, professional experiences, course related work experience and other course activities to facilitate maximum participation by students with disabilities, carer responsibilities, and religious or cultural obligations in their courses.
For course specific information see the Faculty of Law Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement.
Applications
The faculty operates a pre-assessment process prior to the formal application process. This enables the faculty to give advice about whether:
- a student is likely to meet the academic eligibility requirements
- the faculty is able to offer supervision in a chosen research area
- a student appears to have a viable research topic.
The informal pre-assessment process provides students with an indication about whether they are likely to be recommended for admission if a formal application is submitted. Successful completion of the pre-assessment does not guarantee acceptance into the program. The faculty may request one or more drafts of a research proposal during pre-assessment. Prospective candidates are advised that research proposals may be reviewed by anti-plagiarism software. Contact the faculty research officer for further information about the pre-assessment process.
Formal applicants must submit a research proposal at the point of application. Once final approval is obtained for a research proposal, the topic cannot be changed except with the approval of the university.
International students
International students must apply through UTS: International.
Course duration and attendance
The maximum course duration is four years of full-time or eight years of part-time study. Students can complete the course in less than the maximum time.
The work may be carried out either on university premises or at a site external to the university, or some combination of both. Candidates are required to make contact with their supervisor(s) at least once a month to discuss the progress of their research.
Course structure
Candidates are required to submit a dissertation of approximately 100,000 words. As part of this course, students must also complete the subject 77697 Higher Degree Research Seminar.
The candidate is required to undertake all assessments as part of the Faculty's Doctoral Framework three-stage program. In the first stage candidates must complete a formal candidature assessment, and in the second stage a progress confirmation assessment, to ensure their progress is consistent with completion of the research program in the prescribed time and demonstrates potential to complete the work to standard. Doctoral candidates are required to make an oral presentation of their dissertation six months prior to submission of their dissertation for examination.
Information regarding UTS: Law's key research areas and strengths, and the research interests of staff members, is available at postgraduate research degrees.
Course completion requirements
| 77696 PhD Thesis: Law | ||
| 77697 Higher Degree Research Seminar |
Other information
Further information is available from the faculty research officer on:
telephone +61 2 9514 3753
fax +61 2 9514 3400
email law.research@uts.edu.au
UTS: Law
Applicants are encouraged to contact the UTS: Graduate Research School.