The ins and outs of PhD

1. The ins and outs of PhD Professor Acram Taji

2. What Will I Cover? • Some background • Features of QUT research • Minimum entry requirements for PhD • How to apply • Finding a supervisor • How to write a research proposal • Models of study • Joint PhD • Milestones in PhD journey • Quality assurance • Funding models • Scholarships

3. QUT Campuses QUT’s two campuses are located in Brisbane

4. Interdisciplinary approach to research through renowned Institutes, Cooperative Research Centres and Centres of Excellence • The Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation • The Institute for CreativeIndustries and Innovation • The Institute for Future Environments

5. Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) Hub of activities for more than 200 researchers from science, bio-engineering, health and biotechnology • With research in five main domains: • Cells and tissue • Human health and wellbeing • Injury prevention and rehabilitation • Medical devices • Vision improvements QUT’s research flagship the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation

6. Institute for Future Environments • An exciting new institute bringing together leading QUT experts in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to deliver research programs covering: • sustainable infrastructure • sustainable environment • information and communication technologies • enabling technologies related to sustainability

7. Institute for Creative Industries and Innovation (ICI) ICI is a global hub for excellence in creative innovation, innovation policy, and creative human capital ICI combines researchers and doctoral students from Creative Industries, Business, and Education in ground breaking research and commercialisation ventures

8. Investing in STEM Teaching and Research • A AUD$250 million Science and Engineering Centre at the Gardens Point campus focussing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in a world-leading model. • The theme of research is sustainable and secure infrastructure in key areas of national interest such as: • Climate change • Infrastructure • Food, water and energy security

9. Research Strengths of Faculties Science and Engineering Centre

10. Faculties at QUT Six Faculties • Business • Creative Industries • Education • Health • Law • Science and Engineering

11. Business • Research Strengths: • Advertising & Communication • Applied Econometrics • Behavioural and Health Economics • Consumer Behaviour • Entrepreneurship • Infrastructure Management • Philanthropy and Non-profit studies • Services Innovation • Wealth Management and Financial Literacy

12. Creative Industries • Creative writing and literary studies • Film and television, Dance • Architecture • Industrial Design • Interior Design • Landscape Architecture • Urban Design • Visual and interactive design • Fashion

13. Education • Research Strengths: • Early years • Mathematics education and curriculum • Literacies, curriculum and pedagogies • Learning for professional futures

14. Health • Cancer • Chronic Disease, Supportive and Palliative Care • Environmental Health • Equity and Health • Exercise, Nutrition and Metabolism • Health Services • Infectious Diseases • Injury Prevention • Mental Health and Wellbeing • Musculoskeletal Disease • Vision Improvement • Wound and Tissue Restoration

15. Law • Research Strengths: • Property and EnvironmentCredit • Commercial and Consumer Law • E-business and E-government • Human Rights & Governance • Intellectual Property: Knowledge Culture and Economy • Health Law • Criminal Justice • Scholarship of Higher Education

16. Science & Engineering • Airports and Aviation • Complex Urban Systems Design (CUSD) • Energy • Orthopedics and Trauma • Smart Transport Systems • Environment • Food    • Information • Security

17. MinimumEntry Requirements to PhD • A Masters degree with minimum 25% research of the total degree • A GPA of at least 5.0 on a 7 point scale or equivalent standing as certified by the relevant faculty • Coursework Masters with no research component are not considered adequate for admission to the PhD program unless additional level of research experience and potential which is deemed acceptable to the faculty and approved by the Research Degrees Committee (e.g. journal publications) • English proficiency- e.g. IELTS 6.5 with no sub-band less than 6.0

18. How to Apply • A complete application will include the following: • Research proposal • Certified/notarised award certificate and academic transcripts in the original language as well as the English translation. • Curriculum vitae (CV) which includes evidence of your research experience. • Referee reports in English • Proof of English language proficiency

19. Finding a SupervisorImportant to pick supervisor rather than University or Faculty • Previously known to you- for example s/he was your Honours supervisor • Via literature • Met at a conference • Introduced by a colleague • Via universities’ websites. E.g. QUT’s Staff Profiles http://staff.qut.edu.au/ • Check the credential of supervisors: • Does their field of research aligns with yours • How many students are they supervising at present • Too many? • Not many? • How many students have completed in their lab? • Average length of time taken to PhD completion for their students?

20. How to Write a Research Proposal • About 500 words. Your proposal should be presented under headings that provide the following information: • Proposed title of the study • Purpose of the proposed study • Brief relevant background literature • Research questions or hypotheses • Brief research methodology including ethical consideration • Significance of the research • Resources required for the research • Bibliography • This proposal normally is developed in collaboration with a prospective supervisor.

21. The Critical Ps • Proposal must be doable within the designated timeframe • Purpose- must be clear • Plan- must be robust • Procrastination- to be avoided • Perfect work- is a dream rather than reality

22. Models of Study • Full-time on campus- Majority of our international HDR students enrolled in this mode- our preferred model • Full-time external- Few students • Part-time on campus- Not many due to government limitations • Part-time external- mostly domestic students • Blended model • Joint PhD

23. Overview of Joint PhD Requirements • Simultaneous enrolment at QUT and at one of our partner universities • One thesis for recognition by both universities • Minimum one year of candidature must be spent at each university • Students must meet the admission requirements for both universities • Must meet mutual institutional requirements • An existing Memorandum of Understanding/ International Cooperation Agreement must be in place before proceeding • All QUT policies as applies to PhD must be adhered to • Five yearly review of the agreement • Part C (specific student data) must be agreed upon before student commencing

24. Overarching AgreementGeneral Principles • Candidate must be admitted separately by QUT and the partner institution English language requirements • IELTS • TOFEL • Others as approved by Research Degrees Committee • Duration of joint PhD- standard 3 to 4 years (based on AQF) • Residency- Total period at each institution is one year- can be broken to small bits • Enrolment- Minimum entry requirements acceptable to each institution • Supervision- Minimum one supervisor in each institution. Inclusion of industry supervisors is permissible as per regular PhD

25. General Principles- continue……… • Periodic evaluation- as per course rules of each institution e.g. APR at QUT • Thesis • One single thesis written in English • The statement of original authorship must refer to the joint PhD framework • Examination • Harmonisation of thesis examination is detailed in the Joint PhD agreement • Grading • May be required by partner institution • Award of the degree • The degree certificate/testamur of each institution must attest to the joint framework under which the student completed the joint PhD program

26. QUT’s Testamur <Name> having fulfilled all the conditions of a joint program prescribed by the Queensland University of Technology and the <insert name of the university> in <insert name of the country> has been admitted to the degree of” Doctor of Philosophy Ms Shard Lorenzo Registrar  Professor Peter Coaldrake Vice-chancellor  Mr Timothy Fairfax Chancellor  QUT Seal  Conferral date and student ID  

27. General Principles- continue……… • IP issues • The protection of the thesis content ………. will be subject to the regulations of both Institutions (as per article 14 of joint PhD agreement) • If required specific agreements will be arranged • Administration matters • Each Institution shall designate one individual to fulfil the responsibilities of Coordinator of the Joint PhDs in order to facilitate student exchanges under the terms of this agreement. Office of DIGR at QUT (as per Article 15 of the joint PhD agreement) • Tuition fees • Student be supported by a scholarship, stipend or grant • QUT may grant a tuition fee scholarship subject to satisfactory progress • Health insurance & protection measure as per Article 17 and consistent with the requirements for any international student • Disagreement and Dispute • Infrastructure support

28. Milestones in PhD Journey Publishing high quality articles along the way

29. Quality Assurance QUT has a robust quality assurance system in place during all stages of PhD journey: • Selection of students • Accreditation of supervisors • Oversight of progression including periods of under review if required • Thesis examination including selection of high quality international examiners QUT is accredited by Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). This agency regulates and assures the quality of Australia’s higher education sector: • Compliance assessment • Quality assessment

30. Funding Models • Full scholarships provided by QUT- e.g. IPRS, QUTPRA • Full scholarships provided by students’ home government or institution • Living stipend provided by institutions (private or public) overseas and tuition fee sponsored by QUT- cohort based • Fully private students- tuition fee and living stipend paid by students • For Joint PhDs tuition fee is normally waived by QUT. Living stipend need to be sponsored either by home university or by Supervisor/School/ Faculty or combination from QUT and partner university

31. Scholarships for International HDR students • IPRS- International Postgraduate Research Scholarships • QUTPRA- QUT Postgraduate Research Awards • Tuition Fee- Living stipend is required (Supervisor, School, Faculty or a Company or organisation)- Examples: CSC, CMRU • Excellence Top-Up Scholarships • Vice Chancellor • Deputy Vice-Chancellor • Faculties • Institutes • Others • AusAID • CRCs

32. Criteria for receiving a full scholarship? • Research qualifications • Bachelor degrees with First Class Honours • Research Master degrees • Coursework Master degrees longer than 3 semesters with one year designated to high level research • GPA of the last degree earned more than 2.70 out of 3 (i.e. equivalent to 90%) • Area of proposed research aligned with key research areas of QUT • Availability of facilities and equipment • Accredited supervisors available to supervise the project

33. Steps in higher degree by research

34. Sri Lanka • Ministry of Higher Education in Sri Lanka http://www.mohe.gov.lk/ • The University Grants Commission (UGC) http://www.ugc.ac.lk/ • Ministry of Higher Education Science and Technology http://www.scienceandtechnology.go.ke/

35. Thanks for your attention Professor (Mrs) Acram Taji Queensland University of Technology GPO Box 2434 Brisbane, Qld., 4001, AUSTRALIA Phone: +61-7-3138 6800 Email: acram.taji@qut.edu.au CRICOS No. 00213J