AUT - Doctor of Philosophy
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Doctor of Philosophy
Programme Code: AK3518
Level: 10
Points: 360
Duration: Three years full time / Up to six years part time
Venue: City and North Shore Campuses
Starting date: Any time
Want to enrol in a programme: Apply online
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
A thesis-based research degree that leads to advanced academic and theoretical knowledge in a specialist area. The programme enables you to make an original contribution to knowledge or understanding in the field of study and meet recognised international standards for such work. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is awarded after the successful completion of three to four years full time, or six years part time, concentrated research constituting an original and substantial contribution to knowledge.
Students work closely with their supervisor to prepare a thesis, which is examined by independent experts who apply contemporary international standards.
The school has extensive research capabilities in the following areas:
- Aquaculture
- Biotechnology
- Chemistry
- Earth and Oceanic Sciences
- Food Science
- Marine Ecosystem Dynamics
- Microbiology
- Molecular Genetics
WHAT THIS QUALIFICATION COVERS
Stage One
Students are admitted provisionally in the first year full time (up to 2 years part time) where they will refine their preliminary proposal into a fully fledged PhD proposal (the D9 document). This document critically reviews the significant work done in the students' area of research. The D9 proposal should also contain a suitable research methodology and methods along with a timeframe for completion of the degree that highlights important milestones to be achieved in the next couple of years. Once their D9 proposal is completed and approved through the faculty processes it is submitted to the University Postgraduate Board for full admission approval.
Stage Two
Once students have completed their research proposal, they typically refine their design, collecting data and conducting their research as appropriate. Results are analysed and may be published through international conferences, journal publications and peer review as this lends further credibility to the research.
Stage Three
The first step in the final stage of the PhD is spent finalising the data analysis. Thereafter, the PhD thesis should be written and submitted to the supervisors for feedback. It should be noted that the process of finalising the thesis is time consuming as typically two or even three draft versions need to be produced before the thesis is in a form that is ready for submission and examination.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
- Research
- Teaching