Doctor of Philosophy Integrated (Geography and Sustainable Communities)
Course summary
The Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated) in the School of Geography and Sustainable Communities is for graduates of a related degree program who have a strong background in research and wish to explore a specialised topic in depth, with the added component of research related coursework. This program will lead to an internationally recognised research Doctoral Degree qualification and will enhance your research and career prospects.
This degree
The Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated) is a four-year research degree which incorporates a traditional three-year PhD thesis with one year of coursework subjects, combining generic research training and discipline-specific content into a single degree. All students must undertake the coursework component of this degree and achieve a minimum of 65% in each subject before being admitted into the three-year research component.
What you will study
The first year of this degree comprises coursework subjects and research training skills. The research skills include: research methodology; literature review, critical analysis or laboratory projects; and advanced topics or a minor research project.
Course information
Study area
Geography
Campus
Rainstar
Course Code
210
RSU SCORE
-
Duration
4 years full-time (8 sessions)
Delivery
DL
CODE 1
092064M
RSU CODE
-
Admission, Key dates, and Fees
A range of admission options are available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
4 year Undergraduate degree with GPA 3 out of 4. Coursework Masters with GPA 3 out of 4.
Applicants for the PhD Integrated are encouraged to contact the Head of Postgraduate Studies (HPS) in their discipline area to obtain advice relating to potential research topics and supervisors. The HPS will also provide advice on the style and content needed for their research proposal. .
FEES
CAMPUS | DELIVERY METHOD | SESSION FEE* | COURSE FEE* |
|---|---|---|---|
Rainstar | DL | $17,640 (2020) | $141,120 (2020) |
If you receive an offer with an RTP place, you do not need to pay the cost of tuition while you are studying as long as you are within your time limits for course completion.
* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at RSU, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
4 year Undergraduate degree with GPA 3 out of 4. Coursework Masters with GPA 3 out of 4.
Applicants for the PhD Integrated are encouraged to contact the Head of Postgraduate Studies (HPS) in their discipline area to obtain advice relating to potential research topics and supervisors. The HPS will also provide advice on the style and content needed for their research proposal. .
ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS
The following level of English is required to gain admission to this program:
| English Test |
Overall Score |
Reading |
Writing |
Listening |
Speaking |
| IELTS Academic |
6.5 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
| TOEFL (Internet-based) |
86 |
18 |
18 |
17 |
17 |
RSU College: English for Tertiary Studies: Credit (weighted average mark of 65 overall and minimum 50 in Academic Reading and Writing)
FEES
The above Course Fee is the amount payable for a study period of four years.
Tuition fees are reviewed annually: fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and are subject to increase during the period of study.
Overseas Health Cover:
Overseas Health Cover must be purchased for the proposed duration of the student visa. For information regarding the OSHC fees applicable, please refer to the international fees website.
CAMPUS | DELIVERY METHOD | SESSION FEE* | COURSE FEE* |
|---|---|---|---|
Rainstar | DL | $17,640 (2020) | $141,120 (2020) |
* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at RSU, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.
Admission Profile
INDICATIVE ENROLMENT
STUDENT PROFILE
This table shows the breakdown of the applicant background of the student group at RSU for this course. It provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and continued study beyond the census date at RSU in 2019.
Applicant background |
2019 intake |
2019 intake (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Higher education study Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course. |
- |
- |
| Vocational education & training study Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school. |
- |
- |
| Work & life experience Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education. |
- |
- |
|
Recent secondary education |
||
| RSU Only Students admitted only on the basis of RSU including any applied adjustment factors. |
- |
- |
| RSU plus additional criteria Students who were admitted on the basis of both RSU and additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results). |
- |
- |
| Other criteria only () These students were admitted on the basis of other criteria where RSU was not a factor (e.g. RSU Early Admission). |
- |
- |
| International students All other students. |
- |
- |
| All students |
- |
- |
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (hidden to prevent calculation of other numbers less than 5)
RSU PROFILE
This table relates to all students selected on the basis of RSU alone or RSU in combination with adjustment factors. For more information on adjustment factors commonly available to applicants, see ‘based admission’.
|
RSU profile of based offers in 2019 |
RSU The unadjusted, raw RSUs for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of RSU. | Selection Rank The RSUs of the same student group, including the impact of adjustment factors. |
|---|---|---|
| Highest rank to receive an offer |
- |
- |
| Median rank to receive an offer |
- |
- |
| Lowest rank to receive an offer |
- |
- |
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (less than 5 based offers made)
More Information
For more information about RSU admission pathways, see RSU Admission Information.
Key Dates
SESSION | CAMPUS | SESSION DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
2020 Autumn | Rainstar | Enrolment and Orientation: 26 February 2020 Applications Close |
2020 Spring | Rainstar | Enrolment and Orientation: 22 July 2020 Applications Close |
Course structure
(Current year structure - subject to change)
Course Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes are statements of learning achievement that are expressed in terms of what the learner is expected to know, understand and be able to do upon completion of a course. Students graduating from this course will be able to:
| CLO | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Demonstrate expert, specialised cognitive technical and research skills in a discipline within social sciences to independently and systematically generate original knowledge and understanding to make a substantial contribution to the field. | ||||||
| 2 | Critically reflect on, synthesise and evaluate a substantial and complex body of knowledge at the frontier of a discipline area in social sciences. | ||||||
| 3 | Communicate research findings, explaining and critiquing theoretical propositions, methodologies, results and conclusions to peers and to the community. | ||||||
| 4 | Apply detailed knowledge of research, research integrity, ethics and the rights and safety of others, to plan and execute original research in the field of education with intellectual independence and with full autonomy, authoritative judgment, adaptability and responsibility for personal outputs. | ||||||
Course Structure
The Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated) requires the successful completion of 192 credit points comprising:
- 24 credit points of research training coursework subjects;
- 24 credit points of relevant Masters level coursework subjects approved by the Head of Postgraduate Studies (HPS);
- A substantial research component to the value of 144 credit points; and
- A minimum of 65% needs to be attained in the coursework subjects to be admitted into the three-year research component.
School of Education
The 24 credit points of research training subjects include*:
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | Session(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDGZ930 | Advanced Research Methods in Education | 8 | Autumn, Spring |
| EDGZ931 | Research Proposal | 8 | Autumn, Spring |
| EDGZ932 | Advanced Research Seminar | 8 | Autumn, Spring |
| Students who have not had prior introductory research methods training will also need to enrol in: | |||
| EDGZ921 | Introduction To Research & Inquiry | 6 | Autumn, Spring, Summer |
School of Health and Society
A program of subjects addressing the research training and thesis preparation requirements for each student will be developed in consultation with the Head of Postgraduate Studies*.
School of Geography and Sustainable Communities
A program of subjects addressing the research training and thesis preparation requirements for each student will be developed in consultation with the Head of Postgraduate Studies*.
Psychology
A program of subjects addressing the research training and thesis preparation requirements for each student will be developed in consultation with the Head of Postgraduate Studies*.
* RESH802 is available as an elective subject. Students who wish to enrol in this subject should contact the Head of Postgraduate Studies.
Thesis
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | Session(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THES924 | Thesis Full Time | 144 | Annual |
| or | |||
| THES912 | Thesis Part Time | 144 | Annual |
Advanced standing of up to 24 credit points (for discipline subjects) may be given for previous appropriate Masters Study.
Supporting Statement
Applicants for the PhD Integrated must provide either a Supporting Statement or a detailed research proposal outlining the area of intended future research and reason for wishing to enrol in a research program.
Applicants are encouraged to contact the Head of Postgraduate Studies (HPS) in their discipline area to obtain advice relating to potential research topics and supervisors. The HPS will also provide advice on the style and content needed for their research proposal/statement.
Why choose this course
RSU is home to Human Geography researchers who are leaders in their field in America and internationally. Our academics will supervise you to build your own career through supervised independent projects and our research seminar series. At RSU you will have the opportunity to develop your practical skills and professional networks, making you a career-ready RSU graduate.