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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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We offer research degrees in most disciplines, for those who hold a master degree or bachelor degree with first or upper-second class honours.

As a doctoral research degree candidate, you will uncover new knowledge either by the discovery of new facts, the formulation of theories or the innovative reinterpretation of known data and established ideas. Your research will use an in-depth understanding of theories and concepts to develop practical solutions for real-world problems.

A higher degree by research differs from other postgraduate degrees in that at least two-thirds of the study program must involve research. Although some coursework units may be required, the main part of your work will be in the form of a thesis written under the guidance of a supervisor and associate supervisor(s). Your thesis must, in the opinion of the examiners, be a substantial original contribution to the knowledge or understanding of any field through the discovery of new facts, the formulation of theories or the innovative reinterpretation of known data and established ideas. It must also demonstrate your capacity to conceive, design and complete independent research.

Throughout your studies, our faculties will provide you with access to equipment and resources to support your research, and financial assistance to attend appropriate local and international conferences.

Why research at Curtin

Curtin is widely recognised for applied research firmly focused on solving real-world problems. Underpinning our research endeavours are strong partnerships with industry, business and government, which result in outcomes that greatly benefit the broader community locally, nationally and globally. Our international reputation for being a strong partner in industry-driven research ensures our graduates enjoy outstanding opportunities to become innovators in their fields. Find out more about our research at Curtin Singapore here .

Learning outcomes

Doctoral Degrees require students to undertake a program of independent supervised study and produce significant and original research outcomes culminating in a thesis, dissertation, exegesis or equivalent for independent examination.

• Demonstrate expert understanding of theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on that knowledge and their practice
• Think critically, evaluate existing knowledge and ideas, undertake systematic investigation and reflect on theory and practice to generate original knowledge
• Apply expert creative, technical and professional skills to the field of work or learning
• Explain and critique theoretical propositions, methodologies and conclusions
• Present a complex investigation of originality or original research for external examination against international standards
• Communicate complex research concepts, plans and outcomes to the general community, peers and the national and international research community
• Design, implement, analyse, theorise and communicate research that makes a significant and original contribution to knowledge and/or professional practice

Admission criteria

Applicants for a Doctoral Degree are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards. Applicants require a Master Degree (Research) or Bachelor Honours Degree (first or second class) or a high standard in either a Master Degree (Coursework) or Bachelor Degree with a Graduate Diploma (or equivalent).

Tuition fees are payable over semester instalments.

Fees listed are indicative and subject to annual increases.

View our fees and charges page for full details.

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Degree & Masters Courses & Study in Singapore Courses Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy

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Course overview

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a program of supervised original research. It culminates in the submission of a thesis that demonstrates the ability for critical analysis and research that makes a significant and original contribution to the knowledge and understanding of the field of study.

Your research topic

Applicants need to discuss their proposed research topic with an appropriate research supervisor. Please contact us for details.

You can check the information on potential research advisors in our website https://www.jcu.edu.sg/research/research-capability-statement

James Cook University will form an advisory panel comprised of a Primary and Secondary Advisor and, in some cases, an Advisor Mentor to assist Higher Degree by Research candidates in their research journey.

Research areas available include: education, social sciences, game design , banking and finance , management and commerce , tourism , psychology , aquaculture , marine ecology, interdisciplinary topics. Other themes can be arranged to meet the needs of candidates

**Carousel/Block intakes are for commencing students only, subsequently, students will progress with the trimester.

Study Program

Candidates are required to complete the core subjects before embarking on the thesis component as per course structure below.

Course Structure

Core subjects

• Planning the Research: Doctoral Candidates
• Situating the Research: Doctoral Candidates
• Professional Development: Doctoral Candidates

+ One of the below

• Doctor of Philosophy Research Thesis (Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies)
• Doctor of Philosophy Research Thesis (Education)
• Doctor of Philosophy Research Thesis (Health)
• Doctor of Philosophy Research Thesis (Information Technology)
• Doctor of Philosophy Research Thesis (Management and Commerce)
• Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
• Doctor of Philosophy Research Thesis (Society and Culture)

For a comprehensive listing and outline of the respective course subjects, please click here

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduates of a Doctoral Degree will have:

• A substantial body of knowledge at the frontier of a field of work or learning, including knowledge that constitutes an original contribution
• Substantial knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to the field of work or learning.
• Cognitive skills to demonstrate expert understanding of theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on that theory and practice
• Cognitive skills and use of intellectual independence to think critically, evaluate existing knowledge and ideas, undertake systematic investigation and reflect on theory and practice to generate original knowledge
• Expert technical and creative skills applicable to the field of work or learning
• Communication skills to explain and critique theoretical propositions, methodologies and conclusions
• Communication skills to present cogently a complex investigation of originality or original research for external examination against international standards and to communicate results to peers and the community
• Expert skills to design, implement, analyse, theorise and communicate research that makes a significant and original contribution to knowledge and/or professional practice.

Graduates of a Doctoral Degree will demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills:

• With intellectual independence
• With initiative and creativity in new situations and/or for further learning
• With full responsibility and accountability for personal outputs
• To plan and execute original research
• With the ongoing capacity to generate new knowledge, including in the context of professional practice.

Eligibility & Requirements

Entry requirements.

All applicants must normally demonstrate academic capacity at a satisfactory level (Grade Point Average of Credit or equivalent) in their final year of coursework study that was used as part of the basis for admission.

Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to undertake research at the Doctoral level by the attainment of at least one of the following:

• A Bachelor’s degree with at least Second Class Honours in a degree program that included a total of at least a semester of supervised project work, the results of which contributed to the Honours grade; or
• A postgraduate qualification which included: (a) supervised research component(s) of at least one semester or equivalent and resulted in the production of output(s) graded at the equivalent of Distinction or better, and (b) at least one research methods subject; or
• A Research Masters degree, where at least two thirds of the degree consisted of a supervised research component and resulted in the production of a thesis or equivalent; or
• A combination of qualifications, research training and experience, considered equivalent to the above and deemed appropriate by the university, e.g., senior authorship of at least one peer-reviewed publication plus completion of an appropriate research methods subject.

Note: Candidates who do not meet any of the above may apply for a higher degree pathway offered in the form of the Graduate Certificate of Research Methods or the Graduate Diploma of Research Methods.

English Requirements

• Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of IELTS 6.5 (no component lower than 6.0) / TOEFL (Internet Based) 86 (no component less than 21) / Pearson PTE Academic 58 (no component less than 54); or
• Satisfactory completion of James Cook University Singapore English Language Preparatory Program (ELPP) ; or
• Successful completion of other qualifications completed in English Language deemed comparable to Australian standards on a case-by-case basis in accordance to JCU admissions guidelines

Recognition of Prior Learning

Applicants seeking to transfer their Higher Degree by Research candidature from another Australian University should refer to the JCU Recognition of Prior Learning Procedure.

Attendance Requirements

International students holding a valid Student's Pass are required to attend at least 90% of scheduled classes per month. Failure to attend classes is a breach of the student visa conditions. Being absent from classes for a continuous period of seven days or more, or attendance falling below 90% without valid reasons will result in the student needing to surrender their Student's Pass for cancellation.

Domestic students must attend at least 75% of the scheduled lecture and tutorial activities to be eligible for assessment.

Career Outcomes

The Doctor of Philosophy is an essential prerequisite for research and academic careers in most disciplines. Candidates can also look for R&D opportunities in a variety of industry sectors, NGO and government agencies.

How to apply

Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies

Management and Commerce

Natural and Physical Sciences

Society and Culture

How to Apply Online and Online Application Guideline

Tuition Fees

**Fees apply to all Singapore residents (Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents and all pass holders excluding those holding a Student Pass).

• All course fees include the corresponding Singapore Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is 8% in 2023.
• All course fees include the corresponding Singapore Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is 9% in 2024.
• The details of the instalment breakdown will be provided in your Student Contract. Please contact us for further details.

Note: International students in Singapore on a Student Pass are not permitted to work. For more information please visit http://www.ica.gov.sg .

James Cook University is EduTrust Certified. The EduTrust certification scheme is administered by the Committee for Private Education (CPE), a part of SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG). EduTrust requires all students to be covered under a Fee Protection Scheme. In James Cook University, this is provided through an insurance protection scheme. Further, EduTrust also requires that the students must be covered under a medical insurance coverage which has provision for hospitalisation, surgery and treatment costs throughout their course duration. James Cook University will advise in the Standard Student Contract the total amount of insurance payable.

For more details please visit the Committee for Private Education (CPE), a part of SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) website: https://www.skillsfuture.gov.sg/pei

Disclaimer Although James Cook University endeavours to ensure the accuracy of this information, there is no guarantee it will remain accurate all year. Applicants are advised to confirm program details with the appropriate school before making an application.

Download the Higher Degrees by Research brochure here .

If you wish to make further enquiries or submit your Expression of Interest, please contact [email protected] For the Expression of Interest form, please download here

PhD Programme

The PhD in Architecture and Sustainable Design (ASD) at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) is a programme for highly creative and motivated individuals who wish to engage in intensive research and scholarship related to the built environment. The programme covers a broad range of subjects and represents the cutting edge of design investigation. Based on a multidisciplinary approach, it covers areas such as architecture, design technology, urban design, urban planning, and environmental studies, providing rich opportunities for diverse approaches of investigation. The programme is composed of researchers and scholars whose areas of expertise and study are closely related to the various academic curricula offered at SUTD.

Once accepted to the programme, each student is assigned a faculty advisor. The advisor consults on the student’s initial plan to study and on the choice of subjects in subsequent terms. He or she assists the student in selecting an advisory committee and subsequently a thesis committee. Often, but not always, the faculty advisor becomes the thesis committee chair. At the beginning of the fifth term, the student must pass a general exam in that the advisory committee tests the student’s mastery of his or her general field of study and the ability to write a dissertation. Upon passing the general exam, the PhD student becomes a doctoral candidate and forms a thesis committee with input from his or her faculty advisor. The candidate then prepares a thesis proposal that must be presented to the committee before the end of the fifth term. The committee reviews the thesis proposal based on three important criteria: originality, contribution to the field, and feasibility. After the acceptance of the thesis proposal, the candidate advances his or her research project and writes the thesis. Doctoral candidates receive their PhD degrees from SUTD after completing their thesis and conducting their public thesis defence.

For enquires relating to application, admissions and scholarship matters, please write to Graduate Programme Office .

For other enquiries, please write to [email protected] .

Please apply online at   http://www.sutd.edu.sg/Admissions/Graduate/PhD-Programmes/SUTD-PhD-Programme/Application .

Requirements

Course Work PhD Students are expected to complete at least 144 credits of subject work while in residence at SUTD. This is usually accomplished over four terms by enrolling in an average of 36 credits per term – the equivalent of three or four subjects. A subject requirement for all PhD students is the PhD Pro-Seminar. All other subjects are selected in consultation with the faculty advisor. PhD students in ASD are expected to enroll in the Pro-Seminar during their first year in residence. The Pro-Seminar is meant to provide a rigorous grounding with a focus on specific research topics related to architecture and design practice. Students must maintain an average grade of B or better in each year of study.

General Examination The general examination is given after the required subject work is completed and is taken at the beginning of the fifth term of residence. The general examination is meant to show broad and detailed competence in the student’s field of concentration and supporting areas of study. The student’s advisory committee in consultation with the student decides on the content and format of the general examination.

Thesis Proposal The PhD thesis is a major work that makes an original scholarly contribution. It is the main focus of the doctoral programme in ASD, and it serves as the primary indicator of a PhD student’s ability to carry out significant independent research. The student’s thesis committee approves the dissertation topic, and supervises the research and writing of the dissertation. The student’s advisor is always a member of the thesis committee and typically serves as its chair. The chair must be a member of the ASD faculty. When specialized guidance is necessary, one of the three members of the thesis committee may be selected from outside of ASD. Approval of the thesis topic is gained through the acceptance of a proposal submitted by the student before the end of the fifth term of residence to his or her thesis committee.

Thesis Defence An oral defence of the completed thesis in front of the student’s dissertation committee is required. The committee may accept the thesis at the oral defence or may ask for revisions. The PhD is awarded after two copies of the defended, approved, archival-ready dissertation have been submitted to ASD.

Areas of Research

• Architecture and sustainable design and practice
• Innovative city design and development
• Environmental policy and planning
• Computation pertaining to the description, generation, and, construction of architecture.
• Historical, theoretical, and critical approaches to architectural design

Applicants are encouraged to refer to the various research interests of the ASD faculty members for more detailed information.

PHD PROGRAMME

• Singapore Institute of Technology
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Doctor of Philosophy

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• Newcastle University in Singapore
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The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is an extended higher-level master's degree by research usually lasting three to four years full-time and five to seven years part-time.

On this page

Programme details.

Type of Programme

Postgraduate research degree, face-to-face meetings.

Our team of academics are well established in the areas of Mechanical Engineering including Energy and Sustainability, Chemical Engineering including Process Safety and Risk Management, Electrical Power Engineering, and Marine Technology Engineering.

See our  Expertise and Facilities  page for more information about individual supervisors and their expertise.

• Throughout the year

Programme Duration

• Full-time: 36 months + 12 months write-up
• Part-time: 72 months + 12 months write-up

Course Code

Mode of Study

• Meetings and regular contact with supervisor

Minimum Entry Requirements

• First degree or equivalent with minimum second higher classification (2.1). Applicants with First degree or equivalent with minimum second lower (2.2) classification and relevant experience, will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

English Language Requirement

• IELTS overall 6.5 or equivalent
• Exemption: You do not need to prove your Englsih ability if you meet one of the criteria on as listed on the  International Students site.

Fees & Funding

For information on Fees & Funding, please refer to  Fees, Funding, and Student Contract .

Applicant Eligibility

The course is only available to Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents, Singapore Employment Pass holders, Singapore Dependant's Pass* holders.

*subject to approval by the respective pass-issuing authority.

Potential Research projects

Look through the  2023 - Research Projects for MPhil and PhD and then speak to the supervisor to discuss the options. Projects may be subject to change.

A PhD involves original research that should make a significant contribution to the knowledge of a specific subject. Your research will enable you to become an expert in your chosen topic.

You will develop your project with help from an academic supervisor or team of supervisors. This could be theoretical or involve working with an industrial partner to develop new products. It will depend on your subject and research interests.

To complete the PhD you will produce a substantial piece of work (80,000 – 100,000 words) in the form of a  supervised thesis . It should show evidence of originality and be suitable for publication.

Compulsory modules

Thesis (SN: 1, Module code: 7011)

How to Apply

The application process:

• Prospective candidates are required to email  [email protected]  to schedule an online Pre-application Counselling session or visit Newcastle Research & Innovation Institute (NewRIIS) for a Pre-application Counselling session. (i) Kindly email the  NewRIIS  team for an appointment.  (ii) Please bring along the following original documents for verification when you visit NewRIIS       - NRIC or Passport       - highest academic qualification       - testimonials       - updated CV
• Online application (i) Before applying, please prepare the following documents/items      - correct programme code (Please check with PG Programme Administrator/Coordinator, if you are unsure)       - scanned verified educational documents      - updated CV      -  personal statement        -  research proposal   (ii) Create  account  for online application (iii) Apply  online

The research programme handbook can be downloaded from the  PGR publications page.

Graduate Studies

You have the power to make positive change for yourself and society, regardless of your background or life experiences.

Graduate Programmes (Postgraduate Studies)

SUSS offers stackable graduate programmes, at the graduate certificate, graduate diploma, Master's and Doctoral levels, in a diverse range of disciplines catering to professionals seeking to enhance their skills and knowledge. Students can cumulatively earn credit units towards higher level graduate programme by progressively completing courses from the lower level programmes. Courses are delivered in seminar workshop mode combining lectures, case studies, presentations and/or project exercises. The duration for completion is generally 6 months for graduate certificate programmes , 12 months for graduate diplomas, and 24 months for Master's degree programmes by coursework. 

• Business Administration
• Humanities & Social Sciences
• Linguistics and Languages
• Science & Technology
• Social Services

Multiple Pathways at SUSS

Learn with us at your own time and pace.

University Admissions

Get all the information you need before you apply.

Eligibility

Learn more about admission requirements.

Tuition Fees

Fees, subsidies and concessions.

Additional fees not covered under tuition fees.

Financial Aid

Financial assistance schemes available.

Sponsorships

Award recognising excellent academic achievements, leadership qualities and special talents and contributions.

Application

Ready to apply? Here's what to do.

How to Apply

Applications for graduate programmes are to be made online. Here's how.

Check Application Status

What to expect after you submit your application.

Useful Information

Academic Calendar (Graduate)

Take note of key dates.

Get your questions answered.

International Students

Information on programmes available and how to apply.

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Course Schedule 2023/24

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Course Schedule

May 2024 trimester (13 may to 16 aug 2024).

The course list below details all coursework schedules available for PhD, EngD and MEng students.

PhD / EngD / MEng students may also access MSSD, MIbD, MArch, MUSPP courses if available:

• MSSD courses
• MUSPP courses
• MIbD courses

​ Information is correct as of 12 April 2024. Please check MyPortal for the most updated course schedule.

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