Part 1 Application and Admission

Entry Requirements

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is normally granted on the basis of a Bachelors degree with Honours Class I or IIA or a Research Masters degree. Other qualifications may be considered for entry, provided the relevant Head of School certifies that they are at least equivalent in standard to Honours Class IIA of this University. For example, a graduate of at least two years standing with research experience and publications could be considered. Provision is also made for entry on the basis of a completed Coursework Masters degree, provided the applicant has demonstrated an appropriate performance in the research component of the degree and obtained a grade point average of at least credit level or its equivalent elsewhere.

Professional Doctorate

Admission to a Professional Doctorate normally requires at least five years of professional experience in addition to academic qualifications and research experience similar to those required for admission to a PhD. See Faculty requirements for Professional Doctorates can be found in the postgraduate section of the JCU Course & Subject Handbook.

Research Masters

Admission to a Masters by Research program is normally granted on the basis of a Bachelors degree with Honours Class I or II or a Graduate Diploma of Research Methods (graduates with a three year Bachelors degree) or Graduate Certificate of Research Methods (graduates with a four year Bachelors degree). It is desirable that a grade point average of at least credit level be obtained in the research component of a research methods course. Other qualifications may be considered for entry, provided the relevant Head of School certifies that they are at least equivalent to the standard entry criteria. Faculty requirements for Master by Research can be found in the postgraduate section of the JCU Course & Subject Handbook.

English Proficiency

All applicants for admission as Doctoral or Research Masters candidates are expected to have reached an appropriate level of proficiency in English. Unless English is the first language, students must demonstrate English proficiency either through a TOEFL test with a computer-based score of at least 230 and an essay rating of 4.5, or an IELTS score of at least 6.5 with no component lower than 6.

Application Procedures

Applicants for a research higher degree should consult the head of the relevant school before lodging a formal application. The Head of School (or the school’s Postgraduate Liaison Officer) will be able to provide details of the school’s research activities including staff interests and expertise. The School's Web Page or the University list of research topics is another useful source of information. The application for candidature, an outline of the proposed field of study and the location of the research must be acceptable to the Head of School. It is also essential that qualified members of the academic staff be willing to act as Supervisors.

An applicant for admission as a part-time candidate must satisfy the Head of School and Supervisor that he/she is able to devote adequate time to their planned research higher degree and to maintain regular contact with their Supervisors and school.

Australian applicants (Australian citizens or permanent residents and New Zealand citizens)

Prospective candidates for a research higher degree must lodge an application for admission on the appropriate form through the Graduate Research School on the Townsville Campus (telephone 07 47 815861). The form is also available on the web in Application Procedures

A description of the thesis topic and a research proposal need to be submitted with the application. This proposal should be approximately 2 pages in length and should be sufficiently specific to enable a judgement to be made by the Head of School and prospective Supervisor(s) about:

• the suitability of the applicant’s background; and

• the appropriateness of the proposed topic to the research expertise and resources available within the School.

Completed certified academic transcripts and official certification of degrees and diplomas awarded must be attached with the application, unless qualifications are from James Cook University. Two academic referees should be asked to submit comment on the applicant’s suitability to undertake the studies. Their reports should be sent directly to the Graduate Research School.

International applicants

New international applicants should first contact the International Student Centre (telephone +61 7 47 814407 or e-mail InternationalStudentCentre@jcu.edu.au) for advice on application procedures and the availability of scholarships. An online version of the International Postgraduate Application form can also be completed. The requirements for a research proposal are the same as for Australian and New Zealand applicants above.

Initial and continuing enrolment

New research higher degree students may apply to enrol at any time during the year. Continuing research higher degree students must complete annual reporting/ enrolment procedures for each academic year of candidature. If candidature and enrolment is not maintained until the thesis is submitted, computing and library access may be terminated.

Fees

Commencing students allocated a quota place under the Research Training Scheme, will be exempt from tuition fees for a defined maximum period (4 years full-time equivalent for PhD and 2 years full-time equivalent for Masters enrolments).

International students are required by the Australian Government to pay tuition fees for all programs, including research higher degrees. Fee scales are tabled in the International Postgraduate Application package.

Readmission after withdrawal from candidature

Former candidates seeking readmission should follow the procedures outlined for new applicants. A detailed program of the work to be completed must be endorsed by the Supervisor and Head of School and attached to the application for readmission. Students who withdraw and subsequently seek readmission to a research higher degree program may not necessarily be able to pursue the same topic or be granted credit for work already done. Each case for readmission will be evaluated on its own merits. However, if a major portion of the research has been completed, consideration will be given to readmission for the same topic with the maximum credit allowed under the relevant degree requirements, provided the application is made within 2 years of withdrawal. Students should be aware that the time for which any previous HECS exemption or RTS place was previously awarded will be deducted from any new allocation under the Research Training Scheme.

Upgrade from Masters by Research to PhD

Students who have enrolled in a Research Masters degree at this University and who are otherwise qualified for entry to the PhD program, may be admitted to PhD candidature with credit for work already completed, if the application is supported by the Supervisor and by the Head of School. Credit can normally be approved to a maximum of 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time work. Students who were not qualified for PhD candidature at the time of initial enrolment in the Masters by Research, but who have completed work of a PhD standard, may be considered for upgrade to provisional PhD candidature after at least six months full-time enrolment. Approval of the upgrade is conditional on successful completion of a confirmation of candidature seminar.

PhD candidature may be confirmed, with evidence of satisfactory progress, after six months full-time provisional candidature.

Research Masters students who have submitted their theses may be provisionally admitted to PhD candidature subject to the award of the Masters by Research degree.

Transfer from another institution

Research higher degree students at other institutions who wish to transfer their candidature to James Cook University must satisfy this University’s relevant degree requirements. In addition, students must provide a formal release from the responsible officer, usually the Registrar, of their previous university. Details of any RTS load consumed must also be provided to the Graduate Research School. The University will not normally accept a candidate who has been enrolled at another institution for more than two years (full-time equivalent) or release a candidate who has been enrolled for more than two years (full-time equivalent).

Credit

Students may be given credit for studies undertaken towards another degree provided that:

• the work has not previously been submitted for the degree;

• the student has not qualified for the degree and the degree has not been awarded;

• the work was adequately supervised and is of an appropriate standard; and

• the work was completed after the candidate became eligible for admission to the research higher degree.

The effect of being granted such credit is to reduce the minimum period of candidature before the thesis can be submitted.