Fast Facts
Location
Commencing
Fees
Course fees are not applicable for Domestic students
Fees currently displayed are indicative only. 2024 fees will be uploaded by October, 2023.
Duration
4 years full-time
or part-time equivalent
Entry Requirements
Previous research qualification or equivalent
Course Code
111902
Course detail
Contribute to a changing agenda in Indigenous research
In a Doctor of Philosophy (Indigenous), you will develop confidence in navigating Indigenous and non-Indigenous standpoints, creating new approaches to complex issues. Designed for high performing university graduates, the PhD (Indigenous) is a postgraduate research degree with a supervised project of original research at its core.
Throughout your degree, you will receive guidance from our extended advisory team, giving you space to innovate with structures to support you. Your candidature will be structured through a series of specialised Indigenous research intensives and support from highly experienced advisors. You will identify a novel approach to explore a real world issue, develop a research question, design and implement your project, and analyse the findings. This work will allow you to develop a proposition that contributes to existing understandings through the completion of a PhD (Indigenous) thesis.
Influence the future of Indigenous communities in the Tropics
JCU candidates are driven by the possibility of positive change. Choose from a broad range of research areas to suit your professional qualifications and interests. You will be supported to develop your own topic throughout the first months of your candidature. Research areas include:
- Indigenous studies
- Indigenous knowledges
- Indigenous cultures
- Indigenous education
- Indigenous community development
- Indigenous intersections with other disciplines
- Other research topics relating to Indigenous peoples and Indigenous ideas
As a Doctor of Philosophy (Indigenous) student at JCU, you will work as an independent researcher within a community of peers and the supportive team at the Indigenous Education and Research Centre.
JCU Doctor of Philosophy (Indigenous) graduates are internationally recognised as experts who can navigate Indigenous and western ideas to generate innovative responses to complex challenges. Throughout your candidature you will have the opportunity to undertake an industry internship, applying your knowledge in professional settings.
Use the research and high-level problem solving skills developed through your PhD (Indigenous) to contribute to the issues that matter to you most.
Graduates pursue careers in policy, public service, corporate organisations, not-for-profit sectors, media, research and education. Graduates can also continue their independent research through postdoctoral research or research fellowships.
Handbook year | Information valid for students commencing in 2024. |
Course code | 111902 |
Course type | Doctoral Degree (Research) (AQF Level 10) |
Owner | Indigenous Education and Research Centre |
College | Indigenous Education and Research Centre |
Award Requirements
Admission Requirements
Pre-requisites | Entry requirements for this course are consistent with the Pathways to Qualifications in the Australian Qualifications Framework (Level 10) Guidelines for Doctoral degrees. Requirements for admission can be found at HDR Degree Requirements. |
Minimum English language proficiency requirements |
Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 2 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy. |
Academic Requirements for Course Completion
EFTSL to complete (equivalent full-time student load) | 4 EFTSL |
Course learning outcomes | Graduates of a Doctoral Degree will have: Knowledge
Skills
Graduates of a Doctoral Degree will demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills:
|
Course Structure
CORE SUBJECTS
RD7001:03 Planning the Research: Doctoral Candidates
RD7002:03 Situating the Research: Doctoral Candidates
RD7003:03 Professional Development: Doctoral Candidates
PI7011:00 Doctor of Philosophy Research Thesis (Indigenous)
Location
COURSE AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
JCU Cairns | |
JCU Townsville | |
JCU External |
Candidature
Expected time to complete | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
Maximum time to complete | 8.5 years |
Maximum leave of absence | 6 months |
Progression
Supervising body | Research Education Sub-Committee (RESC) |
Confirmation of candidature | |
Supervision | |
Progression | |
Subsumption of coursework subjects | Subsumption permitted |
Maximum credit points of coursework subjects | 21 credit points of non-core coursework subjects |
Allowed coursework subjects | As approved by the Dean, Graduate Research School |
Credit
Eligibility | A person admitted to candidature on the basis of previous enrolment in a research Masters degree relevant to the proposed Doctoral program, may be given credit transfer for work towards the Masters degree. In exceptional cases credit may be given to a candidate for relevant research work undertaken at another university. |
Maximum allowed | The amount of credit to be awarded shall be determined by the RESC on the recommendation of the Academic Head. |
Other restrictions | 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). |
Award Details
Award title | DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY |
Approved abbreviation | PhD |
Inclusion of field of research on testamur | The field of research shall not appear on the testamur. |
Exit with lesser award | After examination of the thesis and subject to the requirements under HDR Degree Requirements, the RESC may approve the degree be not awarded but that the candidate be awarded an appropriate Masters degree. |
Special awards | Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure |
JCU, with the support of the Australian Government’s Research Training Program, will cover the costs of tuition fees for Australian citizens/permanent residents and New Zealand citizens.
All candidates can also apply for a competitively-awarded stipend to help with living and tuition costs.
A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.
Entry into a Doctor of Philosophy degree requires a Bachelor’s Degree with at least Honours 2A, a postgraduate qualification with a supervised research component of at least one semester full time equivalent or a Master of Philosophy. Students who do not meet these admission requirements may be eligible to enrol in the Master of Philosophy (Indigenous).
To be eligible for entry, applicants must have attained at least one of the following:
a) a Bachelor’s degree with at least Second Class, Division A (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;
b) 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;
c) 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;
d) enrolment at this or another Australian university in a higher degree by research for the equivalent of at least 0.5 EFTSL with demonstrated satisfactory performance in the supervised research component(s);
e) a combination of qualifications, research training and experience, considered equivalent to the above by the Dean of the College to which the Candidate is applying, e.g., senior authorship of at least one peer-reviewed publication plus completion of an appropriate research methods subject.
Visit the Indigenous Education and Research Centre website for more information, and to commence an application.
Real stories
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Student
Georgia Storm
Master of Philosophy (Indigenous)
The intensive workshop has been fantastic. I’ve never had this level of support in any of my previous education. This is an entirely different way of teaching.
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Lecturer
Dr Ailie McDowall
Higher Degree by Research Coordinator, Indigenous Education and Research Centre
Our research programs start by engaging students in the problematic body of knowledge that informs disciplinary understandings of Indigenous people. This approach allows research students to develop their own position.
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Senior Lecturer
Dr Vincent Backhaus
Indigenous Education and Research Centre
Students work in a collaborative space, not just with their peers but with the advisors. It is dynamic, innovative and very much about the dialogue that happens across a shared space.