Higher Doctorate Procedure

Intent

The Procedure establishes the process for applying for and examining a James Cook University (JCU; the University) Higher Doctorate, including eligibility requirements.

Scope

This Procedure applies to JCU’s Higher Doctorate courses only, regardless of location, specifically:

• Doctor of Letters (19501)
• Doctor of Science (59501)

This Procedure does not apply to Honorary Doctorates.

Definitions

Terms mentioned in this document and not defined here are defined in the Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Policy and the Policy Glossary.

Higher Doctorate - An award designed to give formal public recognition of career achievements which represent distinguished (significant, sustained, original and internationally recognised) contributions to a field of research. Candidates for the Higher Doctorate are assessed on the basis of published work judged by national and international peers as an indication of the candidate’s substantive, original and distinguished contributions to knowledge and standing in their field.

Procedure

1. A candidate for a Higher Doctorate award shall:

1.1 hold a doctoral degree and be a JCU graduate of not less than ten years’ standing, of a bachelor, honours, research masters or doctoral degree; or

1.2 be a graduate of another university, whose qualifications are of equivalent standing to those in Requirement 1.1 and who satisfies the Panel that they are justified in seeking the degree from JCU rather than from another university. Such graduates will be expected to have had at least four years’ active involvement in scholarly research with JCU.

2. Application for Higher Doctorate candidature shall normally be made in writing to the Office of the College Dean, and shall include particulars of the prima facie case for the award, specifically:

2.1 qualifications and affiliations with JCU;

2.2 research achievements; and

2.3 a summary of the body of work to be submitted for the award in the form of citations, abstracts and impact statements, including e-links, sufficient to enable determination of suitability for candidature. This summary may be a maximum of five pages, plus three most significant publications appended (publications if e-links are not available).

3. The College Dean shall appoint an expert panel to be convened by the Office of the College Dean. The Expert Panel will:

3.1 review the application;

3.2 recommend whether the applicant should be allowed to proceed to Higher Doctorate candidature; and

3.3 oversee the external examination process including identifying and nominating potential examiners for invitation prior to the Higher Doctorate candidate being invited to proceed.

4. The Expert Panel will include at least three researchers who are staff of the University and of appropriate standing in the discipline of the application, plus the Dean of College, the Dean, Graduate Research and Researcher Development (GRRD) and the Chair, Academic Board (or nominees). In reviewing the application, the Panel shall recommend to the College one of the following:

4.1 the applicant be allowed to proceed, by receiving and accepting an offer for enrolment in the Higher Doctorate, and to be admitted to the course, and enrolled in the relevant Higher Doctorate subject;

4.2 the applicant be recommended to be considered for an Honorary Doctorate of the University; or

4.3 the applicant may not proceed, and the applicant be advised of the Expert Panel’s decision in writing.

5. Following enrolment, the Higher Doctorate candidate will proceed with the submission of the body of work. To qualify for the award, the Higher Doctorate candidate shall provide evidence that they have made a substantial, coherent and internationally recognised contribution of distinguished merit adding to the knowledge or understanding of their discipline. For example, this may take the form of a written statement accompanying the body of work appropriately expanding the initial application.

6. In submitting their written statement and body of published works, the Higher Doctorate candidate shall also state generally (in a preface and specifically in notes) the main sources from which the information is derived and the extent to which the candidate has made use of the work of others, especially where joint publications are concerned. The Higher Doctorate candidate may also signify in general terms the portions of the work claimed as original. Any part of the work submitted for a degree at JCU or any other university shall not be accepted.

7. The Higher Doctorate candidate shall lodge four copies of the material for examination with the Graduate Research School (GRS). The GRS will facilitate the examination and forward reports to the College.

8. Once the Higher Doctorate candidate has submitted the body of work, the Expert Panel shall provide the details of the examiners to the GRS. The Expert Panel must ensure three external examiners of appropriate standing are nominated, including at least one international examiner and at least one examiner who holds a Higher Doctorate from a cognate discipline. The examiners will examine the body of work against the eligibility criteria outlined in Appendix 1 and provide their report to the GRS.

9. The Expert Panel appointed by the College will consider the examiners’ reports and make recommendations to the Academic Division and the Academic Board concerning the award of the degree.

10. A Higher Doctorate candidate who has complied with the provisions of this Procedure shall be recommended for the award of the appropriate Higher Doctorate.

Related policy instruments

Higher Degree by Research Policy

Schedules/Appendices

Appendix 1 Eligibility Criteria for Examination

Administration

NOTE: Printed copies of this procedure are uncontrolled, and currency can only be assured at the time of printing.

Approval Details

Revision History