Information for Students

There is currently an opportunity for outstanding individuals with a medical, allied health or science background to undertake a PhD degree at the Centre.  We offer research projects in a number of fields including clinical epidemiology, public health, health services research, patient education and psychometrics.  The Centre has close links with the Royal Melbourne Hospital Departments of Rheumatology and Orthopaedics and the University’s School of Population Health and School of Physiotherapy.  Particular emphasis is placed on collaborative research which can be translated into clinical practice and improved public policy to enhance patient outcomes and public health.  Multi-disciplinary supervision is available, in addition to IT services, conference support and continuing education opportunities.

Prospective students                                   
For further information, please contact:

Dr Ilana Ackerman (Research Fellow): 8344 3143 or i.ackerman@unimelb.edu.au
Dr Richard Osborne (Senior Lecturer): 8344 3148 or richardo@unimelb.edu.au
Professor Ian Wicks (Director, Centre for Rheumatic Diseases): ian.wicks@mh.org.au

Further information is also provided on the Department of Medicine (RMH/WH) website.
Please click on the following link to view this information: http://www.medrmhwh.unimelb.edu.au/courses/phd.html

General Information for PhD Programs

Introduction and Objectives

The Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the premier supervised research degree offered by the University of Melbourne. Candidates will be admitted to the community of scholars in their discipline upon presentation of an original and innovative work of research that exhibits high academic merit. The candidature is conducted under academic supervision and is reported and examined under internationally benchmarked standards of excellence.

Program Objectives

Doctoral degrees at the University of Melbourne seek to develop graduates who demonstrate academic leadership, increasing independence, creativity and innovation in their research work. In particular, the objective of the Doctor of Philosophy with the Centre for Rheumatic Diseses is intended:

• to enable doctoral students in public health and clinical research sciences to gain a common understanding of the research process
• to enable doctoral students to develop research skills at the start of their candidature
• to prepare doctoral students for an academic career in public health and clinical research sciences.

In addition, the University expects all doctoral graduates to have the following qualities and skills:

• an advanced ability to initiate research and to formulate viable research questions
• a demonstrated capacity to design, conduct and report sustained and original research
• the capacity to contextualise research within an international corpus of specialist knowledge
• an advanced ability to evaluate and synthesize research-based and scholarly literature
• an advanced understanding of key disciplinary and multi-disciplinary norms and perspectives relevant to the field
• highly developed problem-solving abilities and flexibility of approach
• the ability to analyse critically within and across a changing disciplinary environment
• the capacity to disseminate the results of research and scholarship by oral and written communication to a variety of audiences
• a capacity to cooperate with and respect the contributions of fellow researchers and scholars
• a profound respect for truth and intellectual integrity, and for the ethics of research and scholarship
• an advanced facility in the management of information, including the application of computer systems and software where appropriate to the student's field of study
• an understanding of the relevance and value of their research to national and international communities of scholars and collaborators
• an awareness where appropriate of issues related to intellectual property management and the commercialisation of innovation
• an ability to formulate applications to relevant agencies, such as funding bodies and ethics committees.

PhD Academic Requirements for Admission

PhD applicants will be assessed using the criteria described below. The measures include an assessment of a candidate's knowledge of the discipline and evidence of their ability to complete a rigorous research project. Applicants are required to meet the minimum standards described for each of the six measures.

In exceptional circumstances, the Research Higher Degrees (RHD) Committee may consider admitting a person who does not have qualifications equivalent to a four-year honours degree. The committee must be satisfied that the person's experience in research and the results of that experience, are so outstanding that the person is likely to be able to pursue the course successfully (Prescription 2). In such cases, or where other minimum standards are not all met, the department (with faculty endorsement) may present a case for admittance, including relevant evidence, to the Dean, School of Graduate Studies.

PhD - English Language Requirements

Locally Qualified Applicants

Locally qualified applicants can meet the University's English language requirements in a number of ways:

• In an institution where English is the language of instruction and assessment for the entire institution, satisfactorily completing either:
1. at least the first year of a tertiary course within the last two years; OR
2. at least a two year tertiary degree within the last five years.
    
• Satisfactorily complete English studies in the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) at a level specified by the Academic Board for the course for which application is made.
   
• Satisfactorily complete English studies in a secondary qualification in a State or Territory of Australia (other than Victoria) or New Zealand at a level deemed by the Academic Board to be at least equivalent to that required of applicants for the course who have completed the VCE.
   
• Satisfactorily complete English or English B in the International Baccalaureate at grade 5 or higher if taken at Standard Level, or grade 4 or higher if taken at Higher Level, save for admission to Bachelor of Dental Science, Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery/Bachelor of Medical Science, or Bachelor of Physiotherapy where the required grades are 6 or higher if taken at Standard Level, or 5 or higher if taken at Higher Level.

International Applicants

An applicant who is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident may satisfy the English language requirements in a number of ways:

• Meeting the University's TOEFL or IELTS requirements in a test taken no more than 24 months prior to application. Your original TOEFL or IELTS test report form must be included with your application. Certified copies and TOEFL examiner's score records are not accepted. For acceptance into the Melbourne Institute's PhD program the following scores must be obtained:
• an IELTS score of 7.0 with no band lower than 6.0
• a TOEFL score of 600+ and a TWE of 5.0
• a Computer based TOEFL score of 250 and a essay rating of 5.0
• a Internet-based TOEFL score of 100 and a written score of 24
   
• Satisfactorily completing additional English Language Studies, which in the opinion of the Selection Committee, is the equivalent of the other tests specified above.
   
• Satisfactorily completing secondary studies in a country where English is the official language and gaining a pass in final year English (applicants from countries with more than one official language may be required to meet TOEFL or IELTS requirements).
   
• Satisfactorily completing the final two years of secondary studies in an approved Secondary School with English as the medium of instruction and gaining a pass in English in their final year.
  

• In an institution where English is the language of instruction and assessment for the entire institution, satisfactorily completing either:
  1. at least the first year of a tertiary course within the last two years; OR
  2. at least a two year tertiary degree within the last five years.
     
     Please provide formal advice from the institution to support your claim that you have satisfied this requirement.
   
  

• Obtain a grade in the General Paper, General Studies, English Language, English Literature, English Language and Literature at the General Certificate of Education AO/AS level which is deemed by the Academic Board to be at least the equivalent of applicants for the course who have completed the VCE.
   
• Obtain a pass of VG (grade 4) in English in the Norwegian Vitnemal or the Swedish Avgangsbetyg.

PhD - Program Duration

For full-time candidates the maximum term of candidature (probationary and confirmed) is three years. If necessary, candidates may apply for a maximum of two, six-month extensions.

Part-time candidates will have a maximum term of candidature of six years, and may apply for a maximum of two, twelve-month (PT) extensions.

Extensions beyond four years or (part-time equivalent of eight years) will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

All candidates are required to spend a minimum of twelve months (full-time) or twenty-four months (part-time) at the University. Candidature will not be reduced to less than these periods.

Candidates must have had their candidature confirmed prior to submission. Confirmation generally occurs within 12-15 months of commencement.

Where the first year of candidature is to comprise coursework and the preparation of a thesis proposal, the total period of candidature cannot be reduced to less than twenty-four months.

All candidates for the degree of PhD must be prepared to spend at least three years (full-time) or six years (part-time) on their research and thesis writing. Candidates must normally be resident in Victoria, and be able to attend the University on a regular basis throughout this period.

PhD - Program Structure

Successful PhD candidates generally work closely with one of the Centre for Rheumatic Diseases core areas:

• Population health
• Chronic disease self-management
• Orthopaedic waiting list reform
• Health Literacy
• Workplace health

Information about current projects within each of these research areas is available by following the appropriate link. Summaries of staff research interests and profiles, and Centre for Rheumatic Diseases  publications are also available.  (hyperlink CRD research interests and profiles)

Coursework

The Centre offers a PhD degree that incorporates some coursework provided by the School of Population Health.  The coursework is designed to assist the student to gain specialist skills in particular areas such as epidemiology, biostatistics or economics. Hyperlink to School of Pop Health  http://www.sph.unimelb.edu.au/

Thesis

The thesis is 80 000 - 100 000 words in length. The award of the PhD is based solely on the examination of the thesis.

Confirmation

For confirmation, which usually occurs 12 to 15 months after enrolment in the PhD program, students are required to obtain an average of at least 75% in their PhD coursework subjects, to have prepared a written proposal that outlines the research program and shows evidence of substantive progress and to have made an oral presentation based on their thesis proposal.
The presentation is open to all members of the Centre for Rheumatic Diseases and The Department of Medicine (RMH/WH). The Committee will recommend confirmation if it believes there is a reasonable expectation that the student will complete the PhD thesis by the due date.

Assessment

Students are required to maintain satisfactory progress throughout their candidature. In addition to the regular meetings with supervisor(s), progress is monitored through the confirmation process and annual reports.
For further details on confirmation and progress reports, see the PhD Handbook website: http://www.gradstudies.unimelb.edu.au/current/phdhbk/

PhD - Fees and Scholarships

Local Students

The Research Training Scheme (RTS) provides Commonwealth-funded places to Australian residents and New Zealand citizens in a Higher Degree Research (HDR) with an 'entitlement' to a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) exemption (formerly HECS) for the duration of an accredited HDR course. For PhD students this entitlement is for a maximum period of four years' full-time equivalent study.
http://www.melbourneinstitute.com/study/phd_fees_schol.html

International Students

Course Fees for commencing international students in 2007 are AUD$24,950 per annum.

Please note that these fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted to take into account price and demand factors for each discipline band. For more information on the University's fee policy, please visit http://www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/courses/fees.html

Scholarships

Click here for information on University of Melbourne scholarships http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/scholarships/pgrad/

Recipients of Melbourne Research Scholarships (International and Domestic) or Australian Postgraduate Awards who are enrolled with the Centre for Rheumatic Diseases will also be considered for a PhD ‘top-up’ scholarship for each year of the remainder of their candidature.

ARC Linkage PhD Scholarship

Competition for scholarships is strong and so an average grade above 80% is necessary for a full scholarship.

There are opportunities for students to earn income through Research Assistant work in the Department, but note that the income a full-time student can earn from RA work is not sufficient to completely cover living expenses nor, for international students, to cover fees.

http://www.melbourneinstitute.com/study/phd_intro.html