UWA Handbook 2023

Note: This course is not available in 2023.

Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures

1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.

(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules

2.(1) Except as stated in (2), a student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake ACR19000 and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).

(2) A student who has previously achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the CARS module is not required to repeat the module.

(3) A student must successfully complete the ACR19000 module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.

English Language competency requirements

3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.

Admission requirements

4.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—

(a) (i) a bachelor's degree of this University in a relevant field with first or upper second class honours, or equivalent as recognised by the University; or

(ii) a master's degree of this University in a relevant field with an average of at least 70 per cent, and adequate research preparation as prescribed in University Policy, or equivalent as recognised by the University;

and

(b) the equivalent of at least two years' full-time professional educational experience.

(2) A student who has completed the Master of Education Research Methods with an average mark of 65 per cent and with a mark of at least 65 per cent in EDUC9973 Research Paradigms: Doctoral Project Report is permitted to proceed to the Doctoral Thesis unit.

Note: the Master of Education Research Methods is not available for new enrolments from 2013. It is available as an exit award in accordance with Rule 4.

Admission ranking and selection

5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.

Articulations and exit awards

6. This course does not form part of an articulated sequence.

Course structure

7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 144 points.

(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.

Satisfactory progress

8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.

9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.

Progress status

10.(1) Except as set out in Rule 15, a student enrolled in the core units of the course who fails a unit is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded' by the University, unless the Graduate Research School determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances.

(2) A student enrolled in the Doctoral Thesis unit who does not submit an annual report or whose annual report is not considered by the Graduate Research School to be satisfactory—

(a) is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation';

(b) is required to report to the relevant course coordinator prior to re-enrolment;

and

(c) may have conditions applied to their enrolment.

11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.

Award with distinction

12. This rule is not applicable to this course.

Deferrals

13. Applicants are not normally to defer admission to this course and are expected to commence their course in the offered intake only. Applicants seeking admission to an alternative intake must submit a new application for that intake.

Additional rules

External study

14. The Graduate Research School may, in appropriate circumstances permit a student to complete the course at an institution approved by the Academic Board for all or part of the prescribed period of study.

[Approved exception to University Policy]

Progression

15.(1) To proceed to the Doctoral Thesis unit a student must achieve an average mark of at least 65 per cent in the core units of the course and a mark of at least 65 per cent in EDUC9973 Research Paradigms: Doctoral Project Report.

(2) Except as set out in Rule 15, a student is not permitted to continue in the course if they fail a unit.

Repeating a unit

16. The Graduate Research School may allow a student to repeat a failed coursework unit.

Substitution of coursework units

17. The Graduate Research School may permit the substitution of other units of doctoral or equivalent level and of equivalent value for any or all of the core units of the course.

Credit

18.(1) The Graduate Research School may grant credit towards the course up to a value of 48 points.

(2) Credit may be granted for any or all of the core units of the course.

(3) A student who has completed the Master of Education Research Methods with an average mark of at least 65 per cent and with a mark of at least 65 per cent in EDUC9973 Research Paradigms: Doctoral Project Report is credited with all core units of the course.

(4) Within the overall credit limit, credit may be granted on the basis of work completed in courses provided by professional providers or private educational institutions to a maximum value of 24 points but such credit will not be for either EDUC9970 Doctoral Research Project Plan or EDUC9973 Research Paradigms: Doctoral Project Report.

(5) Within the overall credit limit, credit may be granted on the basis of work completed in Continuing Education at this University to a maximum value of 12 points.

Research proposal

19. A student must prepare and defend a research proposal to the satisfaction of the Board of the Graduate Research School—

(a) within six months of first enrolling in EDUC9985 Doctoral Thesis in the case of a full-time student;

or

(b) within nine months of first enrolling in EDUC9986 Doctoral Thesis in the case of a part-time student.

Annual progress report

20.(1) A student enrolled in the Doctoral Thesis unit must provide an annual progress report to their supervisor by 15 October each year.

(2) The supervisor must forward the annual progress report with their comments to the Graduate Research Coordinator (or Dean, where the Graduate Research Coordinator is also a supervisor) for approval.

Requirement for students enrolled in a transnational program

21. Students enrolled in a transnational program may be required to attend sessions with their supervisors in Perth.

Thesis Length

22. The thesis length should not exceed 70,000 words excluding tables, bibliography and appendices.

Approved leave (suspension of candidature) and extension

23.(1) The Graduate Research School on written application, may grant a period of approved leave, called a suspension of candidature.

(2) Unless the Graduate Research School permits otherwise in recognition of exceptional circumstances outside the student's control, the maximum suspension during a student's candidature is one year, irrespective of whether the student has been enrolled full-time or part-time.

(3) Periods of suspension will normally be approved only for full teaching periods. That is, a student may not commence or end a period of suspension part-way through a teaching period other than in exceptional circumstances outside the student's control;

(4) Periods of suspension are not normally approved while a student is on extension of candidature;

(5) In no circumstances will a period of suspension be approved for less than one month.

(6) For the operation of Rule 23 exceptional circumstances do not include employment commitments.

Minimum and maximum time limits

24.(1) Unless otherwise approved by the Graduate Research School the minimum period of enrolment is three years full-time equivalent.

(2) Unless the Graduate Research School in recognition of exceptional circumstances, grants an extension of time, a full-time student must submit the thesis within four years full-time equivalent from the date of first enrolment for the degree, or the equivalent as determined by the Board if the enrolment is part-time or a mixture of full- and part-time.

Approved leave (suspension of candidature) and extension

25. In addition to the one-year maximum period of suspension of candidature provided for in Rule 23, the Board on written application, permit during the course of candidature either—

(a) up to 12 months' leave for pregnancy and childbirth, for each pregnancy;

or

(b) up to 12 months' parental leave for the primary carer of a child or children.

Approved leave (suspension of candidature) and extension

26. The Board in recognition of exceptional circumstances, may approve an extension not exceeding one year to the maximum period of candidature for the Doctor of Education as set out in these Rules.

Approved leave (suspension of candidature) and extension

27. Periods of leave granted under Rule 23 or Rule 25 are not counted for the purposes of calculating the time limit for the Doctor of Education.