PhD in Psychology
Course Objectives
Candidates undertake a substantial piece of original research and complete a thesis which:
- demonstrates authority in the candidate's field and shows evidence of a command of knowledge in relevant fields;
- shows that the candidate has a thorough grasp of the appropriate methodological techniques and an awareness of their limitations;
- makes a distinct contribution to knowledge which rests on originality of approach and/or interpretation of the findings and, in some cases, the development of new facts;
- demonstrates an ability to communicate research findings effectively in the professional arena and in an international context;
- is a careful, rigorous and sustained piece of work demonstrating that a research 'apprenticeship' is complete and that the holder may be admitted to the community of scholars in the discipline.
Admission Requirements
Eligible applicants must normally possess either: (i) a Masters degree in psychology of an appropriate honours standard; or (ii) a degree including an accredited four-year sequence in psychology (or its equivalent) of at least H1 (or High Distinction) standard in the fourth year of study. Admission also depends on supervision and resource availability.
Graduates without an H1 (or High Distinction) in their fourth year of psychology may be eligible for admission into the Master of Philosophy degree, and after the successful completion of the first year, may apply for entry into the PhD program.
Graduates in disciplines other than psychology, who have expertise in a domain relevant to a psychological research area, may also be considered for admission. However such applicants should note that completion of a research degree in psychology, without the prerequisite undergraduate psychology, will not necessarily contribute to meeting the requirements for registration as a psychologist.
Course Duration
Normally a maximum of three years full-time or six years part-time candidature.
Course Structure
Students conduct independent research under the supervision of a member of academic staff and submit a thesis that is externally examined.
Initial admission to PhD candidature is on a probationary basis for a period of 12 months full-time (or 24 months part-time). Prior to the end of the probationary period, students apply to have their candidature confirmed. To do this, students must successfully defend their thesis proposal before a departmental committee and have the proposal accepted by the University's PhD committee.
The PhD thesis is a maximum of 100,000 words in length and is submitted at the end of the supervised period of research.
Students are required to attend one compulsory seminar (the Graduate Research Seminar) and at least three other graduate research seminars during their candidature. They are also encouraged to participate in the Department's staff colloquium series.
Application Details
Before an unconditional offer for PhD candidature can be made, supervision arrangements must be finalised. Students intending to apply for a PhD are encouraged to speak to suitable members of staff regarding supervision, or to contact the Research Programs Officer in the Psychology Department if they require assistance in the arrangement of research supervision. The supervisor must be an appropriately qualified member of the Department's academic staff or an officially appointed adjunct academic member of the Department.
PhD application forms are available from the http://www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/admissions/applications/research.
Any student wishing to apply for part-time candidature must satisfy the supervisor that adequate time is available to devote to their PhD work and to maintain regular contact with the supervisor and Department.
PhD applications are accepted throughout the year.
International Applicants
International applicants should refer to the information provided in the 'International Postgraduate Prospectus' available from the International Centre.
Application forms are available from http://www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/admissions/applications/research
Fees
At present, all PhD students who are Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or New Zealand citizens are eligible for an RTS (Research Training Scheme) place.
Please note that course fees are revised annually.
Scholarships
Scholarships information, including closing dates and applications forms, can be found at the University Scholarships Office.