Postgraduate - Course0029 - Doctor of Philosophy

The awarding of degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Monash signifies that the holder has completed a course of postgraduate training in research under proper academic supervision and has submitted a thesis that the examiners have declared to be a significant contribution to knowledge and which demonstrates the candidate's capacity to carry out independent research.

On the recommendation of the head of the department concerned, a member of the University will be appointed to supervise the work of each candidate.

The Doctor of Philosophy aims to produce graduates who will:

• extend their knowledge, expertise and skill through the application of research to business problems and issues
• gain experience in the design and implementation of research
• develop the ability to carry out independent research at an advanced level, together with analytical and written communication skills
• make a significant contribution to knowledge.

100 per cent or 92 per cent research component with the balance mandatory coursework, dependent on the discipline in which the student is enrolled. Students enrolling in the Department of Economics must complete two compulsory units, which may include ECC6650 Research topics in advanced microeconomics and ECC6660 Research topics in advanced macroeconomics, and up to four enabling units which may include ECC5650 Microeconomic theory and ECC5660 Macroeconomic theory.

Students enrolling in the disciplines of Accounting and Finance, Marketing, or Management will be required to undertake two compulsory 6000-level units. These will be BEX6300 Philosophy of research plus one of either BEX6100 Advanced quantitative research methods; or BEX6200 Advanced qualitative research methods.

Students enrolling in the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics will be required to undertake two 6000-level units. These will normally be ETX6500 Statistical inference and ETX6510 Foundations of Econometrics.

Students must complete 6000-level coursework units prior to confirmation and achieve a mark of not less than 70 per cent. Students enrolled in the Master of Philosophy in those disciplines who wish the option of upgrading to PhD at the time of confirmation must also satisfy the same coursework requirements as for the PhD.

Students in any discipline, academic unit or campus may also be required to undertake enabling units at any level. These units will be specified in writing to students, generally at the time of the offer letter, and must be passed prior to confirmation with a mark of not less than 50 per cent.

A full-time candidate shall normally submit a thesis for examination not less than 24 months and not more than 48 months after admission to candidature for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. For part-time students, the minimum period of candidature is 48 months and the maximum period 96 months.

Research component

100 per cent or 92 per cent research component with the balance mandatory coursework, dependent on the discipline in which the student is enrolled. In certain instances an academic unit may require a student to undertake additional coursework if it is considered necessary to enable the student to carry out the proposed program of research. Students will be required to achieve a mark of at least 70 per cent in all mandatory coursework which needs to be completed prior to confirmation of candidature. Students not achieving the required mark will need to take the unit again and will need to extend their confirmation date.

The conditions of enrolment in the PhD program are:

• students must maintain regular contact with their supervisors
• full-time students must be able to devote four full days per week to pursuing their PhD studies.
• part-time students must be able to devote two full days per week, or an acceptable alternative period, to pursuing their PhD studies. At least one of these days must be a weekday (Monday to Friday).
• students are required to attend graduate seminars organised by the department in which they are enrolled. They are expected to participate regularly in the seminar series and to give at least two seminars during the period of candidature.

In order to meet the requirements of the PhD, students must submit a thesis which generally does not exceed 100,000 words (for either the 100 per cent or 92 per cent research component).

Department of Accounting and Finance

Students must undertake the 92 per cent thesis option (the 100 per cent thesis option is not available)

All students must complete two of three compulsory units:

• BEX6300 Philosophy of research

plus one of the following;

• BEX6100 Advanced quantitative research methods
• BEX6200 Advanced qualitative research methods

Students may also be required to undertake up to four enabling units by the department.

Department of Management

Students must undertake the 92 per cent thesis option (the 100 per cent thesis option is not available)

All students must complete two of three compulsory units:

• BEX6300 Philosophy of research

plus one of the following;

• BEX6100 Advanced quantitative research methods
• BEX6200 Advanced qualitative research methods

Students may also be required to undertake up to four enabling units by the department.

Department of Marketing

Students must undertake the 92 per cent thesis option (the 100 per cent thesis option is not available)

All students must complete two of three compulsory units:

• BEX6300 Philosophy of research

plus one of the following;

• BEX6100 Advanced quantitative research methods
• BEX6200 Advanced qualitative research methods

Students may also be required to undertake up to four enabling units by the department.

Department of Economics

Students must undertake the 92 per cent thesis option (the 100 per cent thesis option is not available)

All students must complete two compulsory units which may include:

• ECC6650 Research topics in advanced microeconomics
• ECC6660 Research topics in advanced macroeconomics

plus up to four enabling units, which may include:

• ECC5650 Microeconomic theory
• ECC5660 Macroeconomic theory

Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics

Students must undertake the 92 per cent thesis option (the 100 per cent thesis option is not available)

All students must complete two 6000-level units which will normally include:

• ETX6500 Statistical inference
• ETX6510 Foundations of econometrics

Students may be required to undertake up to four enabling units by the department.

Department of Business Law and Taxation

Students must undertake the 100 per cent thesis option (the 92 per cent thesis option is not available)

Students may be required to undertake up to four enabling units offered by the department.

Centre of Policy Studies

Students must undertake the 100 per cent thesis option (the 92 per cent thesis option is not available)

Students may be required to undertake up to four enabling units offered by the centre.

Centre of Health Economics

Students must undertake the 100 per cent thesis option (the 92 per cent thesis option is not available)

Students may be required to undertake up to four enabling units offered by the centre.

School of Business, Gippsland

Students will be required to undertake the requirements of the relevant discipline.

School of Business, Malaysia

Students will be required to undertake the requirements of the relevant discipline.

Minimum grade for course completion

• Students must complete 6000-level coursework units and achieve a mark of not less than 70 per cent.
• A thesis which has been examined and passed by the examiners as making a contribution to knowledge

Doctor of Philosophy