Postgraduate Research
Students in research degrees in the Faculty of Science undertake supervised research leading to the writing of a thesis.
Degrees
The Faculty of Science offers the following postgraduate research degrees:
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Master of Clinical Psychology / Doctor of Philosophy (MCP/PhD)
- Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
It should be noted that research Honours programs are also offered by the Faculty of Science. Information for these programs is provided in the Science Undergraduate Handbook.
Doctor of Philosophy
The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is a research degree awarded for a thesis considered to be a substantially original contribution to the subject concerned. Some coursework may be required, but in no case is it a major component. Applicants should normally hold a master's degree or a bachelor's degree with first class honours. The usual minimum period of candidature is three years of full-time study, or the equivalent of part-time study.
Master of Clinical Psychology / Doctor of Philosophy
The degree of Master of Clinical Psychology / Doctor of Philosophy is a double degree with a coursework masters and research doctorate. Students must complete the requirements for the Master of Clinical Psychology and the Doctor of Philosophy. Applicants should normally hold a relevant bachelor's degree with first class honours in psychology. The usual minimum period of candidature is five and a half years of full-time study, or the equivalent of part-time study. Students should refer to the MCP/PhD course resolutions.
Master of Philosophy
The Master of Philosophy is a research master's degree offered by the Faculty of Science that requires up to 1.5 years of full-time study or the equivalent of part-time study. During this time, a candidate undertakes supervised research and writes a thesis, and students are also expected to take coursework units as defined by their research plan and agreed with supervisors. The entry requirement is usually a bachelor's degree. Students should refer to the MPhil course resolutions.
Higher Doctorates
The Faculty of Science offers 4 higher doctorates, being:
- Doctor of Agricultural Economics
- Doctor of Science
- Doctor of Science in Agriculture
- Doctor of Veterinary Science
These degrees are awarded for a thesis that is considered to be a distinguished contribution to knowledge, in a field appropriate to the degree. No research training is provided for these degrees as they are aimed at academics nearing the end of their career rather than those at the beginning. Student are required to enrol for a minimum of one part-time research period. To be eligible, applicants must hold a degree that was conferred more than 5 years ago, and hold that degree from the University or have worked for the University for at least 3 years full time or equivalent. Those applying to the Doctor of Veterinary Science also hold or have completed all the academic requirements for the Bachelor of Veterinary Science. The Higher Doctorates are governed by the University Of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011.
Higher Degree by Research Policies and Procedures
The University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 and the Academic Board Thesis and Examination of Higher Degrees by Research Policy and Procedure, Progress Planning and Review for Higher Degree by Research Students Policy and Procedures 2015 govern research at the University. These are available via the University Policy Register at sydney.edu.au/policy.
Additional Information
Additional information for research students is available at:
Thesis Submission Information
Information relating to the submission of a thesis is provided at the following:
- HDR Administration Centre - Thesis Submission and Examination Information
- SUPRA - The Thesis Guide
- SUPRA - The Thesis Guide download
Within the Faculty of Science, there are no formal requirements or guidelines other than those listed above. Students are generally expected to submit an electronic version of their thesis for examination and after examination to the library. There are no requirements for single/double spacing or single/double sided presentation, nor font size, figure presentation, format of bibliographic citations, etc. Candidates should, however, be aware that if the degree is awarded, the thesis becomes a public document, the quality of which reflects on the ability of the candidate. Moreover, utilising a format that will make the examiners' tasks easier is obviously sensible.