Thesis

Formal requirements

It is expected that the thesis topic will be relevant to the profession in which the student works. The degree of rigour and intellectual standing of the thesis for a professional doctorate is the same as that of a PhD, but not as extensive in scope. A Professional Doctorate (Research) degree shall be awarded without classification on the basis of examination of a thesis once the candidate has met all coursework requirements of the degree at a satisfactory level. The requirements for the degree shall be satisfactory completion of all coursework components and completion of a thesis that demonstrates:

1. A substantial and original contribution to knowledge of direct relevance to the profession;
2. The candidate's ability to provide a critical appraisal of relevant literature and available research, to appreciate and understand the relationship of the investigations undertaken by the candidate to the wider field of knowledge with particular reference to the profession in which these investigations are located, and to draw out the contribution to knowledge made by these investigations;
3. The candidate's knowledge and understanding of the methodological techniques used in the research and any shortcomings associated with these techniques;
4. A satisfactory level of literary presentation reflecting an ability to communicate in a clear, concise and authoritative manner appropriate to the discipline and to the professional arena to which it is addressed.

The thesis should be written as concisely as possible, free from typographical errors and in a format appropriate to the discipline. It must not exceed 75,000 words and it is recommended that it not exceed 60,000 words. These word lengths include footnotes but do not include bibliographies and appendices.

Format and content

The thesis should contain largely the candidate's unaided work, carried out during the period of candidature. Candidates should refer to Regulation 21.3 and Regulation 21.12 as well as the University 'publication 'La Trobe University Handbook for Candidates and Supervisors for Masters Degrees by Research and Doctoral Degrees' for more information.

The thesis will be in the range of 30,000 - 60,000 words, depending on whether it is an 'arts type' of thesis or a 'science type' of thesis. The thesis may be presented in a number of forms such as the traditional single volume, or as a bound volume of published papers (please enquire at RGSO for details). Alternatives should be discussed with the appropriate advisor from the school of enrolment. Research for the thesis must be undertaken during the period of candidature.

Ethics approval

Candidates must obtain approval from the relevant University and Faculty ethics committees before commencing any research project involving human participants (e.g. in surveys or other participation). Candidates will be required to provide the ethics approval number to the Research and Graduate Studies Office when submitting the thesis for examination.

All research projects funded by research grants require approval by the relevant University Ethics Committee. Research involving animals, ionising radiation or recombinant DNA techniques also require ethics approval from the relevant committees.

Preparations and submissions

A candidate is required to give at least 3 months notice of intention to submit a thesis. A typewritten thesis summary (of not more than 300 words) is required with the notice of intention to submit. Please refer to publication 'La Trobe University Handbook for Candidates and Supervisors for Masters Degrees by Research and Doctoral Degrees' for more detailed information.

Examination

Examination of the thesis will be by three independent external examiners.

Presentation as a bound volume

In some disciplines it may be appropriate for candidates to present theses in the form of a collection of essays about a theme linked together by an interpreting essay and a review of the literature. The University degree regulations allow that the thesis may incorporate or include any publication resulting from work completed during candidature whether or not the candidate is the sole author [R21.3(9.4)] but shall not include work published prior to commencement of candidature [R21.3(9.3)]. A candidate shall produce evidence satisfactory to the HDC(R) of a candidate's authorship of work comprised in the thesis where the thesis includes work of joint authorship [R21.3(10.1)]. This evidence should indicate the candidate's contribution (in percentage terms) to the concept, literature review, design, resources, data collection, data analysis, interpretation and the writing associated with an article or essay.

Thesis guidelines

The form of a collection of essays about a theme linked together by a substantial integrating essay that reflects on the theme, the relevant literature, and connects the project with that literature.
1. The number of essays to be included will be in accordance with international practice in the discipline concerned.
2. Where material is included for which the candidate has been jointly responsible, evidence satisfactory to the Higher Degrees Committee (Research) identifying the section of the work for which the candidate was responsible must be provided.
3. The candidate's contribution to joint work should be consistent with normal practice.
4. Where some of the work has been published during candidature, the material may be included provided appropriate provision for copyright is made. Stylistic changes to such work will normally be required so that the thesis as a whole follows a single literary style and unnecessary repetition is avoided.
5. A thesis shall be examined in the normal way and according to the normal expectation that a professional doctorate thesis demonstrates the candidate's ability for critical appreciation of current knowledge in the field of study and building on that knowledge, makes an original contribution to the field of study or practice.