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Doctor of Applied Science (DASC) - DASC

 External*
Semester intake:Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Fees:Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Research training scheme (RTS)
Standard duration:Full-time candidates normally complete in 3 years. Part-time candidates normally complete in 6 years. 
Footnotes
*This program is offered in Distance/External mode only, however students may choose to enrol in the on-campus or external offerings of courses where available.

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Contact us

Future Australian and New Zealand students  Future International students  Current students 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 269 500
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 5315
Email: study@usq.edu.au  

Phone: +61 7 4631 5543
Email: international@usq.edu.au 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 007 252
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 2285
usq.support@usq.edu.au  

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Program aims

Provide science graduates with advanced professional development that makes a significant, original contribution to science in the context of professional practice.

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Program objectives

Graduates will demonstrate:

  1. A systematic and critical understanding of a complex scientific field with specialised research skills for the advancement of professional scientific practice;

  2. A systematic and critical understanding of a substantial and complex body of knowledge at the frontier of science;

  3. Specialised cognitive, technical and research skills to independently and systematically

    • critically evaluate relevant professional scientific literature

    • implement required scientific research methodologies

    • disseminate new results and insights to scientific peers and

    • generate original knowledge and understanding to make a substantial contribution to science;


  4. Autonomy, professional judgement, adaptability and responsibility as an expert practitioner in science.


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Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a single national, comprehensive system of qualifications offered by higher education institutions (including universities), vocational education and training institutions and secondary schools. Each AQF qualification has a set of descriptors which define the type and complexity of knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills that a graduate who has been awarded that qualification has attained, and the typical volume of learning associated with that qualification type.

This program is at AQF Qualification Level 10. Graduates at this level will have systematic and critical understanding of a complex field of learning and specialised research skills for the advancement of learning and/or for professional practice.

The full set of levels criteria and qualification type descriptors can be found by visiting .

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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission to the program, applicants are normally required to complete a relevant bachelor degree with First Class Honours or Second Class Honours (Division A) or equivalent, or a Masters degree, (with a research component) or other qualifications equivalent to First Class or 2A Honours.

The standing of degrees awarded by an overseas institution will be determined by reference to the (NOOSR) or other appropriate information services. Prospective candidates should discuss their previous professional level with the Associate Dean (Research and Research Training) prior to applying for admission into the program.
Domestic and International Applicants from a non-English speaking background are required to satisfy
If you do not meet the English language requirements you may apply to study a . On successful completion of the English language program, Applicants may be admitted to an Award Program

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Program fees

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the
Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.
Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for .

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

Research training scheme (RTS)

Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens commencing a higher degree research program may have their tuition fees paid for by the Australian Federal Government under the Research Training Scheme (RTS). A RTS place entitles a student an exemption on tuition fees for a maximum period of 4 years full-time or 8 years part-time for a Doctorate program and 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time for a Masters by Research program. As part of the enrolment process students are required to submit proof of citizenship and transcripts of all previous academic study. It is with this documentation that USQ can determine a student's eligibility for a RTS place. Students who are eligible for RTS are:

  • those who have not consumed a RTS allocation previously;

  • those who have already utilised the RTS to successfully completed a research program. Once a student completes a higher degree research program full entitlements of the RTS are restored.


If a student's RTS entitlement expires before they have completed their program they will be required to pay full tuition fees for the remainder of the program. As there may be limited RTS places available, some students may be required to pay fees for all or part of their program. The Office of Research Graduate Studies will advise students of their eligibility for an RTS place.

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Program structure

This program is a 24-unit program made up of eight units of academic coursework courses and 16 units of independent research.

Note that as part of their coursework students will normally complete and to gain research experience, but if the student can demonstrate substantial prior research experience (such as through the completion of a relevant honours degree) the Program Coordinator may approve replacement of MSC8001 and MSC8002 with electives. Students who wish to apply for exemptions/credit based on the should seek advice from the Program Coordinator via .

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Program completion requirements

The award of a Doctor of Applied Science requires the successful completion of:

  • all eight coursework courses

  • an external examination of the student’s thesis.


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Required time limits

Full-time candidates normally complete in 3 years. Part-time candidates will normally complete the program within 6 years of part-time study.

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IT requirements

Access to an up-to-date computer is necessary. On-campus students can access appropriately equipped laboratories, but should consider acquisition of their own computer. External students should be able to access a computer with the following as advised by the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app. All students should have access to email and the Internet via a computer running the latest versions of Internet web browsers such as Internet Explorer or Firefox. The ¾«¶«´«Ã½app has a wireless network for on-campus students' computers. In order to take advantage of this facility and further enhance their on-campus learning environment, students should consider purchasing a notebook/laptop computer with wireless connectivity. A notebook/laptop may be required for some courses.

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Exit points

Candidates who complete the eight units of coursework only may satisfy the requirements for the Graduate Diploma of Science .

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Credit

Exemptions/credit will be assessed based on the .

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Enrolment

Candidates for admission to the program should note that some of the courses specify enrolment requirements. This will mean that successful applicants may be enrolling in courses for which they do not have sufficient pre-requisite knowledge. Applicants should refer to the to determine the enrolment requirements for the courses they intend enrolling in. Candidates will be expected to rectify any deficiencies in their pre-requisite knowledge by private study, guided if necessary by the examiners of the relevant courses.

Recommended enrolment patterns

In this section:

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Recommended enrolment pattern - full-time

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Candidates must complete 8 units of coursework and 16 units of research project courses as specified below.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Course Work - Students must complete 8 units coursework as follows. These courses can be taken via either part-time or full-time program enrolment.

Before enrolling in any courses, candidates should read the section entitled Enrolment Requirements. Students must complete their coursework units before enrolling in the research units (i.e. ).

Replacement of and with electives requires the approval of the Program Coordinator. If MSC8001 and MSC8002 are taken it is recommended that is co-requisite for MSC8001 and is a co-requisite for MSC8002. Both MSC8001 and MSC8002 (if taken) should be completed prior to or .

*11,2

     #11,211,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MCTN or MCOP or MCTE or BSCH or MSCN or have the approval of their program coordinator

Or

     Level 8 elective (subject to approval)*1111
Level 8 elective (subject to approval)*11,211,2
*11,2
#11,211,2Pre-requisite:
Level 8 elective (subject to approval)*11,211,2

Research Work - Students must also complete 16 units of Doctoral research units as follows:

§†2,31,2

Footnotes
*One unit
#Two units
§Four units
†Students re-enrol in this course each semester.

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Recommended enrolment pattern - part-time

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Course Work - Students must complete 8 units coursework as follows. These courses can be taken via either part-time or full-time program enrolment.

Before enrolling in any courses, candidates should read the section entitled Enrolment Requirements. Students must complete their coursework units before enrolling in the research units (i.e. ).

It is recommended that is co-requisite for and is a co-requisite for . Both MSC8001 and MSC8002 should be completed prior to or .

*11,2
*11,2
Level 8 elective (subject to approval)*1,21,21,21,2
Level 8 elective (subject to approval)*1,21,21,21,2

     #21,221,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MCTN or MCOP or MCTE or BSCH or MSCN or have the approval of their program coordinator

Or

     Level 8 elective (subject to approval)*21,221,2

     #21,221,2Pre-requisite:

Or

     Level 8 elective (subject to approval)*21,221,2

Research Work - Students must also complete 16 units of Doctoral research units as follows:

°÷†§3–61,2

Footnotes
*One unit
#Two units
^Depending on the study area taken these courses may be replaced by other courses approved by the Program Coordinator.
†Students re-enrol in this course each semester.
§Four units