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This program is offered only to continuing students. No new admissions will be accepted. Students who are interested in this study area pleasedirectly

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Program objectives

On successful completion of the Doctor of Education program, students should be able to:

• apply advanced research principles and practices applicable to professional educational contexts,

• critically interpret and apply knowledge derived from published research in the context of their professional practice,

• select and apply appropriate research methods to collect, analyse, and interpret data in the context of their professional practice,

• critically reflect on change processes and leadership implications in educational organisations as it applies to their practice, and

• communicate their understanding of published research and the results of their own research using methods appropriate to the context of their professional practice.

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Program aims

The aim of this program is to advance the knowledge and skills of experienced professional educators to equip them for leading research-informed organisational change and to engage them in making significant and original contributions to knowledge in the context of professional practice.

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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, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

• completion of a relevant Australian university Masters degree with a GPA equivalent to at least 5.0 on the USQ grade scale, or a Bachelor degree with Honours (First Class or Second Class (Division A)), or equivalent qualification in education or a related field from a recognised university.

• have a documented record of normally three years full-time equivalent of teaching or other professional experience in Education or a cognate field and current or recent employment in relevant professional practice.

• English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 3.

Admission to all graduate programs is highly competitive owing to limited capacities. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

All students are required to satisfy the applicable .

If students do not meet the English language requirements they may apply to study a ¾«¶«´«Ã½app-approved . On successful completion of the English language program, students 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. Students 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. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

Research Training Program (RTP) - Fees Offset scheme

All Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens commencing a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) program will have their tuition fees paid by the Australian Commonwealth Government under the Research Training Program (RTP) Fees Offset scheme. The RTP Fees Offset scheme covers program fees for an HDR student up to a maximum period of four years for full-time study or up to eight years part-time study for a Doctoral program, and up to a maximum period of two years for full-time or four years part-time for a Masters by Research program.
As part of the enrolment process, students are required to submit proof of citizenship or permanent residency status and transcripts of all previous academic study. This documentation enables the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app of Southern Queensland to determine eligibility for an RTP Fees Offset place.

If a student's RTP Fees Offset entitlement expires before completion of the program, the student will be required to pay full tuition fees.

Students eligible for an RTP Fees Offset place are those who:

• have not used RTP Fees Offset funding in the previous three years; or

• have already used RTP Fees Offset funding and have successfully completed an HDR program. Once a student completes an HDR program, full entitlements of RTP Fees Offset are restored.

The Australian Commonwealth Government’s contribution to program fees must be acknowledged on all published material relating to a research project via a statement identifying the support received through the RTP Fees Offset scheme.

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Program structure

The Doctor of Education is a 24-unit program comprising 6 units of coursework followed by 18 units of research.

The coursework has two components:

• two 2-unit courses specific to the Doctor of Education program: EDU8601 Advanced Studies in Professional Practice and EDU8602 Advanced Studies in Specialisation, and

• one 2-unit research methods courses: EDR9002 Foundations of Contemporary Education Research Methods.

Research

A USQ doctoral research degree will result in preparation of a submission for external examination as per USQ’s , which specifies four types of submissions:

• Standard Thesis

• Thesis by Publication

• Thesis with Creative Works

• Thesis by Portfolio.

Candidates in the Doctor of Education program can choose to submit in any of the four types.

Thesis by Portfolio

The portfolio provides alternatives conducive to the needs of those candidates engaged in professional practice in a relevant field. The portfolio is evidence of the candidate’s significant and original contribution to knowledge in the context of professional practice.

Candidates present their portfolio for examination by way of a portfolio including one or more artefacts in a range of genres.

The Thesis section:

• the Portfolio thesis is shorter than a standard thesis with a maximum of 70,000 words. The portfolio is a document that combines OR aligns relevant disciplinary literature (e.g., theoretical, empirical, professional) with an exposition of the focus of enquiry: the artefact/s

• within the portfolio thesis each artefact will be described and contextualised within a disciplinary literature, and an exposition of personal, professional, and scholarly development during the period of candidature.

The artefact(s):

• each artefact will represent the development of original and/or evaluation of existing products, practices, or systems for implementation in a professional context. Each artefact involves intellectually rigorous evidence of the application of research methods and scholarship, which may include peer feedback

• an artefact may be one or more of, or a combination of: creative works; professional development resources; curriculum and/or teaching resources; organizational documentation such as policies and procedures; innovative models or systems of practice. These are examples only and other ideas should be discussed with supervisors

• a text-based artefact (e.g., creative work of fiction, poetry, professional development resource, policy) must be substantively different from the portfolio thesis in which it is the focus of scholarly enquiry. The text of the artefact is not included in the word-count of the portfolio thesis.

The research activities and workload required to produce the portfolio thesis and artefacts will be equivalent to that of the standard thesis, thesis by publication or thesis with creative works.

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Program completion requirements

The award of the Doctor of Education requires the successful completion of:

• all required coursework (6 units), and

• external examination of a research portfolio representing work completed in the balance of the program.

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Required time limits

Candidates will normally complete the program within six years of part-time study and have a maximum of eight years (part-time) to complete this program.

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Major studies

Candidates for the Doctor of Education may undertake research in a variety of specialised topics subject to the availability of research supervision. Supervision is typically available for topics related to specialisations offered in the Master of Education. For further information about supervision see the .

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IT requirements

Students must have reliable and ready access to e-mail and the Internet. Broadband would be a significant advantage. See for more information.

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Exit points

Students who complete the coursework component of the Doctor of Education program and who are not able to complete the research component of the program will be able to transfer 4 units of credit to the postgraduate studies at the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app of Southern Queensland and, subject to meeting relevant requirements, exit with a Graduate Certificate of Education.

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Credit

Credit may be granted on the basis of completed equivalent postgraduate study from a recognised university. In order for credit to be granted, the claim must meet the following specific requirements:

• the course was passed within five years prior to the application (courses up to 10 years old may be considered if evidence is provided that the applicant has been employed in that field)

• the course passed is sufficiently equivalent in objectives, content and weightings to a course prescribed in the Master of Education, or alternatively, the course is suitable as an elective

• the maximum credit granted is no greater than six courses for the Master of Education or equivalent

• credit approved in this program will not automatically apply to other programs offered by the USQ.

Claims for credit should be submitted prior to or at the time of enrolment in a course. Each claim will be assessed on individual merit in line with USQ policy. Credit approved in this program will not automatically apply to other programs offered by USQ. Please contact the Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts for further information.

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Enrolment

Students enrol in the Doctor of Education on a part-time basis.

Recommended enrolment pattern

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Recommended enrolment pattern

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.