Doctor of Philosophy

A Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies at Alphacrucis University College is a research degree for people who want to ask serious questions about religion, belief and practice, and then answer them with evidence. You spend three years full-time working on one substantial thesis. Most candidates take a bit longer, and part-time study is common. The degree is at the top of the Australian Qualifications Framework, alongside other doctoral awards. There are no lectures to sit through in the usual sense. You read, you design your study, you collect and analyse material, and you write. Your supervisor and a small panel guide you through it.

How the degree is structured

Alphacrucis runs its research degrees around a thesis, not a list of coursework units. You begin with a period of reading and planning, usually called confirmation or provisional candidacy. You write a proposal, present it to a panel, and once it is accepted you move to full candidacy. From there the work is yours, with regular meetings with your supervisor. There is no fixed semester-by-semester unit list for the thesis itself, though you may be asked to complete research training in areas such as methods, ethics or academic writing. Those are typically counted in credit points, and your supervisor will tell you what is required. The thesis is examined by external academics who do not work at Alphacrucis. You submit it, they read it, and you defend it in an oral examination. That is the capstone. There is no coursework capstone project separate from the thesis.

What you actually study

Religious Studies at doctoral level is broad. Depending on your supervisor's expertise and your own interests, a thesis might look at biblical texts and their interpretation, the history of Christianity, theology and ethics, religion and society, ministry practice, or the place of faith in Australian life. You will learn how to frame a research question that can actually be answered, how to work with primary sources, how to use archives, interviews or textual analysis, and how to write for an academic audience. Most candidates also present at conferences and try to publish a paper or two before they finish. Those things are not formal requirements, but they are what the academic job market and many other employers look for.

Who it suits

This degree suits someone who already has a strong background in theology, religious studies, ministry, education or a related field, usually at honours or master's level. You need to be self-directed. Nobody will chase you to write. You also need to be comfortable with criticism, because your work will be read closely and questioned. Some candidates come straight from a master's. Others come after years in ministry, teaching, chaplaincy or community work, and use the PhD to formalise what they already know. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is running, and after you graduate you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. English proficiency is required, and the published standard for this course sits within the university's general range. Confirm the exact requirement, fees, intake dates and CRICOS details on the official page before you apply.

• University lecturer or tutor in theology, religious studies or related fields
• Researcher in a university, seminary or faith-based research centre
• Senior minister, pastor or denominational leader
• Chaplain in hospitals, schools, prisons or the defence force
• Ethics adviser or policy officer in health, education or government
• Writer, editor or publisher in religious and academic media
• Secondary or tertiary teacher in religious education, where you hold the required teaching qualification
• Roles in not-for-profit and community organisations with a faith or values base

Australian employers in these areas include universities, theological colleges, church denominations, independent and Catholic schools, hospitals and aged care providers, government departments, and community service organisations. Some roles, such as teaching in schools or chaplaincy in certain settings, need additional registration or endorsement. Check with the relevant body.