Doctor of Sustainable Development

A Doctor of Sustainable Development is a research doctorate, so most of your time goes into a single sustained project rather than a timetable of lectures. At Curtin you would work with a supervisor (or a small panel) on a question that sits at the intersection of sustainability and society, how communities adapt to environmental change, how policy shapes behaviour, how development decisions get made and who bears the cost. Because the degree sits in the sociology subject area, expect to engage with social theory, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and the politics of sustainability rather than purely technical or environmental science.

How the degree is structured

Australian doctorates are not built around semesters of coursework the way a bachelor or master's is. You enrol in a research programme, complete a confirmation of candidature (usually within the first year) where a panel assesses whether your proposal and skills are up to scratch, then produce a thesis, typically 80,000 words or the equivalent in published papers, examined by external academics. Some candidates take a coursework component early on for research methods or theory, and many attend regular seminars with other research students. There are no credit points in the undergraduate sense; progress is measured by milestones. The qualification sits at the top of the Australian Qualifications Framework, above the master's level, and the four-year full-time duration reflects the scale of the project.

What you actually do

You design a research question, get ethics approval if you're working with people, gather and analyse data, and write. That might mean fieldwork in communities, interviews with policymakers, analysis of secondary data, or a mix. You'll present your work at seminars and conferences, and many candidates publish along the way. Curtin has research strengths in sustainability and in social research, and being in Perth puts you near resource-sector, government and community organisations working on development questions in Western Australia and the wider region. International candidates should confirm the current English requirement on the official page, the published range for research degrees is typically IELTS 6.5–7.0, but it varies by school, and the Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. While studying on a Student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight, and after graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which gives you time to work in Australia. Tuition is listed on the CRICOS register under course code 085112M.

Who it suits

This is for people who want to produce original knowledge, not just consume it. You might be coming from a master's in sociology, development studies, environmental policy, geography or a related field, or from years of practice in government, NGOs or community organisations where you've hit questions you can't answer with existing research. It suits someone comfortable working independently, reading widely, and writing at length. If you want a structured classroom degree, a master's is a better fit.

• Academic researcher or lecturer in sociology, sustainability or development studies
• Policy analyst or adviser in state and federal government departments dealing with environment, planning, community services or international development
• Social researcher in consultancies, think tanks or research institutes
• Programme manager or evaluation specialist in NGOs and international development organisations
• Sustainability or social impact analyst in the resources, infrastructure and energy sectors
• Community engagement or social licence adviser working with industry and local government
• Research and policy roles in Indigenous organisations and land management bodies

Australian employers in these areas include universities, CSIRO, state and federal public services, local councils, development NGOs, industry peak bodies, and the mining, energy and infrastructure companies that operate across Australia and the region. A doctorate also opens doors to postdoctoral research positions in Australia and overseas.