Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame Australia is a research degree built around a single, substantial piece of original work. You spend your candidature investigating one question in depth and writing a thesis that makes a genuine contribution to knowledge in your field. In philosophy, that could mean working on ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, political philosophy, logic, phenomenology or the history of philosophy, the exact topic depends on your proposal and the supervision available, so confirm current research strengths with the university before you apply.

Australian doctorates sit at the top of the Australian Qualifications Framework and normally run for three years full time. Unlike a coursework degree, there are no semesters of lectures to attend. Your candidature is structured around supervised research, with milestones you have to pass: a confirmation of candidature, usually within the first year, where a panel assesses whether your project and your progress are sound enough to continue; annual progress reviews; and a final thesis submission and examination by external examiners. Some universities also require coursework units in research methods or research ethics early on, and these carry credit points like any other unit of study. The thesis itself is the main output, examined by academics outside your institution who do not know you or your supervisors.

Supervision is the core of the experience. You work with a principal supervisor and usually at least one co-supervisor, meeting regularly to test your arguments, review your drafts and keep the project on track. Notre Dame's philosophy research spans areas such as applied ethics and the philosophical questions that sit alongside medicine, law and theology, and the university's structure means research students often work closely with staff rather than disappearing into a large cohort. There is no professional placement in a philosophy PhD, but there is work-integrated learning of a different kind: conference presentations, publishing in journals, tutoring undergraduates and contributing to the research culture of the school. Many candidates also teach or take on casual academic work during their candidature.

This degree suits someone who has already completed an honours year or a research master's and wants to pursue an academic career, or who needs a doctoral qualification for a senior role in policy, ethics, education or the public service. It rewards people who can work independently, read widely and keep going when the writing gets hard. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available after you finish, depending on your circumstances. English proficiency requirements are published by the university, and the Department of Home Affairs sets a separate threshold for the Student visa. Tuition for this course is published on the CRICOS register under course code 011396F. Check the official course page for entry requirements, fees and application dates.

• University academic, lecturer, research fellow or tutor in philosophy and related disciplines, after building a publication record.
• Research officer or policy analyst, in government departments, think tanks and research institutes working on ethics, health policy, education or social policy.
• Bioethics or clinical ethics roles, hospitals, health services and research ethics committees increasingly employ philosophers to advise on consent, end-of-life care and research conduct.
• Public sector and defence, policy, intelligence and strategic analysis roles where clear argument and writing matter.
• Secondary and tertiary teaching, philosophy, religious studies, ethics and humanities, subject to the teaching qualifications each state and territory requires.
• Publishing, editing and communications, academic publishing, journalism and content roles that need someone who can handle complex ideas.
• Law, compliance and regulation, graduates with philosophical training in logic and ethics move into legal research, regulatory affairs and governance.
• Consulting and advisory work, ethics consultancy, technology policy and organisational advisory roles in Australia and overseas.