Professional Doctorate (Applied Research)

The Professional Doctorate (Applied Research) at Torrens University Australia is a research degree for people who want to solve a real problem in their field, not just write about it. You'll spend three years on a single sustained research project, working with supervisors and producing a thesis or a portfolio of research outputs that speaks to professional practice. It sits at the same AQF level as a PhD, but the emphasis is on applying research to practice rather than purely academic contribution.

Australian doctorates are structured around a supervised research thesis, not coursework units. You'll normally begin with a period of proposal development and confirmation of candidature, then move into the main research phase. There are no standard semesters or trimesters in the way an undergraduate degree has them; your milestones are set by your supervisor and the university's research office. You may be required to complete some research training units early on, depending on your background. The degree is completed over three years full time, and part-time study is often possible.

What you actually do week to week depends on your topic. You might be running interviews, analysing policy documents, building a case study, or working with an industry partner to test an intervention. Torrens has research strengths in areas like business, health, education and design, and the applied nature of this doctorate means your project can be grounded in your own workplace or sector. The skills you build are the ones researchers use: framing a question, designing a method, handling data ethically, writing for different audiences, and defending your findings.

This course suits people who already have a master's degree or a bachelor honours degree and several years of professional experience. You might be a senior manager, a clinician, an educator or a consultant who wants to research a problem you keep running into at work. It's also a path for people who want to teach or lead in their profession without leaving it behind. International applicants need to meet the university's English requirement, and the Department of Home Affairs sets its own English threshold for the Student visa. While studying, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available, depending on your circumstances. Check the official page for details on entry requirements, fees and the CRICOS register for the published tuition.

• Senior researcher or research fellow in universities, hospitals or independent research institutes
• Research and development manager in private companies or government agencies
• Policy analyst or advisor in federal and state public service
• Clinical research lead in health organisations
• Education leader or academic in the tertiary sector
• Consultant specialising in evaluation, evidence and applied research
• Program director in non-profits and international development organisations