Syllabus: PhD

Programme details for the Doctor of Philosophy

Courses Presented in This Programme

The PhD consists of the following components:

• Doctoral thesis
• Colloquium Doctum

Prerequisites

Completion of the MArts, another M-degree, or having been granted the status of an MArts qualification through the process of recognition of prior earning (RPL), as confirmed by the CU Senate.

Duration of the Programme

This programme has a minimum duration of one year before the qualification certificate can be issued. The maximum learning duration is normally three years.

Doctoral Proposal

Credits: 30

Synopsis. Research students are expected to present a written research proposal within three months after commencement. The proposal is handed in to the study leader. Assessors of this proposal are selected by the Faculty for their understanding of the field and the research involved.

The purpose of a research proposal is to set out a plan for conducting the research and writing the dissertation within the available time. It should take account of the availability and guidance of the study leader.

The starting point for a research proposal is the topic, which is the field of interest in which the research is to be carried out. In introducing the topic, the proposal should clarify the field that it falls into, and the specific part of that field which the research will explore. It should clarify why the topic area is of interest and importance, and how the proposed research will contribute to the the field of knowledge or profession.

The proposal should clarify the research questions, ensuring that these are specific and answerable. It is important to show how these questions relate to the topic area, and how they will advance the student's contribution.

The proposal should detail the research to be carried out, and clarify the research methods, the timeframe and the reasons for selecting particular methods. Where a period of literature review or research should precede any empirical research, this should be factored in as part of the research. It is important to estimate any periods of field research, and to flag their duration and cost, in your research proposal.

Thesis

Credits: 70

Synopsis. This programme requires doctoral candidates to complete a doctoral thesis as part of the assessment for the PhD degree.

Doing a thesis means that, instead of knowledge and information being presented and following a prescribed route for answering questions, candidates are thrust into an active role of managing an investigation into a topic area. This means researching and discovering things for themselves. They will have to set their own targets and parameters, pose their own central research question and decide on the appropriate sources of information to support the research. It therefore requires the use of the higher-level cognitive skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation.

Candidates may choose an area of particular interest to them within the scope of their expertees as proven during their M- studies.

A thesis is an individual effort and the candidate, his/her academic tutor and the course professor will work together on constructing an approved topic (research question) and methodologies.

Colloquium Doctum

Credits: 50

Synopsis. It is expected of our doctoral candidates to defend their thesis by means of a colloquium doctum (academic discussion). The purpose of the meeting is for the candidates to convince a panel of professors how well they have done in the conducting of their research study and the preparation of their thesis.

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