Structured PhD in Nursing & Midwifery

Program Overview

The Structured PhD in Nursing & Midwifery program offers a rigorous and collaborative research-based experience within faculty departments. It emphasizes research methodologies, ethics, and translational research with national and international significance. Students complete a supervised research project, core modules, and elective modules tailored to their interests. Graduates are equipped for careers in academia, research, and professional settings requiring advanced research skills.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Structured PhD in Nursing & Midwifery is a novel program designed to enable students to complete their PhD within four years (full-time) or five years (part-time). The research project is situated within one of the Faculty's six Departments, while the taught elements are shared across the Faculty, maximizing learning opportunities for students. It fosters a sharing of expertise and experience, leading to high-quality translational research aligned with the faculty's mission to advance people's well-being.

Objectives:

• Provide a program that is academically rigorous and consistent with national and international standards for postgraduate research.
• Educate students in all aspects of research, including methodologies, critical review, and ethics.
• Impart skills appropriate for research in professional contexts.
• Facilitate translational research with national and international significance.

Outline:

Year 1 & 2

• Supervised research project
• Research methods modules (9 credits)
• Elective modules (9 credits)
• Core modules: Introduction to Doctoral Studies, Research Integrity, Entering the Academic Community, and Postgraduate Skills Workshops & Professional Portfolio

Year 3 & 4

• Continuation of supervised research project
• Completion of core modules (if not completed in Year 1 & 2)
• Postgraduate School Workshops & Professional Portfolio module

Core Modules:

• Research Project (270 credits): Spans all four years (extended to six years for part-time students) and is supervised by a Primary Supervisor from the student's home department.
The final thesis may be completed as a monograph or in an article-based format.
• Introduction to Postgraduate Research (6 credits): Inducts students into good practices for conducting their PhD, including principles and regulations, expectations, and maximizing supervisory guidance.
• Research Integrity (3 credits): Focuses on ethics in research, with workshops and discussions on good research practices and misconduct.
• Entering the Academic Community (3 credits): Equips students with networking skills for their research, including developing international contacts, preparing conference presentations, and running workshops.
• Postgraduate School Workshops & Professional Portfolio (12 credits): A student-centered module guided by the research supervisory team.
Students maintain a portfolio of activities, including attendance at invited speaker programs and conference presentations.

Other:

• Students may take modules in quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods research methodology, promoting a holistic view of the participants.
• The program aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct high-quality research that contributes to the advancement of nursing and midwifery practice.
• Graduates of the program will be well-prepared for careers in academia, research, and other professional settings where research skills are valued.