Program Overview

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Doctor of Nursing

School of Nursing & Midwifery

The Professional Doctorate is a research degree designed to meet the needs of professionals who aspire to achieve academic excellence and lead the development of knowledge within their profession. The program seeks to examine crucial professional topics and integrate professional experience with scholarly inquiry.

Why study this program?

The Doctor of Nursing offers an applied three-year program to suitably qualified individuals, leading to a thesis of approximately 80,000 words. Your thesis should bridge the theory-practice gap and practically contribute to industry-based or professional knowledge.

Program summary

The Professional Doctorate comprises coursework and a substantial research component leading to the submission of a thesis. The coursework component includes four compulsory research training courses to be completed as a prerequisite to your individual research project.

• RSCH7000 Quantitative Research Methods
• RSCH7001 Qualitative Research Methods
• RSCH7002 Scholarly Reading and Writing
• RSCH7003 Developing a Research Proposal
• RSCH7027 Supervised Research - Nursing

The coursework will provide opportunities for you to formulate substantial elements of your planned research (e.g., topic refinement, identification and justification of the preferred research method(s), preparation of a draft proposal), and to develop personal competencies in critical analysis and scholarly writing relevant to your profession.

Supervision

As a doctoral candidate, you are required to have a minimum of two supervisors who will provide support and academic guidance throughout your degree. Your academic supervisors will be complemented by a professional mentor, who has expertise in the industry or profession relevant to your research area.

Mode of study and assessment

You may undertake the program either in a full-time or part-time capacity. The standard time for completion (not including periods of approved leave of absence) will normally be three years for a full-time student and six years for a part-time student.

The assessment of the coursework component consists of written assignments while the research component is assessed by examination of the thesis by three external reviewers.

Entry requirements

The Pro Vice-Chancellor-Research, on the advice of the Dean of the School, determines admission to the Doctor of Nursing Award.

Applicants to the doctoral program are expected to satisfy the following criteria:

• Possession of a research Masters degree by thesis or dissertation appropriate to the professional field of the applicant; or
• Possession of a Masters degree by coursework appropriate to the professional field of the applicant completed at a superior standard; or
• Possession of a Bachelor’s degree with Honours (typically 1st Class or Class 2A Honours level or equivalent); or
• Possession of a Master of Philosophy; or
• In exceptional circumstances, an equivalent academic or professional background that is considered by the Dean of the School to be an appropriate preparation for independent study and research work at doctoral level.

An applicant may be required to satisfy the Dean of the School of the ability to understand and communicate in both written and spoken English at a level adequate for the purpose of pursuing the program of study. In addition to the academic criteria listed above, applicants are normally expected to satisfy the following:

• have a minimum of 3 years of relevant professional practice;
• have the support of an industry or professional mentor.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Doctor of Nursing graduates will be able to:

1. Apply expert, specialised cognitive and technical skills in the design and execution of a substantial research project that makes a significant and original contribution to knowledge, professional practice and/or creative practice
2. Synthesise, evaluate, and critically analyse a substantial and complex body of knowledge and/or practice at the frontier of a field/s of research
3. Communicate research findings clearly and fluently, to both peers and the community
4. Apply knowledge of research integrity, ethics and the rights and safety of others in the conduct of research and dissemination of research findings; and
5. Conduct research with intellectual independence, creativity, adaptability, responsibility, and accountability.

Career opportunities

A Doctor of Nursing can lead to careers such as nurse educator, nurse manager, nurse practitioner, nurse researcher or research manager.

Real-world experience

You will learn from our academics, who are leaders in their field. There are no practicum requirements for this program.

Scholarships

Domestic Students

In accordance with the Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines (Research) 2017, most domestic research students are eligible to have all Higher Degree by Research (HDR) course fees paid for by the Commonwealth Government through a Research Training Program (RTP) Fees Offset Scholarship the maximum duration of the enrolment time published on the program requirement. Domestic students are also encouraged to apply for stipend scholarships, which are very competitive and awarded to students of exceptional research potential. The scholarships designed to help with general living costs for the duration of the research degree.

International Students

The University is keen to support high calibre international students through the Commonwealth Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships (Fees Offset and/or Stipend), or the University International Fee Remission Research Scholarship (IFRRS), which are very competitive and awarded to students of exceptional research potential. Please refer to the International Prospectus or visit our Scholarships section if you would like more information. Unless in receipt of a scholarship, all international research students must pay full fees for the length of their research degree.

Fees and costs

This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:

International Full-Fee Paying
Tuition costs depend on an international student’s study load and discipline. Fees are payable each semester at least four weeks prior to the commencement of your program.

Research Training Program (RTP)
The Research Training Program (RTP) provides block grants to support students who are undertaking a Higher Degree by Research such as a Research Doctorate or Research Masters degree. You will receive support for a maximum of two years for a Research Masters and a maximum of four years for a Research Doctorate degree. Your offer will specify for which purpose(s) your grant may be used. This may include offset of your tuition fees, as a stipend for general living costs or as an allowance related to the ancillary cost of research degrees.

For indicative fees and information on Postgraduate and Research Scholarships available, please visit our HDR Scholarships page.

For indicative fees and information on how to pay, including Government loan schemes and our online calculator, visit our Fees, costs and scholarships page.