10. Postgraduate research courses and regulations

The Faculty of Dentistry offers the following research degrees:

Doctor of Dental Science (DDSc)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

Doctor of Dental Science (DDSc)

Course overview and code: EA000

The Doctor of Dental Science (DDSc) is a higher doctorate, awarded by published work which, in the opinion of examiners and the Faculty of Dentistry, has been generally recognised by scholars in the particular field of expertise as a distinguished contribution to knowledge.

The DDSc, unlike the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), is not a research training degree. It may be described as an award that one would receive at the end of one's career, rather than the beginning, for an outstanding contribution to knowledge.

Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, the applicant must hold the degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Sydney
OR
a) the Faculty of Dentistry must deem a graduate of another institution as having equal standing to that of a graduate of the University of Sydney
AND
b) the applicant must have been a full-time member of the academic staff of the University of Sydney for at least three years or have had similar significant involvement with teaching and research
AND
c) the applicant must have been a graduate of the University of Sydney (or an equivalent institution) of at least five years' standing before the degree of Doctor can be awarded.

Published work submitted for examination may be regarded as a distinguished contribution to knowledge if:
a) it represents a significant advance in knowledge in its chosen field, or
b) it has given rise to or is a major part of a significant debate in scholarly books and journals among recognised scholars in its chosen field, or
c) it has directly given rise to significant changes in the direction of research or of practice of a newer generation of recognised scholars in its chosen field.

There is no set number of publications an applicant must have to be awarded the degree. The Prima Facie Committee and the Examiners will be asked to judge the work on its quality and based on the criteria stated above, rather than on the quantity of the papers.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Course overview and code: EB000

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a research degree in which students undertake supervised research leading to the production of a thesis.

The PhD in the Faculty of Dentistry is aimed at those who intend to pursue research careers in oral health care or a related field.

Full-time PhD students have a minimum of 3 years and maximum of 4 years to submit a thesis for examination. Part-time students have a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 8 years to submit. The word limit for a thesis submitted to the Faculty of Dentistry is 80,000 words. PhD students may be required to attend classes or undertake coursework units of study, and the thesis is the only or major examinable assessment requirement for the degree.

Admission requirements

Admission normally requires a master's degree, or a bachelor's degree in a relevant area with first or second class honours from the University of Sydney, or another approved institution.

Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

Course overview and code: EC003

The MPhil is a research degree and is aimed at those who intend to pursue research careers in oral health or a related field. It may also be used as a foundation to commencing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Full-time MPhil students have a minimum of 2 years and maximum of 3 years to submit a thesis for examination. Part-time students have a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 6 years to submit. The word limit for a thesis submitted to the Faculty of Dentistry is 80,000 words. MPhil students may be required to attend classes or undertake coursework units of study, and the thesis is the only or major examinable assessment requirement for the degree.

Admission requirements

A bachelor's degree, preferably with honours, in a related area from the University of Sydney or equivalent.

Enrolments

Enrolment information for new domestic students

Once you have been given an offer of admission, you will be required to enrol in your course prior to commencement. In most cases, this means that you must attend the University in person on a specific enrolment day.

If you are unable to attend on that day you should arrange for someone else to attend on your behalf. Proxy enrolment guidelines and authorisation forms are available from the Student Centre website. On enrolment day, you will be asked to check and complete your enrolment forms, pay your fees and will be given your student card. If you are a coursework student you will need to confirm the units of study that you will be undertaking during the year. Detailed enrolment instructions will be sent to you by the Postgraduate Student Administration Unit in advance of enrolment day.

Enrolment by fax or email is available to distance learning students living outside the Sydney metropolitan area. In order to enrol in this way, you should provide the Postgraduate Student Administration Unit with a reliable fax number or current email address prior to the enrolment period. If you are eligible to enrol in this way but fail to provide a fax number or email address expressly for this purpose, the Postgraduate Student Administration Unit will assume that you are able to enrol in person and will expect you to attend the university on enrolment day.

Enrolment information for continuing domestic students

You must re-enrol every year that you remain a candidate for a degree. In October you will receive advice about re-enrolment for the following academic year. In most cases, re-enrolment is accomplished by pre-enrolling, and you will receive your pre-enrolment form with the re-enrolment advice. Pre-enrolment is compulsory for continuing students.

You may choose to pre-enrol online at MyUni or to submit your pre-enrolment form in person, by mail or by fax to the Postgraduate Student Administration Unit. In 2002, pre-enrolment via the web was open until 15 November and pre-enrolment through the Postgraduate Student Administration Unit was open until 1 November.
NB: No responsibility can be taken for forms faxed or mailed to the wrong address. It is in your interests to ensure that your form is lodged correctly and on time. It is also your responsibility to make sure the University has your correct postal address. If the University does not have your correct postal address you will not receive any of the documentation regarding pre-enrolment.

Once you have successfully pre-enrolled, Student Centre will send you confirmation of enrolment and an invoice for your compulsory subscriptions and course fees by late January or early February. This means that you will not be required to attend the university to enrol in-person. Eligible students wishing to participate in the PELS scheme will be required to attend the Student Centre with their tax file number after receiving their invoice (more information on this process will accompany the invoice).

You will be required to pay the amount shown on the invoice at any branch of the National Australia Bank within approximately 7 days of receiving the invoice. The bank teller’s stamped, receipt portion of the invoice which confirms payment of fees will then function as your interim student ID card for a period of 14 days. Your official student card will be mailed to you when your payment is transferred from the bank to the university with information regarding card lamination and transport concessions.

Circumstances in which pre-enrolment is not permitted

You are not permitted to pre-enrol if:

You are commencing a new degree.
You are returning to study after a period of suspension.
You have gone beyond the latest date for submitting your thesis.

In all these cases you will be required to enrol in person at the University on enrolment day.

Pre-enrolment and candidature variation

Please note that pre-enrolment only allows you to maintain your current enrolment – it does not allow you to make changes to your enrolment. If, once you have pre-enrolled, you wish to change your candidature (i.e transfer to another degree, suspend or extend your candidature, change from FT to PT or PT to FT or spend time away from the University) you must complete a candidature variation form, obtain the necessary approvals and submit it to the Postgraduate Student Administration Unit. Click here for more information on candidature variation.

Do not delay in pre-enrolling simply because you are awaiting approval for a change to your candidature. The Postgraduate Student Administration Unit can make changes to your candidature up until 31 March (for changes to Semester 1) and 31 August (for changes to Semester 2).

Pre-enrolment for research candidates

Are you about to submit your thesis?

All candidates must be currently enrolled to be eligible to submit a thesis. Your enrolment in any given year will lapse on 31 March. Therefore, if you are sure that you will submit your thesis before 31 March, you will NOT be required to pre-enrol in the following year. Candidates who submit before 31 March are automatically placed "under examination" and are not required to have an active enrolment the following year. If you are at all unsure about whether you will submit before 31 March, then you should pre-enrol to secure your enrolment for the following year. If you do then manage to submit your thesis before 31 March, your status as "currently enrolled" will automatically lapse and you will be placed "under examination". At this point you may then apply to the Student Centre for a refund of any fees paid.

Enrolment information for international students

International students are to adhere to the enrolment procedure stipulated by the International Office. Refer to: www.usyd.edu.au/internationaloffice

Legal issues

Research students may be required to undertake criminal records and infectious diseases checks if their research involves a clinical component that requires direct contact with patients in the teaching hospitals or in private practice/sector settings. Refer to the Postgraduate Coursework chapter in this handbook for full details.

2009 fees

Domestic PhD, MSc(Dent), and MPhil students are covered under the Research Training Scheme (RTS), which is fee and HECS-exempt, provided the student completes the degree within the minimal timeframe. Domestic PhD, MSc(Dent) and MPhil students have the option to pay the University’s student union fees for each year of their enrolment.

International candidates will be required to pay fees. The fee for the PhD in 2009 is $27,600, payable for each year of enrolment in the program. The fee for the MSc(Dent) and MPhil for 2009 is $27,600, payable for each year of enrolment in the program. Note the faculty and the University reserve the right to increase fees from year to year, and that the above fees may not be fixed for the duration of a student's candidature in the program.

Resolutions

Resolutions for the Doctor of Philosophy are available on the website:
www.usyd.edu.au/senate/PhD_Rule.pdf.

Master of Philosophy

0.1

Resolutions of the Senate

Requirements for the Master of Philosophy

1.1

To qualify for the award of the Master of Philosophy a student must:

1.1.1

complete a 6 credit point unit of study on research methods plus such courses or units of study, if any, as may be prescribed by the head of the discipline concerned;

1.1.2

carry out supervised research on a topic approved by the Faculty on the recommendation of the head of the discipline concerned;

1.1.3

write a thesis embodying the results of this research that passes examination; and

1.1.4

satisfy the requirements of all other relevant By-Laws, Rules and Resolutions of the University.

0.1

Resolutions of the Faculty

Admission

1.1

Except as provided in Part 9, section 47 of the University of Sydney (Amendment Act) Rule 1999, the Faculty of Dentistry may admit to candidature for the degree of Master of Philosophy

1.1.1

an applicant who holds the degree of bachelor with first or second class honours, or

1.1.2

an applicant who holds the degree of bachelor of the University of Sydney or other approved institution without first or second class honours after the applicant has passed a qualifying examination at a standard equivalent to the bachelor's degree with first or second class honours, provided that a faculty may exempt an applicant from the qualifying examination if the applicant has obtained at least a credit in the highest course available in the subject or subjects relevant to the proposed course of advanced study and research.

1.1.2.1

The qualifying exam may include completion of a period of relevant full-time or part-time advanced study and/or research towards a postgraduate award course in the University of Sydney, at such a standard as would demonstrate to the satisfaction of the faculty that the candidate is suitably prepared in the particular field of study to undertake candidature for the degree of Master of Philosophy.

1.2

The faculty may admit as a candidate for the degree an applicant holding qualifications which, in the opinion of the faculty concerned, are equivalent to those prescribed in (1) above and such candidate shall proceed to the degree under such conditions as the Faculty may prescribe.

1.3

The faculty may require a candidate, as part of the evidence of the candidate's training and ability to pursue the proposed course, to pass a special examination or assessment.

1.4

An applicant, for admission to candidature, shall submit to the Faculty a research proposal as part of the application. This proposal will detail a course of advanced study and research, in which the work is to be carried out to be undertaken by the applicant in a discipline of the Faculty of Dentistry.

1.5

Admission to candidature will be conditional upon the appointment of an appropriate supervisor and associate supervisor as stipulated in the Academic Board Policy entitled "Postgraduate Research Higher Degree Training Supervision at the University of Sydney".

Method of Progression

2.1

A candidate for the Master of Philosophy shall proceed by completing a 6 credit point unit of study on research methods and by research and thesis.

2.2

A full-time candidate shall not keep the normal academic year but shall pursue candidature for the degree continuously throughout the year except for a period of 4 weeks recreation leave and shall dedicate a minimum of 35 hours per week to their candidature.

2.3

A candidate who does not comply with section 2.2 should be enrolled as a part-time candidate.

Requirements

3.1

A Master of Philosophy candidate proceeding by research shall

3.1.1

complete a 6 credit point unit of study on research methods during the probationary period;

3.1.2

complete such other courses or units of study, if any, as may be prescribed by the head of the discipline concerned;

3.1.3

carry out supervised research on a topic approved by the Faculty on the recommendation of the head of the discipline concerned;

3.1.4

write a thesis embodying the results of this research; and

3.1.5

lodge with the Registrar three copies of this thesis, typewritten and bound.

3.1.5.1

The candidate shall state in the thesis the sources from which the information was derived, the extent to which the work of others has been used and the portion of the work claimed as original.

3.1.5.2

The candidate may include in the thesis published papers of which the candidate is sole or joint author, provided that

3.1.5.2.1

the papers are based on work undertaken during the candidature for the degree;

3.1.5.2.2

the papers are identified as published work;

3.1.5.2.3

the papers are compatible with the overall coherence and organisation of the text of the thesis.

3.1.5.2.4

the candidate provides evidence to identify satisfactorily the sections of work for which the candidate is responsible, such as a signed, written statement from all authors attesting to the contribution of the candidate.

3.1.5.3

Any other papers of which the candidate is sole or joint author may be lodged in support of the thesis.

3.1.5.4

The thesis contains original contributions to the knowledge of the subject concerned.

3.1.5.5

The thesis affords evidence of originality by the exercising of independent critical ability.

3.1.5.6

The thesis is a satisfactory literary presentation; and

3.1.5.7

material in the thesis is suitable for publication.

3.1.6

The thesis shall be accompanied by a statement from the supervisor stating whether, in the supervisor's opinion, the form of presentation of the thesis is satisfactory.

3.1.7

A candidate may not present as the thesis a work which has been presented for a degree in this or another university, but will not be precluded from incorporating such in the thesis provided that in presenting the thesis the candidate indicates the part of the work which has been so incorporated.

3.1.8

satisfy the requirements of all other relevant By-Laws, Rules and Resolutions of the University.

Probation

4.1

A candidate will normally be accepted by the Faculty on a probationary basis for a period not exceeding twelve months.

4.2

The provision to waive probationary acceptance would only be exercised in exceptional circumstances. All requests to waive probation will need to be approved by the Chair of the Board of Postgraduate Studies.

4.3

A Probation Review Report must be completed by the candidate's supervsior in consultation with the Postgraduate Coordinator and submitted to the Faculty at least four weeks before the end of probation.

4.4

The Faculty will write to the candidate to advise of the outcome of the probation review, either confirming the candidate's status, extending the probationary period or terminating the candidature.

4.5

In the case of a candidate accepted on a probationary basis under section 4.1, the candidature shall be deemed to have commenced from the date of such acceptance.

Enrolment

5.1

A student must be enrolled in each semester in which he or she is actively pursuing the requirements for the award course.

5.2

The candidature of a student who has not re-enrolled and who has not obtained approval from the Faculty for a suspension of candidature for the relevant semester will be deemed to have lapsed.

Restrictions on enrolment

6.1

Admission to candidature may be limited by a quota. In determining the quota the Faculty will take into account:

6.1.1

availability of resources

6.1.2

availability of adequate and appropriate supervision.

6.2

In considering an application for admission the Dean will take into account the quota. Entry will be based on applicants who are most meritorious in terms of Section 1 above.

Discontinuation of enrolment

7.1

A candidate who wishes to discontinue enrolment from the Master of Philosophy must notify the Faculty in writing and will be presumed to have discontinued enrolment from the date of that notification, unless evidence is produced showing:

7.1.1

that the discontinuation occurred at an earlier date; and

7.1.2

that there was good reason why the notification could not be made at the earlier time.

Suspension of candidature

8.1

A candidate who wishes to suspend their candidature must apply, in writing, to the Faculty.

8.1.1

The application must be received by the Faculty prior to the commencement of the relevant semester.

8.1.2

A candidate may only apply for a period of suspension for one semester at any one time. Should a candidate wish to suspend their candidature for more than one semester another application must be made to the Faculty for each subsequent semester, prior to the commencement of the relevant semester.

8.1.3

Late applications may be considered at the Faculty's discretion.

8.2

Where the candidate has previously had two semesters of suspension the application will be considered by the Board of Postgraduate Studies for the Faculty.

Re-enrolment after an absence

9.1

A student must enrol in the semester following a period of approved suspension.

9.2

A student whose candidature has lapsed must apply for re-admission in accordance with procedures determined by the Faculty.

10.

Satisfactory progress

10.1

At the end of each year each candidate shall complete an Annual Progress Report providing evidence of progress to the satisfaction of the supervisor, head of discipline concerned, any postgraduate review committee and the Board of Postgraduate Studies.

10.2

On the basis of evidence provided, the head of discipline or the Chair of the Board of Postgraduate Studies shall recommend the conditions of candidature to apply for the following year and may require the candidate to provide further evidence of progress at the end of one semester or such other period as the head of discipline or the Chair of the Board of Postgraduate Studies considers appropriate.

10.3

If a candidate fails to submit evidence of progress or if the head of discipline concerned considers that the evidence submitted does not indicate satisfactory progress, the Board of Postgraduate Studies may, on the head of discipline's recommendation, call upon that candidate to show cause why that candidature should not be terminated by reason of unsatisfactory progress towards completion of the degree and where, in the opinion of the Board of Postgraduate Studies, the candidate does not show good cause, the Board of Postgraduate Studies may terminate that candidature or may impose conditions on the continuation of that candidature.

11.

Credit

11.1

A candidate who, before admission to candidature, has spent time in advanced study in the University of Sydney, or in another university, or in another institution whose courses are deemed by the Faculty to be equivalent, may be deemed by the Faculty to have spent such time after admission to candidature.

12.

Time limits

12.1

Except with the permission of the Faculty on the recommendation of the head of discipline concerned, a full-time research candidate shall complete the requirements for the degree not earlier than the end of the second semester of candidature and not later than the end of the fourth semester of candidature.

12.2

Except with the permission of the Faculty on the recommendation of the head of discipline concerned, a part-time research candidate shall complete the requirements for either degree not earlier than the end of the fourth semester of candidature and not later than the end of the eighth semester of candidature.

13.

Location

13.1

Subject to approval of the supervisor, head of discipline and Board of Postgraduate Studies, the candidate may request a period of time away to pursue the course of advanced study and research within industrial laboratories or research institutions or other institutions considered by the Board of Postgraduate Studies on the recommendation of the head of discipline to provide adequate facilities and appropriate supervision for that candidature.

13.2

A candidate pursuing candidature outside Australia must also complete a minimum of one semester of candidature within the University before submission (but not necessarily immediately before submission) of the thesis.

14.

Examination of thesis

The examination of a thesis for the degree of Master of Philosophy shall follow closely the examination process as stipulated by the Resolutions of the Academic Board for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (with any reference to the PhD Award Sub-Committee being substituted by the Board of Postgraduate Studies) except for the following variations:

14.1

The head of discipline shall recommend the appointment of two examiners of the thesis of whom at least one shall be an external to the Faculty, not being a member of staff or a clinical academic title holder of the Faculty. Approval of the examiners is the responsibility of the Board of Postgraduate Studies.

14.2

The supervisor and head of discipline shall take all possible steps to ensure that examiners are appointed within four weeks of the submission of the thesis and where this does not occur, shall report the circumstances to the Board of Postgraduate Studies.

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