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 masters 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.

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

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.

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 2008 is $26,160, payable for each year of enrolment in the program. The fee for the MSc(Dent) and MPhil for 2008 is $26,160, 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.

The Resolutions of the Senate relating to the Faculty’s research degree programs are available in the University of Sydney Calendar at www.usyd.edu.au/calendar/.