PhD Training Program

Doing a PhD at UTS:CIC – What is expected

Stages 1-3

In CIC, HDR students become an integral part of the team, working alongside academics and professional staff to make an impact in the university and on human knowledge.  We’re a transdisciplinary centre, bringing our collective intelligence together to tackle data-driven problems with creative, human centred, approaches.

You’ll be required to complete a doctoral study plan. This should be proposed at the start of the year, and then reviewed throughout the year with a formal submission at months 6 and 12 alongside the Report of Progress.  The Report of Progress (ROP) is a formal UTS document. The CIC ROP template can be downloaded here (.docx), and should be submitted along with your DSP. The timeline for this is as below (per the UTS ‘Graduate Research Candidature Management and Thesis Preparation Procedures’, adapted into the CIC HDR Procedures).

You should agree your individual training and support needs, and timeline, with your supervisor(s). You may find it useful to attend individual research subjects that are offered at UTS. Formal UTS requirements for this process can be found at https://staff.uts.edu.au/howdoi/Pages/Researching/Research%20students/review-of-progress.aspx

There may also be (paid) opportunities to undertake research assistant, teaching, or M-level project mentoring work within CIC (for example in the MDSI) or in other areas of the University. You should talk to your supervisor about this. The key milestones over each year are copied below.

By month 6 (your first ROP), you will have produced a research proposal which will be submitted and orally presented:

• A written research proposal (as discussed with the supervisors)
• An oral presentation  (the audience will be CIC academics, including at least one “Category 1” supervisor)

In the first year you will undertake a “confirmation of candidature assessment” which must be passed in order to continue to Stage 2. Typically the report will be submitted in the first 9 months, with a presentation in month 10, to permit time for revisions. This assessment will comprise:

• A written report including: a literature review, research proposal, reporting of at least a pilot study [including ethics approval]
• An oral presentation  (the audience will be CIC academics, external academics, and other appropriate external groups)
• A strategy for managing research data across the candidate’s lifecycle using Stash.

The written report will include:

• A literature review setting the scene and giving a conceptual overview
• A report of your empirical work (this could be a version of a typical ‘empirical’ paper you might submit to a journal)
• A proposal for the PhD that builds on the literature review and pilot study to outline a trajectory for onward work. This should include:
  • A research problem and research questions defining the scope of the project
  • A proposed research methodology and rationale including:
    • Method and design for addressing the questions
    • participants (and rationale for these)
    • materials (including any instruments or equipment you’ll use, and any other resources required)
    • proposed analysis
    • a timeline
    • any ethical issues that might be encountered
    • A statement of contribution – which outlines the significance of the proposed research and the expected outcomes, and any limitations for the research

The whole report should be in the ~15-25,000 word range. You should use the feedback from the oral presentation to develop your report for final submission in August.

Proposals are assessed according to a set of general and specific criteria.

1. Articulates a focussed, substantive, problem space and research question(s)
2. Articulates a coherent, critical, literature review
3. Develops a feasible, appropriate, methodology and approach to the research to address the gap identified
4. Articulates a clear research design, method, operationalisation of variables, and analysis plan, with consideration of ethical issues
5. Articulates a ‘contribution’ for particular audience(s)
6. Feasibility of timetable
7. Communication and oral presentation of research items

You will also be assessed on your ability to clearly communicate your research, using language appropriate to the discipline and audience. The literature review will contribute to the literature review in your final PhD thesis. The pilot study and its reporting should demonstrate clear progression of your research skills and knowledge.

Two CIC researchers will comprise the panel, at least one of whom is a Category 1 supervisor. The panel will read the report, attend the presentation and give feedback, determining whether the proposal passes or requires revisions before the end of Year 1.

Should revisions be required to the research proposal, the panel will give clear guidance on the issues to be addressed. This may involve further pilot work. The revised report will make clear how the feedback has been acted on, and the panel may request another presentation.

Presentation to panel, and other relevant researchers, describing and defending a developing thesis.

STAGE 3 -Year 3+

The thesis is prepared for submission, and submitted for examination. Agreed in discussion with your supervisor(s)

UTS Doctoral Study Plan (DSP)    

STUDENT:______________________          SUPERVISOR/S___________________________