The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) indicates advanced knowledge and expertise and high-level research, conceptual and writing skills. It is a sustained piece of research and writing that examines a specific problem and, upon completion, makes a significant new contribution to knowledge. This takes the form of an 80,000 - 100,000 word thesis or combined thesis and design dissertation. The duration of the PhD program is 4 years full-time (8 years part-time for domestic students only). Doctoral candidates define research topics that position them in and across the intellectual endeavours of their discipline. Candidates play an important role in the research activities and culture of the Faculty, as they do in the University as a whole. Increasingly, candidates are undertaking PhD projects which have direct industry links or which include a corpus of creative work. All candidates for the PhD will be examined on the basis of their thesis A candidate will have appropriately experienced supervisor/s and an Advisory Committee who (in consultation with the candidate) arranges a course of supervised research designed to suit the individual requirements and interests of the candidate A candidate may be required to supplement their research program by attendance at, or enrolment in, additional subjects if considered necessary by the supervisor(s) Up to 4 years full time/8 years part time(part-time study options available). The PhD thesis demonstrates authority in the candidate's field and shows evidence of command of knowledge in relevant fields. It shows that the candidate has a thorough grasp of the appropriate methodological techniques and an awareness of their limitations. The thesis also makes a distinct contribution through an original approach and/or interpretation of the findings and, in some cases, the discovery of new facts. The thesis demonstrates an ability to communicate research findings effectively in the professional arena and in an international context. It is a careful, rigorous and sustained piece of work demonstrating that a research 'apprenticeship' is complete and the holder is admitted to the community of scholars in the discipline. A PhD thesis differs from a research Masters thesis by its deeper and more comprehensive treatment of the chosen subject. It is written succinctly, in English, unless approval has been given for the thesis to be written in a language other than English. The normal length of a PhD thesis is 80,000 words, exclusive of words in tables, maps, bibliographies and appendices. Footnotes are included as part of the word limit. The thesis should not exceed 100,000 words (or equivalent) without special approval from the Research Higher Degrees Committee.