Overview

Course Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy (Offshore) provides you with the opportunity to study for a PhD, recognised within the Australian Qualification Framework, whilst remaining in your home country for a substantive part of the degree. The course is comprised of an independent research study and thesis, overseen by academic supervisors. This degree is limited to high-quality applicants wishing to pursue research in particular discipline areas. For fully offshore candidates, periods of short-term visitation in Australia will be required during this degree, and travel support is available to facilitate such visits. 

Career Information

The Doctor of Philosophy (Offshore) provides graduates with an internationally recognised degree through the Australian Qualifications Framework. Graduates will be able to secure professional roles in academia, research centres, institutes and institutions, or in broader business and industry.

Course Details
Duration 4 years full-time or 8 years part-time
Credit Points that Must be Earned No information available at this time
Number of Units Required CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses.
Expected Hours of Study Information not available
Course Type Research Award
Qualification (post nominal) PhD
AQF Level Level 10: Doctoral Degree
Course Fees
Indicative Year - 2025
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $13,968
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $27,936
Indicative Year - 2024
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $13,176
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $23,136
Indicative Year - 2023
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $22,860
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $12,672
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $25,344

Admission Codes

Domestic Students
Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes
Not Applicable
International Students
CRICOS Codes
Not Applicable
Where and when can I start?

Domestic Availability

  • Research First Half Year - 2027
    Online
  • Research Second Half Year - 2026
    Online
  • Research Second Half Year - 2023
    Online
  • Term 1 - 2026
    Online
  • Term 3 - 2025
    Distance Online
  • Term 2 - 2025
    Distance Online
  • Term 1 - 2025
    Distance Online
  • Term 3 - 2024
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  • Term 2 - 2024
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  • Term 1 - 2024
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  • Term 3 - 2023
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  • Term 2 - 2023
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  • Term 1 - 2023
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  • Term 3 - 2022
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  • Term 2 - 2022
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  • Term 1 - 2022
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  • Term 3 - 2021
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  • Term 2 - 2021
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  • Term 1 - 2021
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  • Term 3 - 2020
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  • Term 2 - 2020
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  • Term 1 - 2020
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  • Term 3 - 2019
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  • Term 2 - 2019
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  • Term 1 - 2019
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  • Term 3 - 2018
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  • Term 2 - 2018
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  • Term 1 - 2018
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  • Term 3 - 2017
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Distance Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2017
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Distance Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2017
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Distance Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Research First Half Year - 2023
    Online

International Availability

  • Research First Half Year - 2027
    Online
  • Research Second Half Year - 2026
    Online
  • Research Second Half Year - 2023
    Online
  • Term 1 - 2026
    Online
  • Term 3 - 2025
    Distance Online
  • Term 2 - 2025
    Distance Online
  • Term 1 - 2025
    Distance Online
  • Term 3 - 2024
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  • Term 2 - 2024
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  • Term 1 - 2024
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  • Term 3 - 2023
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  • Term 2 - 2023
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  • Term 1 - 2023
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  • Term 3 - 2022
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  • Term 2 - 2022
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  • Term 1 - 2022
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  • Term 3 - 2021
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  • Term 2 - 2021
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  • Term 1 - 2021
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  • Term 3 - 2020
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  • Term 2 - 2020
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  • Term 1 - 2020
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  • Term 3 - 2019
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  • Term 2 - 2019
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  • Term 1 - 2019
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  • Term 3 - 2018
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  • Term 2 - 2018
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  • Term 1 - 2018
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  • Term 3 - 2017
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  • Term 2 - 2017
    Distance
  • Term 1 - 2017
    Distance
  • Research First Half Year - 2023
    Online
For any problems regarding admissions availability for the selected course please contact 13 CQUni (13 27 86) or send us an email at https://contactus.cqu.edu.au/
Entry Requirements - What do I need to start?
Academic Requirements

Entry into this course is described by the Research Higher Degree Course Rules.  An applicant may be considered for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (Offshore) if they hold a minimum of:

a)   a four-year bachelor degree in an appropriate discipline, with a research-based year completed at a minimum achievement level of second-class honours (or equivalent), at AQF Level 8, or

b)   a three-year bachelor degree in an appropriate discipline, equivalent to AQF Level 7, plus a masters degree equivalent to an AQF Level 9, where the masters course of study includes a substantial research element (typically one-third),and credit-level academic achievement is demonstrated in one or both qualifications, or

c)   a three-year bachelor degree equivalent to AQF Level 7 in an appropriate discipline, plus completion of CQUniversity’s Graduate Certificate in Research with a minimum distinction level of academic achievement, or

d)  alternative qualification/s or experience deemed by the Dean, School of Graduate Research, to be equivalent in scope and standard to those listed above. 

 

English Language Proficiency Requirements

If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, or the United States of America, you are required to meet the English language proficiency requirements set by the University.

You are required to provide documentation confirming completion of:

- a secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or

- a completed Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificate IV or Diploma level qualification, or

- a Bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years fulltime with a minimum overall GPA 4.0.

 

These qualifications must be completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, or the United States of America to meet the English language proficiency requirements.

If you do not satisfy any of the above, you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores:

- an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 6.5 with a minimum 6.0 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking); or

- a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT overall score of 4.5 with no score less than 4.0; or

- a Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) overall score of 62, with no score less than 55 in Reading and Listening, 70 in Speaking, and 64 in Writing; or

- a Cambridge C1/C2 English Test with an overall test score of 176,  with no individual band score of less than 169; or 

- a Michigan English Test overall score of 61, with no sub score below 57; or

- LanguageCert test with overall score of 67, with no score less than 65 in Reading, 62 in Listening, 76 in Speaking and 71 in Writing.

English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study and must appear on a single result certificate.  Each application will be assessed individually.

Prerequisite Subjects
No information available at this time
Security Requirements
No information available at this time
Health Requirements
No information available at this time
Fees and Charges
Course Features

Awards and Accreditation

Interim Awards Not applicable
Exit Awards CL58 - Graduate Certificate in Research
Accreditation
  • Not applicable

Residential School Requirements

No Residential School for this course.

Practicum/Work Placement

Not applicable

Predicted Enrolments

Year Number of Students
First Year 3
Second year 5
Third Year 5
Inherent Requirements
Core Learning Outcomes
  • 1. Investigate, analyse, and synthesise scholarly literature and theoretical propositions to develop a research question for the generation of new knowledge
  • 2. Critically evaluate, adapt, and/or extend research methods and methodologies to conceptualise, design, and implement a research project at the frontier of a chosen discipline
  • 3. Apply specialised knowledge to a substantial and complex body of evidence against international standards to generate expert conclusions in a chosen discipline area
  • 4. Demonstrate initiative, intellectual independence, and authoritative and expert judgement
  • 5. Plan and execute a substantial program of research that generates new knowledge and insights that make an original contribution to one or more disciplinary areas
  • 6. Cogently and proficiently communicate a complex and coherent body of evidence at the frontier of a chosen discipline in a manner that could be understood by specialist and non-specialist audiences
  Course Learning Outcomes
Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors 1 2 3 4 5 6
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Communicate, interact and collaborate with others effectively in culturally or linguistically diverse contexts in a culturally respectful manner
Course Requirements
Number of units: 0 Total credit points: 0

This is a research based course, where progress is monitored on a time and progress basis, rather than credit point accrual.

Students may have opportunities to undertake optional work integrated learning activities appropriate to their discipline area.

Please note, this is a time-based research higher degree. As per enrolment advice and Research Higher Degree Course Rules, all candidates are enrolled in a unit of study specific to their discipline for the duration of their candidature, but no credit points apply to this unit.  The course is comprised of research and thesis development activities as outlined in the course rules.

More Details