Overview

Course Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy by Portfolio will enable you to complete a PhD thesis that incorporates your pre-existing peer-reviewed research outputs as a substantial component of the thesis; allowing you to gain recognition for your significant contribution to research in your discipline. You will compile these outputs into a single body work that is unified through the development of a literature review, discussion and future directions chapters.

The University will consider applications for admission to candidature for the Doctor of Philosophy by Portfolio from individuals who can clearly demonstrate existing peer-reviewed research output(s) to be considered for an award of a doctoral degree. In particular, such output must be:

a) work for which the applicant is largely responsible (for example, as demonstrated by authorship sequence)

b) cogent; occurring within a unified area of study; and

c) of a volume and quality that aligns with the expectations of an Australian doctoral degree.

This degree is applicable for Australian domestic applicants and International Offshore applicants only.

Career Information

The Doctor of Philosophy by Portfolio 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 1 years full-time or 2 years part-time
Credit Points that Must be Earned 48
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(Portfolio)
AQF Level Level 10: Doctoral Degree
Course Fees
Indicative Year - 2026
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $13,632
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $27,264
Indicative Year - 2025
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $12,624
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $25,248
Indicative Year - 2024
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $11,904
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $23,808
Indicative Year - 2023
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $22,860
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $11,430
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $22,860
Indicative Year - 2021
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $21,565

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

International Availability

  • Research Second Half Year - 2027
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Research First Half Year - 2027
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Research Second Half Year - 2026
    Online Online
  • Research First Half Year - 2026
    Online Online
  • Research Second Half Year - 2023
    Online
  • Research Second Half Year - 2025
    Online
  • Research First Half Year - 2025
    Online
  • Term 3 - 2022
    Distance
  • Term 2 - 2022
    Distance
  • Term 1 - 2022
    Distance
  • Term 3 - 2021
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Distance Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2021
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Distance Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2021
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Distance Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2020
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Distance Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2020
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Distance Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2020
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Distance Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2019
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Distance Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2019
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Distance Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2019
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Distance Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2018
    Sorry, no international availabilities found.
  • Term 2 - 2018
    Sorry, no international availabilities found.
  • Term 1 - 2018
    Sorry, no international availabilities found.
  • Term 3 - 2017
    Sorry, no international availabilities found.
  • Term 2 - 2017
    Sorry, no international availabilities found.
  • Term 1 - 2017
    Sorry, no international availabilities found.
  • Research First Half Year - 2023
    Online
  • Research Second Half Year - 2024
    Online
  • Research First Half Year - 2024
    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 requires the student to have a substantial existing body of peer reviewed publications, as outlined in the Doctor of Philosophy by Portfolio Course Rules Policy and Procedure.

Assumed Knowledge

As per the Doctor of Philosophy by Portfolio Course Rules Policy and Procedure.

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 Not applicable
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 5
Second year 5
Third Year 5
Inherent Requirements
Core Learning Outcomes
  • 1. Demonstrate a systemic and critical understanding of a substantial and complex body of knowledge at the frontier of a discipline or area of professional practice
  • 2. Apply expert, specialised cognitive, technical and research skills in a internationally relevant discipline area
  • 3. Engage in critical reflection, synthesis and evaluation
  • 4. Demonstrate autonomy and self-management in the design and execution of a research project
  • 5. Generates original knowledge and understanding to make a substantial contribution to a discipline or area of professional practice
  Course Learning Outcomes
Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors 1 2 3 4 5
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: 2 Total credit points: 48

Not applicable

Core units - all candidates must take a minimum of:

Thesis by Portfolio (full time) OR Thesis by Portfolio (part time). This unit must be taken at least twice (i.e. to create a minimum one-year long unit).

RSTH30001 – Examination (Research and Thesis). This is a nil EFTSL unit (no fees). All candidates will require enrolment in the examination unit.

Optional units (this is only for candidates who have 'major thesis revisions' indicated after their examination:

RSCH30155 Thesis Revisions (Research Higher Degrees) – full time OR RSCH30156 Thesis Revisions (12) (Research Higher Degrees) – part time.

More Details