Australian Research Degrees: Full-Time Versus Part-Time Scheduling

Special thanks to Jon Bonner and Jack Tracey, who responded to my previous thread with excellent advice--particularly Jack Tracey, who mentioned one Australian school that does offer a relevant program, ostensibly with the option of an external arrangement, and it was a school that I had not yet investigated.

Now I have another, semi-related question: What is the difference between a full-time and part-time semester when one is talking in terms of an Australian research degree? Is the work generally budgeted out in advance, or is it pretty much open-ended? And if it's open-ended, what happens if I've finished my dissertation after five semesters as a registered part-time student? Can I switch to full-time status for my final semester and graduate after six semesters (three years), or does this work on a sort of credit system, where a full-time semester is worth twice as many units as a part-time semester?

Thanks for any leads. I think I'm getting the hang of this!

Cheers,

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Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

co-author, Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press)
co-author, Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)

 

Hi Tom,

Good question. I completed a 48 unit Masters at Flinders University part time, with 24 units being via Research. Basically it was up to me how quickly/ slowly I worked and I completed my thesis in just over a year. This is quite on par with the general requirements since if you equate this to coursework, each subject is 6 units and genereally part-time students study 2 subjects per semester. Over a year, 24 units, if the coursework option were pursued.

For a PhD, general rule of thumb in Australia is 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time. Again, I would suggest that if one enrolled part-time and finished in 4 years, good on ya! There would be no issue with penalties etc.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

George

 

The only problem for you is that you have to pay full fare Tom. Some try to do it part time and at fulltime pace, and hope that the fees comes out at 50%.

We do not pay fees out here for our PhD's and get a scholarship as well to at least cover the Government impost and research costs, but if we enrol PT and finish in less than double time FT years, there is a fee adjustment between the university and the Government.

Otherwise they couldn't even care a sparrows fart if you finish it in 5 minutes - well, make that 3 months )

Of course you could always go the Greenwich - I understand that they are Australian accredited - didn't you tell me that Uncle George?

Peter French
(Not a CEU PhD candidate)

 

Don't tease us, Pedro. Did something happen? Why aren't you still pursuing the degree?

Rich Douglas

 

He is probably breaking for a macarena.

 

Corrections:

He is probably braking for macarena.

 

See! - how could I get a Mexican degree if I don't know what a Macareena is?

I have 2 offers for a PhD out here - 1 in Education and one in Business Administration, plus and EdD. All with no fees which is par for the course for Aussies plua, if you tickle the right end of the secretary you get tour research grant as well.

But why do I need a PhD, when I can get a Vice Chancellorship of a major Australian mainstream university without one?

Peter French
BEd MAcc MEd (UNE)MACE CMA
Principal - Carlyle Education Pty Ltd www.CarlyleEducation.com.au

 

Oh, Peter, you tease! Why did you withdraw from MIGS? Especially since you made a very deliberate decision to return?

Rich Douglas

 

Oh Rich! - you have read me so wrongly ), but then your cage is so easy to rattle at times - and i have even rattled George's on the odd occasion and I do have to meet him f2f, then there is JB's, and of course we mustn't forget the dear ole Doctor Levicough!

Never fear - you are in good company - actually elist DE gang company

)

PF

 

I just asked a simple question: did you withdraw from MIGS's Ph.D. program and why?

Rich Douglas

 

Hi Tom - I'm glad that one of my suggestions seemed helpful. The people that I corresponded with at these Australian schools have generally been quite helpful and willing to answer questions that, I'm certain, seemed elementary and perhaps even trivial. I was always very clear about the fact that I could not make the trip to Australia for any reason and while they said things like, "It is highly unlikely that you would be required..." or "We hardly ever require..." they never discouraged my application. There was one point when I was told that I'd have to make a seminar presentation. I asked if I could submit a
digital video tape or CD-ROM of myself giving the presentation and follow this up with an online video conference Q&A session. I believe that they're still thinking that one over. As to your full-time vs. part-time question, I believe that this distinction exists so as to allow people who need to go slower, the time they require. It is not to slow down the people who want to go faster. In other words, there is a minimum amount of work that needs to be done within a given semester but I don't believe that there is a maximum amount that is allowed. It all gets worked out with your Advisor (or whatever they're called). I'd be surprised to hear that someone was told that they were accomplishing too much. Good luck,
Jack

 

Well, firstly, to withdraw I would have had to have been enrolled - you worked there so was i enrolled? How would i know?

PF

 

George, Peter, and Jack: Thanks for the help! I think I'm beginning to get the hang of all this now, slowly but surely.


Cheers,

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Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

co-author, Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press)
co-author, Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)

 

Aw Tom!

...and I was just starting to rattle Rich's cage - do i have to stop playing right now? Can I have another go? Pleeeeeeeeze?????

 

Hey, just spreading peace and joy as a belated Happy MIGS Day sentiment (September 31st snuck by this year).

Seriously, good look on the prospective university position! Keep me posted.


Cheers,

------------------
Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

co-author, Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press)
co-author, Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)

 

This should be "good luck" (I'm trying to qualify for a TC&U Ph.D. in Creative Phonetics).


Cheers,

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Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

co-author, Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press)
co-author, Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)

 

Tom,

Not to worry, your credit card will qualify you for the Ph.D. You can always master the material after you obtain the degree.

Russell