• Section 1 - Purpose and Context
• Section 2 - Definitions
• Section 3 - Policy Statement
• Part A - Eligibility
• Part B - Criteria for the Award of a Higher Doctorate
• Part C - The Contents of a Submission
• Part D - Admission
• Part E - Examination and Award of Degree
• The Examiners
• Examination of Candidate's Work
• Degree Conferment
• Part F - Fees

Section 1 - Purpose and Context

(1) This degree represents the pinnacle of academic achievement and is awarded only in exceptional circumstances to applicants with internationally established and outstanding positions as leading authorities through their contribution to scholarship.

(2) Candidates must have published work that gives clear proof that the candidate is a leading authority in the field of study concerned and has made an original and distinguished contribution to the advancement or application of knowledge in that field.

Section 2 - Definitions

(3) Nil.

Section 3 - Policy Statement

Part A - Eligibility

(4) To be eligible to become a candidate for a higher doctorate a person shall either be a graduate of the University of at least five years standing, or hold equivalent qualifications from another university or institution recognised for the purpose of the University and have a substantial association with the University.

Part B - Criteria for the Award of a Higher Doctorate

(5) Higher doctorates will be conferred upon candidates who are judged by the Research Studies Committee to have distinguished themselves by their substantial and original contributions to the advancement of learning. The following are the main points which the Committee will take into account when considering a candidate's submission:

1. Evidence of the national or international and authoritative standing and reputation of the candidate, and
2. Evidence of sustained research activity over a long period of time resulting in published works that are deemed to be original works of distinction carried out independently by the candidates.

(6) Before submitting a formal application, candidates may seek the informal guidance of the Executive Dean appropriate to their academic discipline. If in doubt about which Executive Dean to contact, candidates should ask the Dean Research Studies for advice.

Part C - The Contents of a Submission

(7) Assessment of whether the above criteria have been met will be based on the submission by the candidate of the following:

1. A Curriculum Vitae: generally no more than two A4 sheets which must state the candidate's educational qualifications and employment, and indicate the candidate's sustained, intellectual and scholarly effort and national or international standing. Typically, a candidate will be working as a senior member of staff in a higher education or other research environment with approximately fifteen years post earned doctoral degree research experience. Examples of items which candidates may wish to include in the Curriculum Vitae are: a developing history of employment in the field; an invitation to be a key-note speaker; receipt of continuous research grants to fund their research work; invitations to review papers or learned journals; and research supervisory activity;
2. A list of published works: a candidate's application will be based wholly or to a substantial extent on original works of distinction carried out independently by the candidate. As a general guideline, the Research Studies Committee might normally expect a candidate in a scientific discipline to submit a list of more than 70 published works of which approximately 10 may be identified as the most significant items of the submission. The list may include a number of refereed articles and review articles, and possibly a book. A candidate in a humanities discipline might normally be expected to submit a number of major publications, for example 2 or 3 books, plus a range of 30 or so publications published in respected journals. However, these are cited as examples only and they are not strict rules. It is recognised that there are enormous differences in publication output between individuals working in one academic discipline and another. The list of published works should be formatted so that the publications are grouped (if appropriate) into the research 'themes' described in the candidate's statement (see clause (7) d below);
3. A title for the submission: a brief summary title for the submission is required;
4. Statement about the submission:
   1. A statement of at least 5,000 words which is signed by the candidate and which sets out comprehensively the case for the award of the higher doctorate. A submission may represent one or more research 'themes' which have been developed over a period of time. These should be clearly identified in the candidate's statement in order that the Research Studies Committee may recognise the focus, variety and scope of the candidate's work;
5. A statement about joint authorship:
   1. The University recognises that, in many disciplines, jointly authored papers are the norm rather than the exception. It is acceptable, therefore, to submit multi-authorship papers provided that the candidate identifies the joint principal authors and describes his/her own contribution in sufficient detail to make the extent of this contribution clear to the Research Studies Committee. It is advisable for applicants to seek statements from any joint principal authors that they agree with the description of the extent of the applicant's contribution the joint paper. In disciplines where sole authorship is common, a substantial proportion of the submitted papers (especially within the significant set of 10) should be sole authored;
6. A statement describing previous submission of the works:
   1. A statement is required if a candidate has previously submitted any of the published works for a degree at this or any other university and, if so, what part. Such material which has been included in a successful submission for another higher degree or diploma will not be taken into account in the assessment for a University of Western Sydney higher doctorate, but will be regarded as supplementing the remainder of the work;
7. Referees:
   1. A candidate must submit the names, qualifications/status and addresses of two persons who are not members of the University staff who will be willing to act as referees for his/her submission if required to do so by the Head of School.
8. The published works:
   1. The candidate must submit 3 sets of the published works. Two of these will be returned to the candidate if the work is ultimately accepted, the third will be lodged in the University Library. All 3 sets will be returned to the candidate in the event of an unsuccessful submission. The submitted works must be printed and published in recognised, prestigious national or international refereed journals (for example in publications by learned societies or commercial journals), as chapters in books, or as complete books. Candidates are invited to submit seminal work with a maximum of ten significant publications. Other work, including that shown to have been accepted for and to be awaiting publication, may also be presented but will only be considered as supplementing the main body of printed work. In keeping with the candidate's 'statement about the submission' (see clause (7) d above), the submissions should be grouped according to the research themes, numbered, and an appropriate index provided.

Part D - Admission

(8) Applications should be made in writing to the Research Studies Committee.

(9) The Research Studies Committee will invite applicants to submit whatever material they consider necessary to satisfy the admission criteria stated in Part C of this policy.

(10) The Research Studies Committee will appoint a sub-committee to consider the application. This sub-committee will consist of:

1. One member of the Research Studies Committee, who is not from the relevant College who will act as Principal Supervisor;
2. Two members of academic staff nominated by the relevant College.
3. The sub-committee will consider the material submitted by the applicant and make a report and recommendation to the Research Studies Committee on the suitability of the applicant for admission.

(11) The sub-committee may co-opt external members who are acknowledged experts in the field.

(12) The Research Studies Committee will consider the report and any recommendation of the sub-Committee and make a decision on the admission of the applicant.

Part E - Examination and Award of Degree

The Examiners

(13) The candidate shall lodge with the Office of the Academic Registrar three copies of the work submitted for the degree.

(14) The Research Studies Committee on the recommendation of the appropriate College shall appoint three external examiners. The names of the examiners will be confidential and will not be revealed to the candidate.

Examination of Candidate's Work

(15) The Office of the Academic Registrar will send a copy of the work submitted by the candidate or appropriate documentation to each of the examiners together with the advice of the examination requirements.

(16) Each examiners report will be sent to the Research Studies Committee for consideration.

(17) The Office of the Academic Registrar will send to the examiners the candidate's published works and each examiner will return independent and separate reports direct to the Office of the Academic Registrar. These reports will recommend either that the degree be awarded or that the degree not be awarded. The examiners' reports are confidential to the University and no extracts from their reports, correspondence or notes shall be quoted verbatim to candidates, either orally or in writing. However the examiners will be asked to make additional comments specifically for transmission to the candidate, if they are recommending rejection.

(18) The examiners' reports will be considered by the Research Studies Committee which will decide whether or not the higher doctorate should be awarded.

(19) An unsuccessful submission will not exclude the candidate from applying again to submit for a higher doctorate, on one further occasion only, at a later stage. This will not be earlier than 2 years from the date of the failure decision for the first submission. The date of the failure decision is the date on which the Research Studies Committee decides not to recommend to the Academic Senate that the degree be awarded. However, before deciding to do so, candidates in this situation should consider seriously the advice and comments of the examiners given on their first submission.

(20) For resubmission, it will be the responsibility of the relevant Executive Dean to nominate three external examiners for approval by the University. There is no requirement for the examiners to be the same as the examiners for the first submission.

Degree Conferment

(21) The Degree of Doctor shall be awarded by the Board of Trustees on the recommendation of Academic Senate for published and unpublished work which in the opinion of the examiners has been generally recognised by scholars in the field concerned as a distinguished contribution to knowledge.

Part F - Fees

(22) The fee to be paid on acceptance as a candidate shall be prescribed from time to time by the Vice-Chancellor.