A unique Doctorate that is applied, flexible and industry based:
- Applied: Students will develop a series of IT industry White Papers during their doctoral studies and the subject of the final thesis will be a real world issue or innovation that delivers tangible benefits to the Information Technology industry.
- Flexible: The Doctorate incorporates the Graduate Certificate in Computing Research, and the previous Master of Computing Research. This structure gives students the opportunity to take a break from their doctoral studies at fixed points or to exit the Doctorate while still obtaining a qualification.
- Industry Based: The supervision team will include an industry based adjunct supervisor who has notable expertise in the area of research.
| Duration 6 years part-time |
Intakes 2 sessions a year |
| Study mode Online |
Units of Study 4 subjects plus thesis |
The Doctor of Information Technology is offered part-time and can be completed in six years (12 sessions); however, actual duration is dependent on subject availability, mode of enrolment and the session of commencement. The course can be fast tracked by enrolling the thesis component in full-time mode.
What is this course about?
The Doctor of Information Technology provides the opportunity for advanced, critical reflection on professional practice in information and communication technology and closely related fields. The Doctor of Information Technology extends knowledge of the discipline of information and communication technology and develops the attributes required to successfully identify, investigate and resolve problems confronting these fields. Students carry out research into a current problem confronting information and communication technology and present the findings in refereed publications and finally in a thesis. The Doctor of Information Technology offers the research opportunity to extend knowledge of the discipline of Information and Communication Technology and develops the attributes required to successfully identify, investigate and resolve problems and opportunities in today’s Information Technology industry. The objectives of the Doctor of Information Technology are to:
- extend the candidates’ knowledge of the discipline of Information and Communication Technology and closely related fields;
- develop the attributes required of the candidate to successfully identify, investigate and resolve opportunities and problems confronting these fields;
- guide the candidate through a program of research, and through the process of presenting of research findings in a thesis;
- provide graduates with a competitive advantage in achieving high-level success in their profession.
The course consists of the following coursework and thesis components. The thesis requirement is based upon the student’s mode of enrolment with full-time students enrolling in ITC715 and part-time students in ITC716.
In order to graduate a candidate must complete 192 points in total: 64 points coursework subjects ITC711, ITC712, ITC713 and ITC714; and completion of a thesis ITC715 or ITC716 assessed as acceptable in accordance with the University’s regulations. The coursework comprises one third of the course and the thesis the remaining two thirds. In order to commence the thesis component of the course the student must obtain a credit or higher average in the four coursework subjects.
Abstract
This subject allows students to develop research skills that are necessary to identify a research problem in the Information Technology (IT) discipline. The subject will cover areas such as identifying a research problem in IT, formulating a hypothesis, critical reading skills, literature review, selecting and evaluating a variety of sources of information and academic writing. By the end of the subject students should be able to identify and justify a research problem in an IT discipline, compile an annotated bibliography and write a literature review.
ITC711 - Research Issues in IT will cover the following topics:
- Academic writing skills for scholarly presentation.
- Information literacy skills.
- Literature review in a chosen area.
- Research paradigms and analysis.
- Formulating research questions and hypothesis.
Assessment
- Research Project - Outline document (1200 words - 25%)
- Research Project - Literature Review (3500 words - 35%)
- Research Project - Draft Proposal (5000 words- 40%)
Subject Availability
Session 1 (March), Session 2 (July)
The information above was accurate the time the subject was last run, but may change in future. Be sure to check the details in your subject outline upon enrolment.
Abstract
This subject will enable students to choose and justify a research methodology from a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methods relevant across the Information Technology (IT) discipline. Students will prepare a research plan incorporating a critique of existing knowledge, appropriate research methodology, suitable data collection techniques and an outline of the ethical issues impacting their research topic. Students are provided the opportunity to write a substantial proportion of their methodology/data collection chapter and publish their preliminary work by identifying a publication outlet, such as a journal or conference, and providing the publication template.
ITC712 - Conducting a Research Project in IT will cover the following topics:
- Qualitative and quantitative research methods and techniques in IT.
- Limitations of different research approaches.
- Data collection and data analysis techniques.
- Research findings and interpretation skills.
- Techniques to discuss the results.
Assessment
- Short presentation (5-8 slides - 5%)
- Methodology (2500-3000 words - 30%)
- Short presentation (5-8 slides - 5%)
- Final Article (4500- 5000 words - 60%)
Subject Availability
Session 1 (March), Session 2 (July)
The information above was accurate the time the subject was last run, but may change in future. Be sure to check the details in your subject outline upon enrolment.
Abstract
In this subject, students will formalise the research methodology in their research plan and extend on their literature review from ITC711 in order to understand the major concepts, issues, problems, theories, and gaps within their field of research. Students will be expected to thoroughly understand the strengths and weaknesses of the methodologies by which knowledge in the field has been acquired. In addition, this subject explores the research ethics relevant to the student’s area of research. By the end of the subject students should be able to develop a framework of their research based on relevant literature and appropriate methodology, and where applicable submit an ethics application.
ITC713 - Research Issues in IT will cover the following topics:
- Identifying gaps in the literature.
- Advanced research methods and techniques.
- Application of different research approaches.
- Advanced empirical research methods.
- Ethical issues in the proposed field of study.
Assessment
- Research Topic Choice (700 words - 20%)
- Advanced Literature Review (5000 words - 40%)
- Research Project Methodology (5000 words - 40%)
Subject Availability
Session 1 (March), Session 2 (July)
The information above was accurate the time the subject was last run, but may change in future. Be sure to check the details in your subject outline upon enrolment.
Abstract
This subject builds on the extensive review of the research topic in the area of Information Technology (IT) that students commenced in previous coursework subjects in the course. The subject requires students to reflect on their research plan, develop a detailed research proposal, with ethics approval as appropriate, defend their research proposal, and collect data using appropriate data collection techniques. Students will develop expertise relating to a major research issue and will have the opportunity to publish their research in academic conference proceedings or refereed journals.
ITC714 - Research Development in IT will cover the following topics:
- Requirements for academic writing at scholarly level.
- Synthesizing research results.
- Reporting research findings.
- Writing and defending a thesis research proposal.
- The art of publishing an article in a refereed journal.
- Advanced statistical and mathematical techniques.
Assessment
- Data Preparation and Experimental Design (20%)
- Research Proposal (20%)
- Results Analysis and Presentation (30%)
- Journal Article Submission (30%)
Subject Availability
Session 1 (March), Session 2 (July)
The information above was accurate the time the subject was last run, but may change in future. Be sure to check the details in your subject outline upon enrolment.
Abstract
This subject requires students to plan and execute original research of a topic in Information Technology (IT) with intellectual independence, responsibility and accountability. The results of the investigation will be written up as a thesis and presented for examination.
ITC715 - Thesis (Full-time) will cover the following topics:
- A program of research relevant to the students' chosen specialisation studies resulting in a thesis that is an original and significant contribution to knowledge.
- Research project based on the approved thesis proposal, working with supervisor(s) approved by the University.
- Research findings presented in an approved thesis form for examination by examiners approved by the University.
Assessment
This is a thesis subject. Refer to the Higher Degree by Research Policy – Enrolment and Progress.
Subject Availability
Session 1 (March), Session 2 (July)
The information above was accurate the time the subject was last run, but may change in future. Be sure to check the details in your subject outline upon enrolment.
Abstract
This subject requires students to plan and execute original research of a topic in Information Technology (IT) with intellectual independence, responsibility and accountability. The results of the investigation will be written up as a thesis and presented for examination.
ITC716 - Thesis (Part-time) will cover the following topics:
-
- A program of research relevant to the students' chosen specialisation studies resulting in a thesis that is an original and significant contribution to knowledge.
- Research project based on the approved thesis proposal, working with supervisor(s) approved by the University.
- Research findings presented in an approved thesis form for examination by examiners approved by the University.
Assessment
This is a thesis subject. Refer to the Higher Degree by Research Policy – Enrolment and Progress.
Subject Availability
Session 1 (March), Session 2 (July), Session 3 (November)
The information above was accurate the time the subject was last run, but may change in future. Be sure to check the details in your subject outline upon enrolment.
*Note: Students select EITHER ITC715 OR ITC716.
Note: Assessment items are subject to change. Your official subject assessments should be confirmed in your online Subject Outline upon enrolment in that subject.
Candidates admitted to the course will:
- hold a Class 1 or Class 2 Division 1 Honours degree in a computing related discipline, or a Master’s degree in a computing related discipline;
- meet the University’s English language proficiency requirements;
- normally be required to certify that they have access to an appropriate organisation to carry out their empirical research work.
These admission requirements are necessary to ensure that candidates have sufficient academic ability and professional experience to conduct research that leads to advanced, critical reflection on professional practice in information technology.
Information on applying can be found on the How to Apply help page.
With the approval of the course coordinator students may elect to transfer and exit from the course after the completion of any two subjects (32 points) with a Graduate Certificate in Computing Research or after the completion of four subjects (64 points) with a Master of Computing Research.
| Domestic Students $3500 AUD per 8 point subject |
International Students $4200 AUD per 8 point subject |
Please note that the first four subjects of the Doctorate are 16 point (double) subjects.
More information on Fees can be found on the Fees page.
If you want to reduce your cost per course you may be eligible for credit.
Find out more with a personalised assessment of your eligibility, or apply now!
