Professional Doctorate Research Proposal B PG (8610.5)

Please note these are the 2028 details for this unit
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Professional Doctorate Research Proposal B PG
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods Hybrid
 Bruce, Canberra
Singapore
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Business, Government & Law
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Canberra Business School Post Graduate Level Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905)
Band 5 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
Students work under the guidance of their supervisor to develop the protocol for their research study. In this self-directed unit candidates develop the research proposal for the thesis/dissertation. Regular meetings with the supervisor will provide opportunities for feedback, refinement of ideas, and ensure the research plan aligns with academic standards and milestones including introductory and confirmation seminars. These meetings will help clarify key concepts, address challenges, and keep students on track with their progress. Throughout the semester, students will receive ongoing support to enhance their research skills and are expected to devote a minimum of 8 hours of study per week. They will complete written assignments agreed with the supervisor amounting to approximately 6000 words.

Learning outcomes

The outcome of any unit for individual students is contingent upon what each student brings to class and the amount of energy and effort they deploy. However, a student who engages in all class activities with diligence can expect to be able to:
1. Evaluate academic articles for specific purposes within the student's research area;
2. Critically evaluate relevant literature and apply to the student's research area;
3. Critically analyse literature to identify gaps and/or problems within the student's research area; and
4. Develop a research proposal suitable for a confirmation seminar.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas


Skills development

  1. Knowledge
  1. The research graduate should be able to conceptualise, contextualise and exhibit a systematic understanding of knowledge in the research field within the wider framework of society and the professions.
  2. The research graduate should be able to apply and integrate knowledge in the relevant profession or discipline and use that knowledge to develop creative solutions in new situations.
  3. The research graduate should be aware of issues at the forefront of knowledge in the research field and should critically reflect and re-evaluate knowledge to address issues as they arise.
  1. Inquiry
  1. The research graduate should understand the inquiry philosophies, theories and practices in addressing research issues and appreciate different methodological approaches.
  2. The research graduate should have developed higher order critical thinking skills in order to investigate, formulate and apply a range of approaches to problems including critical analysis and interpretation of research outcomes.
  3. The research graduate should be able to evaluate critically and question the philosophies, theories and practices, and research outcomes in the research field.
  1. Communication
  1. The research graduate should understand the communication practices characteristic of the profession and their applicability beyond the discipline context.
  2. The research graduate should be able to identify, analyse, evaluate and communicate information and knowledge using oral, visual and written mediums. The graduate should be able to choose the appropriate form of communication for the context and communicate clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  3. The research graduate should critically reflect on the effectiveness of their communication practices.
  1. Organisation
  1. The research graduate should be able to create a shared vision and conceive appropriate and achievable goals, objectives, actions and strategies.
  2. The research graduate should be able to provide leadership, develop, implement and evaluate project plans and be able to operate effectively in a changing environment.
  3. The research graduate should continue to develop as a reflective practitioner/professional.
  1. Creativity
  1. The research graduate should understand basic principles of originality and creativity in research and be able to use original approaches to produce works that critique and extend current forms of knowledge and understanding.
  2. The research graduate should be able to formulate new approaches and interpret the existing bodies of work and their relevance to the new approach.
  3. The research graduate should critically and creatively reflect on approaches to research methodology, implementation and outcomes.
  1. Ethical practice
  1. The research graduate should respect the concept of ethics and the ethical process, understand ethical frameworks and codes of practice as appropriate and be able to identify and understand the ethical dimensions of a project.
  2. The research graduate should practise ethically and engage with colleagues and the community in a professional way.
  3. The research graduate should continue to develop a social conscience as a reflective practitioner and community member.


Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2027, 2028 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 16 February 2026 Hybrid Dr Jennifer Loh
2026 Singapore Semester 1 16 February 2026 Hybrid Dr Jennifer Loh
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 Hybrid Dr Jennifer Loh
2026 Singapore Semester 2 10 August 2026 Hybrid Dr Jennifer Loh
2027 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 15 February 2027 Hybrid Dr Jennifer Loh
2027 Singapore Semester 1 15 February 2027 Hybrid Dr Jennifer Loh
2027 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 09 August 2027 Hybrid Dr Jennifer Loh
2027 Singapore Semester 2 09 August 2027 Hybrid Dr Jennifer Loh
2028 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 14 February 2028 Hybrid Dr Jennifer Loh
2028 Singapore Semester 1 14 February 2028 Hybrid Dr Jennifer Loh
2028 Singapore Semester 2 07 August 2028 Hybrid Dr Jennifer Loh
2028 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 07 August 2028 Hybrid Dr Jennifer Loh
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

This unit builds on your existing work that you have developed in 10386 and 10387. It is also associated with the work you are completing in 10388 and 10389.

Thus, your readings are driven by YOUR research topic and your project. You should consult your supervisor and supervisory panel on matters pertaining to this.

There are a range of books and websites that advise on the particularities of identifying a research topic/gap, literature and research proposal. Please consult with your supervisors on tappin into some of these resources.

In the main, the Faculty's HOR Handbook expects that your final research proposal should normally be no less than 20 pages and no more than 30 pages long.

Please note that you should consult your supervisor about expectations here, as a proposal varies by discipline, by research paradigm, by theory and by methodology. We would encourage you to attend other confirmation seminars to get a sense of the expectations and practices. Please consult with your supervisors.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Please submit via the submission portal in CANAVS. You should also submit a copy of your assignment to your supervisors by email. 

There will be a dropbox set up on Canvas to check for plagiarism, but this is not the submission portal. Please also notify your supervisors of the various due dates associated with the assignments.

Artificial Intellignece

As this unit is led by HDR supervisors, the decision to use GenAI lies with individual HDR supervisors.

Restricted

Supervisors may not permit the use of GenAI. In this case, students are nor permitted to use GenAI in completing their assessments. However, students are permitted to use "Studiosity Writing Feedback Plus" to seek feedback on drafts on their assessments.

Permitted

Supervisors may permit students to use GenAI. In this case, the ethical use of GenAI is allowed in completing the assessment.

Importantly, students are permitted to utilise GenAI in an ethical manner as appropriate to the assessment task without restriction. Students are encouraged to use approved UC tools or others with considerations of data privacy of self and others.

Students must acknowledge the sue of GenAI in the reference list or bibliography for the assessment. Please note that a copy of "Student Template for GenAI & Acknowledgement" is accessible from their unit's Canvas site.

Students can also access the online guide in the link below for students to understand what GenAI is and how it can be used at the University of Canberra.

https://canberra.libguides.com/genai

Students are permitted to use "Studiosity Writing Feedback Plus" to seek feedback on drafts on their assessments.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

You should set up a regular meeting pattern with your supervisors to work through the expectations from identifying reserch topic/gap, literature review and developing a final research proposal.

There are no formal classes for this unit. Therefore, it is important that you work closely with your supervisor to accomplished what is/are required in this unit.

Required IT skills

General word processing, literature review skills and thesis planning

Work placement, internships or practicums

N/A

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