Higher Doctorate

The enrolment duration for a Higher Doctorate is 3-6 months full-time. The degree is offered in online mode only.

Yes. If you are invited to submit a formal application, the Office of Graduate Research will work with the relevant College to identify a Principal Supervisor for your enrolment. If you have an academic staff member with whom you propose to work, please include their name in your application.

Only a Principal Supervisor is required for the Higher Doctorate. 

The Program of Study is set out in the Course Rule of the Higher Doctorate.

• Doctor of Laws Course Rule
• Doctor of Letters Course Rule
• Doctor of Science Course Rule

During the period of enrolment, a higher doctorate candidate works under the supervision of a Flinders University academic staff member, the Principal Supervisor, to prepare the body of work together with a contextual statement, to submit for examination.

For a candidate to qualify for the degree of Higher Doctorate, they must receive a determination that the degree be awarded following the examination of the contextual statement and body of work.

Watch an explanatory video about higher doctorates presented by former Dean of Graduate Research, Professor Tara Brabazon.

The higher doctorate has two parts: (1) a contextual statement and (2) a collection of refereed publications, book chapters and/or books. The higher doctorate is examined in accordance with Section 6 of the Higher Doctorate Procedures, and the Higher Doctorate Submission Rules.

The publications can be a combination of book chapters and refereed articles, or a book and attendant articles.  Many higher doctorates feature a large volume of scholarly monographs, book chapters, refereed conference papers and articles.  The imperative is to demonstrate the influence of a candidate’s research since their doctorate, with attention to a transformation in the field, and confirming impact, engagement and/ or esteem amongst researchers and/ or practitioners.

Watch an explanatory video about higher doctorates presented by former Dean of Graduate Research, Professor Tara Brabazon.  

The higher doctorate, unlike a PhD, is not assessing an original contribution to knowledge.  It is assessing the contribution of a research career since the PhD.  The key in the selection of publications is to ensure that the ‘story’ of the research is scaffolded, and the contribution arc is specified.  Therefore, a strong higher doctorate combines publications across the career, demonstrating the contribution since the PhD.  These publications may be separated by decades but build into a strong case.

It is very important that the prospective candidate be the sole author, first author or corresponding author of all the publications to be submitted for examination.  This is a requirement, as the examiners must be able to confirm the credibility and authenticity of research and authorship.  Therefore, in the selection of publications, applicants must ensure that publications are of sole authorship, first authorship or corresponding author. 

As part of the contextual statement, candidates will need to confirm the scope and scale of their contribution to research design, data collection and interpretation, and reading and drafting of each publication. More information is available in the Higher Doctorate Submission Rules.

The contextual statement is the over-arching statement that commences the higher doctoral thesis.  It is crucial to the success of the doctorate. It maintains many functions. 

Firstly, it must connect the publications being assessed by examiners, showing their relationship, and the arc of knowledge they convey: the contextual statement presents the ‘story’ of your research. 

Secondly, it must confirm the candidate’s authorship and role in the construction of this research, with attention to methodology, ontology, and epistemology. 

Thirdly and most importantly, the contextual statement confirms the contribution to knowledge, the discipline, or the field of research. 

Therefore, the contextual statement must demonstrate influence, impact, engagement and esteem in the international scholarly community, and other stakeholders.  Answering the following question may help a candidate frame their statement:  What do we know now that we did not know before the publication of your research?  To make this case, metrics can be deployed or more qualitative confirmations about impact, engagement, and esteem as part of the prose of the contextual statement.  More importantly, the candidate must show the scholarly debate emerging from their research and / or the change in international practice in a profession or field.

More information is available in the Higher Doctorate Submission Rules.

A one-off flat fee of $5,000 AUD is payable for enrolment.

To review the institutional information pertaining to admission, enrolment, and supervision for the higher doctorate, please refer to: 

• Higher Doctorate Procedures
• Higher Doctorate Submission Rules
• Doctor of Laws Course Rule
• Doctor of Letters Course Rule
• Doctor of Science Course Rule

Watch an explanatory video about higher doctorates presented by former Dean of Graduate Research, Professor Tara Brabazon.  

To be accepted for enrolment, an applicant must meet the Course Rule admission requirements:

1. Have a relevant doctoral degree of at least five years’ standing from an Australian university, or the equivalent as approved by the relevant authorised delegate
2. Have a body of published work in English (which may be a translation), produced prior to their candidature, to submit for examination
3. Satisfy the University that there is a prima facie case that the applicant’s body of work meets the requirement for admission to the award.

If you meet the first two admission requirements above, there are several stages or steps to consider before registering your interest in higher doctorate. 

1. List the publications you wish to include in your higher doctorate.
2. Verify that the substantive contribution of the research is composed of publications that list you as the sole, first or corresponding author.  If another authorship position is to be considered, then it must be presented with transparency for assessment by the Dean of Graduate Research for admission purposes and by examiners for the examination.
3. Confirm that these publications have not been submitted for another degree. Confirm that the publications are published and are available to review.
4. Ensure that the selection of publications conveys the ‘story’ of the research, and the contribution arc is specified by making a case for a significant advancement in knowledge in the relevant field or inter-disciplinary scholarship, or how the research has caused, or become a major part of, a significant debate among scholars in the relevant field, or has caused significant changes in the direction of research or in the practice of recognised scholars in the relevant field.
5. Using the information above in steps 1-4, prepare an Overview of the body of work to be submitted for examination. Title this your ‘Research outline’. If you have an academic staff member with whom you propose to work, please include their name in your Research outline.
6. Prepare a statement indicating what parts of the body of work, if any, have been previously submitted for a degree or diploma in any university. Title this your ‘Declaration’.
7. Obtain a certified copy of evidence of your doctoral degree conferral. Title this your ‘Academic qualification’.
8. Prepare a summary of approximately two pages outlining your research experience.  Include details of publications, research grants, patents, creative works, employment experience relevant to the proposed research project. Include a statement summarising your broad field of research and why you meet the requirements for the award. Title this your ‘Research experience’.
9. Use the Enquire form below to upload the supporting documentation you have prepared at steps items 5-8 above.

Once your submission has been reviewed, you will be invited to meet the Dean of Graduate Research at Flinders University, to discuss the body of work to be submitted for assessment of the award. This meeting will take place in person or online.

After your meeting, the Dean of Graduate Research will liaise with the relevant College about your proposed application. If the Dean of Graduate Research and the College recommend proceeding, you will be invited to submit a formal online application which will be referred to the University Higher Degree by Research Committee for a determination on admission.

If the recommendation is not to proceed to application or admission, you will be notified by email.

If you are invited to submit a formal application and after a Principal Supervisor has been decided for your higher doctorate, you will be provided with details via email about How to Apply.