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  2. Doctor of Philosophy Thesis (Engineering and Related Technologies) [ERT7200]

School: Graduate Research

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Doctor of Philosophy Thesis (Engineering and Related Technologies)

  • Unit Code

    ERT7200

  • Year

    2026

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    0

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Kate BISCHOF

Description

The Doctor of Philosophy is a research degree. The purpose of the degree is to develop in students the capacity to conduct research independently at a high level of originality and quality. An interdisciplinary approach recognises that solutions to problems often rely on knowledge gained across traditional disciplines. In the selection of fields of research, students are encouraged to examine the broad perspective within which the problem lies and to adopt problem-solving techniques applicable across disciplines.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of conceptualising research and recognising its potential impact.
  2. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of contributions of original knowledge to the field of inquiry.
  3. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of research methodologies and methods within their field, and a broad understanding of these in general.
  4. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the specific topic of research, with a broad understanding of the field of research, and recognition of international and national research leaders in the field.
  5. Demonstrate high-level problem solving and critical thinking skills to identify and solve research problems/questions.
  6. Develop generic skills required for research, including the capacity to transfer across different environments and fields of research. Application of Knowledge and Skills
  7. Develop innovative and/or creative research that is significant and has impact.
  8. Display expert technical and creative skills applicable to the field of work or learning.
  9. Effectively communicate research and research outcomes.
  10. Independently design and execute an original research project.
  11. Position research within current international and national contexts
  12. Practice research to the highest standards of quality, integrity and ethics.
  13. Work collaboratively and demonstrate skills in teamwork, negotiation and networking.

Unit Content

  1. Complete changes/revisions and prepare a thesis for reproduction and/or publication.
  2. Design and undertaking research.
  3. Development of research methodologies appropriate to the proposed study.
  4. Ethical considerations in research methodologies.
  5. Preparation and presentation of a research proposal.
  6. Preparation and submission of a thesis for examination that is consistent with the supervisor's expectations and is consistent with the University's research policy guidelines.
  7. Preparation of a review of relevant literatures.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences via ECU’s LMS as well as additional ECU learning technologies

Additional Learning Experience Information

This is a self-directed research thesis unit. Students will meet with the supervisor as appropriate, by arrangement between the parties. Supervisor/candidate supervisory relationship should be consistent with the 'Supervision of Students Undertaking Higher Degrees by Research' policy (ac085). Progress will be supervised by the supervisory panel. Conditions for Continuation in Good Standing Applicants for Doctor of Philosophy are accepted in the first instance on condition of a successful written submission and candidature is confirmed by oral defense of a detailed research proposal. If the defense is successful, continuation in the Doctor of Philosophy program is granted. Normally this occurs within 6 months after admission if full-time or 12 months after admission if part-time.

Assessment

GS3 GRADING SCHEMA 3 HDR Thesis Units

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescription
Thesis ^Thesis
ONLINE
TypeDescription
Thesis ^Thesis

^ Mandatory to Pass

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

  • Plagiarism: Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).
  • Unauthorised collaboration (collusion): Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).
  • Contract cheating: Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.
  • Cheating in an exam: Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment Procedure - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment Procedure - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

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