get the doctoral Degree at New Zealand (doctorate, DSc or the DLitt, PhD/DPhil, EdD or the DMus)..
These definitions should be considered in conjunction with the accreditation and approval processes outlined in the NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications Framework) publication
Definition of Doctoral Degree
The Doctoral Degree is a research degree that is at a significantly higher level and of significantly higher status than a Masters Degree. It is normally the culmination of a structured sequence of instruction at educational institutions that begins at the bachelor level and reaches a stage beyond the masterate, when the student becomes an increasingly independent scholar and makes a substantial and original contribution to knowledge.
For the PhD/DPhil and the named doctorate, the development takes place under the guidance of recognised experts in the field of study and under circumstances that allow the student access to appropriate research resources.
The doctorate is awarded on the basis of an original and substantial contribution to knowledge as judged by independent experts applying contemporary international standards. The hallmark will be the candidate's capacity for substantial independent research or creative activity as attested (for the PhD/DPhil and the named doctorate) by his/her educational institution and/or as demonstrated by submitted work.
The major component of all doctorates is original research. The body of work that leads to the award of a doctorate will be one of the following:
a thesis (the PhD/DPhil)
creative work in the visual or performing arts (the PhD/DPhil)
a thesis or equivalent creative work in combination with coursework (the named doctorate)
a thesis in combination with a creative work in the visual or performing arts (the named doctorate)
published work (the higher doctorate).
Credit requirements
A Doctoral Degree requires at least 240 credits worth of advanced research at level 10.
The following types of Doctoral Degree are recognised.
Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD/DPhil)
A thesis constitutes the entire body of work on which the award of the qualification will be judged. Coursework may also be prescribed for the student, but this will only contribute to the preparation for research and acceptance into the doctoral programme. Students in the visual or performing arts may present a creative work in the place of the thesis.
Doctorate in a specified field or discipline - the named doctorate (e.g. EdD or the DMus)
For a doctorate in a specified field, coursework may contribute to the assessed programme of study, but research and its associated thesis must occupy at least two full-time academic years and contribute not less than two-thirds of the overall credit for the degree.
The coursework, which is to be at a standard in advance of that expected for a masterate paper, must be part of a coherent programme with the research work, and should normally cover no more than one full-time academic year.
A candidate for a named doctorate must gain a passing grade in both the coursework and the thesis or its creative work equivalent.
Higher Doctorate (e.g. the DSc or the DLitt)
Higher Doctorates are awarded for independent work of special excellence, as judged by leading international experts, which is completed before a person makes an application to enrol for the degree. Candidates will normally be expected to have completed at least ten years of independent work and to have published extensively.
Publication will normally be in scholarly books and/or in reputable international journals. Candidates in the visual or performing arts will have made equally outstanding contributions in their creative work.
Definition of Doctoral Degree
The Doctoral Degree is a research degree that is at a significantly higher level and of significantly higher status than a Masters Degree. It is normally the culmination of a structured sequence of instruction at educational institutions that begins at the bachelor level and reaches a stage beyond the masterate, when the student becomes an increasingly independent scholar and makes a substantial and original contribution to knowledge.For the PhD/DPhil and the named doctorate, the development takes place under the guidance of recognised experts in the field of study and under circumstances that allow the student access to appropriate research resources.
The doctorate is awarded on the basis of an original and substantial contribution to knowledge as judged by independent experts applying contemporary international standards. The hallmark will be the candidate's capacity for substantial independent research or creative activity as attested (for the PhD/DPhil and the named doctorate) by his/her educational institution and/or as demonstrated by submitted work.
The major component of all doctorates is original research. The body of work that leads to the award of a doctorate will be one of the following:
a thesis (the PhD/DPhil)
creative work in the visual or performing arts (the PhD/DPhil)
a thesis or equivalent creative work in combination with coursework (the named doctorate)
a thesis in combination with a creative work in the visual or performing arts (the named doctorate)
published work (the higher doctorate).
Credit requirements
A Doctoral Degree requires at least 240 credits worth of advanced research at level 10.
The following types of Doctoral Degree are recognised.
Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD/DPhil)
A thesis constitutes the entire body of work on which the award of the qualification will be judged. Coursework may also be prescribed for the student, but this will only contribute to the preparation for research and acceptance into the doctoral programme. Students in the visual or performing arts may present a creative work in the place of the thesis.
Doctorate in a specified field or discipline - the named doctorate (e.g. EdD or the DMus)
For a doctorate in a specified field, coursework may contribute to the assessed programme of study, but research and its associated thesis must occupy at least two full-time academic years and contribute not less than two-thirds of the overall credit for the degree.
The coursework, which is to be at a standard in advance of that expected for a masterate paper, must be part of a coherent programme with the research work, and should normally cover no more than one full-time academic year.
A candidate for a named doctorate must gain a passing grade in both the coursework and the thesis or its creative work equivalent.
Higher Doctorate (e.g. the DSc or the DLitt)
Higher Doctorates are awarded for independent work of special excellence, as judged by leading international experts, which is completed before a person makes an application to enrol for the degree. Candidates will normally be expected to have completed at least ten years of independent work and to have published extensively.
Publication will normally be in scholarly books and/or in reputable international journals. Candidates in the visual or performing arts will have made equally outstanding contributions in their creative work.
