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Joint / Double-Badged PhD Programmes
Eligibility | Funding | Application Process | Enrolment and Administration | Graduation and Testamur By its R210/00 the Academic Council approved the introduction of joint/double-badged PhD programmes with international partner institutions. These programmes, modelled on the French "cotutelle" system offer an opportunity for UWA schools to establish strong and lasting links with international institutions as part of UWA's commitment to "internationalisation". The Regulations governing the joint/double-badged PhD programme. It should be noted that the provision for joint/double-badged PhD programmes has not been introduced simply to facilitate international study for PhD students. Students wishing to spend some time overseas are able to do this (with certain conditions) as part of the PhD programme without enrolling in a double-badged programme. The primary focus of establishing such a programme is to facilitate co-operative research collaboration between UWA schools and schools at an international partner institution. Accordingly, as part of the arrangements for joint/double-badged PhD programmes schools will be expected to establish a general Student Exchange Agreement with the international partner institution. In light of this, it is expected that in proposing the introduction of a joint/double-badged PhD programme an equivalent number of students from the international partner institution will participate in the programme and attend UWA for a portion of their studies (see also 'Funding', below). If the sole collaboration between the two schools was to be in respect of a particular candidature the proposed link would be carefully scrutinised by the Board. The process for applying to establish such a programme is rigorous and best started well in advance of a student's intended commencement date. Schools will be required to discuss the proposed programme extensively with the proposed partner institution and provide the Board of the Graduate Research School with comprehensive documentation detailing these discussions and addressing specific areas of concern, as set out below in the section dealing with the Application Process. If the documents supplied by the school are not complete, the Board of the Graduate Research School will not consider the application. In the following, the term "home" institution has been used to refer to the institution with which an applicant was first affiliated or is enrolled and "host" is used to refer to the institution to which they will travel to undertake part of their studies. These terms are used for the sake of clarity but the programme is a "joint" one and each student will receive a degree which is approved by both institutions. EligibilityEnrolled students (excepting enrolled students who have completed more than 50% of their PhD at UWA already) and prospective students are eligible to be considered for enrolment in a joint/double-badged PhD programme. Both international students and Australian citizens/permanent residents are eligible to participate in the programme. However, candidates in receipt of international graduate research scholarships are not eligible to undertake the programme. For candidates in receipt of Australian Postgraduate Awards or Australian Postgraduate Awards (Industry), approval to undertake the programme will be required from the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST). Before a proposal is lodged, schools should contact a Scholarships Officer to discuss the matter. As noted above, the Board will only approve joint/double-badged programmes in cases where it can be clearly established that a long lasting and viable international link will be established with the partner institution, or that such a link exists already and the agreement would serve to make formal or enhance this link. It is therefore necessary to have the full support of the supervisor and Head of School before proceeding with an application for a joint/double-badged PhD programme. Prospective students must satisfy the usual criteria for entry to the PhD programme. There is provision for a candidate who begins a joint/double-badged programme to transfer from this programme into the PhD at UWA if this becomes desirable. FundingBy its R21/01 Academic Council approved that joint/double-badged PhD programmes with international partner institutions must be set up on 'exchange' basis. This means that it is expected that each institution will "swap" equivalent numbers of candidates and mutually waive all fees for tuition during the period that a student is studying at the "host" institution. For the purposes of funding, a student participating in a joint/double-badged PhD programme whose "home" university is UWA will be liable for the usual costs of studying at UWA. That is, an international candidate will pay any fees for which they are liable at UWA each year and an Australian citizen/permanent resident is likely to (if eligible) receive Research Training Scheme (RTS) funding. Students from partner institutions will be liable for whatever fees normally apply to them at their home institution. The French Department of Research (Ministere de la Recherche) provides special financial support, and the French Embassy in Australia offers all new PhD cotutelle the sum of $2,500. Application ProcessHeads of Schools are encouraged to informally discuss proposals with the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Research Training), the Director of the International Centre and other staff as they see fit. Given that the main requirement for approval of these projects is that they serve to form a viable and desirable international link, it is best to seek advice from the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Director as to the viability of the proposal prior to approaching another institution. If, after such informal discussion the Dean and the Director agree that the proposed link is one UWA should pursue, a formal application may be lodged. The UWA International Centre Policy on Establishing Agreements with Overseas Institutions may be useful to schools at this stage. As part of the formal application process schools are required to supply the following documents to the Secretary of the Board of the Graduate Research School.
The two latter documents will be forwarded to the Director of the International Centre for approval of the student exchange agreement through the International Strategies Sub Committee on International Agreements and Academic Council. The documents form the basis of the structure, administration and regulation of the joint/double-badged PhD programme. If the programme is approved, these documents will be those to which the Board of the Graduate Research School will refer in the case of any dispute or difficulty with the programme. It is therefore important that they are as full and accurate as possible. Once a Joint/Double-badged PhD Agreement has been drawn up, a meeting with all the relevant stakeholders will be arranged if required. The purpose of this meeting will be to ensure that the Joint/Double-badged PhD Agreement includes all information necessary to effectively administer the proposed PhD programme and accurately describes the proposed programme and any associated conditions. Once all parties have agreed on the content of the document it will be considered by the Board of the Graduate Research School. If approved by the Board the proposal will, following the approval route set out in the Administrative Procedures for approval of Transnational Programmes, be forwarded to the International Strategies Sub Committee on International Agreements and (if necessary) the Planning and Budget Committee for consideration and transmission to Academic Council. It is recommended that if similar processes must be followed at the "host" institution that they be undertaken at the same time. One approval has been given by the Academic Council, signatures on the Agreements can be arranged and the formal enrolment process begun. Enrolment and administrationStudents intending to attend a UWA Graduation ceremony (usually students who were associated or affiliated with UWA in the first instance) will be enrolled in course code 00860 (Joint/Double-Badged PhD). Candidates intending to attend a Graduation ceremony at the partner institution (usually students who were associated or affiliated with the partner institution in the first instance) will be enrolled in course code 00870 (Joint/Double-Badged PhD). Students will be enrolled in the normal way for the periods during which they are studying in Perth, but for periods during which they are at the partner institution they will enrol in special unit codes (780.XXX where X = the school). Students must advise the Graduate Research School and Scholarships Office when they intend to spend time away from UWA. Students' programmes of study will be administered in accordance with the Joint/Double-Badged PhD Agreement. A copy of this will be provided to the student at the commencement of the joint/double-badged PhD programme. Graduation and TestamurStudents in the Joint/double-badged PhD Programme may only receive their award certificate at one institution. For example, a student who elects to attend a Graduation Ceremony at an international partner institution may not also attend a UWA Ceremony and will not be recorded in the UWA Graduation Register. Design and award of testamur must be in accordance with the UWA Policy on Award Certificates. |
