[Air-l] Aust v Nth American PhDs

[Matthew Allen]

Just by way of background...
 
A PhD in Australia comprises a 100,000 word thesis, original contribution to knowledge, independently examined by 2 and sometimes 3 scholars not associated with the home university. Entry is normally after completion of a 4-year honours undergraduate degree in which the final year  includes a 15,000 word thesis/dissertation (*grin*). There is no coursework in a PhD. PhD students routinely take at least 3 and often 4 years' fulltime to complete - but, that said, it's not a time-based degree. Some do it in 2 years fulltime. BEcause there is no coursework and it is not time based, it can be done parttime, at distance etc. Of course, that applies in fields that are not lab or equipment based.
 
There's also major differences in the funding and recruitment models which reflect a more technocratic approach to research training (as PhD programs are now considered by the government), as well as the more centralised control over some parts of the university system in Australia, as well as yadayada...no need to bore everyone :).
 
Matt
 
 
 
Dr Matthew Allen
Associate Professor Internet Studies
Curtin University of Technology, CRICOS 00301J Australia
m.allen at curtin.edu.au
http://smi.curtin.edu.au/netstudies/allen.htm <https://email.curtin.edu.au/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://smi.curtin.edu.au/netstudies/allen.htm> 
+61 8 92663511 (v) +61 8 9266 3166 (f)
President, Association of Internet Researchers http://www.aoir.org <https://email.curtin.edu.au/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.aoir.org/>