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Doctor of Law

The Higher Doctorate is the highest qualification awarded by the University.

The Higher Doctorates are higher degrees by research where the student presents for examination a significant body of published work accumulated prior to acceptance into candidature.

The course demonstrates that students have a prima facie case that the student’s body of work demonstrates a significant advance in knowledge in the relevant field, or to inter-disciplinary scholarship.

Admission Requirements

To be accepted for enrolment, an applicant must:

  • 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
  • have a body of published work in English (which may be a translation), produced prior to their candidature, to submit for examination
  • 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

International English Language Requirements

See International English Language Requirements

Course aims

The purpose of the Higher Doctorate degree is to acknowledge that the production of a substantial body of original research produced prior to candidature demonstrates internationally recognised, significant and sustained original contributions to a field of research or to inter-disciplinary scholarship. A higher doctorate degree is of a higher standing than either a Masters by Research degree or the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Learning outcomes

  • apply expert, specialised research skills in a discipline area
  • defend your significant advance in knowledge in the relevant field, or to inter-disciplinary scholarship
  • explain how your body of work has caused significant changes in the direction of research or in the practice of recognised scholars in the relevant field
  • apply knowledge and skills which justify your autonomy, authoritative judgement, adaptability, and responsibility as an expert and leading scholar

Program of study

To qualify for the higher degree a candidate will not undertake a formal program of study but is expected to use the period of enrolment to prepare a contextual statement for their body of work, and to submit both in the format required by the University.

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

The submitted body of work and contextual statement must meet all requirements for presentation and lodgement specified in the Higher Degrees by Research Policy and Higher Doctorates Submission Rules.

The submitted work must not contain:

  • material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma, except where that work is clearly identified as having been so submitted
  • any material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the published works and/or the contextual statement

Assessment

The examination will assess whether the student has demonstrated that their body of work has made internationally recognised, significant and sustained original contributions to a field of research or to inter-disciplinary scholarship, at a level substantially higher than the requirements of a Doctor of Philosophy.

A body of work may be regarded as meeting the requirements if it meets one of the following:

  • represents a significant advance in knowledge in the relevant field, or to inter-disciplinary scholarship
  • has caused, or become a major part of, a significant debate among scholars in the relevant field
  • has caused significant changes in the direction of research or in the practice of recognised scholars in the relevant field

Progression Requirements

Progression in the time-based research project is governed by the Higher Degrees by Research Policy.

The minimum duration of candidature is six months, and maximum is one year.

Core - Year 1 topics

LLAW9997 Higher Doctorate Study (18 units)

Every effort has been made to ensure the information published on the Course Rule pages is accurate at the time of publication. Flinders University reserves the right to amend its curriculum without prior notice, and will update the Course Rules to reflect any amendments at the earliest opportunity.

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