Handbook

A study planner will help you decide what topics to study and when. Use it as a guide to plan your enrolment and complete your degree, alongside the program of study, ensuring all requisites are met.

Visit Study planner for more information.

Contact AskFlinders if you cannot find a relevant study planner.

To qualify for the Doctor of Philosophy / Master of Business Administration Future Business a student must complete 54 units of coursework with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic according to the program of study below and receive a determination that the degree be awarded following thesis examination. 

Not all topics are necessarily available each year.

In the Doctor of Philosophy component with a time-based research project, the student will undertake a supervised research project, culminating in submission of a thesis, which may be in the form of an exegesis and artefact. 

By negotiation with the principal supervisor, a student can undertake optional experiential learning activities and / or courses related to their higher degree by research that enable them to develop research relevant transferable skills and experience and which may include:

• Industry placements, internships and other engagement and commercialisation activities where the purpose is to provide an industry situated learning experience
• Non-award courses as relevant to the development of high-level research skills and/or research relevant transferable skills 

Students who commence, but subsequently do not wish to complete the combined degrees program may be eligible to transfer to either the Master of Business Administration Future Business or the Doctor of Philosophy and receive credit for some or all of the topics already completed in the relevant component. 

Upon completion of 18 units a student may choose to exit with the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration, subject to meeting the program of study of that award. 

Thesis - Doctor of Philosophy component

The submitted thesis must meet all requirements for presentation and lodgement specified in the Higher Degrees by Research Policy and must not contain:

• Material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma (including the Master of Business Administration Future Business), or
• Any material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the text of the thesis or in the notes

Assessment - Doctor of Philosophy component

The thesis examination will assess whether the student has demonstrated the following attributes:

A significant original contribution to acknowledge

• Ability to conduct an original investigation or testing of ideas
• Competence in independent research or experimentation
• A thorough understanding of the appropriate techniques in the field demonstrated both by their application and a thorough review of the literature
• Critical use of source material, experimental results (where appropriate) and published works
• Appreciation of the relationship of the special theme of their research to the wider field of knowledge
• The capacity to present well-written work
• A high degree of independence of thought and approach 

A significant original contribution to knowledge means uncovering new knowledge by the: 

• Discovery of new facts
• Formulation of theories
• The innovative re-interpretation of known data and established ideas

Except that, for a thesis involving an exegesis and artefact, a significant original contribution means enhancing artistic, creative or another practice in a way that contributes to that practice and to the intellectual discourse of the field. 

1. This Program of Study serves as a suggested study plan. When core topics are offered in both halves of the year, students may enrol in these topics in either half of the year as long as requisites are met.

2. Throughout the course, students with permission of course coordinator/WIL coordinator can swap one core topic for a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) topic. There are 7 options for the WIL topic: BUSN9125, BUSN9125B, BUSN9126, BUSN9127, BUSN9127B , BUSN9128 or BUSN9128B.

Business Administration Future Business Component

For the Business Administration Future Business component applicants must normally:

• Hold a Bachelor Honours degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution
• Hold a Bachelor degree in a related field or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution
• Have completed the Graduate Diploma in Business Administration at Flinders University
• Have completed a Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate from another tertiary institution (to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis)

The Dean (Education) may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature. 

Doctor of Philosophy component

To be accepted for enrolment in the Philosophy component, applicants must have at least one of the following Australian qualifications (which must include studies relevant to the proposed field of research), or the equivalent qualification as approved by the relevant authorised delegate: 

• A Bachelors degree with Honours class 1 or 2A
• A Doctor of Medicine with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 5
• A Graduate Diploma or Masters degree by coursework with a research component of at least 18 units, with an average GPA of at least 6 in the research component 
• A Masters by Research degree

Applicants must also satisfy the University that they are reasonably likely to be able to complete the requirements of the award within the maximum durations. 

Exceptions can be approved in accordance with the Higher Degrees by Research Policy.