Doctor of Professional Engineering (DPEN) -

Back to top

Contact us

Back to top

Program aims

The aim of the Doctor of Professional Engineering program is to enhance the skills of already high performing professional engineers in the areas of detailed technical investigation, applied research and development, innovative design and analysis. The program allows candidates to develop and demonstrate these essential skills by communicating their significant original professional technical achievements as a substantial body of work in a formal academic format. In addition, candidates are likely to acquire some additional key management knowledge and/or broad technological knowledge. The specific set of knowledge will depend on the candidate’s choice of courses.

Back to top

Program objectives

Students who successfully complete the Doctor of Professional Engineering will be able to demonstrate the ability to:

• critically evaluate knowledge from the professional journals and other information sources relevant to the professional engineering field;

• analyse trends in technology;

• use research skills in the field of professional engineering;

• apply skills in detailed technical investigation of complex and unique engineering problems;

• develop innovative solutions, designs and analyses; and

• present a clear and accurate written account of an extensive and complicated body of work

Depending on the choice of Elective courses, students will also be able to demonstrate the ability to:

• apply selected fundamental management theories and practices;

• apply skills in engineering and technology business;

• evaluate the importance of technological innovation and risk in engineering business; and

• apply knowledge and skills associated with technology management in areas such as sustainable development, technical risk assessment and engineering asset management.

Back to top

Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a single national, comprehensive system of qualifications offered by higher education institutions (including universities), vocational education and training institutions and secondary schools. Each AQF qualification has a set of descriptors which define the type and complexity of knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills that a graduate who has been awarded that qualification has attained, and the typical volume of learning associated with that qualification type.

This program is at AQF Qualification Level 10. Graduates at this level will have systematic and critical understanding of a complex field of learning and specialised research skills for the advancement of learning and/or for professional practice.

The full set of levels criteria and qualification type descriptors can be found by visiting www.aqf.edu.au.

Back to top

Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

• Completion of a relevant Australian university four year Bachelor degree in the area of Engineering with a GPA of at least 5.0 or above, or equivalent.

• be able to demonstrate, or be in a position to produce their own substantial, original professional contributions in an appropriate Engineering field.

• English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 3.

All students are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements.

If students do not meet the English language requirements they may apply to study a University-approved English language program. On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program.

Back to top

Program fees

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.

Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called FEE-HELP provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.

Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for FEE-Help.

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.

Research Training Program (RTP) - Fees Offset scheme

All Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens commencing a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) program will have their tuition fees paid by the Australian Commonwealth Government under the Research Training Program (RTP) Fees Offset scheme. The RTP Fees Offset scheme covers program fees for an HDR student up to a maximum period of four years for full-time study or up to eight years part-time study for a Doctoral program, and up to a maximum period of two years for full-time or four years part-time for a Masters by Research program.
As part of the enrolment process, students are required to submit proof of citizenship or permanent residency status and transcripts of all previous academic study. This documentation enables the University of Southern Queensland to determine eligibility for an RTP Fees Offset place.

If a student's RTP Fees Offset entitlement expires before completion of the program, the student will be required to pay full tuition fees.

Students eligible for an RTP Fees Offset place are those who:

• have not used RTP Fees Offset funding in the previous three years; or

• have already used RTP Fees Offset funding and have successfully completed an HDR program. Once a student completes an HDR program, full entitlements of RTP Fees Offset are restored.

The Australian Commonwealth Government’s contribution to program fees must be acknowledged on all published material relating to a research project via a statement identifying the support received through the RTP Fees Offset scheme.

Back to top

Program structure

This program is a 24-unit program made up of eight single-unit academic courses and 16 units of independent research.

Back to top

Program completion requirements

Award of a Doctor of Professional Engineering requires the successful external examination of the student’s dissertation of research outcomes, work based research project/s and professional learning.

Back to top

Required time limits

Candidates will normally complete the program within six years of part-time study. Students have a maximum of eight years (part-time) to complete this program. A pro-rata reduction in the maximum time period will apply to students who are admitted to a program with advanced standing.

Back to top

IT requirements

Access to an up-to-date computer is necessary. On-campus students can access appropriately equipped laboratories, but should consider acquisition of their own computer. External students should be able to access a computer with the following minimum standards as advised by the University. All students should have access to email and the Internet via a computer running the latest versions of Internet web browsers such as Internet Explorer or Firefox. The University has a wireless network for on-campus students' computers. In order to take advantage of this facility and further enhance their on-campus learning environment, students should consider purchasing a notebook/laptop computer with wireless connectivity. A notebook/laptop may be required for some courses.

Back to top

Exit points

Candidates who complete four of the listed courses from Schedule A may satisfy the requirements for the Graduate Certificate of Advanced Engineering, in which case they could exit with this award.

Candidates who complete seven of the listed courses from Schedule A plus ENG8001 Engineering Research Methods from Schedule B may satisfy the requirements for the Master of Advanced Engineering in which case they could exit with this award.

Back to top

Credit

Exemptions/credit will be assessed based on the USQ Credit and Exemption Procedure.

Back to top

Enrolment

Candidates for admission to the program should note that some of the courses specify enrolment requirements. This will mean that successful applicants may be enrolling in courses for which they do not have sufficient pre-requisite knowledge. Applicants should refer to the course specification section of this publication to determine the enrolment requirements for the courses they intend enrolling in. Candidates will be expected to rectify any deficiencies in their pre-requisite knowledge by private study, guided if necessary by the examiners of the relevant courses.

Recommended enrolment pattern

Back to top

Recommended enrolment pattern

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Candidates must complete:

• seven units of approved courses from Schedule A

• ENG8001 Engineering Research Methods plus 16 Independent Research in Engineering and Surveying courses in Schedule B.

Within Schedule A, up to seven postgraduate courses may be approved by the Program Coordinator as part of the Doctor of Professional Engineering program. Approval for the inclusion of prior studies must be sought at the time of application for this program.

Notes

Before enrolling in any courses, candidates should read the sections entitled Enrolment and Program Structure.
At least five courses from Schedule A must normally be completed prior to enrolling in the independent research courses.