The Crawford PhD in Policy and Governance encourages and stimulates interdisciplinary and theoretically guided approaches to public policy and administration, social policy and governance. A wide variety of disciplines are represented in the backgrounds of Policy and Governance supervisors: political science, political theory, social policy, international relations and economics. Their empirical interests range widely across key policy issues in Australia, the neighbouring Asia-Pacific region, and other countries of the world, as well as regional and global public policy and governance challenges. The interdisciplinary and theoretically rich nature of the program ensures students are well informed in the selected research area and able to emerge as highly competent researchers engaged at the cutting edge of international academic scholarship.
Requirements
The Crawford PhD program consists of Part A (Coursework) and Part B (Supervised Research and Thesis). For Part A, all students are required to complete the coursework specified for their program of study below. In Part B of the program, each candidate is required to complete a thesis. The final thesis should be no more than 100,000 words in length including footnotes and tables. The thesis will be examined by external examiners who are experts in the relevant field. The degree is awarded solely on the basis of the examination of the research thesis.
Step 1: Check your eligibility
To be admitted to the Doctor of Philosophy, Policy and Governance (POGO) program you are required to have achieved:
- First Class Honours from an Australian Go8 university or equivalent
Or - A minimum of an H2A degree with a minimum weighted average of 75 from an Australian Go8 university or equivalent.
Or - A Master’s Degree in social science or related fields of social studies with a proven academic publication record as a first author. These will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
You may be granted admission if you can demonstrate that you have a background equivalent to these qualifications.
Students wishing to undertake a PhD in either of these fields whose first language is not English are required to have an overall IELTS score of 6.5 with a score of no less than 6.0 in each individual band.
If you are not sure whether you can meet these criteria, please contact the POGO PhD convenor for advice. You may be granted admission if you can demonstrate that you have a background equivalent to these qualifications.
All applicants must meet the University’s English Language Admission Requirements for Students, which requires PhD applicants whose first language is not English to have an overall IELTS score of 6.5 with a score of no less than 6.0 in each individual band.
Step 2: Look for two possible supervisors.
In Australia, PhD students must arrange a panel of at least three members: a Chair of Panel, a Primary Supervisor (who may be the same person), and Associate Supervisor(s). On application, Crawford PhD candidates must provide written agreement from their proposed primary supervisor and a second academic confirming their willingness to supervise the applicant. Both supervisors should be from Crawford and within the same research field; however, the program convenor may approve alternative arrangements should circumstances warrant such an exception.
Please scroll through the Policy & Governance list of academics to search for potential supervisors. Note that some of the academics listed might not be available to take on more students.
The profiles of academics associated with other departments in Crawford can be located as follows:
Step 3: Write the thesis proposal
All applicants should include a section in their application detailing the viability of their project in the context of COVID restrictions. This section should either (a) explain how the project is not dependent on travel and/or fieldwork and therefore feasible regardless of restrictions in these domains; or (b) provide a 12-month plan outlining how the project will proceed if the current restrictions on fieldwork and travel continue. Applicants should discuss the viability of their research project under COVID restrictions with their proposed supervisors prior to submitting the application.
Title
A precise and informative description of the project.
Abstract
A summary of the proposed research (approx. 300 words) that includes the key research question or hypothesis, the rationale for the research, and the method to be employed in the research.
Aims & significance
A clearly focused statement of the overall purpose of the proposed research (ie, why is it important?).
Research questions &/or hypotheses
The questions that the proposed research will address and/or the hypotheses that will be tested.
Literature review
You need to demonstrate that are aware of the wider literature published internationally and your research can be engaged with the on-going debates. Therefore, you need to provide a preliminary review of the key research that has already been carried out in the field and identification of the gaps in the literature that the proposed research aims to fill.
Methodology
An explanation of what type of data will be required to answer the research questions, or test the hypotheses and how the data will be collected and analysed.
Timetable
An indication of how the research will be carried out over the duration of a full-time (3-4 years) or part-time (6-8 years) PhD candidature.
Resources
An indication of the funding that will be required over the course of the candidature (e.g. for fieldwork) as well any special materials or training that may be necessary for the successful completion of the project.
Institutional fit
A statement on why POGO is suitable for your project and an indication of potential supervisors/advisors.
Bibliography
A list of references cited in or relevant to the proposal.
Step 4: Submit an expression of interest and contact potential supervisors
Before submitting an application for admission, you must submit an expression of interest by emailing the following documents to, a least, two potential supervisors.
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Academic transcripts
- IELTS/TOEFL results (if applicable)
- Thesis proposal (max. of 8 pages)
Your potential supervisors might arrange an interview with you either in person or by phone, or online.
Step 5: Make a formal application to the ANU
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Before applying, ensure you have:
- written confirmation from two proposed Policy & Governance (POGO) academics (exceptions to be approved by the program convenor), stating their willingness to supervise you;
- contact details of at least 3 referees (at least 2 should be academic);
- your research proposal (7-8 pages), reviewed and supported by your proposed supervisors;
- academic testamurs, transcripts and grading explanation / key
- your CV, detailing
- academic record,
- work experience (research-related components emphasised);
- list of published research, specifying your role in its completion
- major academic prizes (with evidence)
Crawford will assess your application within four- to- six weeks of receipt of a complete application.
Please contact the POGO HDR Convenor and/or cap.hdr@anu.edu.eu, and see PhD Programs, for further information and advice.
Course work requirements
Crawford PhD in Policy and Governance students must complete a minimum of 12 units of coursework, which must consist of:
6 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:
A minimum of 6 units of additional coursework, to be approved by the primary supervisor / HDR convenor.
Presentations
Students are expected to give one seminar each year of their doctoral studies in the Policy and Governance seminar series attended by staff members and fellow students. These three presentations will be:
- 1st year: Research proposal (including research question, literature review, research design and research methods)
- 2nd year: Fieldwork experience and reflection on research methods
- 3rd and 4th year: Research findings (or further research plans)
Apart from presenting, PhD students are expected to attend seminars regularly, and be actively involved in providing constructive comments on the work of others.
Supervised Research and Thesis
The main supervisor (or the Chair) should be an on-going academic in the Policy and Governance Program. The student is expected to be an active member of the program and contribute intellectually to the program’s research activities.
At the end of the first year, in preparation for their research proposal seminar, the student is expected to complete a no more than 35 page document which includes the following:
- Introduction—Introduces the broad topic, explains its relevance and sets out the specific research questions;
- An initial review of the relevant literature which will provide the theoretical framework for the PhD; Methodology chapter which restates the research questions, sets out the proposed methodology and research design and includes research timeline.
A summary of this information is expected to be presented at the first seminar which will be attended by the supervisory panel as well as other staff members and PhD students. At the conclusion of the proposal seminar, the supervisory panel will meet to discuss whether the student:
- Needs to make any changes or amendments to research design and methodology before being allowed to progress to next stage of research—i.e. data collection (fieldwork); or
- Whether in the opinion of the supervisory panel, the student is not capable of completing the PhD and their enrolment should be terminated.
The assessment will be based on:
- Whether the student has a clear idea about their research question
- Whether the student is aware of the main literature and on-going debates on the topic
- Whether the research methodology is suitable for the research question
- Whether the research plan is feasible
The final thesis should be no more than 100,000 words in length including footnotes and tables. When the thesis is complete, the thesis is examined by two outside examiners who are experts in the relevant field. The PhD degree is awarded solely on the basis of the examination of the research thesis. While examiners will be aware that the candidate has completed coursework requirements, the level of performance in coursework is not taken into account in examining the candidate for the award of the degree.
End of PhD presentation
A final presentation of the PhD results will occur after the student submits their thesis, preferably after the candidate has received positive responses from external examiners. The presentation will be publicised to a wider audience from outside Crawford School of Public Policy.
The decision on whether the student is qualified for a PhD will still be made by external examiners.
Progress milestones
It is University policy that each candidate’s progress should be reviewed periodically. Within the Policy and Governance program, the supervisor will regularly meet with the student to discuss progress and offer written suggestion for progress every year.
Every six months, supervisory panel will formally assess the students’ progress. The student will be given a written consent to proceed or warning to improve. Failing to improve as suggested, the supervisory panel can decide whether the student should terminate.
At the end of each year, PhD candidates are required to submit an Annual Plan, which outlines their research plan for the next twelve months, and an Annual Report, which summarises their progress in their research and also discusses difficulties or changes in their research path, if any. The Progress Report and the Annual Plan form the basis of the student’s Annual Review. The University’s policies in relation to higher degree research students can be found at the higher degree research guide page.
PhD Formats
POGO PhD can be in the form of a book or by publication. If the supervisor considers a student needs to write a PhD in a different format from the two specified here, it should be considered case by case.
Book format thesis
The thesis is usually a book length work (70,000-90,000 words) with maximum 100,000 words, exceeding of which should seek special permission as the school regulation suggests.
Thesis by publications
We would only recommend this option to students with significant independent research experience or existing publication records. The significant independent research experience would be determined on a case by case basis by the supervisory group. ANU has regulations on the requirement for thesis by publications (as attached in the following sections). It is generally advisable that the student has research papers or drafts of research papers ready for submitting within the first six months of the PhD. The thesis should be consist of single authored four published papers in good journals, or received acceptance letters of the four papers from good journals. These should be journals that are considered to be good quality in the relevant topic and disciplines. The supervisors should work together with the students to set a list of good journals for the students to aim for. The journals should be indicated in the students’ annual report and be approved by the supervisory panel and delegated authority. The submitted thesis should still be bound together with an introduction chapter, a literature review chapter and conclusion. The students need to show the logical connections between the different chapters and demonstrate that the published papers are well integrated into one research. It is important that the four papers should not repeat each other.
Teaching and other work experience
As well as active participation in student seminars, Policy and Governance PhD students may have the opportunity to gain teaching experience by working with Policy and Governance academics as a tutor or teaching assistant. Students who are interested in doing this should discuss the option with their supervisors.