Doctor of Professional Practice

• AQF 10CRICOS N/A

  Doctor of Professional Practice
  Duration

  3 years full-time,
  Up to 8 years part-time

  Modes

  Classroom, Mixed, Online, Supervised

  Colleges & Schools

  Available at 1 College/School

  The Doctor of Professional Practice is designed for experienced practitioners to develop advanced knowledge and skills relevant to their professional context. It equips mature professionals to develop their research competency and their critically reflective practice, and to further develop their theoretical knowledge.

  Students undertake advanced coursework and independent supervised research, integrating critical thinking, spiritual awareness, and theological engagement with a body of knowledge and lived experience through enquiry-based research to address complex problems and initiate positive and sustainable change in their professional context. By engaging with theory and practice, candidates contribute in significant ways to the application of knowledge and/or practice within diverse professional contexts.

  Students then complete a research project of not more than 65,000 words and submit at least one article or equivalent to a peer-reviewed publication.

  Graduates of the program are strategically innovative and collaborative practitioners who integrate understandings of self, profession, systems, and context.

  Course profile

In 2025, the tuition fee for a year of study in the Doctor of Professional Practice is AUD $19,608 (full-time) or $9,804 (part-time).

Fees are subject to change from year to year. For more information about fees, including FEE-HELP, please visit the Fees page.

2024

2025

DPP Orientation Days invite each new cohort to come together (online, with an in-person option) to mark the beginning of their doctoral research journey. It is a chance to meet other candidates and key academic and professional staff, as well as learn about DPP-specific academic resources and other services and events at the School of Graduate Research and wider University of Divinity. All candidates are strongly encouraged to attend.

DPP Orientation Days run on the Saturday before the cohort’s first term, from 10 am – 2 pm (online, with an in-person option at the University of Divinity, St Paschal Campus, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia). Refreshments are provided.

On admission to the DPP program, candidates are enrolled in Units of Study by the Registrar of the School of Graduate Research.

The following DPP Units are taken in the first year of study:

• Frameworks for Critical Praxis in Professional Contexts (PPX101Z)*
• Research Methodologies for Professional Practice (PPX102Z)
• Specialised Focus in a Professional Context A (PPX107Z)**
• Critical Engagement with the Scholarship (PPX103Z)

* Frameworks for Critical Praxis in Professional Contexts (PPX101Z) must be taken first.
** Specialised Focus in a Professional Context A (PPX107Z) may be undertaken anytime during Terms 1 to 4, between February and November but must be completed during the period of enrolment in the first year of part-time candidature.

The following DPP Units are taken in the second year of study:

• The Integrated Practitioner (PPX104Z)*
• Writing a Research Proposal (PPX105Z)
• Specialised Focus in a Professional Context B (PPX108Z)**
• Communicating and Embedding Research (PPX106Z)

* The Integrated Practitioner (PPX104Z) must be taken first.
** Specialised Focus in a Professional Context B (PPX108Z) may be undertaken anytime during Terms 1 to 4, between February and November but must be completed during the period of enrolment in the second year of part-time candidature.

Unit design

With the exceptions of Specialised Focus in Professional Context A (PPX107Z) and Specialised Focus in Professional Context B (PPX108Z) (both of which are tailored to each candidate’s area of research), each DPP Unit comprises the following compulsory components:

A 3-day intensive

All intensives run for 3 days (10 am – 4 pm, daily).

There are two types of DPP Intensives:

1. Intensive (In-person) – All engagement takes place in-person, in a dedicated space at the University of Divinity (St Paschal Campus, 90 Albion Road, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia).
2. Intensive (Online, with in-person option) – All engagement takes place online, with the option for DPP candidates to use a dedicated space at the University of Divinity (St Paschal Campus, 90 Albion Road, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia).

The type of DPP Intensive offered for each unit is indicated in the DPP Term Timetables below.

PLEASE NOTE: For those marked ‘Intensive (In-person)’, in-person attendance is assumed unless otherwise negotiated.

Fortnightly tutorials

All tutorials will run for 2 hours (6 – 8 pm, Mondays, fortnightly). Tutorials are delivered in a blended mode (online, with in-person option) and must be attended synchronously. All engagement takes place online, with the option for DPP candidates to use a dedicated space at the University of Divinity (St Paschal Campus, 90 Albion Road, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia).

Fortnightly peer engagements

These regular fortnightly engagements allow candidates to gather with peers in self-selected groups to: discuss unit content and related ideas and issues; share and explore reflections and experiences from learnings and research discoveries and challenges; and foster and experience the cohort as a supportive and collaborative community. Mode, time and place for peer engagements will be determined by the peer groups themselves.

Online modules of content

These modules combine Required and Recommended Readings, pre-recorded lectures and conversations with practitioners from various fields, web links and other opportunities for informing, expanding and deepening candidates’ critical engagement with their area of professional practice and research. They are designed for ongoing asynchronous learning.

2024 Timetables

View or download the full DPP 2024 Timetable

2025 Timetables

View or download the full DPP 2025 Timetables

You are eligible to apply if you have:

1. at least 5 years of work experience in your chosen field of practice,
2. completed the equivalent of 4 years of tertiary study relevant to your professional practice, and
3. an interest in and the ability to undertake research that makes an original contribution to a field of practice.

Process

Admission is by written application and interview.

Applicants must submit a completed Admission Form for Higher Degree by Research Students, including:

• details of two referees who know your professional and/or academic ability
• a letter of support from your employer, where relevant/appropriate
• a statement (1000-1500 words) that outlines your professional experience, general area of research interest and how the DPP might help you develop your career and make an impactful contribution to knowledge and practice in your field
• a portfolio of 3 substantial pieces of your work (from the last 5 years)
• your CV (no more than 5 pages)

See the relevant Admission Form for Higher Degree by Research Students (see below) for more details. These Admission Form requirements will help us assess your suitability for the Doctor of Professional Practice program, including your capacity to deal with complex ideas, communicate clearly and think creatively and innovatively.

Dates

DPP applications are open throughout the year.

There is one intake per year, in February. There is no closing date for submissions. You can apply any time.
For a timely outcome before the new year, please submit your application by COB on the first Friday in October of the year before you wish to start.

Forms