Doctor of Medical Science (J15TC) // Attributes, outcomes and skills

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Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course students should be able to:



  • Demonstrate advanced learning in research skills and mastery of appropriate techniques.
  • Demonstrate specialist knowledge in the area of their research.
  • Present the results of their research in publishable form or work towards incorporating their findings in further research.
  • Apply the research skills acquired to other projects.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, research ethics or code of practice.

Generic skills

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Graduate attributes

Doctoral degrees at the University of Melbourne seek to develop graduates who demonstrate academic leadership, increasing independence, creativity and innovation in their research work. In addition, professional doctoral studies provide advanced training designed to enhance professional knowledge in a specialist area, and encourage the acquisition of a wide range of advanced and transferable skills.

The University expects its doctoral graduates to have the following qualities and skills:

  • an advanced ability to initiate research and to formulate viable research questions.
  • a demonstrated capacity to design, conduct and report sustained and original research.
  • the capacity to contextualise research within an international corpus of specialist knowledge.
  • an advanced ability to evaluate and synthesize research-based and scholarly literature.
  • an advanced understanding of key disciplinary and multi-disciplinary norms and perspectives relevant to the field.
  • highly developed problem-solving abilities and flexibility of approach.
  • the ability to analyse critically within and across a changing disciplinary environment.
  • the capacity to disseminate the results of research and scholarship by oral and written communication to a variety of audiences.
  • a capacity to cooperate with and respect the contributions of fellow researchers and scholars.
  • a profound respect for truth and intellectual integrity, and for the ethics of research and scholarship.
  • an advanced facility in the management of information, including the application of computer systems and software where appropriate to the student's field of study.
  • an understanding of the relevance and value of their research to national and international communities of scholars and collaborators.
  • an awareness where appropriate of issues related to intellectual property management and the commercialisation of innovation.
  • an ability to formulate applications to relevant agencies, such as funding bodies and ethics committees.

Last updated: 28 March 2025