Description: Professional Doctorates have proliferated in Australian universities since federal government initiatives in the late 1980s and in many ways lead developments of this kind through out the world. The objectives of this research were to:1. determine the impact of the development of Professional Doctorates on doctoral education in Australia; and2. review developments in Professional Doctoral Education over the period 1984-2005. Methodology: A critical analysis of the key Professional Doctorates literature in Australia (and some in Europe) will be undertaken. During 2006 analysis (with the assistance of nVivo) of Directors of Graduate Studies (DoGS) in Austrlaian universities perseptions about the impact of Professional Doctorates on doctoral education more broadly wil take place. DoGS' views will be gathered using an online delphi process. Conclusions: Expected outcomes include an easing of regulations of the PhD, a greater acceptance of Mode 11 knowledge production, a greater acceptance of alternative forms of presentation of research and an widening of the pool of doctoral candidates. Some concern will be expressed about the dilution of standards of dcotoral education.