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Apply for PhD in Australia

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Study in Australia

A country built by migrants and ready to welcome you with open arms, Australia is one of the most popular, unique, and multicultural study-abroad destinations, making it easy for international students to fit in. 

The people of Australia are known for being friendly and welcoming, allowing you to feel the typical laid-back atmosphere from anywhere in the country. 

Adding to Australiaโ€™s charm is the unique and diverse natural environment, providing you red deserts on one side and rainforests on the other. 

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Australia is home to several top-ranked universities which are hosted in some of the best student cities worldwide. If all this sounds tempting enough to you, get ready to embark on a life-changing study abroad experience in Australia!

Why Study in Australia?

After the U.K. and the U.S., Australia is the 3rd most popular study destination in the world for international students. Australia has several top-ranked universities; and since their higher education is based on the British model, you can rest assured that youโ€™ll receive world-class training in your chosen study field. Additionally, universities feature some of the most cutting-edge student facilities and all of them collaborate with well-known research centres around the country and around the world.

In Australia, you can find a highly cosmopolitan environment in universities and throughout all major cities. You may be more intrigued to find that, since everything is international in Australia, there is also a global influence on the cuisine and restaurants.

What to study in Australia

No matter what you decide to study, you will surely find your ideal degree in an Australian university. In Australia, you can specialise in subject areas from Natural Sciences and Engineering, to Social and Medical Sciences.

Here are some of the most popular study options in Australia

Major cities in Australia

Australia has around 30 student cities and they all provide students incredible leisure time. Australia is the perfect spot for outdoor activities –  surfing, snorkelling, hiking, or biking. If youโ€™re interested in discovering Australiaโ€™s heritage and culture, you have plenty of museums and art centres you can visit.

Check out some of these cities and learn more about what it is like to study there:

Which universities to attend in Australia

Australia is home to over 41 universities, most of which are public institutions. Many Australian branches of Many Australian universities also have satellite campuses located overseas. In Australia, you can pursue the following types of degrees:

  • Undergraduate (Bachelorโ€™s degrees)
  • Research Masterโ€™s โ€“ requires a final thesis that consists of at least 2/3 research; entry requirement is a Bachelorโ€™s degree (Honours) or Masterโ€™s preliminary year, a research-based graduate diploma or equivalent research experience.
  • Professional Masterโ€™s โ€“ entry requirement is based on a relevant qualification and professional experience, or extensive relevant professional experience.
  • TAFE certificates (vocational training and education) โ€“ set up for students who plan to prepare for highly skilled jobs in business, or as an alternative pathway into university degree studies.
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Examples of universities in Australia we recommend:

Practical Information

How to apply to universities in AustraliaYou can apply online, directly for the university study programme, by downloading the application form and submitting all required documents. If your application is successful, you will receive a โ€˜Letter of Offerโ€™. To confirm your application, you must reply to this letter by signing and sending an acceptance of the offer.Read more details about how to apply to a university in Australia.
Make sure you qualify for an Australian university

Take Preparation Courses: These kinds of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Masterโ€™s degree or other post-graduate degree programme. Try a pre-M.B.A., pre-Law, or pre-Medicine programme, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree programme of your choice.

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Improve your English through an English-language prep course: If youโ€™re attending a degree programme in Australia, you will sometimes need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.

English-language tests

There are over 60,000 English-taught programmes in Australia.

Universities in Australia will want to see proof that you have good English-language skills, so that you can easily succeed in their courses. All Australian universities accept these official English exams:

What is it like to study in Australia

Australian universities have a long history of welcoming international students and helping them adjust to a new university system. Universities help students arrange accommodation, organise special student orientation weeks, and provide several other student services throughout the year.

University education in Australia is mostly focused using problem-based learning, helping you become an independent learner.

Successful completing a course usually depends on whether you pass a mid or final exam. University classes are usually flexible and you can mostly choose how much effort to put in and how to approach learning.

Course overview

A doctorate of philosophy, abbreviated as PhD, is a research based course. This degree involves choosing a specialization and research on a said subject that leads to new knowledge or re-interpretation of existing theories or approaches. The aim of this course is to develop a thorough understanding of your field and its relevant methodologies, as well as showing your ability to evaluate existing norms critically and presenting them in a concise and clear way.

Though the detailed requirements for a PhD vary throughout the world and from institute to institute as well, students are usually required to hold an honors degree or a master’s degree with high academic standing to be considered for a PhD program.

Why choose Australia

Apart from providing a multi-cultural living experience and the highest living standards in the world, Australia provides one of the best research experiences for students pursuing a PhD degree. With world recognized university reputation and highly advanced laboratories, Australia has one of the highest PhD completion rates, as well as a number of scholarship options for international students.

Choosing the right university

Despite having a large number of universities to choose from, deciding on the right one can often be a task in itself. After all, a lot hinges on the choice. Many students choose their PhD universities on the basis of the academic reputation of that university, or even sometimes that of an individual academic. One should review the proper details of the university, including ranking, infrastructure, facilities and area of research. So the decision of which universities to apply to for PhD in Australia should be made depending on the specialization chosen and on what requirements the students have from the university.

Requirements for admissions in Universities

To apply for a PhD program in an Australian university, a student needs to have completed a 3-4 year minimum graduation degree, along with a 2 years master program. The student also needs to have a high English Language proficiency score. To apply for the course, the student also needs to submit his reference letters, research proposal, synopsis, etc. for which, if accepted, they receive a letter of proposal approval from the university.

PhD In Australia

The number of students starting a PhD in Australia has been increasing for a number of years. However, if youโ€™re
interested in studying a PhD in Australia it is important to note that the process of applying for a PhD in Australia is slightly different from the process in other countries and it involves working with potential academic supervisors early on in the process of your application. 

Letโ€™s take a look at whatโ€™s involved in studying a PhD in Australia.

Pre-application for a PhD in Australia

Potential PhD students in Australia need to have an excellent academic record and those with a 1st class undergraduate degree or a very high upper second class undergraduate degree will have the necessary academic record to apply for a PhD research position. Once an applicant has established that they have the necessary academic record they should see which academics in universities in Australia would be a good fit for their field of study. This can be done by searching through publications and research areas to see if the academic is interested in the same topics as they are. Potential PhD students should make initial contact with a potential supervising academic outlining what they wish to research into. In the initial contact, the PhD applicant should also include an outline of relevant experience, qualifications and any academic publications they have had. At this point the applicant could also include a brief research proposalFind a postgraduate program in AUSTRALIA

Application process in Australia

Once a PhD applicant has made contact with a supervisor, they will discuss the applicantโ€™s research proposal further and they will either agree to support the application or will recommend another colleague. Alternatively they could decline to support the application altogether โ€“ but in this scenario they will hopefully be able to suggest ways that the student could improve or amend their research proposal in order to get it accepted. If an applicant does not know which academic to ask to supervise but is interested in an individual university then they should make contact directly to the university through an expression of interest, And the university will then direct them to any appropriate academics. 

Admissions process in Australia

Once the student has an academic supervisor who has agreed to support the PhD application they will need to make a formal application. This will need an excellent research proposal that links the study area with the interest areas of the academic supervisor. This is the main part of the application for the PhD, and the university being applied to will offer guidance on writing the research proposal. Potential PhD students in Australia also need to gather documents providing information such as grade transcripts, English language skills, and a CV. If the applicant is an international student institutions may require passports or proof that the PhD student is a Genuine Temporary Entrant, Some universities and departments require potential PhD students to attend interviews and others do not. 

Applying for a PhD in Australia

The first step for your Australian PhD application should be to contact a prospective supervisor (universities will not normally consider applications from international students who haven’t done this).

The person you choose should normally be the lead researcher for a project or research group you wish to join, or an academic with research interests related to the topic you would like to propose.

Once you’re found a potential supervisor, you should contact them via email. Try to provide a clear and concise description of your project or interests – and make the relationship to their research obvious.

Once you have an expression of interest from a potential supervisor, you can begin your formal application to the university.

Choosing a PhD supervisor

Not sure how to pick a potential supervisor for your PhD, or how to approach them once you have? Our guide can help.

Admissions requirements

Admission to a PhD in Australia will normally require existing Bachelors and Masters degrees in an appropriate subject. Universities may admit you without a Masters, but this is less likely.

Individual universities will set their own requirements, but you can expect to be asked for some or all of the following:

  • Evidence of your previous qualifications (these may need to be certified by your previous university or universities)
  • research proposal (if you are putting forward your own PhD topic)
  • personal statement (this may be required for applications to advertised projects and opportunities)
  • Academic and / or professional references

If you are applying from the UK or Ireland you can use the free Study Options service to receive advice and guidance during your application.

Interviews

It’s possible that an Australian university may wish to interview you for a PhD. This is usually a good sign. It means your application is strong and your prospective supervisor thinks you have potential.

Don’t worry though – universities won’t expect international students to travel all the way to Australia just for an interview. They’ll normally be happy to arrange a chat via a video-conferencing platform.

What’s happens during a PhD interview?

Your interview for a PhD in Australia will follow a fairly standard format (even if the actual process takes place online). Our guides explain what happens at a PhD interview and look at some of the questions you might be asked.

Application deadlines

A PhD in Australia can start at any point in the academic year. This means that there isn’t normally a strict deadline for applications. Universities may prefer you to submit in time for the start of a term, but this isn’t always the case.

Exceptions could apply if you are also applying for funding, such as a scholarship. This support will normally run for a specific period and funders may prefer you to start at the beginning of an academic year or term.

Remember that, even if there isn’t a deadline, your application will still take time. As a general rule, you should apply at least four months before you hope to start your PhD.

Student visas

Australia has simplified its immigration system and now only offers one visa for international students. This is known as the Student Visa (subclass 500). You’ll need this visa to study a Bachelors, Masters or PhD abroad in Australia.

Note that the new Student Visa replaces Australia’s Higher Education Sector Visa (subclass 573) and Postgraduate Research Sector Visa (subclass 574). These are no longer available.

Visa requirements

In order to qualify for a visa to study a PhD in Australia you’ll normally need to:

  • Be studying full-time – Australia doesn’t issue visas to international students on part-time PhDs
  • Have confirmation of enrolment at your university – you’ll need to have been accepted to study a PhD in Australia before you can apply for your visa
  • Possess sufficient financial resources to support yourself during your PhD – the Australian Government expects students to have access to at least AUD $21,041 (USD $14,400) per year

Provided you fit all of these criteria you can begin your visa application online.

Language requirements

Australian PhDs are organised and delivered in English and you’ll need to have sufficient language skills to communicate and comprehend complex information and ideas during your PhD.

Additional evidence won’t normally required if you are a native English speaker (or have completed a previous course of study in English). Otherwise, you may need to provide a language test score along with your visa application.

Most recognised English language tests will be accepted. The score you need will depend on the test you take:

IELTS6.5
TOEFL (internet-based)85
CAE176
PTE61

Health insurance

You’ll need health insurance to cover the duration of your PhD in Australia. You can obtain this from various providers (including universities) but whichever policy you choose must meet the standards set by Australia’s Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) guidelines.

Working during your PhD

You can carry out paid work for up to 40 hours per fortnight whilst researching for a PhD in Australia. No restriction is applied to employment during holiday periods, however, you should check that any work you undertake fits with the requirements of your PhD (and the expectations of your supervisor!).

Fees and processing times

The standard cost of an Australian Student Visa is AUD $620 (USD $425). You may have to pay extra if your visa requires extra processing or if you are bringing additional applicants (such as family members) to Australia with you. The Australian Government provides an online pricing estimator.

Approximately 75% of Student Visas are processed within 25 days, but some applications can take longer.

Next steps

Your time spent studying a PhD abroad in Australia will enhance your CV in other ways. You will have demonstrated adaptability and a willingness to go the extra mile (or perhaps a bit further) to achieve your goals.

Can I work in Australia after my PhD?

An Australian PhD can be a route into longer term employment and residency in Australia, provide you can find a job related to your skills and expertise.

To help you with this Australia offers a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485). This allows PhD graduates to remain in the country for up to four years, subject to certain conditions. If you find suitable work during this time you may be able to apply to remain for longer.

Study methods in Australia

Part-time PhD students will have to prove that they can fit in their studies and complete their research within the time limits set by the university. In Australia, only domestic students are usually able to undertake their PhD on a part-time basis and international students would not gain a student visa with a part-time place. The vast majority of PhD students in Australia are researching full-time on-campus. 

Fees for a PhD in Australia

Students from Australia and New Zealand or those students with permanent residency visas for Australia will often have their tuition fees paid for by the Australia Government through their Research Training Program (RTP). Very few international students will qualify for the RTP, but it is always worth checking as some countries with historic or modern links with Australia qualify. Students apply via their university for the RTP. Most international PhD students will have to pay the full tuition fees by self-funding or with scholarships

Funding your PhD in Australia

The Australian Government also offers a stipend for PhD students to live on while they research as part of the RTP. If your research qualifies for the RTP and you come from a qualifying country or are considered a domestic student, then you will also qualify for the stipend. There are also significant scholarships available in Australia that are advertised through the department or university and are sponsored by the university. International students are usually recommended to find funding from scholarships from outside of their university in Australia or their home country. 

PhD duration

If a PhD student has taken funding for the tuition fees and the stipend to pay for living costs while they study, then they need to complete their PhD within four years, but it usually takes three years. Part-time PhD students are unusual, because of the funding issues, but they will be expected to complete their PhD in no more than six years. Some PhD students complete their research within two years, but this is very unusual.

International PhD students’ visas

In Australia, international PhD students no longer have a specific research student visa and must now apply for the standard student visa like all other students. A student visa lasts for five years in Australia, so international PhD students can apply as early as possible as this is longer than the three to four years that students will take to complete their research. 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

You may apply for entry for a PhD if you satisfy one of the following:

  • Masters by coursework degree with minor thesis, requiring average grades of at least H2A/Distinction (above 70% VU standard).
  • Masters by research degree, or demonstrated exceptional ability during partial completion of a research project in a Masters by research degree.
  • Four-year bachelor degree with honours, or an honours degree at H1 or H2A honours level, incorporating initial research training and a minor thesis (above 70% VU standard).

In addition to the above, applicants who have a masters degree undertaken entirely by coursework, with average grades of at least H2A/Distinction (above 70% VU standard), may apply for entry into a PhD through the alternative pathway PhD (Integrated).

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

All applicants must demonstrate competency in English sufficient to work at doctoral level by providing evidence of one or more of the following:

  • Completion of a qualification where English was the primary language of instruction and assessment, and undertaken in a predominantly English-speaking context (within the last two years).
  • An overall band score of not less than 6.5 in an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test with no individual band score below 6.0 or equivalent in another university sanctioned English language assessment (see table below).
  • Demonstrated competence in English equivalent to above.
English language examination methodResult
IELTS (Academic Module): Overall score (no band less than)6.5 (6.0)
TOEFL Internet: Overall score (section score no less than)79 (Listening 19, Speaking 19, Reading 18, Writing 22)
Pearson Test of English (PTE): Overall score (no section score less than):58-64 (50)
University of Cambridge – Advanced (CAE): Total score of58
VU English – University Preparation UPP (Postgraduate)Achieved
English Language School in Sydney (ELSIS) – EAP 2 (advanced)A grade

In some circumstances, we will accept test results from other examination methods not listed in this table.

TUITION FEES

DOMESTIC STUDENTS

If you reside in Australia and are an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or New Zealand citizen, the following applies to you.

PHD

The Commonwealth Government will normally cover the cost of your tuition through Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset places. However, you may incur additional fees in some circumstances.

PHD (INTEGRATED)

Year 1: The first year of this program is normally full fee paying. You may access the FEE HELP scheme to defer payment. You may also be eligible for a Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset place.

Years 2-4: The Commonwealth Government will normally cover the remaining cost of your tuition through Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset places. However, you may incur additional fees in some circumstances.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Your tuition fees will vary depending on your chosen field of research, but are typically in the range of A$11,000 – A$14,500 per semester.

International student fees are listed on the individual course pages.


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