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Research

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (DPHD)
CRICOS: 088073M

Entry requirements
Study mode
  • On-campus
  • External
Campus
  • Ipswich
  • Springfield
  • Toowoomba
Duration
  • 3 year(s) (or part-time equivalent)
Start
  • Jan, Feb, Apr, May, Jul, Aug, Sep, Nov

Overview

  • Do you have a passion for research? The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a research degree available in all study areas and provides you with the skills to become an effective researcher in your previously studied discipline.
  • By undertaking a Doctor of Philosophy you will have expansive intellectual freedom to be able to make an original and substantial contribution to your area of study.
  • UniSQ academics are recognised throughout the world for their excellence in research. Some of the projects you can tap into are at the forefront of cutting edge research.
  • As a research student you will have the commitment and support to make a difference to society in a meaningful way. UniSQ is committed to excellence in research training and provide a quality research training experience for our students. We maintain our relevance in research by linking with industry and business through local and international research networks.
  • Our research extends across all of the Schools and Centres in the university. Within the Division of Research and Innovation it is focused across three research institutes and nine research centres, reflecting a wide array of research excellence.
  • To start your PhD you need to clarify your research topic and seek an academic staff member to be your supervisor. This can sometimes take time so it is wise to allow several months for discussion with potential supervisors and for consideration of your application.

Career outcomes

  • Graduating with a Doctor of Philosophy is ideal if you wish to pursue a career in industry, academia or government with specialisation in your chosen field.

Entry requirements

Applicants must have one of the following:

  • an Australian-university Bachelor honours degree with First Class Honours or Second Class Honours (Division A) or equivalent (with a thesis comprising at least two units), or
  • an Australian-university Masters degree (with a thesis comprising at least two units) or equivalent, or
  • other qualifications and/or experiences equivalent to First Class or Second Class Honours (Division A).

English language requirements

You are required to meet the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires a minimum of IELTS 6.5 with a minimum 6.0 in each subscore. UniSQ also accepts other English language proficiency tests.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can apply to study with our English language partner, the Union Institute of Language (UIL).

Pathways

UniSQ offers a number of masters degrees for you to study to help you meet the entry requirements for your chosen degree.

Degree structure

The Doctor of Philosophy comprises a minimum of 16 independent research units, although students would normally complete 24 independent research units, with the option to extend to 32 independent research units if needed.

Refer to the UniSQ Handbook for courses to be studied and recommended enrolment patterns.

Fees and scholarships

Your fees may vary depending on your research field. We review our fees annually so these may be subject to change.

Approximate annual costs1 for international students' first year of study in this degree:

Research course type Cost
Hi-cost doctoral research AUD 35440
Low-cost doctoral research AUD 31160

1 These are indicative annual fees for 2025. 

Scholarships

At UniSQ, we offer a range of scholarships to support your success at university. Find a scholarship that works for you.

How to apply

Complete your online application directly to UniSQ.

CRICOS: 088073M

Intending students are advised to allow several months for discussion with potential supervisors and for consideration of the application prior to the commencement of the program.

Intakes

Applications may be submitted at any time, but it is ideal to allow a minimum of 25 working days between when you submit your application and the start of your requested study period.

Select to start in one of the following intakes:

Study periods Study period start date
Research 1  Monday 13 January 2025
Research 2 Monday 24 February 2025
Research 3 Monday 7 April 2025
Research 4 Monday 19 May 2025
Research 5 Monday 30 June 2025
Research 6 Monday 11 August 2025
Research 7  Monday 22 September 2025
Research 8
Monday 3 November 2025

Further information

To learn more about the application process and how to find and connect with a research supervisor please visit the Graduate Research School website.

Two men collaborating at a computer workstation in an office environment.

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Begin your study journey today with the university rated 5/5 stars for graduates starting salaries* and start the degree that’s right for you.

*Good Universities Guide 2025

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