how to write a phd proposal australia

• Jump to menu
• Student Home
• Accept your offer
• How to enrol
• Student ID card
• Set up your IT
• Orientation Week
• Fees & payment
• Academic calendar
• Special consideration
• Transcripts
• The Nucleus: Student Hub
• Referencing
• Essay writing
• Learning abroad & exchange
• Professional development & UNSW Advantage
• Employability
• Financial assistance
• International students
• Equitable learning
• Postgraduate research
• Health Service
• Events & activities
• Emergencies
• Volunteering
• Clubs and societies
• Accommodation
• Health services
• Sport and gym
• Arc student organisation
• Security on campus
• Maps of campus
• Careers portal
• Change password

Guide for Writing Research Proposals

This guide is for candidates who are enrolled in a higher degree research program (PhD, Masters by Research or Master of Philosophy) and who have been asked to submit a research proposal as part of their Research Progress Review or Confirmation of Candidature.

The aim of the research proposal is to convince your school that:

• there is a need for the research; it is significant and important.
• you are contributing something original to the field.
• the topic is feasible in terms of availability of funding, equipment, supervisors, and data.
• the research can be completed in the expected time period(3-4 years full time for a PhD or 1.5 – 2 years full time for a research Masters).
• ethical issues have been considered and approval has been given for the research by the University Ethics Committee.
• the topic matches your interests and capabilities.

What is the difference between a Masters and a Doctoral research proposal?

As research Masters degrees are shorter than PhDs, the main goals and complexity of your proposed research should align with this shorter timeframe. If you are unsure of what is required, you should seek advice from your supervisor or your School’s Postgraduate Coordinator.

Who is my audience?

Your research proposal is normally assessed during your Research Progress Review by the Review Panel. If you are a PhD candidate, your research proposal will normally be submitted as part of your Confirmation of Candidature Review. Most candidates need to submit a written report and present their proposal during their Review. If you are not sure of the requirements within your School or Faculty, contact your supervisor or your School’s Postgraduate Coordinator.

The research proposal helps you focus your research aims, clarify its importance and the need, describe the methods, predict problems and outcomes, and plan alternatives and interventions. 

Getting it done

Preparing your proposal will be an iterative process. You will most likely need to prepare a number of drafts, improving each one with feedback from your supervisors. You should be writing regularly to have your proposal completed by the due date.

Demonstrating originality

Your work will make a worthwhile contribution to your field if it fulfils one or more of the following: 

• it provides evidence to support or disprove a concept, theory, or model;
• it contributes new data/information, new or improved solution, analysis procedure or a new improved research methodology;
• it results in a new or improved concept, theory or model.

See next: Structuring the proposal

Postgrad research.

• Academic skills support
• Structuring the proposal
• Literature review

News and notices

Guide to Using Microsoft Copilot with Commercial Data Protection for UNSW Students Published:  20 May 2024

Term 3, 2024 - Enrolment deadline and Payment due (T3 and T3A) 15 Sep 2024, 11:59pm

Term 3, 2024 - Census date (T3) 6 Oct 2024, 11:59pm

Thriving as an HDR Candidate - Helping international students navigate challenges & build success in their HDR journey 30 May – 28 Nov 2024

Study Hacks Workshops | All the hacks you need! 10 Sep – 7 Nov 2024

• Directories

Research proposals

If you are applying to undertake a research degree or a degree with a research component at ANU, or are in the first year of your research degree, you may be expected to produce a research proposal that demonstrates that you understand the process of scholarly inquiry. In particular, that 'good' research starts with you identifying an important problem or 'gap' in knowledge in your field and/or discipline that you can address or fill.

These pages provide strategies to help you to establish your credibility as a scholar by developing a persuasive research proposal. A persuasive research proposal sets out what you intend to conduct research on, why and how you plan to go about operationalising it, and how you make a contribution to knowledge. More specifically, these pages detail the various stages involved in designing a research project from understanding the purpose of a research proposal to what to consider in writing one. 

Purpose>>

Useful resources

• Agee, J. (2009). Developing qualitative research questions: A reflective process. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education,   22 (4), 431-447. doi:10.1080/09518390902736512
• Paltridge, B., & Starfield, S. (2007).  Thesis and dissertation writing in a second language: A handbook for supervisors . London: Routledge.
• Punch, K.F. (2006). Developing effective research proposals (2nd ed.). London: Sage.

Structuring

• ANU Library Academic Skills
• +61 2 6125 2972

Preparing a research proposal

• RMIT Europe
• RMIT Global
• RMIT Vietnam
• RMIT Online
• Courses by study area
• Undergraduate courses
• Postgraduate courses
• Vocational studies
• Pre-university studies
• Online courses and degrees
• Entry pathways
• Single courses
• Short courses and microcredentials
• Courses for international students
• How to apply
• Scholarships
• School leaver information
• Student services
• Student experience
• Frequently asked questions
• Career advisers
• Study experience
• Student life
• Support for students
• Global opportunities
• Industry connections
• Our strategy
• Governance & management
• Schools & colleges
• Respect for Australian Indigenous cultures
• Our locations and facilities
• Our heritage
• Our research
• Partnerships
• Centres and collaborations
• Research degrees
• Find researchers
• Recruit students and graduates
• Workforce development
• Collaborate with RMIT
• Research partnerships
• Facilities, equipment and services
• Contact Industry Engagement
• Giving to RMIT
• Study in Australia
• Apply to RMIT as an international student
• International student enquiries
• Fees and scholarships for international students
• International student services
• Key dates and intake information for international students

The proposal is a key part of the process where applicants must demonstrate the value of their research and their suitability for program selection.

All applicants for a postgraduate research program at RMIT University should have a proposed research topic that is aligned with at least one of RMIT's identified  research strengths . Your discussion with the academic staff in your proposed school will assist you to identify whether your research proposal will be an appropriate fit for RMIT's research strengths.

Your proposal should be a two to five page overview of your research divided under the following headings:

• Title and topic
• Research questions you plan to investigate in the context of existing research/literature in the area
• Significance and impact of the research
• Methodology/research tasks required to undertake the research
• Any particular needs, if applicable (e.g. resources, facilities, fieldwork or equipment that are necessary for your proposed research program).

A good way to start your proposal is to think about your potential audience.

• Who is your academic audience and how might this work affect their understanding of the field?
• Is there an audience beyond academics, such as practitioners or the general public, who might care about your work? Why should they care?

In most cases it is sufficient to demonstrate that there is academic interest, but identifying the potential broader interest in your findings can be a way to help you find the most relevant and pressing problems.

Unsuccessful proposals tend to suffer from a number of common problems. The most common is that the researcher is not really asking a genuine research question, but seeking supporting evidence for a preconceived idea. Ask yourself: are you seeking new knowledge or trying to prove something you think you know?

Sometimes, especially in creative practice based research questions do not easily present themselves. Some research is ’iterative’: the researcher must test their assumptions through field work or creative project work before the questions come into focus. In these cases it is important to focus on what your research has to offer others beyond your own personal and professional development.

The research proposal can be a difficult document to write. If you are already in contact with potential supervisors they may read over early drafts and provide advice.

These books might also be helpful in understanding research degrees and how to write a research proposal:

• Evans and Gruba (2002),  How to write a better thesis , Melbourne University Press.
• Denholm and Evans (ed) (2006),  Doctorates Downunder , ACER Press.
• Booth, Colomb and Williams (2003),  The craft of research , University of Chicago Press.
• Dunleavy, P (2003),  Authoring a PhD , Palgrave Macmillan.
• Rugg and Petre (2004),  The unwritten rules of PhD research , Open University Press.

Some programs require more lengthy proposals with additional elements or additional selection tasks, such as the presentation of a portfolio. These are detailed in  Program Overviews .

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

• Levels of study
• Applying to RMIT
• International students
• Careers advisers
• Research contacts
• Staff development and training
• Facilities and equipment services
• Governance and management
• Sustainability
• Schools and colleges
• Copyright © 2024 RMIT University |
• Accessibility |
• Website feedback |
• Complaints |
• ABN 49 781 030 034 |
• CRICOS provider number: 00122A |
• TEQSA provider number: PRV12145 |
• RTO Code: 3046 |
• Open Universities Australia

Study with Us

About western, how to write a research proposal.

Your research proposal is a key component when applying to study a research degree at Western Sydney University. These guidelines are designed to help you prepare your research proposal.

What is a research proposal?

A research proposal is an outline of your research project that:

• Defines a potential research question and your approach to answering it.
• Highlights the originality or significance of the research area.
• Explains how the research will add to, develop, or challenge existing literature and knowledge.
• Describes the importance of the research.
• Describes why you are the right person to undertake the research.

Different disciplines have different requirements and expectations for the research proposal. We recommend that you discuss your research proposal with your proposed supervisor prior to submitting your application.

What is the purpose of the research proposal?

We will use your research proposal to assess the quality and originality of your ideas, your expertise and understanding of the research area, and the overall feasibility of your research project. We will also consider how the project will contribute to the field of research.

Your research proposal provides you with an opportunity to capture the attention of your audience, convince them of the importance of the research, and express your enthusiasm and ability to successfully undertake the project.

Who can help me develop my research proposal?

You will need to identify a potential supervisor and contact them to discuss your research proposal. When you have found a researcher that has a mutual interest or experience in the research area, they will be able to provide input into the design, scope and feasibility of your research project.

You will need to provide a letter of support from your proposed supervisor as part of your application.

How do I structure my research proposal?

1. project title.

There is no set format or length for a research proposal and the content will depend on your experience in the field, the requirements of your discipline and the type of project. It should cover the main headings listed below (unless your discipline recommends otherwise) and be approximately two to five pages in length (excluding references).

2. PROPOSED SUPERVISORS

You should provide the details of a supervisor who you have had a discussion with and that has provided you with a letter of support . Provide a brief description of any initial discussions you have had with the potential supervisor and outline why you would like them to join your supervisory panel. You may choose to list additional supervisors that are interested in joining your supervision panel.

3. BACKGROUND

You should justify your project based on a review of the current literature on the topic. You should discuss the most important books or journal articles, demonstrate your understanding of the issues that need further research, and identify the gaps that your research is intended to address.

4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

You should put forward some questions or problems that you would like to answer in your research project. You should be able to summarise the questions in one or two sentences.

5. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Provide a clear description of the aims and objectives of your research project. It should explain how the questions or problems are to be addressed by your project.

6. METHODOLOGY AND DATA ANALYSIS

Provide an outline of how you plan to undertake the project. You may consider describing a qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods or practice-led approach, how the data or information will be generated, how you expect to analyse the data and indicate any broad theoretical framework you may use in the project.

If your project may involve interacting with humans or animals, you may also choose to address potential ethical considerations or implications.

7. RESEARCH PLAN AND TIMELINE

Summarise the steps that will be required to undertake your research project. You might find it best to establish a set of action items, such as complete a literature review, apply for ethics approval, conduct experiments, analyse results, etc. and estimate how long each step will take to complete. You can use this to provide an approximate timeline of your project from beginning to end, within the confines of the maximum allowable time for your degree.

Your timeline can be based on a monthly or quarterly schedule and the exact dates for the completion of tasks are not required at this stage. Your aim is to demonstrate that the proposed project is feasible in the available candidature time.

8. RESOURCES

Provide an outline of any specialist equipment, access to facilities, travel for fieldwork or other resources that may be required to successfully undertake the project.

9. REFERENCES

You should include a list of all the references that have been used in the proposal.

What are some tips for writing a strong research proposal?

Your research proposal has a direct impact on the overall strength of your application to study a research degree. The following tips and advice may help you to strengthen the quality of your research proposal.

• Clearly articulate your project title, research idea, research questions or problems to be addressed in your proposal. You should write succinctly and persuasively to engage your audience.
• Ensure that you are able to clearly demonstrate a gap in the existing literature or the knowledge in your area of interest.
• You should only approach potential supervisors when you have enough experience or have completed enough background research in your area of interest to have a robust discussion about a potential research project.
• Use your research proposal to demonstrate that you have a clear understanding of your area of research interest, that you can indicate an understanding of the method(s) you will use, and that your approach will be suitable and appropriate to the discipline.
• The scope of your project must be reasonable and achievable. There are limits to the size and complexity of the type of project that can be successfully completed during a research candidature. Your research proposal will be assessed for both intellectual contribution and significance, as well as the potential that it can be completed on-time.
• Demonstrate that you have a passion for the topic. You must be enthusiastic about the area of research and be ready to commit to completing a challenging project within the available candidature time. You will need to be dedicated, focussed and prepared to work hard to achieve the aims and objectives of the project.

Graduate Research School programs

How to apply for a Higher Research Degree

Acknowledgement of Country

With respect for Aboriginal cultural protocol and out of recognition that its campuses occupy their traditional lands, Western Sydney University acknowledges the Darug, Eora, Dharawal (also referred to as Tharawal) and Wiradjuri peoples and thanks them for their support of its work in their lands in Greater Western Sydney and beyond.

• Accessibility
• Complaints Unit
• Admissions Transparency
• Right to Information
• Emergency Help
• 1300 668 370

Website Feedback

Western Sydney University Copyright ©  2004-2024   |   ABN 53 014 069 881  |   CRICOS Provider No: 00917K  |   TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12061 (Australian University)

Develop a research proposal

• Graduate Research Academy
• Level 2, 16 Wally’s Walk
• Macquarie University NSW 2109
• T: +61 (2) 9850 4741
• E: [email protected]

Find a supervisor

Find a senior researcher to support your research journey

Scholarship opportunities

Find out more about research scholarships available to you

Learn how to develop a research proposal

All applicants will be asked to supply a research proposal when submitting an application for a research degree.

Research proposal requirements vary according to the discipline, department or degree. Check with your proposed supervisor and department about their specific requirements.

Further information and advice is available by contacting the relevant faculty .

Requirements by course

Applications for the Master of Research (MRes) require a brief research proposal (approximately one page). This will help the department to identify potential supervisors for you.

Applications for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Master of Philosophy (MPhil) should provide a research proposal that:

• defines the chosen area of study
• details the aims of the proposed research project
• provides an indication of the approach to the research you wish to take.

As a guide, your research proposal should include:

• the proposed project area of research and the issue being addressed
• an indication you have done a preliminary literature review
• the objectives of the research
• a description of a possible methodology that may be relevant to the topic
• a draft completion timeline or plan for the project (aim for a three-year timeframe).

Enough detail is required so the department can determine if it has the resources, including suitably experienced supervisors, to support you as a research student.

It may take several weeks or months to prepare a good research proposal so start the process early.

Other considerations

Approvals or permits.

Your research proposal should also include information about any approvals or permits you may need for the project to proceed.

These may include approvals for research involving:

• human participants
• biosafety or biohazards.

You may also need to consider approvals for the intangible transfer and publication of controlled goods and technology.

Your supervisor will be able to assist you with this process.

Learn more about research ethics and integrity .

Acknowledgement of source material

All source material in your research proposal must be appropriately acknowledged. This includes references to:

• written outputs.

During assessment of your application the University may submit written components of your application to plagiarism detection software (such as Turnitin). The detection of plagiarism in written submissions will result in the rejection of your application.

• Search entire site
• Search for a course
• Browse study areas

Analytics and Data Science

• Data Science and Innovation
• Postgraduate Research Courses
• Business Research Programs
• Undergraduate Business Programs
• Entrepreneurship
• MBA Programs
• Postgraduate Business Programs

Communication

• Animation Production
• Business Consulting and Technology Implementation
• Digital and Social Media
• Media Arts and Production
• Media Business
• Music and Sound Design
• Screen Arts and Production
• Social and Political Sciences
• Strategic Communication
• Writing and Publishing
• Postgraduate Communication Research Degrees

Design, Architecture and Building

• Architecture
• Built Environment
• DAB Research
• Public Policy and Governance
• Secondary Education
• Education (Learning and Leadership)
• Learning Design
• Postgraduate Education Research Degrees
• Primary Education

Engineering

• Civil and Environmental
• Computer Systems and Software
• Engineering Management
• Mechanical and Mechatronic
• Systems and Operations
• Telecommunications
• Postgraduate Engineering courses
• Undergraduate Engineering courses
• Sport and Exercise
• Palliative Care
• Public Health
• Nursing (Undergraduate)
• Nursing (Postgraduate)
• Health (Postgraduate)
• Research and Honours
• Health Services Management
• Child and Family Health
• Women's and Children's Health

Health (GEM)

• Coursework Degrees
• Clinical Psychology
• Genetic Counselling
• Good Manufacturing Practice
• Physiotherapy
• Speech Pathology
• Research Degrees

Information Technology

• Business Analysis and Information Systems
• Computer Science, Data Analytics/Mining
• Games, Graphics and Multimedia
• IT Management and Leadership
• Networking and Security
• Software Development and Programming
• Systems Design and Analysis
• Web and Cloud Computing
• Postgraduate IT courses
• Postgraduate IT online courses
• Undergraduate Information Technology courses
• International Studies
• Criminology
• International Relations
• Postgraduate International Studies Research Degrees
• Sustainability and Environment
• Practical Legal Training
• Commercial and Business Law
• Juris Doctor
• Legal Studies
• Master of Laws
• Intellectual Property
• Migration Law and Practice
• Overseas Qualified Lawyers
• Postgraduate Law Programs
• Postgraduate Law Research
• Undergraduate Law Programs
• Life Sciences
• Mathematical and Physical Sciences
• Postgraduate Science Programs
• Science Research Programs
• Undergraduate Science Programs

Transdisciplinary Innovation

• Creative Intelligence and Innovation
• Diploma in Innovation
• Postgraduate Research Degree
• Transdisciplinary Learning

How to Write a Research Proposal

What is the aim of a research proposal.

When you apply for a PhD or a master’s research degree, you will be required to write a research proposal. You will propose a topic area for research, explain the main elements of this research, and communicate a feasible plan for completing the stages of the research. A research proposal will achieve two main aims:

• Identify a research area that will make a significant contribution to knowledge
• Demonstrate that the expected outcomes can be achieved in a timely manner

What are the elements of a research proposal?

When you write a research proposal, you are communicating the value of your research to your discipline, as well as articulating your plan for achieving the requirements of the degree.

The main elements of a research proposal are:

A valuable research topic

A clear methodology, a feasible timeline, subject knowledge and research, awareness of all expectations related to the degree.

click on each arrow to find out more.

This is the ‘what’ of your research proposal. A valuable research topic is one that will make a significant contribution to knowledge. Often this topic will stem from your own interest – the questions you have in a particular discipline that are, as yet, unanswered. However, sometimes your research around a topic will reveal an aspect of this discipline which requires further research, and you will come to your research question this way. Regardless of how you arrive at your research question, you need to make a case for your topic being one which is worthy of research – that is, you need to make a case that your research into this topic will make a significant contribution to knowledge.

This is the ‘how’ of your research proposal. You will need to articulate the methodology or techniques you will use to conduct your research. These techniques may be based on techniques that are frequently used during research processes in your discipline. You will need to articulate any theoretical frameworks you will use, and any resources or tools you will need to conduct your research or collect data.

This is the ‘when’ of your research proposal. You will only have a set amount of time in which to undertake research, and you need to prove that the outcomes of the project are achievable.

The research proposal is an opportunity to demonstrate you have significant knowledge in the research area. You are not meant to prove you already know the answer to your question – otherwise, what would be the point of your research? Instead, you need to show that you understand the research area and discipline.

Depending on the nature of what you are researching, there will be a range of expectations you will be required to meet, to achieve your degree. These may include, but are not limited to: fieldwork, travel, conference participation, completion of training or additional study units, and ethics considerations. Your research proposal will be strengthened if you can articulate your awareness of all aspects of the research process, and if you can identify any potential challenges you might face throughout the process.

How do I write a strong research proposal?

An effective research proposal will be clear and focused. The precise structural requirements of a proposal in your area will be specific to your discipline, and you need to be clear on these before setting out.

The following can be used as a guide to structuring and writing a compelling research proposal.

Project title

Supervisor details, proposed mode of research, research question, aims and objectives, anticipated research contribution, methodology, ethical considerations, bibliography.

This should indicate the breadth and scope of your project. The project title is often refined throughout the research process.

Include the full names, departments and faculties of both your primary and auxiliary supervisor.

Describe the mode of your research and the form your research will take. This may include, but is not limited to, data, written work, field research, creative work, social performance and mixed media.

Questions to ask yourself:

• What will my research look like?
• What form will my research take?
• How many parts will there be to my research?
• How is my proposed research different/similar to existing works?

For many research proposals, you will be required to formulate the objectives of the research into a clear research question. Make sure you have a thorough understanding of the components of a strong research question in your field. Your research supervisor should be able to help you with this. It is also a good idea to look at the research questions of students who have successfully completed a similar project.

These should be focused statements articulating the output of your research – what you want to achieve. The aims and objectives should be written in a logical way. You should also indicate the scope of your research and include its limitations.

• What am I trying to achieve with this research?
• What do I want the end result of the research to be?
• What will be excluded from my research?
• What are the gaps that my research is addressing?

This is a brief summary of what your research is about. While it is similar to your aims and objectives, it also incorporates how you will achieve your aims and gives an overall idea of what your project will involve.

This is the ‘why’ of your research proposal. Once you’re clear on what you want to research, you’ll need to give a clear idea of the area you’ll be researching. This will involve writing a literature review, which is an overview of the relevant literature in this area. The review doesn’t need to cover everything around your topic – but needs to give a clear and accurate picture of the field you are researching so that you can show how your research fits in.

• What is the context around this research topic?
• What has led to the development of this research?
• What is the current discourse around this topic?
• What questions are scholars asking?
• What are the major problems in this area of study?
• What are the most recent developments in this area of study?

This should give your reader a strong sense of the conclusions you expect to reach, as well as an idea of how they will add to the body of knowledge in your field. While these will likely change over time, it is important that you have a firm idea at the beginning of the project about the ways in which (you hope) your research will contribute to current thinking. This also indicates to your reader that you are thinking about the implications of your research beyond the scope of your project.

• What is the significance of my project in the field?
• What impact will my findings have in the problem area?
• How will my research contribute to current debates?
• What impact might my research have on how research is conducted in future?

This is the part of your project where you explain how you will achieve the results. It is important when describing the methodology that you make a case to show that carrying out your research in this way is the best approach. It is a good idea to consider the theories and methods which were used for similar research projects, so you have an idea about how scholars have approached similar problems. You need to be specific about how you are going to approach the research and show how these steps will move you towards achieving the research outcomes.

• What tasks am I going to carry out?
• Will your methodology be qualitative, quantitative or mixed-method?
• How am I going to collect my data?
• What theories have other researchers used?
• What methods have other researchers used?
• Why is the method I am proposing the best approach?
• Are there any limitations of this methodology I need to be aware of?
• Are there any ethical considerations I need to be aware of?

This is a specific plan which communicates your strategy to complete the research over a specified period. It is important to be as clear as possible, and to allocate clear outcomes or performance indicators at each stage. It is a good idea to include key meetings and performance reviews in this plan, so check with your faculty about what is expected. Completing this will also give you a clear idea of the overall process and can help you manage your time effectively.

This is a complete list of the tools you will need to carry out your research. This will differ depending on the type of research proposes, but may include laboratory equipment, computer software, or any other equipment required to conduct the research effectively.

It is important to be aware of all ethical considerations related to your research. If you are unsure whether aspects of your project require ethics approval, check with your supervisor or faculty. The ethics approval process is often lengthy and time-consuming, and you will need to be aware of all the stages involved in this.

This is a complete list of sources you have referred to in your proposal, referenced according to the style of referencing you are required to use.

Back to top

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.

You're viewing this site as a domestic an international student

You're a domestic student if you are:

• a citizen of Australia or New Zealand,
• an Australian permanent resident, or
• a holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa.

You're an international student if you are:

• intending to study on a student visa,
• not a citizen of Australia or New Zealand,
• not an Australian permanent resident, or
• a temporary resident (visa status) of Australia.

How to get a PhD

Study tips Published 5 Apr, 2022  ·  4-minute read

Trying to wrap your head around how PhD programs work? We don’t blame you. Sometimes it feels like you need a PhD just to figure out how to get a PhD.

So, with a little help from our academics and some UQ PhD candidates, we’ve broken down the application and preparation process into 10 manageable steps:

• Make sure you’re eligible
• Choose your topic
• Find your PhD supervisors
• Write your PhD proposal
• Look for PhD scholarships
• Plan your study schedule
• Determine if you'll continue working during your PhD
• Gather required documents and apply online
• Get accepted
• Prepare yourself for success

Let’s discuss how to get a PhD in Australia – from choosing your topic to submitting your application. Just keep in mind that some of this information is specifically about how to apply for a PhD at UQ. It’s still a useful guide in general, but the PhD application process may vary at other Australian universities.

1. Make sure you're eligible

To be considered for a PhD program, you’ll need at least one of these:

• a bachelor’s degree with honours or standalone honours degree, achieving IIA (second class, A division) honours or higher; or
• a research master’s degree (like the Master of Philosophy ) or a coursework master’s degree that includes relevant research experience; or
• an approved degree, plus evidence of at least 2 years of relevant research experience .

If you don’t currently meet any of these criteria, consider how you might accrue some research experience prior to applying for your PhD. For example, you might be able to start with a Master of Philosophy and then progress into a PhD. Or perhaps you could complete an independent research project for your business, industry or government to build your research portfolio.

Check all our PhD entry requirements or explore how you can get a PhD without honours

2. Choose your topic

Whether you’re diving deeper into a familiar subject or branching out into a new area of interest, you’ll want to settle on your PhD topic sooner rather than later. Finding a niche that sparks your curiosity is important for ensuring you’ll stay inspired during the 3+ years ahead.

Keep in mind that you generally have 2 options here. You can complete a PhD by:

• joining a proposed/advertised research project in an area that interests you
• proposing your own project that aligns with your specific goals.

Get tips for choosing your PhD topic or explore available research projects at UQ

3. Find your PhD supervisors

Choosing the right people to guide you through your PhD might just be the most crucial step in the process. This is also where things can go quite differently depending on whether you’re a current student at the university where you want to do your PhD.

If you’re a current student, there’s a fair chance you’ve already met or even studied under the academic who will become your primary supervisor. You’ve got the inside scoop on who teaches which courses at the uni, and you may already have an idea of whose personality and teaching style would suit you well.

If you’re approaching your PhD from outside the uni, you’ve got a bit of extra research to do. But as an aspiring PhD candidate, a little extra research is unlikely to deter you. By shortlisting and contacting prospective supervisors based on their areas of interest and existing projects, you can narrow down your options and find the best match.

Learn how to find the right PhD supervisor

4. Write your PhD proposal

Check with your supervisor to see if they require a formal PhD proposal (most will, but not all). If so, with their guidance, it’s time to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard).

Even if your supervisor doesn't explicitly ask for one, a PhD proposal is a valuable document for outlining the scope of your research and giving your project its initial momentum – so it might be worth writing one either way.

Learn how to write a good PhD proposal

5. Look for PhD scholarships

Dedicating yourself to research sometimes means sacrificing your income in the short term, though it can lead to more financial security in the long term . To help support yourself during your studies, you can apply for PhD scholarships and funding.

These scholarships sometimes have specific deadlines, so make sure to take note of these and adjust your projected study plan accordingly.

Learn how to get a PhD scholarship

6. Plan your study schedule

To complete your PhD within the standard 3.5-year* timeframe, you'll need to be organised with a clear project plan.

*In special cases, you may be able to request an extension of your tuition for up to 4 years, but that is the maximum time allowed for a PhD.

Part of this planning phase will be determining how soon you can start your research. At UQ, you’ll be commenced from the start of one of our 4 research quarters:

• January – March
• April – June
• July – September
• October – December.

Expect to begin your research as soon as you have completed your onboarding activities.

You should submit your application at least 12 weeks prior to the research quarter when you’re hoping to start your PhD or in the scholarship round aligned with your proposed commencing research quarter (this may be even earlier than 12 weeks prior).

Explore how long it takes to get a PhD

7. Determine if you'll continue working during your PhD

Some PhD candidates continue doing part-time or casual work while completing their research. However, this isn't easy and may not be feasible in most cases; it takes serious time-management skills to juggle any kind of job alongside a full-time PhD.

So, carefully consider whether you’d like to keep working in some capacity or commit your attention fully to your research. It may help to weigh up how much your PhD will cost, as well as your expected living expenses while you study, against how much you’ll receive from your scholarship.

Learn more about working while doing a PhD or explore how much a PhD costs

8. Gather required documents and apply

It’s time to jump online and do the official application process. Aside from your research proposal, you should also prepare to provide your:

• academic CV
• academic transcript
• degree certificate(s)
• English language documents (if needed)
• ID (such as a passport)
• two references / letters of recommendation from people who can comment on your research experience.

Check which documents you’ll need to provide

9. Get accepted 🤞

It can take up to 12 weeks to get a response to your application, but hopefully the anxious wait will all be worth it. Either way, you’ll get a notification from the application portal to let you know the outcome.

When you receive your offer letter, make sure to read it carefully and follow the instructions provided to accept your offer and get your research started. You should also contact your supervisor to let them know you’ve gotten the offer – they’ve likely been just as anxious as you have!

Upon acceptance into the PhD program, you’ll be expected to start in the research quarter noted on your offer letter. If your circumstances have changed, you can notify us and you may be able to delay commencement and start in the following research quarter instead, but you won’t be able to defer more than once.

What if my application isn’t approved?

It can be disappointing to have your PhD application rejected, and due to the large number of applications, you may not receive detailed feedback. We suggest speaking with your nominated supervisor. They may be able to provide ideas to enhance your CV and help you decide whether it’s worthwhile reapplying. After all, you may have just been part of a particularly competitive application period – and there are only so many PhD scholarships that can be awarded.

10. Prepare yourself for success

We know you’ve already got what it takes, but there are some skills and attributes you could cultivate or practise to make your upcoming journey a little smoother. While you’re waiting for the outcome of your application, you could set some time aside to work on developing the traits and habits that will help you succeed as a PhD candidate.

Discover what makes a good PhD student

Once all these pieces come together, you’ll be on your way to starting your research journey. We can’t wait to see the discoveries you’ll uncover, the results you’ll achieve and the impact you’ll make with your PhD.

Submit your PhD application

Share this Facebook X LinkedIn Email

Related stories

How to decide on a PhD topic

4-minute read

How to find a PhD supervisor

5-minute read

How to write a good PhD proposal

How to get a PhD scholarship or funding

3-minute read

We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you personalised advertising. To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy

• Academic skills and study support
• Online study skills resources
• Assessments

Research proposals

This resource will describe what a research proposal is, its purpose and what a basic structure of a research proposal looks like.

What is a research proposal?

A research proposal is a written outline of your proposed research project. It defines a clear question that you intend to answer, highlights your work’s significance, explains how it adds to existing literature and persuades potential supervisors or funders why your research is needed. In your proposal you are expected to:

• Show engagement in genuine and worthwhile enquiry
• Show an in-depth knowledge of existing literature and schools of thought
• Establish a methodological approach and theoretical orientation
• Show an understanding of possible ethical, technical and financial issues of your intended research

Why write a research proposal?

A research proposal is intended to be read by potential supervisors and academic committees to understand the scope, originality and quality of your intended research. A supervisor uses a proposal to assess your knowledge of existing literature and how you intend to add or enhance that particular field of enquiry. Although your proposal should include a clear outline, the main priority of your proposal is to convince potential supervisors of the ‘gap’ that your research intends to fill. In some disciplines, however, you may not be required to fill this ‘gap’ but to extend or challenge existing positions on knowledge.

Structure of a research proposal

Whether you need all of the sections listed below will depend on the scope of your research and/or your particular discipline. It is also possible that the order or some sections will change so it is important to consult with your school or faculty about their required guidelines.

• Proposed thesis title. A good thesis title is descriptive, concise and contains key words that can be easily identified.
• Table of contents. The table of contents lists all the sections of the proposal with their relevant page numbers. It will usually have a hierarchy of titles and subtitles.
• Background. In the background section of your proposal, you should provide a brief political, social or historical context, which orientates your reader to your topic.
• Research question. Clearly state the question(s) you intend to answer through your research.
• Purpose & aims. State clearly the purpose of the study and outline your aims.
• Significance. This section of the proposal explains the significance of your project, following on from the background. You should demonstrate why your research is useful and relevant.
• Literature review. Show awareness and good understanding of what has been written before you on your topic. This section does not need to be extensive in a proposal but should highlight the main ideas, concepts and theories.
• Research design (theoretical and methodological approaches). In this section you should provide an outline of the theoretical and methodological approach you will take when researching and why these are necessary. You must also demonstrate your understanding and awareness of any ethical issues.
• Timeline or plan. Provide a timeline or plan of how you will complete your research within the time available, including deadlines for completion of essential items. This component is not required in every discipline but may be useful for you to complete anyway.
• Expected outcomes. In this section, you should include a brief prediction of the outcomes of your study. You should also demonstrate that you have anticipated potential problems in data collection and/or in the ultimate outcomes.
• References. List the works that have been consulted thus far.

Planning a research proposal

 The three main points you should cover in a research proposal are as follows:

• Problem. What am I trying to find? (Research question)
• Contribution. Why is it worth doing?
• Design. How am I going to find it?

Additional resources

• Literature reviews

Research proposal, thesis, exegesis, and journal article writing for business, social science and humanities (BSSH) research degree candidates

Topic outline, research proposal guidelines.

Purpose of research proposal

Evaluation criteria, review process, introduction, literature review, research design, additional information.

The idea of 'originality' is integral to research, and is also reflected in University guidelines and examination procedures for research degrees. In order to contribute to research it is necessary to do so in a way that is current or new. Research must be new in the sense that it is up to date with, and contributes something to existing research in the discipline on the topic area. For this reason, PhDs, Masters and Professional Doctorates by research are granted on the basis that the research makes 'an original contribution to knowledge' in a discipline. The research proposal process is designed to enable the University to ensure that the proposed research will fulfil the expected requirements of the degree and fall within its mission statement.

The research proposal process also serves to ensure that research is conducted in an efficient manner. The research proposal is used to:

• generate useful feedback before the research commences, thereby avoiding problems and delays down the track;
• ensure that you and your supervisors are clear about the proposed research;
• enable the university to determine that the research can be completed within the given time frame and resource limitations;
• inform ethics clearance, and to introduce your research to others within your local area and at conferences or other contexts.

At the University of South Australia, research students write a research proposal in the first six months of full-time candidature or in the first 12 months of part-time candidature. Professional Doctorate by Research students write their research proposal before the commencement of the research component of the degree. Successful completion of the research proposal is necessary in order to move from 'provisional' to 'confirmed' candidature status.

The proposal outlines the research as it is envisaged at the beginning of the research process. The research project may change shape somewhat as you progress your ideas, and it is not expected that the final thesis will conform exactly to what was proposed in the first six months of candidature.

The Academic Regulations for PhD and Masters outline the evaluation criteria by which examiners assess the final research thesis:

• demonstration of critical analysis and original thought in all aspects of the study;
• demonstration of comprehensive and detailed knowledge of the literature and theory relevant to the field of study;
• appropriate research methodologies;
• the extent to which the thesis offers a significant original contribution to knowledge and/or to the application of knowledge within the field of study;
• clarity of expression,
• accuracy and appropriateness of presentation of results,
• quality and relevance of illustrative material (such as graphs, tables, illustrations),
• relevance and accuracy of citations, references,
• development of a coherent argument;
• worthiness of the thesis for publication.

In order to ensure that the proposed research will meet these requirements, reviewers evaluate research proposals with four key questions in their minds:

Structure of the research proposal

The content and structure of the research proposal is designed to answer the key questions of reviewers:

• What problem, issue or concern does the research address?
• How will the research contribute to existing knowledge?
• How will the research achieve its stated objectives?
• Is the research do-able within the given time and resource constraints? Are there any special considerations that affect the feasibility of the research?

Good research proposals address these questions by showing that the research:

• addresses a problem, issue, concern or conundrum;
• provides new knowledge that will contribute to existing understandings;
• adopts a method and methodology appropriate to the research question;
• can be successfully completed within the given time, resource and other research constraints.

Reviewer concerns are typically addressed in research proposals in the following sections which also accord with the key questions introduced above: introduction, literature review, research design, and additional information.

• Introduction─includes statement of the 'problem' or contextual background, definition of key terminology, description of the field of literature, as well as a summary of the gap in the literature, a statement of the aims, and a summary of the research design.
• Literature review─reviews previous research to highlight what is 'significant' about your research, or outlines the contribution the research will make to a body of literature.
• Methods and methodology─explains how the research design will fulfill the aims of the research or answer the research question, and addresses any ethical considerations or non-standard resource implications arising within the research process.
• Additional information─a proposed time line for the research, budget, references, bibliography, and appendices which may contain protocols, information sheets and other information to support the proposal.

In general, research proposals are organised into the following sections:

• introduction (sometimes also called 'background', 'context', or 'project description'),
• literature (and artefact) review (or heading that reflects content of the review, for example: 'sociological studies of play'),
• methodology and methods, 'research design', creative practice (or heading that reflects the research approach, for example: 'Auto-ethnography and palliative care'),
• proposed timeline,
• references (works cited),
• bibliography (list of all relevant sources),
• appendices.

University guidelines suggest that the research proposal contain the following elements.

Statement of the research topic and rationale for the research including:

• explanation of why the topic is important,
• proposed thesis title,
• review of relevant research and theory,
• explanation of why the literature and artefacts cited are important to the research,
• research hypothesis or topic (clear indication of the focus of the research).

Research methodology including:

• information about the theoretical or conceptual framework that will be employed,
• analytical techniques and research design,
• timetable or project plan,
• ethical considerations,
• trial table of contents (one or two pages),
• brief bibliography.

Word limits are designed to discipline the researcher to write with focus and clarity. Many research proposal guidelines allocate word limits to the sections of the proposal, with the majority going in the literature review and methodology sections. At the University of South Australia the word limit for the research proposal is between 10 and 20 pages in length. As a rough guide, a Masters level research proposal is around 3000 words and a PhD 4500 words. You might break down the word limit into the following sections: introduction─500; literature review─1000; methods─1000; other elements of the proposal─500. As you can see, this makes each section quite small requiring that you prioritise the information and present it in as clear and concise a manner as possible.

The process for reviewing research proposals differs according to the level of formality, the institutional context and the involvement of particular people or groups of people. A review may include some combination of the following:

• an oral presentation at a seminar or colloquia,
• a presentation to reviewer/s,
• discussion with a review panel,
• an independent reviewer,
• a scored assessment,
• a written assessment.

At the University of South Australia, review processes vary across local areas. It is therefore important to consult web sites, your supervisor, and the Research Education Portfolio Leader (REPL) in your local area for more information about what is expected.

There are however some common features within the review process at the University.

Deadlines for research proposals at the University are set early in the candidature and are recorded in the Statement of Agreement. If the deadline cannot be met, you may receive an extension of up to three months, as long as this is requested one month in advance of the submission deadline.

The supervisor must approve the proposal before it is lodged with the REPL in your local area.

The proposal is then reviewed by a panel to determine whether the proposal:

• has been accepted,
• requires amendments before it can be accepted and the candidature can be confirmed,
• should not be accepted and the student should be suspended (this is rare!).

Following the review process, the panel makes a recommendation to the Dean of Graduate Studies who will write to let you know of the outcome. If the proposal requires amendments, the candidate and supervisor work together to revise the proposal in light of the panel's comments. A new deadline is set within which this must occur. If the proposal is rejected, you can apply for readmission to the degree.

Feedback on all proposals is usually provided in written form. Generally, feedback relates to the extent to which a proposal meets the requirements outlined above, and the clarity with which the elements of the proposal have been explained. Even where the proposal is accepted, changes are often suggested that will strengthen the research and these will need to be incorporated into the proposal and the research thesis.

The research proposal can be thought of as a working document which will be redrafted to form the introduction of the research thesis.

Content of the research proposal

The introduction contains:

• a succinct statement of the topic (opening sentence);
• an explanation of the problem or issue motivating the research;
• reference to the field or fields of study the research grows out of and aims to contribute to (in terms that are widely recognised both within and beyond the field, for example, 'early childhood education');
• a summary overview statement of the focus or approach of previous literature and research in the field of study;
• a concise description of the 'gap' within the literature (this will then be repeated at the end of the literature review section of the proposal);
• a concise statement of one of the following─research hypothesis, question, aim or objectives;
• a concise description of the methods and methodology or approach to creative practice (similar to what is provided in the introduction of the method and methodology section of the proposal);
• concise definitions of any specialist terms used throughout the proposal.

The literature review section contains:

• an introduction to the central concerns or questions in the literature;
• a discussion of existing knowledge and approaches in the field to date;
• a description of similarities and differences in approaches within the literature;
• an argument for a 'gap', an unresolved question, controversy or issue within the literature;
• a statement of what the proposed research aims to offer to the existing field of literature.

The research design contains, depending on the nature of the research, information about:

• underlying research rationale or methodology;
• definition of terminology specific to the research design;
• description of the methods used;
• description of the research phases and the relationship between the research phases;
• key concepts, themes related to art/literary work;
• creative process and narrative structure/materials/symbolism/use of space for creative work;
• study setting─naturalistic or contrived;
• time horizon─snapshot, longitudinal, retrospective, multiple points in time;
• pilot project information and results that shaped the research design;
• selection criteria for research participants/organisations/texts (sample selection, criteria for inclusions and exclusions);
• limitations of the research (generalisability, experimental skews, definitional and purpose limitations);
• information about the selection process (means by which information sources will be negotiated and accessed);
• any equipment, special techniques, measures, measurement scales;
• information about how data will be analysed;
• non-standard ethical considerations arising from the research, if any (potential for exploitation, harm or coercion of research subjects or of the researcher, undue pain or distress to animals, use of hazardous substances);
• non-standard resource requirements.

If there are any factors that could influence on-time completion of the research, these must be identified and discussed in the research design or within an additional section of the research proposal following the research design. Factors affecting the feasibility of the research could include:

• access to non-standard resources and equipment (travel, expensive items, specialised technical facilities and expertise);
• special features such as joint research, (specify the names, titles and organizations of co-researchers, the precise nature of their commitment to the project, and how the research relates to the larger project);
• special needs of the researcher, for example needs arising from a disability (specify equipment needed, and other implications for the conduct of the research).

Following the research design section, all research proposals should include a succinct, provisional outline of what you propose to have produced or achieved every six months.

When developing a timeline it is useful to work backwards. The first thing to do is to set and record the submission date with your supervisor. It is safest to choose the earliest possible date. Although you might have cause to apply for an extension later down the track, you should not start your research with this assumption.

The next step is to work out what needs to be done during this time. On top of actually devising and doing the research, and gathering and analysing literature and data, you will probably need to write at least three complete drafts of your thesis. The first one will take the longest, and the second a little less. The third draft is quicker, involving filling in gaps, improving the flow of the story line, and finalising formatting and editing changes.

Some tips in determining timelines:

• Most people underestimate the time it takes to write by about 30%. If you have allowed six months, it will probably take eight.
• Do not assume that everything will run smoothly─build in contingency time (extensions are generally granted for extraordinary circumstances that affect the research process only).
• Be careful not to over-estimate your concentration span. Some research projects go for two or three years full-time, twice that if part-time. This is a long time to maintain focus. The best idea is to build in some ‘time-out’ for yourself. Full-time candidates are entitled to four weeks recreation leave, as well as to sick leave and some other leave entitlements. Be sure to allow time for recreation leave in your work plan.

Chronological Timeline

Below is an example of a timeline for a quantitative research project.

March─August 1999

Write research proposal Commence literature search Research degrees candidates annual seminar

September 1999─February 2000

Submit Ethics application Draft introduction Commence thesis literature review Recruit subjects

March 2000─October 2000

Data collection and analysis Continue writing literature review

November 2000─March 2001

Complete data collection Complete data entry Complete data analysis

April 2001─October 2001

Submit abstract for conference Attend conference Write up results Write up discussion

November 2001─March 2002

Edit thesis Submit thesis Final review

References and appendices

Don't forget to include:

• a trial table of contents;
• reference list in appropriate style for your discipline area (if in doubt, use the referencing style of the leading journal in your area);
• a bibliography─optional (includes other major works in the field that will be drawn upon);
• appendices, attached in the order in which they appear in the proposal, with the same label in the appendix and in the body of the writing (appendices can include chapter outlines and thesis structure, research instruments, information sheets, consent forms, letters and email drafts for recruiting research participants).

In essence, the research proposal is designed to ensure the success of the University's mission, to produce research and scholarship that improves our understanding of important concerns, as well as the candidate's progress through the higher degree to successful completion. Reviewer/s want to be reassured that:

• the research will fulfil the degree requirements (the research is important, new in a well-defined discipline area and appropriately conceived);
• the necessary resources are available;
• the research will be finished on time.

The resources in this series provide information about how to write each of the major sections of the research proposal: the introduction, the literature review and the research design.

This resource was developed by Wendy Bastalich and Deb King.

• myGriffith | 
• Staff Portal | 

Ask Us > Future student

Future students

How do i prepare a research proposal to apply for admission to a higher degree by research (hdr) program.

Your research question will provide the key research focus for the full duration of your degree, so it is important that you consult a wide variety of resources and select a topic you feel highly motivated to investigate.

Narrow your focus to a single research topic. Once you have connected with your prospective supervisor, it is important that you seek their input and advice on your research proposal. If you are joining an established research project, your prospective supervisor will assist you to prepare your research proposal.

• dissertation/thesis title
• summary of project (max 100 words)
• rationale - brief review of relevant research in the field
• statement of the principal focus of intended research
• significance of the study
• intended methodology and project feasibility
• anticipated project costs (if required by your enrolling school)
• any requirements for specialist equipment or resources

For more information about how to apply and to download an application guide, visit the research study website.

Was this answer helpful?

Published answers.

• How do I apply for admission to a higher degree by research (HDR) program?
• How long will it take to process my higher degree by research (HDR) application for admission?
• When can I apply for a higher degree by research (HDR) program?
• Where can I find advice on higher degree by research (HDR) programs?
• If I am unsuccessful in gaining admission to the Conservatorium, how do I improve my chances for next year?

Answer ID: 3354

• Ask a question
• Privacy policy  | 
• Copyright matters  | 
• CRICOS Provider - 00233E

Gold Coast • Logan • Brisbane | Australia

Phd-Study-In-Australia

• Applying for a PhD in Australia

Written by Sarah Hastings-Woodhouse

The first step in 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 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.

Entry requirements

You'll normally need a Bachelors and Masters degree in a relevant subject to apply for a PhD in Australia. Universities may admit you without a Masters, but this is less likely.

Individual universities will set their own requirements and application process, but you can expect to submit some or all of the following:

• Evidence of your previous qualifications (these may need to be certified by your previous university or universities)
• A research proposal (if you are putting forward your own PhD topic)
• A 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.

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.

For ticks and tricks on acing your PhD interview, check out our blog from PhD student Isabel , who has experience of being both interviewer and interviewee!

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.

For advice covering everything from writing your research proposal to choosing references , have a browse of our guides on applying for a PhD .

Sarah Hastings-Woodhouse

Sarah joined FindAPhD as a Content Writer in 2021 and produces polished and thoroughly researched pages to inspire and inform prospective postgraduate students. In her time at FindAPhD, she has gained a comprehensive understanding of the postgraduate journey and has engaged with hundreds of prospective postgraduates while manning the advice stand at our popular study fairs.

You may also like...

A guide to everything you need to know about working in Australia both during and after your postgraduate degree.

You can earn up to AUS$760 per fortnight while studying a postgraduate course in Australia. Find out about the Austudy payments including eligibility criteria, applications and amounts.

A quick guide covering everything you need to know about driving in Australia as an international student, including licensing, costs and more.

Australian universities have two prominent intakes. In this guide, we take a look at the February intake. We have information about important dates and application timelines

FindAPhD. Copyright 2005-2024 All rights reserved.

Unknown    ( change )

Have you got time to answer some quick questions about PhD study?

Select your nearest city

You haven’t completed your profile yet. To get the most out of FindAPhD, finish your profile and receive these benefits:

• Monthly chance to win one of ten £10 Amazon vouchers ; winners will be notified every month.*
• The latest PhD projects delivered straight to your inbox
• Access to our £6,000 scholarship competition
• Weekly newsletter with funding opportunities, research proposal tips and much more
• Early access to our physical and virtual postgraduate study fairs

Or begin browsing FindAPhD.com

or begin browsing FindAPhD.com

*Offer only available for the duration of your active subscription, and subject to change. You MUST claim your prize within 72 hours, if not we will redraw.

Create your account

Looking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here .

How to apply for postgraduate research

A degree in research is called a ‘higher degree by research’ (HDR) and includes the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), a Joint PhD and Master's by research/Master of Philosophy (MPhil).

Follow the below steps to apply for a research degree as a domestic or international research student.

Please note, this applies unless you are interested in the  Sydney Law School  or the  Business School , in which case you apply for your course first and if successful are allocated a supervisor.

Please note, this applies unless you are interested in the  Sydney Law School  or the  Business School , in which case you apply for your course first and if successful are allocated a supervisor.

On this page

Step 1: determine eligibility and suitable course, step 2: develop your research proposal, step 3: find a supervisor, step 4: submit official application online, documentation to include in your application, scholarships to support your research degree, further information.

To be eligible to pursue postgraduate research study you will need previous research experience and a high academic record. You need to have undertaken a significant research project or thesis in your previous university-level studies.

This could be the equivalent of:

• an Australian honours degree
• a master’s by research degree
• a master’s by coursework with a thesis component (dissertation)

We also consider your undergraduate performance. You will need a bachelor's degree with first or upper second-class honours. Below is a guide based on the University of Sydney grading system, equivalent requirements will be determined for other institutions:

• WAM of 75 over degree
• Honours class I WAM greater than 80
• Honours class II WAM between 75 and 80

English language requirements depend on the course, your country of origin and educational background. Find out if you need to prove  English language proficiency .

To be eligible to pursue postgraduate research study you will need previous research experience and a high academic record. You need to have undertaken a significant research project or thesis in your previous university-level studies.

English language requirements depend on the course, your country of origin and educational background. Find out if you need to prove  English language proficiency .

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

To apply for a PhD, you need to demonstrate sufficient prior research experience and capability. In most cases, you will have either:

• a bachelor's degree with first or upper second-class honours, or
• a master's degree performed at a high academic standard, which includes a substantial component of research, or
• an equivalent qualification that demonstrates research experience, excellence and capability.

Master’s by research/Master of Philosophy

In most cases, to apply for a master’s by research or a Master of Philosophy, you need to have one of the following:

• a bachelor’s degree with first or second-class honours from the University of Sydney or another approved institution
• an equivalent qualification that demonstrates sufficient research experience and capability.

If you’re interested in a Joint PhD program, you need to follow the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) application steps 1-3. In addition, your proposed supervisor will need to complete a proposal to negotiate a student agreement form. If accepted, you will also be required to sign an individual student agreement. After your student agreement is finalised, you will then be sent an application form for the Joint PhD program.

Please refer to the University's  Dual and Joint Degree Policy  for full policy details.

Please refer to the University's  Dual and Joint Degree Policy  for full policy details.

Joint PhD Programs Factsheet

Carefully consider the subject of your research project and start to develop a research proposal to provide to potential academic supervisors. Your initial proposal will likely evolve, however, it is important to clearly explain your ideas about your research, show why your research is noteworthy and how it aligns with your proposed supervisor’s own research. \n

Carefully consider the subject of your research project and start to develop a research proposal to provide to potential academic supervisors. Your initial proposal will likely evolve, however, it is important to clearly explain your ideas about your research, show why your research is noteworthy and how it aligns with your proposed supervisor’s own research.

Before you submit your application, you must first secure a supervisor. This applies unless you are interested in the  Sydney Law School  or the  Business School , in which case you apply for your course first and if successful are allocated a supervisor.

You can search for supervisors’ contact details via their academic profile, or you can  search for supervisors and projects  by discipline, keywords, and research themes. Our  faculty  and  research centre websites  are also good places to start. \r\n

To support your enquiry, send an email describing your academic background and research experience, the topic you'd like to research and how your research project aligns with the work of your proposed supervisor. You must include your resume/CV, academic transcripts for all degrees and your initial research proposal. Please check your Higher Degree by Research course page on  Sydney Courses  for specific faculty requirements.

Before you submit your application, you must first secure a supervisor. This applies unless you are interested in the  Sydney Law School  or the  Business School , in which case you apply for your course first and if successful are allocated a supervisor.

You can search for supervisors’ contact details via their academic profile, or you can  search for supervisors and projects  by discipline, keywords, and research themes. Our  faculty  and  research centre websites  are also good places to start.

To support your enquiry, send an email describing your academic background and research experience, the topic you'd like to research and how your research project aligns with the work of your proposed supervisor. You must include your resume/CV, academic transcripts for all degrees and your initial research proposal. Please check your Higher Degree by Research course page on  Sydney Courses  for specific faculty requirements.

Postgraduate research degree applications are open all year round, with most  research intakes  starting in Research Period 2 (March) and Research Period 3 (July).

However, to be considered for the RTP stipend you will need to submit your application by  these dates . You can still submit your course application past the RTP deadline but you will not receive a stipend outcome until the next round of RTP rankings.

Please check your course page on  Sydney Courses  for the research periods your faculty offers. We recommend applying as early as possible prior to your intended start date, and you will also need to discuss your start date with your supervisor.

International students are recommended to factor in the Department of Home Affairs visa processing times when considering a likely start date for their HDR course.

Postgraduate research degree applications are open all year round, with most  research intakes  starting in Research Period 2 (March) and Research Period 3 (July).

However, to be considered for the RTP stipend you will need to submit your application by  these dates . You can still submit your course application past the RTP deadline but you will not receive a stipend outcome until the next round of RTP rankings.

Please check your course page on  Sydney Courses  for the research periods your faculty offers. We recommend applying as early as possible prior to your intended start date, and you will also need to discuss your start date with your supervisor.

When you have secured a supervisor, you will discuss and refine the project together. Once your research proposal is finalised, gather all the essential documents that you will need to submit with your application: \n

• Final research proposal. In conjunction with your supervisor, you’ll finalise your research proposal of up to 2000 words, covering the objectives and significance of your research. Refer to our  Research Proposal Guidelines .
• Official academic transcripts in the original language and English translation.
• Proof of English language proficiency if English is not your first language.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume.
• Evidence that a primary supervisor has agreed to supervise you. This could be a copy of the email correspondence showing the staff member’s agreement to supervise you. Sydney College of the Arts doesn’t require evidence of supervision, however, you must submit a portfolio with your application. The Sydney Conservatorium of Music may require you to attend an interview.
• Proof of identity: a valid passport (biodata page), an Australian birth certificate or an Australian or New Zealand citizenship certificate for domestic students.
• you’ll have sufficient time available to carry out the research under the supervision of the University and complete the course within the maximum period allowed for a part-time PhD enrolment
• a declaration from your employer (if relevant) confirming that you will be permitted to take the time required to effectively pursue your studies.
• Two referee reports (pdf, 113.7KB)
• Any other documents, such as a portfolio of work or audition, specified in the course listing for your degree.

When you have secured a supervisor, you will discuss and refine the project together. Once your research proposal is finalised, gather all the essential documents that you will need to submit with your application:

• Final research proposal. In conjunction with your supervisor, you’ll finalise your research proposal of up to 2000 words, covering the objectives and significance of your research. Refer to our  Research Proposal Guidelines .
• Official academic transcripts in the original language and English translation.

Additional requirements for International students

If you are an international student, you will also need: \n

• To apply for your student visa, after you have received an offer of admission or an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) for an HDR course at the University.
• To pay a non-refundable  application processing fee . This fee is waived if you’re a sponsored student, or if you are granted an exemption by a University staff member during an office interview or recruitment event.
• If you would like to apply through an authorised University of Sydney agent, we have partnered with a range of  authorised agents  who can apply to the University and make arrangements on your behalf.

If you are an international student, you will also need:

• To apply for your student visa, after you have received an offer of admission or an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) for an HDR course at the University.
• To pay a non-refundable  application processing fee . This fee is waived if you’re a sponsored student, or if you are granted an exemption by a University staff member during an office interview or recruitment event.
• If you would like to apply through an authorised University of Sydney agent, we have partnered with a range of  authorised agents  who can apply to the University and make arrangements on your behalf.

We have one of the largest  research scholarship  schemes in Australia. Scholarships can be a big help in funding your research or helping you with living costs while you do your research. Some scholarships are specific to a research project or discipline, and many are assessed on academic merit and research potential.

We have one of the largest  research scholarship  schemes in Australia. Scholarships can be a big help in funding your research or helping you with living costs while you do your research. Some scholarships are specific to a research project or discipline, and many are assessed on academic merit and research potential.

When you submit your course application, you can elect to be automatically considered for the Research Training Program (RTP) stipend. The stipend is competitively awarded and is based on academic merit and research potential. \n

Domestic students

Domestic student do not pay tuition fees as this is covered by the government Research Training Program fee offset.

International students

International students pay tuition fees. If you are an international student and are awarded RTP, this will cover your tuition fees and provide a stipend. Please note: there are limited places available in the Research Training Program for international students, and these are highly competitive.

Please refer to your course page on  Sydney Courses  for information about the fees you will need to pay, and also read our general information on  fees and financial support .

Depending on your research project, many PhD students also work part-time to fund their study, similar to undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students.

When you submit your course application, you can elect to be automatically considered for the Research Training Program (RTP) stipend. The stipend is competitively awarded and is based on academic merit and research potential.

Please refer to your course page on  Sydney Courses  for information about the fees you will need to pay, and also read our general information on  fees and financial support .

Our  frequently asked questions  provide further information on our HDR courses and the application process.

You will need to pass  health and security checks  if your research involves fieldwork in the New South Wales hospital and education systems. The  course page  details explain what admission criteria you need to satisfy to get into the course.  \n

You may also need to apply for approval from the  Animal Ethics and/or Human Research Ethics Committee .

Please also refer to your faculty for additional admission requirements, or variations in the application process, which may apply.

\n\n\n

\n \n \n \n\n

\n \n \n \n\n

Our  frequently asked questions  provide further information on our HDR courses and the application process.

You will need to pass  health and security checks  if your research involves fieldwork in the New South Wales hospital and education systems. The  course page  details explain what admission criteria you need to satisfy to get into the course. 

You may also need to apply for approval from the  Animal Ethics and/or Human Research Ethics Committee .

• View all courses
• Taught postgraduate study
• Postgraduate taught degree courses
• Postgraduate taught tuition fees
• Pre-masters for international students
• Funding your postgraduate taught studies
• How to apply for a postgraduate taught degree
• Postgraduate offer holders - prepare for your studies
• Pre-sessional English courses
• PhDs and research degrees
• Create your own research project
• Find a PhD project
• Funding your research degree
• How to apply for a PhD or research degree
• How to make a PhD enquiry
• Support while studying your PhD or research degree
• Exchanges and studying abroad
• Undergraduate study
• Undergraduate degree courses
• Foundation year programmes
• Undergraduate tuition fees
• Customise your degree
• Funding undergraduate studies
• How to apply
• Tuition fees and funding
• Short courses
• Lunchtime evening and weekend courses
• Summer schools
• Get a prospectus
• Student life
• Accommodation
• Choose your halls of residence
• Apply for accommodation
• Guaranteed accommodation
• Your accommodation options
• Accommodation for those with additional requirements
• International and pre-sessional students
• Postgraduate accommodation
• Couples and students with children
• Renting privately
• Our accommodation areas
• Privacy notice
• Terms and conditions
• Fees and contracts
• Southampton
• Sports and gyms
• Sports facilities
• Sports clubs
• Watersports centres
• Our campuses
• Avenue Campus
• Boldrewood Innovation Campus
• City Centre Campus
• Highfield Campus
• University Hospital Southampton
• Waterfront Campus
• Winchester Campus
• Join our student community
• What's on
• Clubs and societies
• Sports teams
• SUSU places
• Representing you
• SUSU support and advice
• Support and money
• Living costs
• Academic and mental health support
• Support for disabled students
• Part-time work
• Health services
• Research projects
• Research areas
• Research facilities
• Collaborate with us
• Institutes, centres and groups
• Support for researchers
• Faculties, schools and departments
• Research jobs
• Find people and expertise
• Why work with us?
• Collaboration
• Consultancy
• Commercialisation
• Use our facilities
• Connect with our students
• How we operate
• Make a business enquiry
• International students
• International Office
• Partnerships and initiatives
• Visiting delegations
• Visiting fellowships
• University of Southampton Delhi

Create your own research proposal

A research proposal is a short document that summarises the research you want to undertake. If you cannot find a suitable advertised project, this is a route to create your own.

When creating a research proposal, you’ll need to consider the question or issue you want to address with your project. Think about the background of the subject and how your research will be an original contribution to the field. You’ll also need to think about the methods you'll use to conduct this research. Your proposal helps us assess your suitability for a research degree and decide if we can offer you the right supervision.

Preparation

You may want to make contact with 1 or more potential supervisors to discuss project ideas. They may also be able to help with funding your degree .

You can search our academics to find a supervisor whose research interests align to yours. When you find a match, contact them to discuss your proposals. Allow time for responses and to consider their feedback.

Learn how to make a supervisor enquiry

Writing your research proposal

You should keep it clear, objective and realistic. Include:

• an outline of your research interests
• your initial thoughts about your topic
• clear objectives of what you aim to achieve or the question you want to address
• references to previous work
• why the research is relevant and original
• your proposed method and general approach
• why you believe the research should be funded
• how your skills will help to conduct the research
• any training you may need to undertake the project

How to structure your proposal

Your research proposal should include:

• a working title for your project
• up to 1,500 words (excluding a bibliography)

It’s best to write with short paragraphs and sentences. You can use images and diagrams if it’s appropriate.

Example structure:

• introduction statement (200 words)
• your background reading and the area you want to contribute to (400 words)
• your research question or issue to investigate (200 words)
• data sources, research methods and critical approaches to use (500 words)
• conclusion on how your project will contribute to the field (200 words)
• bibliography

Submit your proposal

Your potential supervisor will inform you of when to start the application process and how to include the details of your agreed project.  

More about how to apply

• Course modules
• Acoustical engineering
• Biomedical and medical engineering
• Civil engineering
• Every day I’m completely immersed in an environment that’s creative in all aspects
• Everything I learn feels so relevant, even If it’s a subject rooted in the past
• Maritime engineering
• Photonics and optoelectronics
• Social statistics and demography
• A missing link between continental shelves and the deep sea: Have we underestimated the importance of land-detached canyons?
• A seismic study of the continent-ocean transition southwest of the UK
• A study of rolling contact fatigue in electric vehicles (EVs)
• Acoustic monitoring of forest exploitation to establish community perspectives of sustainable hunting
• Acoustic sensing and characterisation of soil organic matter
• Advancing intersectional geographies of diaspora-led development in times of multiple crises
• Aero engine fan wake turbulence – Simulation and wind tunnel experiments
• Against Climate Change (DACC): improving the estimates of forest fire smoke emissions
• All-in-one Mars in-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) system and life-supporting using non-thermal plasma
• An electromagnetic study of the continent-ocean transition southwest of the UK
• An investigation of the relationship between health, home and law in the context of poor and precarious housing, and complex and advanced illness
• Antibiotic resistance genes in chalk streams
• Being autistic in care: Understanding differences in care experiences including breakdowns in placements for autistic and non-autistic children
• Biogeochemical cycling in the critical coastal zone: Developing novel methods to make reliable measurements of geochemical fluxes in permeable sediments
• Bloom and bust: seasonal cycles of phytoplankton and carbon flux
• British Black Lives Matter: The emergence of a modern civil rights movement
• Building physics for low carbon comfort using artificial intelligence
• Building-resolved large-eddy simulations of wind and dispersion over a city scale urban area
• Business studies and management: accounting
• Business studies and management: banking and finance
• Business studies and management: decision analytics and risk
• Business studies and management: digital and data driven marketing
• Business studies and management: human resources (HR) management and organisational behaviour
• Business studies and management: strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship
• Carbon storage in reactive rock systems: determining the coupling of geo-chemo-mechanical processes in reactive transport
• Cascading hazards from the largest volcanic eruption in over a century: What happened when Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai erupted in January 2022?
• Characterisation of cast austenitic stainless steels using ultrasonic backscatter and artificial intelligence
• Climate Change effects on the developmental physiology of the small-spotted catshark
• Climate at the time of the Human settlement of the Eastern Pacific
• Collaborative privacy in data marketplaces
• Compatibility of climate and biodiversity targets under future land use change
• Cost of living in modern and fossil animals
• Creative clusters in rural, coastal and post-industrial towns
• Deep oceanic convection: the outsized role of small-scale processes
• Defect categories and their realisation in supersymmetric gauge theory
• Defining the Marine Fisheries-Energy-Environment Nexus: Learning from shocks to enhance natural resource resilience
• Design and fabrication of next generation optical fibres
• Developing a practical application of unmanned aerial vehicle technologies for conservation research and monitoring of endangered wildlife
• Development and evolution of animal biomineral skeletons
• Development of all-in-one in-situ resource utilisation system for crewed Mars exploration missions
• Ecological role of offshore artificial structures
• Effect of embankment and subgrade weathering on railway track performance
• Efficient ‘whole-life’ anchoring systems for offshore floating renewables
• Electrochemical sensing of the sea surface microlayer
• Engagement with nature among children from minority ethnic backgrounds
• Enhancing UAV manoeuvres and control using distributed sensor arrays
• Ensuring the Safety and Security of Autonomous Cyber-Physical Systems
• Environmental and genetic determinants of Brassica crop damage by the agricultural pest Diamondback moth
• Estimating marine mammal abundance and distribution from passive acoustic and biotelemetry data
• Evolution of symbiosis in a warmer world
• Examining evolutionary loss of calcification in coccolithophores
• Explainable AI (XAI) for health
• Explaining process, pattern and dynamics of marine predator hotspots in the Southern Ocean
• Exploring dynamics of natural capital in coastal barrier systems
• Exploring the mechanisms of microplastics incorporation and their influence on the functioning of coral holobionts
• Exploring the potential electrical activity of gut for healthcare and wellbeing
• Exploring the trans-local nature of cultural scene
• Facilitating forest restoration sustainability of tropical swidden agriculture
• Faulting, fluids and geohazards within subduction zone forearcs
• Faulting, magmatism and fluid flow during volcanic rifting in East Africa
• Fingerprinting environmental releases from nuclear facilities
• Flexible hybrid thermoelectric materials for wearable energy harvesting
• Floating hydrokinetic power converter
• Glacial sedimentology associated subglacial hydrology
• Green and sustainable Internet of Things
• How do antimicrobial peptides alter T cell cytokine production?
• How do calcifying marine organisms grow? Determining the role of non-classical precipitation processes in biogenic marine calcite formation
• How do neutrophils alter T cell metabolism?
• How well can we predict future changes in biodiversity using machine learning?
• Hydrant dynamics for acoustic leak detection in water pipes
• If ‘Black Lives Matter’, do ‘Asian Lives Matter’ too? Impact trajectories of organisation activism on wellbeing of ethnic minority communities
• Illuminating luciferin bioluminescence in dinoflagellates
• Imaging quantum materials with an XFEL
• Impact of neuromodulating drugs on gut microbiome homeostasis
• Impact of pharmaceuticals in the marine environment in a changing world
• Impacts of environmental change on coastal habitat restoration
• Improving subsea navigation using environment observations for long term autonomy
• Information theoretic methods for sensor management
• Installation effect on the noise of small high speed fans
• Integrated earth observation mapping change land sea
• Interconnections of past greenhouse climates
• Investigating IgG cell depletion mechanisms
• Is ocean mixing upside down? How mixing processes drive upwelling in a deep-ocean basin
• Landing gear aerodynamics and aeroacoustics
• Lightweight gas storage: real-world strategies for the hydrogen economy
• Long-term change in the benthos – creating robust data from varying camera systems
• Machine learning for multi-robot perception
• Marine ecosystem responses to past climate change and its oceanographic impacts
• Mechanical effects in the surf zone - in situ electrochemical sensing
• Microfluidic cell isolation systems for sepsis
• Migrant entrepreneurship, gender and generation: context and family dynamics in small town Britain
• Miniaturisation in fishes: evolutionary and ecological perspectives
• Modelling high-power fibre laser and amplifier stability
• Modelling soil dewatering and recharge for cost-effective and climate resilient infrastructure
• Modelling the evolution of adaptive responses to climate change across spatial landscapes
• Nanomaterials sensors for biomedicine and/or the environment
• New high-resolution observations of ocean surface current and winds from innovative airborne and satellite measurements
• New perspectives on ocean photosynthesis
• Novel methods of detecting carbon cycling pathways in lakes and their impact on ecosystem change
• Novel technologies for cyber-physical security
• Novel transparent conducting films with unusual optoelectronic properties
• Novel wavelength fibre lasers for industrial applications
• Ocean circulation and the Southern Ocean carbon sink
• Ocean influence on recent climate extremes
• Ocean methane sensing using novel surface plasmon resonance technology
• Ocean physics and ecology: can robots disentangle the mix?
• Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal: Assessing the utility of coastal enhanced weathering
• Offshore renewable energy (ORE) foundations on rock seabeds: advancing design through analogue testing and modelling
• Optical fibre sensing for acoustic leak detection in buried pipelines
• Optimal energy transfer in nonlinear systems
• Optimizing machine learning for embedded systems
• Oxidation of fossil organic matter as a source of atmospheric CO2
• Partnership dissolution and re-formation in later life among individuals from minority ethnic communities in the UK
• Personalized multimodal human-robot interactions
• Preventing disease by enhancing the cleaning power of domestic water taps using sound
• Quantifying riparian vegetation dynamics and flow interactions for Nature Based Solutions using novel environmental sensing techniques
• Quantifying the response and sensitivity of tropical forest carbon sinks to various drivers
• Quantifying variability in phytoplankton electron requirements for carbon fixation
• Resilient and sustainable steel-framed building structures
• Resolving Antarctic meltwater events in Southern Ocean marine sediments and exploring their significance using climate models
• Robust acoustic leak detection in water pipes using contact sound guides
• Silicon synapses for artificial intelligence hardware
• Smart photon delivery via reconfigurable optical fibres
• The Gulf Stream control of the North Atlantic carbon sink
• The Mayflower Studentship: a prestigious fully funded PhD studentship in bioscience
• The calming effect of group living in social fishes
• The duration of ridge flank hydrothermal exchange and its role in global biogeochemical cycles
• The evolution of symmetry in echinoderms
• The impact of early life stress on neuronal enhancer function
• The oceanic fingerprints on changing monsoons over South and Southeast Asia
• The role of iron in nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis in changing polar oceans
• The role of singlet oxygen signaling in plant responses to heat and drought stress
• Time variability on turbulent mixing of heat around melting ice in the West Antarctic
• Triggers and Feedbacks of Climate Tipping Points
• Uncovering the drivers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease progression using patient derived organoids
• Understanding recent land-use change in Snowdonia to plan a sustainable future for uplands: integrating palaeoecology and conservation practice
• Understanding the role of cell motility in resource acquisition by marine phytoplankton
• Understanding the structure and engagement of personal networks that support older people with complex care needs in marginalised communities and their ability to adapt to increasingly ‘digitalised’ health and social care
• Unpicking the Anthropocene in the Hawaiian Archipelago
• Unraveling oceanic multi-element cycles using single cell ionomics
• Unravelling southwest Indian Ocean biological productivity and physics: a machine learning approach
• Using acoustics to monitor how small cracks develop into bursts in pipelines
• Using machine learning to improve predictions of ocean carbon storage by marine life
• Vulnerability of low-lying coastal transportation networks to natural hazards
• Wideband fibre optical parametric amplifiers for Space Division Multiplexing technology
• Will it stick? Exploring the role of turbulence and biological glues on ocean carbon storage
• X-ray imaging and property characterisation of porous materials
• Postgraduate Taught Diversity Scholarship (Environmental and Life Sciences)
• Southampton Business School Postgraduate UK Scholarship
• Southampton Genomics Talent Scholarship
• Southampton History Patricia Mather and Helen Patterson Scholarship
• Southampton MA Holocaust scholarships
• Southampton Philosophy David Humphris-Norman Scholarship
• Southampton UK Alumni Music Scholarship
• The National Institute for Health and care Research South Central INSIGHT Programme
• Winchester School of Art Progression Scholarship
• Southampton Physics and Astronomy Achievement Scholarship
• GREAT Scholarships 2024 – Greece
• Engineering Excellence Scholarship
• Winchester School of Art Postgraduate Global Talent Scholarship
• Engineering Global Talent Scholarship
• Southampton University Corporate Civil Engineering Scholarship Scheme
• Merit scholarships for international postgraduates
• Merit scholarships for international undergraduates
• Scholarships, awards and funding opportunities
• Becas Chile Scholarship
• Chevening Scholarships
• China Scholarship Council Scholarships
• COLFUTURO Scholarships
• Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
• Commonwealth Master's Scholarships
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for high income countries
• Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
• Commonwealth Split-Site Scholarships
• FIDERH Scholarships
• Fulbright Awards
• FUNED Scholarships
• Great Scholarships 2024 – India
• Great Scholarships 2024 – Bangladesh
• Great Scholarships 2024 – Mexico
• Great Scholarships 2024 – Nigeria
• Marshall Scholarship
• Saïd Foundation Scholarships
• British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM
• Xiamen University PhD Scholarships
• GREAT scholarships for justice and law 2024 – Indonesia
• Scholarship terms and conditions
• Southampton Education Civic Scholarship
• Southampton Ageing and Gerontology Talent Scholarship
• Southampton Canadian Prestige Scholarship for Law
• Southampton Presidential International Scholarship
• Continuing professional development
• Archers Road
• City Gateway
• Erasmus Park
• Highfield Hall
• Orion Point
• Wessex Lane
• Cancer Sciences Protein Facility
• Geotechnical Centrifuge
• Maritime Robotics and Instrumentation Laboratory (MRIL)
• Active Living
• Advanced Fibre Applications
• Advanced Laser Laboratory
• Advanced Project Management Research Centre
• Antibody and Vaccine Group
• Astronomy Group
• Autism Community Research Network @ Southampton (ACoRNS)
• Bioarchaeology and Osteoarchaeology at Southampton (BOS)
• Bladder and Bowel Management
• Cell and Developmental Biology
• Centre for Defence and Security Research
• Centre for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
• Centre for Digital Finance
• Centre for Eastern European and Eurasian Studies (CEEES)
• Centre for Empirical Research in Finance and Banking (CERFIB)
• Centre for Geometry, Topology, and Applications
• Centre for Global Englishes
• Centre for Global Health and Policy (GHaP)
• Centre for Health Technologies
• Centre for Healthcare Analytics
• Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration
• Centre for Imperial and Postcolonial Studies
• Centre for Inclusive and Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CISEI)
• Centre for International Film Research (CIFR)
• Centre for International Law and Globalisation
• Centre for Internet of Things and Pervasive Systems
• Centre for Justice Studies
• Centre for Linguistics, Language Education and Acquisition Research
• Centre for Machine Intelligence
• Centre for Maritime Archaeology
• Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Culture (CMRC)
• Centre for Modern and Contemporary Writing (CMCW)
• Centre for Music Education and Social Justice
• Centre for Political Ethnography (CPE)
• Centre for Research in Accounting, Accountability and Governance
• Centre for Research on Work and Organisations
• Centre for Resilient Socio-Technical Systems
• Centre for Transnational Studies
• Child and Adolescent Research Group
• Clinical Ethics, Law and Society (CELS)
• Computational Nonlinear Optics
• Cyber Security Academy
• Data Science Group
• Digital Oceans
• EPSRC and MOD Centre for Doctoral Training in Complex Integrated Systems for Defence and Security
• Economic Theory and Experimental Economics
• Economy, Society and Governance
• Electrical Power Engineering
• Environmental Hydraulics
• Gas Photonics in Hollow Core Fibres 
• Geochemistry
• Global Health (Demography)
• Global Health Community of Practice
• Gravity group
• Healthy Oceans
• High Power Fibre Lasers
• Hollow Core Fibre
• Human Genetics and Genomic Medicine
• Infrastructure Group
• Institute of Developmental Sciences
• Institute of Maritime Law (IML)
• Integrated Photonic Devices
• Integrative Molecular Phenotyping Centre
• Interdisciplinary Musculoskeletal Health
• International Centre for Ecohydraulics Research (ICER)
• Language Assessment and Testing Unit (LATU)
• Laser-Direct-Write (LDW) Technologies for Biomedical Applications
• Law and Technology Centre
• Long Term Conditions
• Magnetic Resonance
• Mathematical Modelling
• Medicines Management
• Molecular and Precision Biosciences
• Multiwavelength Accretion and Astronomical Transients
• National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC)
• National Centre for Research Methods
• National Infrastructure Laboratory
• Nature-Based Ocean Solutions
• Nonlinear Semiconductor Photonics
• Ocean Perception Group
• Operational Research
• Optical Engineering and Quantum Photonics Group
• Paediatrics and Child Health - Clinical and Experimental Sciences
• People, Property, Community
• Photonic Systems, Circuits and Sensors Group
• Physical Optics
• Primary Care Research Centre
• Product Returns Research Group (PRRG)
• Quantum, Light and Matter Group
• Silica Fibre Fabrication
• Silicon Photonics
• Skin Sensing Research Group
• Southampton Centre for Nineteenth-Century Research
• Southampton Ethics Centre
• Southampton Health Technology Assessments Centre (SHTAC)
• Southampton High Energy Physics group
• Southampton Imaging
• Southampton Theory Astrophysics and Gravity (STAG) Research Centre
• Stefan Cross Centre for Women, Equality and Law
• String theory and holography
• The India Centre for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development
• The Parkes Institute
• Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory
• Ultrafast X-ray Group
• Vision Science
• WSA Exchange
• Work Futures Research Centre (WFRC)
• Departments