Key facts

Entry requirements

Entry is based on a master's qualification with a 25% research component or equivalent, a bachelor qualification with second-class honours or an AQF Level 8 or AQF Level 9 qualification with relevant research preparation.

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Duration
  • 4 years full-time
  • 8 years part-time
Fees
  • International
  • Research Training Program
View more fees information
CRICOS code
  • Approved
Start Dates and Campus
Research Period 1Research Period 2
OnlineOfferedOffered
Armidale CampusOfferedOffered
Sydney CampusNot OfferedNot Offered

Course information

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A Doctor of Philosophy is the pinnacle of academic study. Using rigorous and systematic research, combined with critical analysis, you will add to society's understanding of complex issues at the cutting-edge of your discipline or profession.

When you complete your PhD at UNE, you will be recognised as an expert in your area of study. Your original discoveries and innovations will be applied to benefit society and industry in Australia and worldwide.

Why study the Doctor of Philosophy with UNE?

Cement your place as an expert and leading practitioner or scholar in your field with UNE's Doctor of Philosophy. You will contribute to solving problems and challenges that will benefit society and industry.

You will undertake sophisticated original research in the discipline or professional area you choose. Integrating your knowledge across a range of disciplines, you will critically evaluate your findings to generate original knowledge and make a substantial contribution to understanding complex issues in your specialist niche. Your studies will culminate in a comprehensive thesis in which you present your insights.

At UNE, we are committed to maintaining our strong research culture, underpinned by high research training standards. Our diversity of research strength makes UNE an outstanding place to complete your PhD.

We have been awarded 5 stars – well above world standard – in 18 separate fields of research by the Australian Research Council's Excellence for Research in Australia (ERA) research evaluation program. We have been rated world standard and above (3 and 4 stars) in a further 23 fields of research.

Our research is underpinned by 5 thematic priorities:

  • securing Australia's future food and water through smart science and smart technology
  • climate change and environmental sustainability, protecting biodiversity and developing effective policies
  • health and wellbeing in rural communities, focusing on areas such as social exclusion, health inequity, mental health and social policy
  • regional and rural development, sustainability, prosperity and peace
  • our past, present and future: documenting, protecting and promoting cultural heritage, history, memory and identity in Australia and internationally.

Year after year, students award UNE the maximum 5-star ratings for Overall Experience and Student Support in The Good Universities Guide.

What makes our course different?

At UNE you will work with supervisors who are acknowledged experts in their fields of research, as well as receive the flexibility to target the specific area of interest to you. In the Doctor of Philosophy you will have opportunities to:

  • Earn your place as an expert in your niche.
  • Draw on and extend your extensive academic and professional experience.
  • Develop solutions to real-world problems or further society's understanding of topics of interest in your area of focus.
  • Pursue a career as an academic or highly skilled specialist in industry, government or non-profit organisations.
  • Perfect your research and analysis skills.
  • Hone your transferrable skills in areas such as project management, collaboration, problem solving, public speaking and written communication.
  • Interact with supervisors online or on campus, giving you the flexibility to balance your studies with your other commitments and constraints.
  • Become a member of UNE's highly regarded research community.
  • Build relationships with fellow researchers in academia and industry who have expertise and interests in similar specialist areas to your own.

If you are an Australian or New Zealand student and meet the criteria for entry to the Master of Philosophy, you may be funded under the Australian Government's Research Training Program (RTP) and may not incur tuition fees for the normal duration of the course. If you are an international student, you will incur tuition fees.

Internal funding is available to support research projects and UNE offers a range of scholarships for Higher Degree Research students.

Study online

Most of our students choose to study online across three study periods with 24/7 tutor support* and fit study around work and family commitments. Uniquely, our online students are mostly over 30 and bring valuable experience with them. They form a community of adults juggling the same challenges and priorities and who bring their life and work experience together at UNE in order to become future-fit and better respond to a rapidly changing world.

Study on campus

Many of our students choose to take advantage of the on-campus lifestyle in Armidale, in the beautiful New England region, with access to unparalleled support, accommodation and sporting facilities. These students are often starting their first degree and have left school recently. Through access to academic and career support they get a fantastic start to their careers.

* 24/7 tutor support includes: essay feedback (within 24 hours); live chat 24/7 for generic feedback on academic writing; and subject-specific help at a foundation or first-year level for subjects including mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, business, accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics. There are also a wide range of workshops, resources and courses available in academic skills support to assist you and help you to succeed.

Entry requirements

To be eligible to apply for this course you must meet one of the following entry requirements:

  • You have completed a Master qualification (AQF Level 9 or overseas equivalent) with a minimum research component of 25%.
  • You have completed a Bachelor Honours qualification (AQF Level 8) with a minimum result of upper second class honours or equivalent.
  • You have completed an AQF Level 8 or 9 qualification (or overseas equivalent) and you have had adequate research preparation since graduation.*
  • You have previously undertaken work of sufficiently high standard towards a higher degree by research (AQF Level 9 or 10, or overseas equivalent) at UNE which you have not submitted for any qualification, and you can produce documented evidence of capacity to undertake work at the Doctor of Philosophy level.

Eligibility for admission is reviewed by the Associate Dean Research or delegate. The Director Graduate Research has final authority for approved admission to HDR courses. 

All admissions are subject to the HDR Admission and Enrolment Policy.

Please note: The version of the HDR or research-related policy at the time of admission will continue to apply for duration of your candidature. When following a link to a specific policy please ensure you confirm whether the current or a historical version of the policy applies to you.

* Adequate relevant preparation may be gained through an approved academic course, professional training, work experience or peer reviewed publications.

See our Glossary for help with university terms.

These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.

English Language Requirements

When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.

International applicants, please note: You may also need to show evidence of your English language proficiency to the Department of Home Affairs if you are applying for a Student Visa.

Some courses require you to provide documentary evidence, or interviews to support your application. The following documents are required to support your application:

  • Previous qualifications documentation. You must provide a certified/notarised copy of your official transcript(s) and certificate(s) for all previous secondary and tertiary study. You do not need to provide transcripts for any previous study completed at UNE. For information on getting your documents certified/notarised, please refer to our Document Certification Guidelines.
  • Evidence of supervision. You must provide evidence that at least one UNE academic staff member has agreed to support your application/supervise your research. For example, email communication with your proposed supervisor.
  • Research proposal. You must submit a research proposal which you will complete in consultation with your potential supervisor. Your proposal must not be longer than three A4 pages. Please refer to the HDR Application Guidelines for the suggested format.
  • Referee reports. You must nominate two people (preferably external to UNE) who can testify to your academic achievements. You will need to contact your referees prior to lodging your application and request that they complete the online HDR Referee Report form. UNE cannot request these reports on your behalf.
  • Proof of identity and citizenship. All documents provided must be a certified/notarised copy. Australian citizens must provide a birth certificate, passport or citizenship certificate. New Zealand citizens must provide a passport and visa. Australian Permanent Residents must provide a passport and visa, and the date you became a permanent resident. International applicants must provide a passport, and evidence of the country you hold citizenship in; for example, a foreign government identity card.
  • Evidence of English Language Requirements satisfied. If you have completed a UNE-approved English test within the past two years, please provide a copy of the test results with your application.

Advanced Standing is credit or recognition of your previous study, work and/or life experience. This can reduce the cost and length of your studies.

You can apply for Advanced Standing for coursework already completed as part of other qualifications. The relevant Associate Dean Research or delegate will assess and approve Advanced Standing.

Fees and scholarships

How much will it cost?

Estimated fees for your first year of study in this course are:

Fee typeCost
International
$33,829*
Research Training Program
$0*
Estimated amenities fee per year if studying full-time$351
*For more information, visit our Research Training Program page. Please note that International fees are a guide only and will vary depending on the discipline you are applying for. Please visit our Visa and Fees page for more details.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for both Domestic and International Higher Degree Research (HDR) Students. HDR scholarships can include funding for many things including tuition fees, living allowance stipends, relocation, travel and research specific projects. There are also targeted scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

HDR Scholarships are confidential and the application process is free. Please visit the HDR scholarships webpage for current scholarship opportunities.

Your career

Career outcomes

By completing your Doctor of Philosophy with UNE, you are demonstrating your autonomy, authoritative judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a leading practitioner and scholar in your area of speciality. You will graduate as a recognised expert in your field with a highly developed set of transferrable skills such as project management, public speaking, teamwork and leadership.

Your PhD will open doors to top level careers in industry, the public service, government and non-profit organisations, as well as in academia.

Other career information

To complete a Doctor of Philosophy is a great accomplishment. You will need commitment, perseverance and initiative, in addition to highly developed skills and knowledge. Only 1.1 per cent of Australians aged over 25 hold a PhD, according to The World Bank’s World Development Indicators. That compares with the 7.8 per cent who hold a master’s degree or higher, and the 31.7 per cent who hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Course outcomes

The Doctor of Philosophy course aims are to provide a program of independent, supervised research for high calibre graduates that make a substantial and original contribution to scholarship and mastery of an academic field of knowledge.
  1. exhibit an expert understanding of an academic field of knowledge by: (a) having systematically acquired a substantial body of intellectual skill and experience that is grounded in contemporary developments in an academic field; (b) creating and communicating original scholarship of a quality to satisfy peer review, extending the frontier of the field of knowledge and potentially meriting publication; (c) demonstrating thorough knowledge of research principles and methods applicable in advanced academic inquiry;
  2. conduct research independently and systematically by: (a) conceptualising, designing and implementing a project which will increase knowledge that is applicable or contributes new insights to an academic field; (b) evaluating ideas and making informed judgements on complex issues or challenges in the field of specialisation; (c) communicating ideas, methodologies and conclusions clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences; and
  3. be accountable for their own learning and professional training by: (a) demonstrating the capacity to undertake further learning and/or a further career in or around research at an advanced level, and contributing substantially to the development or dissemination of new techniques, ideas, or approaches; (b) displaying the qualities and attributes necessary to exercise personal responsibility and autonomous initiative in complex and unpredictable situations, whether in professional environments or in the public domain.

A five-star experience

2024 Overall Experience Good University Logo

Five Stars,
18 Years in a Row

UNE is the only public uni in Australia awarded 18 straight years of five stars for Overall Experience

Good Universities Guide 2007-2024
2024 Student Experience Good University Logo

No.1 in NSW for
Student Experience

QILT (government-endorsed) ranks UNE as the top public NSW uni for Student Experience

QILT Student Experience Survey
2024 Teaching Quality Good University Logo

Five Stars for
Teaching Quality

UNE rates among the top 20 per cent of universities in Australia for Teaching Quality

Good Universities Guide 2024
Woman studying online at home

Studying online

At UNE we know it takes more than just being online to be a great online university. It takes time and experience. We pioneered distance education for working adults back in the 1950s, so we’ve been doing this longer than any other Australian university.

We understand the challenges faced by busy adults studying at home. We know that a vital part of online study is your engagement with the learning community. Communication with your classmates, teaching staff and university support staff will enhance your study experience and ensure that your skills extend beyond the subject matter. UNE’s teaching staff are experts in their field which is why UNE consistently receives five stars from students for teaching quality, support and overall experience.*

*The Good Universities Guide

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Why study with us?

UNE PhD and Bachelor of Science (Hons) graduate Dr Matthew Hilliar smiles in white lab coat

The access you have to academics is a major benefit to studying at UNE.

Dr Matthew Hilliar, graduate, PhD (Animal Science) and Bachelor of Science (Hons)

How to apply

Applying to UNE is quick and easy. You can apply for this course at any time — there are no closing dates for applications.

If you would like to apply for a scholarship, closing dates do apply and are specific to each individual scholarship. Please see the HDR Scholarships webpage for further information.

Preparing to apply

The documents you will need to include in your application depend on:

  • Your chosen HDR program
  • Your personal circumstances

Please review the course rules and entry requirements above before you apply. If you have any questions or need help with your application please contact the Graduate Research School team.

Important Notice for Prospective Students

For accurate, up-to-date details on entry requirements, course structure, and other essential information, please consult the UNE Student Handbook before applying or enrolling. The Handbook provides comprehensive guidance to assist in your decision-making process. We apologise for any inconvenience.