Doctor of Philosophy

An applicant for admission as a PhD candidate shall hold:

• a Bachelor degree with first-class honours or second-class honours (Division A) or a Masters degree, incorporating a significant research component, from a recognised institution; or
• a record of research, or a qualification granted by a professional or other body deemed by the Dean, Griffith Graduate Research School, to be of a standard comparable to a Bachelor degree with second-class honours (Division A).

Refer to the Equivalent Qualifications for HDR Program Admission web page.

The following University policy will apply to Higher Degree Research (HDR) programs:

• Higher Degree by Research Admission Procedure

An International student is a person who is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian permanent resident or holder of an Australian Permanent Humanitarian visa. International students study on a fee-paying basis and they must pay the full cost of their education through tuition fees either directly or through a third party (sponsor, government etc). International students will require a student visa in order to study in Australia.

Application preparation

To prepare for completing your application online, you will need to:

• check the Admission and English Language Proficiency requirements to find out if you are academically qualified to apply for this program;
• check any program fees applicable to you if you were to undertake this program;
• develop a proposed Research Topic and Research Proposal in your area of interest;
• identify at least one potential Griffith supervisor who has reviewed your Research Proposal and has agreed to supervise you;
• identify two Academic Referees who are willing to act as a Referee on your behalf;
• develop a Curriculum Vitae (CV).

More detail on each of the above preparation steps including what to feature in your Research Proposal or CV and how to find a supervisor are outlined on the Research Study - How to apply website.

Applying

Once you are ready to apply, you can add this program to your shortlist at the top of this page or apply for this program now (a maximum of three preferences is allowed).

Griffith will assess your first preference and will only assess subsequent preferences if you are not successful.

Once you have submitted your application, you will be sent an email about how to track your application.

For a full list of your incomplete or submitted applications, please view your application list.

Four research intakes are available for commencement throughout the year. Applications for admission close 8 weeks prior to the intake date. The application close date current shown is for the next available intake. You can refer to future intake dates here.

Scholarships

Applicants wishing to commence in Research Intake 1 should lodge their application prior to the closing date listed at the top of this page. Applicants applying to commence at any other time should submit their application at least four months before their preferred intake date. Refer to the Scholarship Key Dates for further information.

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English.

All Higher Degree Research (HDR) applicants are expected to have reached an appropriate level of proficiency in English. International applicants must provide documentary evidence of their English Language Proficiency (ELP). Further, there may be occasions when a Head of Element or Dean feels it is appropriate to seek confirmation of ELP from applicants for whom there is no formal requirement to provide evidence of ELP (for example, Australian citizens or applicants with permanent resident status whose tertiary studies were not conducted in English or International applicants who have undertaken some studies in English). Full documentary evidence in support of English proficiency must be submitted with applications for candidature.

The minimum English Language proficiency requirements for applicants to Higher Degree Research (HDR) programs are as follows:

• A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS (Academic) with no band score less than 6.0
• OR a minimum score of 575 on the paper-based TOEFL including a score of no less than 5.0 on the TWE
• OR a score of 79 on the internet-based (iBT) TOEFL with no sub-score less than 19
• OR a score of no less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only)
• OR a minimum overall score of 176 (no score less than 169) on C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English) or C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• OR an overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50.

Only in-person tests are accepted.

English test results must be no more than two years old prior to the commencement of the program.

Applicants should be aware that these test scores are the minimum scores required by Griffith University for most disciplinary areas and that some elements may require higher levels of proficiency.

An applicant may be exempted from the requirement to provide an ELP test score if the applicant's tertiary level studies were completed within the specified timeframe and in one of the countries listed in the University's Admission Schedule: English Language Proficiency.

An applicant may also be exempted from the requirement to provide an ELP test score if the applicant has completed at least two years full-time work experience in an English speaking professional work environment or has successfully completed the Griffith English Language Institute (GELI) Direct Entry Program (DEP) in accordance with the requirements as specified in the University's Admission Schedule: English Language Proficiency.

The Direct Entry Program (DEP) is not available for Domestic students.

The University's Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy will apply.