The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) must be significant original research. During the course of the degree the candidate will further develop their specialist knowledge and have deep methodological capacity. Depending on the field of specialisation, the degree culminates in an 80,000-word thesis. A Doctor of Philosophy is an internationally recognised research degree and is a pathway to an academic or research career.

For Business

Applicants for the Doctor of Philosophy are normally required to have a minimum first or upper second class undergraduate Honours degree (equal to at least a grade point average of 80%); Masters (Honours) degree; Masters by Research degree, with major studies in a relevant subject area; and/or corresponding demonstration of research capacity.

Masters coursework degrees or MBA degrees do not normally satisfy academic requirements for direct entry into the doctoral program; however, a suitably completed thesis component may be considered. Doctoral students shall be admitted as full-time only and are expected to study on-campus throughout their candidature.

For Health and Medicine

The minimum requirements for this program is a University Bachelor's Degree with Honours (First Class or 2A) or a research Master's Degree in a relevant discipline, with evidence of the ability to conduct supervised research; or a qualification or combination of qualifications deemed to be equivalent by the Faculty Research Committee.

For Law:

Applicants must have:

• Completed a Master of Laws degree from a recognised university; or
• A bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor degree with an Honours average of at least 75  per cent or an equivalent grade elsewhere; or
• At the Associate Dean Research’s discretion, the applicant may also be required to provide documented evidence of prior successful completion of a research exercise or course of study sufficient to convince the Associate Dean Research that the candidate has the appropriate level of experience in research methodology and relevant research skills.

In exceptional circumstances and by approval of the Higher Degree Research Subcommittee, an applicant may be admitted with qualifications or experience that, on the recommendation of the Associate Dean Research, are equivalent to or are a satisfactory substitute for either of the qualifications prescribed in this section.

Admission is on the basis of an approved research proposal and availability of appropriate supervision.

For Design:

Minimum requirements for admission is:

• A four year (eight semesters) honours degree- First Class or 2A; or
• A research master’s degree ; or
• A qualification or combination of qualifications deemed to be equivalent to the above by the Higher Degree Research Committee.

Candidates who have completed more than nine months of a master’s by research and who meet the requirements for admission to PhD candidature may apply to be admitted to confirmed PhD candidature. In successful cases, the PhD candidate will be considered to have begun at the time of commencement of the research master’s degree.