1st for employability

Our graduates are ranked 1st in Australia and 4th globally for employability by the 2020 QS Graduate Employability Rankings

Work-ready graduates

With a broad range of flexible and dynamic career options, science graduates are in high demand across many industries.

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the Faculty of Science will allow you to pursue research from one of a number of fields in which the faculty has expertise. Candidates will complete the degree in three to four years during which time they will undertake research culminating in the submission of an 80,000 word thesis.

PhD candidates in the Faculty of Science may undertake research in the following areas:

• Chemistry (including medicinal chemistry and drug discovery)
• Geosciences (including geology, geography, geology, marine science and environment)
• History and Philosophy of Science
• Life and Environmental Sciences (including agriculture, animal science, biology, biochemistry, microbiology and plant science)
• Mathematics & Statistics (including pure and applied mathematics)
• Physics (including astronomy and data science)
• Psychology
• Veterinary Science

Eligible candidates are encouraged to apply in plenty of time, and even before completion of their current qualifying degree. In these circumstances, referee reports are essential as part of the application for admission.

To apply for a PhD, you need to demonstrate sufficient prior research experience and capability.

In most cases, to be eligible to apply for a PhD you will have:

• a Bachelors degree with first or upper second class Honours or
• a Masters degree performed at a high academic standard, and which includes a substantial component of original research, or
• an equivalent qualification that demonstrates research experience, excellence and capability.

These criteria constitute the minimum requirements for eligibility and do not guarantee admission. That remains at the discretion of the Associate Dean (HDR) for a given Faculty.

Applying for admission

1. Find a supervisor within the University whose academic background aligns with your research.
2. Contact a research supervisor through Research Supervisor Connect and provide: your academic/educational background and research experience with examples such as an academic transcript your CV/resume the area of interest for your PhD why you believe your research topics align with this supervisor
3. In conjunction with your supervisor, develop a research proposal, 2-4 pages in length (at least 1000 words) that outlines the subject area, objectives and significance of your research.
4. Obtain two academic referee reports, each one written by a referee who is familiar with your previous academic achievements.
5. Submit your application along with your research proposal, CV, academic referee reports, academic transcripts, supporting evidence (where required) and other supporting documents such as identification and evidence of residency status.