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PhD student

PhD entry requirements in Australia

Study tips
Published 31 Jan, 2025  ·  4-minute read

You’ve got a passion for research and the ambition to create change in your field of study. But do you have the right qualifications to apply for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)? Let’s explore the PhD entry requirements in Australia to help you plan your next steps in academia.

Studying a doctoral degree is the highest level of education you can complete. To successfully apply, you need to prove that you’re ready for such a rigorous research journey.

There are multiple pathways you can take to become eligible, but you’ll generally need to meet these entry requirements for a PhD in Australia:

  • an approved university degree
  • considerable research experience
  • English language requirements.

Please note: The information in this article is based on The University of Queensland’s PhD entry requirements. The specific prerequisites for a higher degree by research at other Australian universities may vary slightly.

Approved degrees: what do I need for a PhD?

PhD pathways

To apply for a PhD, you’ll need to have completed an approved degree. This will usually be either a Master of Philosophy (or an equivalent research master’s degree) or a bachelor’s degree with honours (class IIA or higher) from an approved university.

However, these aren’t the only pathways to meeting the PhD entry requirements. With approval from the school’s dean, you may be able to enrol with:

  • a coursework master’s degree that included relevant research experience (requires a GPA of at least 5.65 on a 7-point scale)
  • a postgraduate degree (1 year of full-time study or more) with a GPA of at least 5 on a 7-point scale, combined with research experience equivalent to honours class IIA
  • a bachelor’s degree, plus a minimum of 2 years’ relevant research experience (must include research publications).

Applicants with these degrees are typically considered on a case-by-case basis.

Keep in mind: Whichever approved degree you have, it will only count towards the PhD entry requirements if:

  • it’s relevant to your desired research topic/area
  • you completed it in the last 10 years. 

Learn how to start a PhD without a master’s degree Learn how to start a PhD without an honours degree

Research experience: what are the requirements for a PhD?

The entry requirements for a PhD in Australia include demonstrating your 'research preparedness'. In other words, you need evidence that you’re capable of planning and implementing a research project with a certain level of independence.

If you’ve completed a Master of Philosophy or a bachelor’s degree with honours as your approved degree, this will most likely be covered already. Otherwise, you can prove your research preparedness in one of these ways:

  • Complete research courses, projects and reports as part of your bachelor’s or master’s degree.
  • Publish scholarly papers in academic journals and/or volumes from academic publishers. *
  • Write research or technical reports for your industry, business or the government. These must follow standard conventions of academic publishing, such as including an up-to-date literature review and a description of the relevant research methods used. *
  • Compile a portfolio of creative work (your own or others’) alongside your critical discussion of that work. The accompanying analysis needs to showcase your scholarly approach to investigating creative works.
  • Complete considerable industry/work experience featuring a research project you’ve planned and executed with a high level of autonomy.

*The papers and/or reports must identify you as the author or a significant contributor.

PhD requirements in Australia for international students

International research students must meet the same PhD entry requirements as domestic students in Australia. You’ll also need to demonstrate your proficiency in the English language.

In addition, international PhD candidates will typically need to organise a student visa and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

Other PhD requirements: what else do I need?

Before applying to start your PhD, you’ll need to choose your thesis topic, find a PhD supervisor, and possibly write a research proposal (not always required – this will depend on your school and supervisor).

Some schools will have additional PhD entry requirements for you to meet, such as extra documents to support your application. Speak with your proposed supervisor about what else you might need.

Documents you should prepare for your PhD application typically include:

  • academic CV and transcript
  • degree certificate(s)
  • English language documents
  • passport
  • references and/or letters of recommendation.

Beyond the prerequisites: what do I need to succeed as a PhD candidate?

Good PhD student qualities include: curiosity, love of learning, attention to detail, time management, persistence, collaboration and resilience

Of course, having the required degree and research experience doesn’t guarantee that you’ll strive in a PhD program. If you’re determined to make your research journey a successful one, you’ll want to cultivate these traits and skills before you apply:

  • enduring curiosity and a love of learning
  • conscientiousness and attention to detail
  • organisational and time-management skills
  • ability and willingness to collaborate with anyone
  • persistence and resilience (pushing through challenges and bouncing back from failures)
  • intrinsic motivation and self-discipline (the drive to set your own goals and follow them through).

Explore what else makes a good PhD student

Ready to apply? If you meet all these PhD entry requirements, we look forward to you joining our research community soon.

Start your PhD journey

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