Last Updated on July 30, 2023

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PhD Study in Australia

Interested in PhD study ‘down under’? Australia has a lot more to offer than sun, sea and sand. With world-class research centres and internationally ranked universities, the country is also a vibrant hub for research and scholarship.

This page provides all the information you need if you’re considering an Australian PhD. We’ve explained how doctoral applications and admissions work, which visa you’ll need and what funding might be available.

Australia is a fantastic destination for international students to embark on their studies. Offering beaches, sunshine and a laid back lifestyle, over 600,000 international students studied in Australia in 2017. However, there is one considerable drawback with studying in Australia: it is one of the most expensive study destinations in the world.

It is estimated by the Australian government that, to cover living costs for one year, international students would need approximately US$14,600. It is, therefore, a visa requirement for international study in Australia that you are able to demonstrate access to these funds to cover your living cost, as well as the cost of tuition fees.

PhD Opportunities in Australia – what’s on offer for 2021?

There’s more to postgraduate research than surfing, hiking and great food (sadly). You’ll need to know that you’re completing your doctorate at an excellent university, with the chance to conduct worthwhile research and earn an internationally respected degree.

Australia ticks all of those boxes, with universities carrying out pioneering work in ecology, renewable energy, antibiotic therapy and more. So, whether you want to study marsupials or medicine, Australia is a place where your PhD could really make a difference. And you can still go surfing too.

Here are a few other reasons to consider an Australian PhD right now:

• Internationally renowned research – Australia is home to some of the world’s leading universities, with seven institutions in the global top 250.
• Unique PhD opportunities – From Marine Biology at the Great Barrier Reef to Anthropology at Uluru, some doctoral research can only be completed in Australia.
• Generous post-study visas – Australia values its PhD graduates: your doctorate could allow you to live and work in the country for at least four years.
• No viva – Not keen on the thought of defending your thesis during an oral exam? It’s quite common for Australian doctorates to be assessed without the traditional PhD viva voce.

Living costs

The cost of living in Australia will vary depending on your location and lifestyle, but the Australian Government estimates that students will require at least AUD $21,041 (USD $14,400) for each year of their course. This is the amount of money you will need to have available in order to successfully apply for a student visa.

International students are required by Migration regulations in Australia to show evidence that they can contribute to the cost of living and studying in Australia, in order to ensure that students are able to make the most of their studies and have a safe and enjoyable experience in Australia. Although students can supplement their income with money earned through part-time work in Australia, the “living costs” requirement ensures that they don’t have to rely on this work to satisfy all of their expenses. Under the Migration regulations, prospective students visa applicants and their family members must have access to the following funds in order to meet the living costs requirements:

• A$18,610 a year for the main student;
• A$6,515 a year for the student’s partner;
• A$3,720 a year for the student’s first child; and
• A$2,790 a year for every other child and where required.

Australia has a standard of living that is amongst the highest in the world. Living expenses and tuition costs in Australia are considerably lower than in the United States and United Kingdom. International students are also able to work part time while they study, allowing them to offset their living costs

Australian Universities Fees for International Students

As with all countries around the world, the tuition fee cost will vary depending on the location of study, the institution of study and the course you enrol on. The level of study, be it undergraduate or postgraduate, will also impact on the cost. Postgraduate tuition fees are generally in line with those for undergraduate study.

For international students, tuition fees must be paid before you embark on your studies. It is essential to also consider the costs of materials and institution facilities that may be in addition to the tuition fee payment. Some institutions charge students a Student Services and Amenities fee. This can cost up to US$214 per year if charged by your chosen university.

The Australian government states that fees for international students on undergraduate degree programmes range from US$10,000 to US$23,000. Tuition fees for master’s degrees range between US$18,000 to US$26,000 and doctoral degrees range from $9,000 to $26,000. These tuition fee rates do not, however, include courses such as veterinary and medical programmes for which the tuition fee cost is much higher.

International students in Australia are required to pay their tuition fees up-front. Some institutions may also charge for other student costs, in addition to tuition fees. These may include library, laboratory, or sports facility costs. Students should also consider the costs of excursions, books, and stationery, as well as any essential materials specific to their course of study, such as lab coats or photographic supplies.

An undergraduate bachelor degree from an Australian university can cost anywhere from A$14,000 to 35,000 a year, while a postgraduate degree can cost from A$15,000 to 36,000 a year.

Below is an outline of tuition fees for 2018/19 at some of the most popular Australian universities:

• University of Sydney: At this university, a Bachelor of Arts degree for an international student is estimated to cost US$27,000 per year and a Bachelor of Commerce degree (with honours) is estimated to cost US$29,000.
• University of Canberra: Here, the tuition fees for international students on undergraduate courses range from US$17,400 for a Bachelor of Social Science to US$25,000 for undergraduate degrees in Physiotherapy or Medical Radiation Science.
• University Melbourne: Subject fees for 2021/20 at the University of Melbourne place veterinary science, dentistry, medicine and VCA (audio-visual) as the most expensive subjects to study. Medicine leads with the highest fee at US$63,000. Education, nursing and the visual and performing arts make up the cheapest subject fees with fees in Visual and Performing Arts costing just US$20,100 per year.

Phd in Australia with Scholarship

Although most international students in Australia are full-fee paying students, international students may also choose to apply for a scholarship. Scholarships in Australia are offered by the Australian government, education institutions, and a variety of other organizations. They cover vocational education and training, student exchanges, and undergraduate and postgraduate study and research. Australian Government scholarships are not available for international students who are undertaking English language training specifically in Australia, but several Australian institutions offer English language training scholarships.

The International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) scheme enables international students to undertakes a postgraduate research qualification in Australia, allowing them to gain experience while working with leading Australian researchers. The scholarship covers tuition fees and health cover costs for scholarship holders, as well as health cover costs for their dependents.

The Australia Awards are intended to promote knowledge, education links, and enduring ties between Australia and neighboring countries through extensive scholarship programs. The Australia Awards are comprised or two streams: an achievement stream that allows the most promising students, researchers, and professionals to come to Australia, and for Australians to do the same in other countries; and a development stream that builds capacity in developing countries.

Student Visa and Application Costs

The student visa required by international students in Australia is called the Subclass 500. It currently costs US$414. In addition to paying for the visa, it is also the student’s responsibility to organise health insurance during the period of study in Australia. This is a visa requirement and must be bought for the duration of your stay.

Universities will provide recommendations for reliable insurers. For a single person (with no partner or dependents) the cheapest option for this health cover is approximately US$1,550 for the three years of study (presuming the student returns to their home country during the summer break).

Some universities will also charge an application fee for international students. The University of Sydney, for example, charges an additional fee os US$87 per year of study.

Australian Universities

There are 43 universities in Australia. All of them are publically-funded institutions, supported and accredited by the Australian Government. These institutions are also responsible for carrying out research and training PhD students – like you.

Other higher education institutions in Australia are usually Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions, focussing on practical and professional training. They offer some postgraduate qualifications at or around Masters-level, but don’t award PhDs.

University groups

As in other countries, Australian higher education includes several university associations or ‘mission groups’. These bring together similar institutions with shared aims and objectives.

They include:

• The Group of Eight (Go8) – An elite organisation of established research-intensive universities with (surprisingly enough) eight members:
• Innovative Research Universities (IRU) – A network of seven younger universities, focussing on pioneering and inclusive teaching and research.
• Regional Universities Network (RUN) – A group of six universities located in more rural areas of Australia.
• Australian Technology Network (ATN) – A group of universities focussing on industrial and enterprise partnerships, including the establishment of an Industry Doctoral Training Centre.

Don’t get too caught up with a university’s affiliation when considering PhD opportunities.

A doctorate from a Group of Eight member is an impressive and prestigious qualification, but institutions in other groups offer equally excellent research opportunities in their areas of expertise. Don’t forget, after all, that specialism is what PhD study is all about.

Australian university rankings

The strength – and breadth – of Australian research has traditionally been reflected in global league tables. 2020 is no exception, with 10 universities in the top 300 according to the latest Times Higher Education and QS World University Rankings.

Fees and funding

The cost of studying a PhD in Australia is relatively high compared to some other destinations, but funding is available from universities and other sources.

PhD fees

As an international student in Australia you’ll pay fees at a higher rate. This is because domestic students benefit from state subsidy of public universities through Australian taxation.

The Australian government estimates that typical international PhD fees are between AUD $18,000 and $42,000 (USD $12,300-$28,750) per year. This is the approximate amount you’ll pay if you’re proposing your own topic, or applying for a project without funding attached.

Remember though that many Australian PhDs will be advertised as pre-funded projects – this is especially likely for Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine (STEM) topics.

Funding

There’s a good chance that you won’t pay your full international fees as a PhD student in Australia. This is because funding is readily available from various sources, including university scholarships and government incentives. Many of these are specifically designed to attract students.

The main sources of PhD funding in Australia are:

• Australian universities will often have their own studentships and funded PhD places available for sufficiently promising students. Some institutions may also have specific funding opportunities for international students. The simplest way to find university scholarships in Australia is to check with universities or browse opportunities here on FindAPhD.
• Endeavour Scholarships are an international funding scheme run by the Australian Government. They provide up to AUD $272,500 for up to four years of PhD research, including support for fees, maintenance and travel.
• Research training program funding is available for domestic and international PhD students in Australia. Places are awarded by participating universities according to eligibility criteria set by the Government.

Information on other scholarships and funding opportunities is available on the Australian Government’s Study in Australia website.

Applying for a PhD in Australia

The first step for your Australian PhD application should be to contact a prospective supervisor (universities will not normally consider applications from international students who haven’t done this).

The person you choose should normally be the lead researcher for a project or research group you wish to join, or an academic with research interests related to the topic you would like to propose.

Once you’re found a potential supervisor, you should contact them via email. Try to provide a clear and concise description of your project or interests – and make the relationship to their research obvious.

Once you have an expression of interest from a potential supervisor, you can begin your formal application to the university.

Choosing a PhD supervisor

Not sure how to pick a potential supervisor for your PhD, or how to approach them once you have? Our guide can help.

Admissions requirements

Admission to a PhD in Australia will normally require existing Bachelors and Masters degrees in an appropriate subject. Universities may admit you without a Masters, but this is less likely.

Individual universities will set their own requirements, but you can expect to be asked for some or all of the following:

• Evidence of your previous qualifications (these may need to be certified by your previous university or universities)
• A research proposal (if you are putting forward your own PhD topic)
• A personal statement (this may be required for applications to advertised projects and opportunities)
• Academic and / or professional references

If you are applying from the UK or Ireland you can use the free Study Options service to receive advice and guidance during your application.

Interviews

It’s possible that an Australian university may wish to interview you for a PhD. This is usually a good sign. It means your application is strong and your prospective supervisor thinks you have potential.

Don’t worry though – universities won’t expect international students to travel all the way to Australia just for an interview. They’ll normally be happy to arrange a chat via a video-conferencing platform.

What’s happens during a PhD interview?

Your interview for a PhD in Australia will follow a fairly standard format (even if the actual process takes place online). Our guides explain what happens at a PhD interview and look at some of the questions you might be asked.

Application deadlines

A PhD in Australia can start at any point in the academic year. This means that there isn’t normally a strict deadline for applications. Universities may prefer you to submit in time for the start of a term, but this isn’t always the case.

Exceptions could apply if you are also applying for funding, such as a scholarship. This support will normally run for a specific period and funders may prefer you to start at the beginning of an academic year or term.

Remember that, even if there isn’t a deadline, your application will still take time. As a general rule, you should apply at least four months before you hope to start your PhD.

Student Visas

Australia has simplified its immigration system and now only offers one visa for international students. This is known as the Student Visa (subclass 500). You’ll need this visa to study a Bachelors, Masters or PhD abroad in Australia.

Note that the new Student Visa replaces Australia’s Higher Education Sector Visa (subclass 573) and Postgraduate Research Sector Visa (subclass 574). These are no longer available.

Visa requirements

In order to qualify for a visa to study a PhD in Australia you’ll normally need to:

• Be studying full-time – Australia doesn’t issue visas to international students on part-time PhDs
• Have confirmation of enrolment at your university – you’ll need to have been accepted to study a PhD in Australia before you can apply for your visa
• Possess sufficient financial resources to support yourself during your PhD – the Australian Government expects students to have access to at least AUD $21,041 (USD $14,400) per year

Language requirements

Australian PhDs are organised and delivered in English and you’ll need to have sufficient language skills to communicate and comprehend complex information and ideas during your PhD.

Additional evidence won’t normally required if you are a native English speaker (or have completed a previous course of study in English). Otherwise, you may need to provide a language test score along with your visa application.

Most recognised English language tests will be accepted. The score you need will depend on the test you take:

Health insurance

You’ll need health insurance to cover the duration of your PhD in Australia. You can obtain this from various providers (including universities) but whichever policy you choose must meet the standards set by Australia’s Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) guidelines.

Working during your PhD

You can carry out paid work for up to 40 hours per fortnight whilst researching for a PhD in Australia. No restriction is applied to employment during holiday periods, however, you should check that any work you undertake fits with the requirements of your PhD (and the expectations of your supervisor!).

Fees and processing times

The standard cost of an Australian Student Visa is AUD $620 (USD $425). You may have to pay extra if your visa requires extra processing or if you are bringing additional applicants (such as family members) to Australia with you. The Australian Government provides an online pricing estimator.

Approximately 75% of Student Visas are processed within 25 days, but some applications can take longer.

Can I work in Australia after my PhD?

An Australian PhD can be a route into longer term employment and residency in Australia, provide you can find a job related to your skills and expertise.

To help you with this Australia offers a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485). This allows PhD graduates to remain in the country for up to four years, subject to certain conditions. If you find suitable work during this time you may be able to apply to remain for longer.