Pre-application process

Before starting your research degree application, check if your potential faculty has any pre-application processes.

Not sure what faculty or centre you're applying to? Talk to us →

The following faculties have pre-application requirements:

  • Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building (DAB)
  • Faculty of Engineering and IT
  • Faculty of Health
  • Faculty of Law
  • Institute of Sustainable Futures
  • UTS Business School

If you’re applying to one of these faculties or centres, we recommend starting the pre-application process at least 8 weeks before the application closing date.  Please note some faculties/centres' pre-application deadlines are up to 4 weeks prior to UTS application deadlines, please make sure you check requirements for your chosen faculty/centre.

If your potential faculty is not listed on this page, you can continue to the next step in the application process: Finding a supervisor.

Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building (DAB)

Prospective students should contact the DAB Research Support Office before applying to study at UTS.

Before contacting the faculty, please complete the following steps:

  • Give thought to your proposed topic and question
  • Consider whether this topic is aligned with the research strengths and priorities of the faculty and whether there is member of DAB faculty with expertise in your field
  • Select a shortlist of potential preferred supervisors from faculty with relevant expertise
  • Consider whether you are likely to meet the admission criteria for the PhD or Masters by Research

When you are ready to begin pre-assessment please contact the DAB Research Support Office at DAB.HDRsupport@uts.edu.au and provide the following information:

Please indicate your preferred supervisors in your enquiry email.

To be considered for admission you must submit these documents no later than four weeks before the relevant GRS application deadline.

You will receive the outcome of your pre-assessment by email from the faculty two weeks prior to the relevant GRS application deadline.

Faculty of Engineering and IT

This information is relevant for all international student applications submitted during the Competitive Scholarship Rounds.

CSC UTS PhD scholarship applicants are also required to submit the Expression of Interest (EOI). Please visit the Application closing dates website to learn more about the details of the CSC application process. Please note the faculty’s pre-approval (EOI) process is completed prior to the UTS application open date. Please visit the faculty’s research scholarship page, for more information on the application process and the pre-approval (EOI) deadline for the upcoming scholarship rounds.

Before applying to study a research degree with the Faculty of Engineering and IT expression of interest (EOI) is needed so we can make sure that:

  • you meet our eligibility requirements
  • we can support your research
  • your intended supervisor is available and has expertise relevant to your proposed topic.

Step 1: Prepare your EOI

  • Your topic is aligned to our strengths and priorities.
  • You meet the assessment criteria.
    • Academic achievements and professional experience: The prospective candidate has an excellent education background and/or work experience – relative to opportunity.
    • Research proposal: The proposal demonstrates the potential for high quality graduate research, which is of excellent research merit in terms of novelty, quality, objectives, and timeliness and addresses highly important research questions within the proposal. The project aims and methodology of the proposed research are well-defined, highly coherent and an outstanding study design/approach is provided. Creative/Professional components proposed relative to the practice/field are highly coherent.
    • Publications and other outputs (including non-traditional outputs): The prospective candidate has an excellent range of outputs/achievements with respect to quality, scale and prestige – relative to opportunity.

Step 2: Express your interest

To start the pre-application process, please contact your potential supervisor so they can work with you towards you pre-application. The documents you need to start discussions with your potential supervisor are include in the find a supervisor page.

  • Copies of your undergraduate and postgraduate transcripts in English, including the results for each year.
  • Resume: Download the CV template (DOCX, 44KB  this template is encouraged to be used)
  • An overview of your proposed research topic (500 words).

There are specific information and requirements for different schools in the Faculty when it comes to the EOI process, so please make sure you that you discuss those with your potential supervisor.

Step 3: Apply to UTS

Your potential supervisor will advise you about the outcome of the pre-application process. 

If your EOI is approved, you’ll be invited to lodge an application to UTS. As part of the competitive scholarship application, you need to upload the confirmation from your supervisor that your EOI has been approved. 

If your EOI was declined, you can find a supervisor in another part of UTS.

Faculty of Health

The first step to applying for a research degree in the Faculty of Health is to receive pre-approval. You can do this by completing our online expression of interest (EOI) form.

Step 1: Prepare your documents

In the EOI form, you’ll be asked to provide:

Step 2: Express your interest

Complete the Faculty of Health's Higher Degree Research Expression of Interest online form.

Step 3: Apply to UTS

You’ll be notified by email of the outcome of your EOI.

If it’s approved, you’ll be invited to lodge an application to UTS. Include the signed FOH HDR Supervision Agreement Form. 

If it was declined, you can find a supervisor in another part of UTS.

Learn more about studying a research degree at the Faculty of Health → 
FOH.HDR.Enquiry@uts.edu.au

Faculty of Law

Before applying to study a research degree with the Faculty of Law, you need to submit an expression of interest (EOI) so we can make sure that:

  • you meet our eligibility requirements 
  • we can support your research
  • your intended supervisor is suitable and available.

If you don’t follow this process before applying to UTS, your application will be declined.

Step 1: Prepare your EOI

Step 2: Submit your pre-assessment application to the Faculty of Law

Step 3: Apply to UTS

You’ll receive an evaluation of academic merit via email within three weeks. 

If your EOI is approved, you’ll be invited to lodge an application to UTS. 

If it was declined, you can find a supervisor in another part of UTS.

Learn more about studying a research degree at the Faculty of Law → 
law.research@uts.edu.au

Institute for Sustainable Futures

Please note ISF pre-approval process must be started at least 10 weeks prior to UTS application closing dates as the ISF pre-approval application deadline is typically 4 weeks earlier than the UTS application closing dates.

To be considered for a research degree in ISF, you must follow the process outlined on the How to apply page.

Applicants pre-approved by ISF will be invited to lodge an application to UTS.

If ISF does not approve your application, you can find a supervisor in another part of UTS.

Learn more about studying a research degree at ISF → 
ISF-LearningLC@uts.edu.au

UTS Business School

Before applying for a postgraduate research degree with UTS Business School, submit an expression of interest (EOI) so we can:

  • determine your suitability for the program, and 
  • link you with a suitable and available supervisor.

Step 1: Prepare your documents

In the EOI form you’ll be asked to provide:

  • Your CV highlighting any research studies, projects, work completed and research outputs or publications.
  • Official undergraduate and postgraduate academic transcripts in English.
  • Either:
    • a three-page research proposal including a literature review (for accounting, finance, management or marketing applicants), or
    • a one- to two-page statement of interest explaining why you want to pursue a research degree (for economics applicants only).

The following documents are not mandatory, but encouraged:

  • English Test Certificate
  • Any completed thesis or dissertations from previous study
  • A letter of recommendation on official company letterhead and signed. Your referees may be contacted for independent letters of recommendation.
  • A writing sample in English. It can be a research paper or article, preferably in the field you are applying to study.

Step 2: Express your interest

Complete the UTS Business School research program expression of interest online form.

EOIs close one month prior to the application closing dates.

Step 3: Apply to UTS

You’ll be notified by email of the outcome of your pre-application.

If it is approved, you’ll be invited to lodge an application to UTS. 

If it was declined, you can find a supervisor in another part of UTS.

Learn more about studying a research degree at the UTS Business School → 
BusinessHDR@uts.edu.au

Find a supervisor → 
Application process → 

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.