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Doctor of Philosophy
Note
Research degrees are offered on a research training scheme, scholarship or full-fee-paying basis (international). Contact UTS: Health or the UTS Graduate Research School for further details.
The PhD is a University-wide research degree which involves an intense period of supervised study and research, leading to an original and significant contribution to knowledge. This is a degree of the future and is a recognised path for those wishing to assume leadership positions in their field of specialisation.
This course prepares graduates for a leadership role in the widely diverse range of industries and organisations that rely on research or research skills to solve real-world problems, including but not limited to academia, business, government, cultural and community organisations.
Course fees
For relevant fee information, please choose from the following:
Local student
Research Training Program
The majority of domestic students who are offered entry to a graduate research degree will have the cost of their tuition fees covered by the Australian Government’s Research Training Program (RTP) Fees Offset Scholarship. If you are granted an RTP Fee Offset Scholarship you are not required to pay tuition fees for up to the maximum period of time allowable to complete your study.
Recipients of an RTP Fee Offset Scholarship should however still expect to pay the ongoing costs of being part of an academic environment and conducting research. In addition to ongoing costs, you may also be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Scholarships
In addition, research scholarships up to the value of $40,000 are available to support living expenses for domestic students to study master's by research and doctoral programs at UTS.
Tuition fee calculations
Tuition fees and RTP Fee Offset Scholarship amounts are incurred pro-rata based on the number of days a student is enrolled in each research degree session and whether the student is enrolled after the research census date.
UTS Alumni save 10%: alumni.uts.edu.au/advantage
International student
Tuition fees for international students vary between courses and range from A$19,840 to A$34,080 per year. Tuition fees for postgraduate research degrees are charged pro-rata based on the number of days a student is enrolled in each research degree session and whether the student is enrolled after the research census date.
Tuition fees for international postgraduate research students can be found using fees search.
Tuition fees must be paid in advance each session and are subject to annual increase. Fees for future year(s) published in fees search, whilst unlikely to change, are estimates only. UTS makes every effort to provide up to date future year(s) fee estimates and to limit any changes, however, UTS reserves the right to vary fees for future year(s) at any time.
For this course, the cost per session for 2025 is $21555. The expected number of sessions are 8.
All international students should familiarise themselves with the following documents:
- Protocol on refund of fees for international students - contains the refund of fees information for international students.
- Tuition Protection Service - designed to ensure that students receive the tuition they have paid for
In addition to tuition fees, students may be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). Textbooks and other course materials will also result in additional costs.
UTS Alumni save 10%: alumni.uts.edu.au/advantage
For further information on costs related to your study at UTS, visit the international students' tuition fees information page.
Careers
This research degree is especially valuable for students to gain deeper understanding of a subject area and develop analytical, problem solving, communication and project management skills. These are highly valued and enable graduates to pursue an academic career or careers in industry, research, government non-government organisations.
Course structure
Course structure explained
There are three specific stages to the doctoral program. In the first stage, candidates must complete a formal assessment to confirm their candidature. In the second stage, a progress confirmation assessment to ensure their progress is consistent with completion of the research program within the prescribed time and demonstrates potential to complete the work to standard. Candidates are required to complete a third stage in order to confirm readiness to submit their thesis for examination.
Within this framework of stages, doctoral students design their own Graduate Research Study Plan in discussion with their supervisory panel. This draws from the UTS HDR Capability Framework that shapes what it means to be a research student at UTS. A Review of Progress is conducted each year, in a process that is separate from the Stage Assessments.
Students may be required to undertake some coursework, for example in research methods or in theoretical knowledge in the field of specialisation. Students have the opportunity to complete an industry-based HDR internship experience, with government, business or community.
Course completion requirements
Requirement | Credit Points |
---|---|
Select 1 credit points from the following: | 1 |
95601 PhD Thesis: Genetic Counselling | 0 |
93001 PhD Thesis: Health | 0 |
26928 PhD Thesis: Health Economics | 0 |
90010 PhD Thesis: Health Economics | 0 |
96822 PhD Thesis: Indigenous Health | 0 |
93000 PhD Thesis: Midwifery | 0 |
92984 PhD Thesis: Nursing | 0 |
95592 PhD Thesis: Orthoptics | 0 |
95597 PhD Thesis: Physiotherapy | 0 |
96708 PhD Thesis: Public Health | 0 |
95599 PhD Thesis: Speech Pathology | 0 |
Total | 0 |
Additional information
Course duration
The maximum course duration is four years of full-time or eight years of part-time study. Students can complete the course in less than the maximum time. Some courses have a strong preference for research undertaken at a full time pace.
The work may be carried out either on university premises or at a site external to the university, or some combination of both. Candidates are recommended to make contact with their supervisor(s) at least once a month to discuss the progress of their research. In some fields of specialisation, students may be expected to complete campus-based or other research activities on a prescribed basis.
Full time, mixed
Part time, mixed
Admission requirements
Applicants must have completed a UTS recognised master's by research or bachelor honours degree with first class or second class / division 1 honours, or an equivalent or higher qualification, or submitted other evidence of general and professional qualifications that demonstrates potential to pursue graduate research studies.
Selection criteria also include: research potential, research experience, quality of the research proposal, alignment with the UTS Research Strategy and the strategic goals of the field of specialisation, and the Faculty's ability to offer appropriate supervision in the applicant's chosen field.
The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: IELTS Academic: 7.0 overall with a writing score of 7.0; or TOEFL iBT: 94-101 overall with a writing score of 27; or PTE: 65-72 overall with a writing score of 65; or C1A/C2P: 185-190 overall with a writing score of 185.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
International studentsVisa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.
Scholarships and prizes
Scholarships
For Health students
- ARC Linkage Project in digital-twin driven prognostics for the mining industry
- Computational Mechanics and Optimisation for Energy Absorption of Materials
- Crescent Leadership Scholarship
- CSIRO & AIS Sports Data Science PhD Scholarship
- CSIRO & Cricket NSW Sports Data Science & AI PhD Scholarship
- CSIRO & GolfSpace Sports Data Science & AI PhD Scholarship
- CSIRO & Rugby Australia Sports Data Science & AI PhD Scholarship
- Digital Health CRC Masters by Research Scholarship
- Ericsson Technology Scholarship
- Gordon Young Memorial Scholarship
- International Research Training Program Scholarship (IRTP)
- Mentoring of Women in Engineering and IT Scholarship
- RACE for 2030 CRC Industry PhD Scholarship
- Rosemary Johnston HDR Scholarship
- Telstra Enterprise Certitude Scholarship
- Therapeutic approaches to prevent age-associated muscle weakness
- Thrive: Next Generation Graduates - PhD – Social Science and Policy
- UTS Diploma to Degree Pathway Scholarship
- UTS Housing Resident Networker Scholarship
- UTS Scholarship for European Undergraduate Students
- UTS Undergraduate Tuition Fee Scholarship
- UTS-Vietnam Government Project 89 PhD Scholarship
- Wikipedia and Australian history and events
Only for international students
- CSC UTS PhD scholarship
- International Research Scholarship
- UTS Academic Excellence International Scholarship
- UTS Academic Merit International Scholarship
- UTS Academic Merit International Scholarship – South Asia
- UTS President's Scholarship
- UTS Study Abroad Excellence Scholarship
- UTS VIED scholarship
For all domestic students
Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students
Prizes and awards
For Health students
- CommBank & Telstra UTS Best Venture Prize
- Dame Mary Gilmore Memorial Prize in Journalism
- Gareth Ivory Memorial Prize in Journalism
- Guy Morrison Prize for Excellence
- Henry Davis York Prize
- Industrial Relations Society of NSW Prize for Excellence in Industrial Relations Undergraduate Study
- Teachers Mutual Bank Rural Student Placement Prize
- The Carla Zampatti Foundation Design Award
- Trevor Buchner Design Prize
- UTS Anthology Writing Prize
- Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation Regional Journalism Prize
UTS: Handbook
Information for international students
Find out about support services, the Australian education system, accommodation and more to help you get the most out of your study at UTS.
Domestic students
How to apply
Intake
Research Session 1 2025
Research Session 2 2025
Application process
Find out how to apply for a research degree and scholarship at UTS.
Important dates
Please refer to our Graduate Research Application Deadlines page
Need more information?
Scholarships, prizes and awards
Scholarships
For Health students
- ARC Linkage Project in digital-twin driven prognostics for the mining industry
- Computational Mechanics and Optimisation for Energy Absorption of Materials
- Crescent Leadership Scholarship
- CSIRO & AIS Sports Data Science PhD Scholarship
- CSIRO & Cricket NSW Sports Data Science & AI PhD Scholarship
- CSIRO & GolfSpace Sports Data Science & AI PhD Scholarship
- CSIRO & Rugby Australia Sports Data Science & AI PhD Scholarship
- Digital Health CRC Masters by Research Scholarship
- Ericsson Technology Scholarship
- Gordon Young Memorial Scholarship
- International Research Training Program Scholarship (IRTP)
- Mentoring of Women in Engineering and IT Scholarship
- RACE for 2030 CRC Industry PhD Scholarship
- Rosemary Johnston HDR Scholarship
- Telstra Enterprise Certitude Scholarship
- Therapeutic approaches to prevent age-associated muscle weakness
- Thrive: Next Generation Graduates - PhD – Social Science and Policy
- UTS Diploma to Degree Pathway Scholarship
- UTS Housing Resident Networker Scholarship
- UTS Scholarship for European Undergraduate Students
- UTS Undergraduate Tuition Fee Scholarship
- UTS-Vietnam Government Project 89 PhD Scholarship
- Wikipedia and Australian history and events
Only for international students
- CSC UTS PhD scholarship
- International Research Scholarship
- UTS Academic Excellence International Scholarship
- UTS Academic Merit International Scholarship
- UTS Academic Merit International Scholarship – South Asia
- UTS President's Scholarship
- UTS Study Abroad Excellence Scholarship
- UTS VIED scholarship
For all domestic students
Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students
Prizes and awards
For Health students
- CommBank & Telstra UTS Best Venture Prize
- Dame Mary Gilmore Memorial Prize in Journalism
- Gareth Ivory Memorial Prize in Journalism
- Guy Morrison Prize for Excellence
- Henry Davis York Prize
- Industrial Relations Society of NSW Prize for Excellence in Industrial Relations Undergraduate Study
- Teachers Mutual Bank Rural Student Placement Prize
- The Carla Zampatti Foundation Design Award
- Trevor Buchner Design Prize
- UTS Anthology Writing Prize
- Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation Regional Journalism Prize
International students
How to apply
Intake
Research Session 1 2025
Research Session 2 2025
Application process
Find out how to apply for a research degree and scholarship at UTS.
You can meet an international student adviser at one of our events worldwide to ask questions and submit an application.
Important dates
Please refer to our Graduate Research Application Deadlines page
Need more information?
Scholarships, prizes and awards
Scholarships
For Health students
- ARC Linkage Project in digital-twin driven prognostics for the mining industry
- Computational Mechanics and Optimisation for Energy Absorption of Materials
- Crescent Leadership Scholarship
- CSIRO & AIS Sports Data Science PhD Scholarship
- CSIRO & Cricket NSW Sports Data Science & AI PhD Scholarship
- CSIRO & GolfSpace Sports Data Science & AI PhD Scholarship
- CSIRO & Rugby Australia Sports Data Science & AI PhD Scholarship
- Digital Health CRC Masters by Research Scholarship
- Ericsson Technology Scholarship
- Gordon Young Memorial Scholarship
- International Research Training Program Scholarship (IRTP)
- Mentoring of Women in Engineering and IT Scholarship
- RACE for 2030 CRC Industry PhD Scholarship
- Rosemary Johnston HDR Scholarship
- Telstra Enterprise Certitude Scholarship
- Therapeutic approaches to prevent age-associated muscle weakness
- Thrive: Next Generation Graduates - PhD – Social Science and Policy
- UTS Diploma to Degree Pathway Scholarship
- UTS Housing Resident Networker Scholarship
- UTS Scholarship for European Undergraduate Students
- UTS Undergraduate Tuition Fee Scholarship
- UTS-Vietnam Government Project 89 PhD Scholarship
- Wikipedia and Australian history and events
Only for international students
- CSC UTS PhD scholarship
- International Research Scholarship
- UTS Academic Excellence International Scholarship
- UTS Academic Merit International Scholarship
- UTS Academic Merit International Scholarship – South Asia
- UTS President's Scholarship
- UTS Study Abroad Excellence Scholarship
- UTS VIED scholarship
For all domestic students
Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students
Prizes and awards
For Health students
- CommBank & Telstra UTS Best Venture Prize
- Dame Mary Gilmore Memorial Prize in Journalism
- Gareth Ivory Memorial Prize in Journalism
- Guy Morrison Prize for Excellence
- Henry Davis York Prize
- Industrial Relations Society of NSW Prize for Excellence in Industrial Relations Undergraduate Study
- Teachers Mutual Bank Rural Student Placement Prize
- The Carla Zampatti Foundation Design Award
- Trevor Buchner Design Prize
- UTS Anthology Writing Prize
- Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation Regional Journalism Prize