Doctor of Philosophy

Note

Research degrees are offered on a sponsored or full-fee-paying basis. Contact the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences 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 $17165. The expected number of sessions are 8.


All international students should familiarise themselves with the following documents:

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

Candidates are required to submit a thesis that demonstrates a body of research at the quality and level required for a Doctor of Philosophy. A conventional thesis is a work of approximately 80,000 to 90,000 words. Candidates may elect to complete a thesis that includes non-traditional research artefacts, such as a creative work, exhibition, performance, or portfolio of creative or professional work relevant to the practice/field with an accompanying written dissertation or exegesis of approximately 30,000 to 50,000 words. Ranges indicated do not include the abstract, appendices or references.

Candidates are required to submit, in consultation with their supervisor(s), an Annual Review of Progress and undertake Stage Assessments as part of the Faculty's three-stage 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.

As part of this course students must also complete the research training subject 51913 Academic Research Practice.

Course completion requirements
Requirement Credit Points
Select 1 credit points from the following: 1
51915 PhD Thesis: Communication 0
979114 PhD Thesis: International 0
51913 Academic Research Practice 8
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.

Admission requirements

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 students

Visa 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 General and Communication - 2 students

Only for international students

For all domestic students

Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students

Prizes and awards

For General and Communication - 2 students

UTS: Handbook

See the Doctor of Philosophy in the UTS: Handbook for comprehensive course details.

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

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?

Ask UTS

Scholarships, prizes and awards

Scholarships

For General and Communication - 2 students

Only for international students

For all domestic students

Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students

Prizes and awards

For General and Communication - 2 students

International students

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?

Ask a question

Scholarships, prizes and awards

Scholarships

For General and Communication - 2 students

Only for international students

For all domestic students

Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students

Prizes and awards

For General and Communication - 2 students

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.