Graduate research supervisors

Graduate research supervisors are more than academic mentors—they are partners in your journey of discovery, innovation, and impact. Whether you're passionate about social change, scientific innovation, or theological inquiry, ACU supervisors are here to guide you every step of the way.

Graduate Research School

your development and career

Every graduate research candidate at ACU benefits from a dedicated supervisory team, which includes at least two accredited supervisors: a Principal Supervisor and a Co-supervisor. Depending on the nature of the research, additional support may be provided by Associate Supervisors or End-user Associate Supervisors, ensuring a well-rounded and collaborative mentoring experience.

Your supervision team will:

  • help you shape and refine your research project, ensuring it is academically rigorous, focused, and achievable.
  • support you in developing key research skills, including academic writing, critical thinking, and effective presentation.
  • provide consistent feedback and meet regularly with you to stay on track and adapt your research as it evolves.
  • connect you with academic, industry, and community networks, opening doors to collaboration and broader research impact.
  • guide you in applying for grants and scholarships, publishing your work, and planning your next steps—whether in academia or beyond.
  • be there to support you through personal, academic, and ethical challenges, helping you navigate your research journey with confidence.

Browse supervisor profiles

FAQs

It is not mandatory to contact accredited supervisors prior to applying. If you're successful in your application, the University will allocate suitably qualified supervisors to you (refer to section 10 of the Higher Degree Research Regulations).

Should you contact an academic and they indicate they are willing to supervise you, this does not guarantee you will be admitted to the program or that they will be one of your supervisors. The availability of suitable supervisors is assessed as part of your application for admission (refer to section 10 of the Higher Degree Research Regulations).

Before you submit an application for admission, you may wish to identify accredited supervisors who are active in your proposed area of research and, if appropriate, discuss your research proposal with them.

You can browse supervisor profiles here and contact them directly.

If you would like assistance in identifying a suitable supervisor, you can contact the Faculty Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty to which you will apply for admission:

 
Faculty Email
Faculty Education and Arts FEA.HDR@acu.edu.au
Faculty of Health Sciences FHS.ADR@acu.edu.au
Faculty of Law and Business LawBusinessResearch@acu.edu.au
Faculty of Theology and Philosophy ADRes.FTP@acu.edu.au

No, supervisors are normally not required to be at the same campus location as the candidate.

Have a question? Contact the Graduate Research School

grad.research@acu.edu.au

Looking for something else?

Are you a current graduate research candidate?

Visit the Student Portal to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of supervisors and get tips on how to manage this relationship.

Learn more

Are you an ACU academic staff member?

Mentor emerging scholars and contribute to a vibrant academic community by becoming a graduate research supervisor.

Learn more

Are you an industry professional?

Become an End-user Associate Supervisor and help shape impactful research aligned with your organisation’s goals.

Learn more
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