Follow these instructions if you want to apply for one of the following research degrees:
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Follow our simple step-by-step application process and open up new possibilities for your career and future.
Follow these instructions if you want to apply for one of the following research degrees:
You’re a domestic applicant if you’re one of the following:
You are an international applicant if you will need a temporary student visa to study in Australia.
If you are an international applicant, you should visit our step-by-step guide for international research applications.
A research degree is a master's or doctorate that is mostly made up of researching and writing a single thesis.
We also offer postgraduate degrees made up of different units and classes; however, these are known as postgraduate coursework degrees.
If you’re looking to apply for a postgraduate coursework degree, such as a graduate certificate, graduate diploma or master's by coursework, you should visit our application page for postgraduate students.
You can reach out to the Graduate Research School if you have any questions about the research application process.
Choose your preferred research course from the list below and read the individual course descriptions:
To be eligible for admission to one of our research courses, you need to meet the entry requirements.
You can check your eligibility for your chosen research course by viewing its individual entry requirements available in section 5 of the Higher Degree Research Regulations.
Please note: Even if you do meet the requirements, admission is not guaranteed. Other parts of your application that we'll take into consideration include:
You may need to demonstrate your English language proficiency if:
You can prove your English proficiency by providing us with evidence of your previous studies or qualifications, or by achieving a certain score in a relevant English language test.
View Appendix C of the Higher Degree Research Regulations for English language requirements for HDR programs.
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.
It is not mandatory to contact accredited supervisors prior to applying. If you're successful, 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).
Supervisors normally are not required to be at the same campus location.
To discuss possible supervisors, please contact the Faculty Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty to which you will apply for admission:
| Faculty | |
|---|---|
| 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 |
You can also browse the research profiles of our accredited supervisors and contact them directly.
We are currently accepting applications from prospective candidates.
Candidates may commence prior to the census date in either Research Term A or Research Term C.
If you are applying for candidature only, you can submit your application at any time, though you are strongly encouraged to submit at least 12 weeks prior to the start of your preferred Research Term.
If you are applying for candidature and a stipend scholarship, refer to the application deadline listed on the stipend scholarships page.
If you are applying for candidature and a scholarship-supported research project, refer to the application deadline listed on the scholarship-supported research projects page.
Preparing your application requires you to complete and collect a number of documents.
To begin building your application, download and complete our HDR candidature application form.
This form contains application information for:
As part of your research application, you will need to write a 2,000 word research proposal.
Writing a research proposal can feel daunting but remember, no one expects perfection. You're not expected to have all the answers now. This proposal is a foundation that you will build upon and is the first step in a longer, exciting research journey.
Learn more about the requirements for your research proposalYou are required to nominate two referees who are prepared, and able, to speak to your academic and research capability in support of your application.
The referee report is to be confidential between the nominated referee and the university.
To complete the referee report:
Please note: It is your responsibility to ensure that your referees return the reports to the Graduate Research School. We won't consider your application until two referee reports have been received.
Before you submit your application, make sure you have attached all the necessary application and identification documents. These documents include:
A certified copy is a copy (usually a photocopy) of a primary document that has been endorsed as a true copy of the primary document. Examples of a primary document include birth certificate, driver's license or passport. It does not certify that the primary document is genuine, only that it is a true copy of the primary document.
To have a document certified, you should take the original and copy to an authorised person, such as a Justice of the Peace. They will apply their seal to every photocopied page declaring that they have sighted the original document and certifying your copy as a true copy of the original.
An official stamp or seal of the certifier's organisation must be included on the copy (where possible). If the certifying officer is a Justice of the Peace, they must list their registration number and state or territory of registration.
If you are submitting an academic transcript, it must be certified by an authorised person. Alternatively, you can forward your My eQuals transcript via a link and password. Note: OUA Statement of Results are not accepted as an Academic transcript.
Students who are overseas can certify their documents at an Australian embassy or consulate.
My eQuals is the Graduate Research School’s preferred method for applicants to share academic transcripts when applying for a research degree at ACU. Please use this service if it is available to you.
AskACU Centre staff can certify documents for students for internal ACU admissions purposes.
Find your nearest AskACU Centre
Follow these steps to submit certified documents by mail:
ACU Graduate Research School
Level 11, Saint Teresa of Kolkata Building
115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Once you have completed your application (and rechecked everything to be sure), please email your application to the Graduate Research School at grad.research@acu.edu.au.
Apply now
It's time for us to assess your application. Bear with us - there's a lot to process. It normally takes around two months for an application to be assessed. You will receive confirmation of your application and we will let you know the outcome as soon as we can.
ACU develops innovative solutions to issues impacting human dignity and the common good.
Learn moreScholarships can support you while you study and provide access to the resources you need to pursue your research.
Learn moreThe Graduate Research School supports our candidates and cultivates the enriching graduate research experience at ACU.
Learn moreUnsure what some of these words mean? We’ve put together a glossary to explain our technical terms in plain English.
View glossary