Doctor of Philosophy - Education (DR-PHILEDU) // Entry and participation requirements

Entry requirements

The criteria for assessing applicants' eligibility for PhD candidature are:

1. Minimum qualifications
   Applicants are normally required to have completed at least a four-year honours degree at H2A standard from an Australian university, or a qualification or combination of qualifications considered by the RHD Committee to be equivalent.

2. Minimum level of academic achievement
   Applicants should have achieved an overall H1 (80-100%) or H2A (75-79%) grade in the relevant honours or Masters degree.

3. Relevance of the degree
   The completed degree must be in an area that is relevant to the intended PhD, including sufficient specialisation such that the applicant will have already developed an understanding and appreciation of a body of knowledge relevant to the intended PhD.

4. Evidence of research ability

   Applicants are normally required to have completed a research project, component, subject or group of subjects that accounts for at least 25% of their work (i.e. Honours year), or 25% of one year accumulated over the length of a Masters course, and which has, or have, been conducted, and assessed, individually. Research carried out in groups should at least have been graded individually. This project, component, or subject(s) may include:

   (a) any obviously research oriented project, subject or sustained piece of scholarly writing conducted for assessment, such as small theses, research essays, long essays, or studios; AND/OR

   (b) any less-obviously research subjects, including practice-based subjects such as performance or fieldwork, where there is also scholastic rigor as documented in a sustained piece of writing analogous to (a); AND/OR

   (c) any subjects directed at the formation of research skills, such as methodology and reasoning, such as scientific reasoning, or legal reasoning, where a sustained piece of writing has also been produced.

5. Currency of applicant's knowledge of the discipline
   The applicant's degree/s and/or professional experience must demonstrate that their knowledge of the discipline in which they plan to undertake their research higher degree is current.

6. Assessment of level of suitability
   Based on interview or other verbal communication, an assessment should be made of the level of understanding, motivation and time commitment of the student for the proposed program of study. For example, a full-time student would be expected to devote at least 40 hours a week and a part-time student about half of this.

Applicants must meet the University’s English language requirements. 

The University welcomes applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Indigenous Australians who are not otherwise selected will be admitted if the Selection Committee determines that they are likely to succeed in the course. Indigenous applicants are encouraged to contact Murrup Barak for support in preparing their application

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

Inherent requirements are the abilities, knowledge and skills needed to complete the course and the proposed research project. They include the ability to: 

• source, comprehend and analyse complex information;
• comprehend and apply principles of research integrity;
• possess behavioural and social attributes necessary to participate in the research;
• generate research data and outputs;
• communicate research knowledge and the application of research principles and practices;
• participate actively and safely in the research project. 

The Doctor of Philosophy – Education welcomes applications from candidates with disabilities. The University will take all reasonable steps to enable the participation of students with disabilities.  

Candidates who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this course are encouraged to discuss this with Student Equity and Disability Support. 

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Overview, Learning Outcomes and Assessment sections of this entry. 

Last updated: 24 April 2025