Research involves original and critical enquiry that makes a significant contribution to existing knowledge of relevance both nationally and internationally. Postgraduate research students are required to produce a thesis embodying the results of independent investigation under the guidance of an academic supervisor.

The goal of research is the publication, public demonstration and practical application of research findings.

The University offers the following research degrees: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Masters by Research and Masters of Philosophy. Programs may be undertaken in the University’s research Faculties: Arts and Social Sciences, Built Environment, Business, Engineering, College of Fine Arts (COFA), Law, Medicine, Science, and UNSW@ADFA (Australian Defence Force Academy).

Offered in all Faculties

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree requires completion of a piece of research that demonstrates a significant and original contribution to knowledge in the field of study. Candidates acquire advanced specialist research training and produce a thesis that summarises the research and provides evidence for independent thought and critical analysis, effective communication and expert knowledge of the discipline in the international context.

For a PhD considerably more original work is required than for a Master by Research. In some Faculties advanced coursework is also prescribed. The nature and level of supervision evolves over the duration of the candidature. The work is closely supervised in the early stages. In the later stages, however, the candidate increases scope to exercise initiatives and is expected to make a significant and original contribution to the research. In the latter part of the program the candidate has acquired sufficient skills to allow independent work and this is reflected in guidance rather than direction by the supervisor.

The minimum length of candidature is 3 years and the maximum length is 4 years.

Offered in all Faculties except Business

A Masters by Research degree requires completion of an original piece of research, more limited in scope and nature to that required for a PhD. Candidates develop mastery of appropriate methodology, and they present their findings in the wider context of their discipline.

The minimum length of candidature is 1.5 years and the maximum length is 2 years.

Currently offered by Business, CoFA, Science, UNSW@ADFA, FBE.

A Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree provides an opportunity for students to complete a component of coursework including research methodology relevant to the field of study and a research project of at least 66% of the degree. The degree is ideal for students to acquire basic research training.

The minimum length of candidature is 1 year and the maximum length is 2 years.

Canberra Campus
Aerospace Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Computer Science
Economics and Management
Electrical Engineering
English
Geography
History
Indonesian
Mathematics and Statistics
Mechanical Engineering
Oceanography
Physics
Politics

Paddington Campus
Art Education
Art Theory
Design
Fine Arts
Media Arts

Kensington Campus
Accounting
Actuarial Studies
Anatomy
Applied Ethics
Applied Geology
Aviation
Australian Studies
Banking and Finance
Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
Biomedical Engineering
Biological Science
Biotechnology
Built Environment
Business Law and Taxation
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Chinese Studies
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Computer Science and Engineering
Criminology
Economics
Education
Electrical Engineering
English
Environmental Policy and Management
European Studies
Food Science and Technology
French
German Studies
Geography
Health, Sexuality and Culture
History
History & Philosophy of Science
Indonesian Studies
Industrial Chemistry
Information Systems, Technology and Management
International Studies and Global Transformations
Japanese Studies
Korean Studies
Law
Linguistics
Marketing
Materials Science and Engineering
Mathematics
Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Media and Communications
Medicine (Prince Henry/POW)
Medicine (St George Clinical School)
Medicine (St Vincent’s Clinical School)
Medicine (SWS Clinical School)
Microbiology and Immunology
Mining Engineering
Modern Greek Studies
Music
Music Education
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Optometry
Organisation and Management
Paediatrics
Pathology
Petroleum Engineering
Philosophy
Photovoltaic Engineering
Physics
Physiology and Pharmacology
Politics & International Relations
Professional Ethics
Psychiatry
Psychology
Public Health & Community Medicine
Rural Health
Russian Studies
Safety Science
Social Science and Policy
Social Work
Sociology
Spanish & Latin American Studies
Surgery (POW Clinical School)
Surgery (St George Clinical School)
Surgery (St Vincent’s Clinical School)
Surgery (SWS Clinical School)
Surveying and Spatial Information Systems
Taxation
Theatre, Film & Dance
Theoretical Physics
Women’s Studies

Kensington Campus
Psychology

Kensington Campus
Psychology

Kensington Campus
Psychology

Kensington Campus
Law

Canberra Campus
History
Language, Literature and Communication
Politics

Kensington Campus
Applied Ethics
Chinese Studies
Creative Writing
English
Environmental Policy and Management
European Studies
French
German Studies
Health, Sexuality and Culture
History
History & Philosophy of Science
Indonesian Studies
International Studies
Japanese Studies
Korean Studies
Linguistics
Media, Film and Theatre
Modern Greek Studies
Philosophy
Politics & International Relations
Professional Ethics
Russian Studies
Sociology and Anthropology
Spanish and Latin American Studies
Women’s and Gender Studies

Paddington Campus
Art Administration

Paddington Campus
Art Education

Paddington Campus
Art Theory

Paddington Campus
Design

Paddington
Fine Arts

Kensington Campus
Built Environment

Kensington Campus
Built Environment

Kensington Campus
Built Environment

Kensington Campus
Built Environment

Kensington Campus
Built Environment

Kensington Campus
Built Environment

Kensington Campus
Education

Kensington Campus
Education

Kensington Campus
Education

Canberra Campus
Aerospace Engineering
Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Kensington Campus
Biomedical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Computer Science and Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Mining Engineering
Petroleum Engineering
Photovoltaic Engineering
Safety Science
Surveying and Spatial Information Systems

Paddington Campus
Fine Arts

Kensington Campus
Public Health and Community Medicine

Kensington Campus
Public Health and Community Medicine

Kensington Campus
Law

Kensington Campus
Medicine

Please note: You must have a licence to practice medicine in Australia to apply for this program

Kensington Campus
Music and Music Education

Kensington Campus
Music and Music Education

Kensington Campus
Public Health and Community Medicine

Canberra Campus
Aeronautical Engineering
Arts
Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Information Technology
Management Studies
Mechanical Engineering
Science

Kensington Campus
Accounting
Actuarial Studies
Aviation
Banking and Finance
Biological Science
Built Environment
Business Law and Taxation
Chemistry
Economics
Employment Relations
Geosciences
Human Factors
Human Resource Management
Information Systems & Management
International Business
Marketing
Material Science & Engineering
Organisational Behaviour
Physics
Risk Management
Toxicology
Vision Sciences

Paddington Campus
Fine Arts

Canberra Campus
Chemistry
Computer Science
Geography
Mathematics and Statistics
Oceanography
Physics

Kensington Campus
Anatomy
Applied Geology
Architecture
Aviation
Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
Biological Science
Biomedical Engineering
Biotechnology
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Community Medicine
Computer Science and Engineering
Food Science and Technology
Geography
Industrial Chemistry
Materials Science and Engineering
Mathematics
Medicine (POW Clinical School)
Medicine (St George Clinical School)
Medicine (St Vincent’s Clinical School)
Medicine (SWS Clinical School)
Microbiology and Immunology
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Optometry
Paediatrics
Pathology
Physics
Physiology and Pharmacology
Psychiatry
Psychology
Rural Health
Safety Science
Surgery (POW Clinical School)
Surgery (St George Clinical School)
Surgery (St Vincent’s Clinical School)
Surgery (SWS Clinical School)
Theoretical Physics

Kensington Campus
Social Science and Policy

Kensington Campus
Social Work

Kensington Campus
Surgery (Prince Henry/POW)
Surgery (St George Clinical School)
Surgery (St Vincent’s Clinical School)
Surgery (SWS Clinical School)

Kensington Campus
Law