Become an expert in your field.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is an advanced research program that fosters the development of independent research skills, scholarly analysis and an ability to communicate research findings.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is an advanced research program that fosters the development of independent research skills, scholarly analysis and an ability to communicate research findings.
The University of the Sunshine Coast has a team of enthusiastic and experienced academics able to provide supervision across a broad range of research areas.
Admission requirements
To be eligible for admission to Doctor of Philosophy candidature, applicants are normally required to hold:
(a) a Bachelor Honours degree (AQF Level 8) with a significant research component with a minimum of Class IIA from a recognised higher education institution; or
(b) a Masters degree (AQF Level 9) with a significant research component equivalent to Honours degree research component from a recognised higher education institution; or
(c) a Bachelor degree (AQF Level 7) from a recognised higher education institution, and shall have achieved by subsequent work and study a standard equivalent to at least Class IIA Honours as may be approved by the Research Degrees Committee; or
(d) a record of research or professional qualifications deemed by the Research Degrees Committee to be of a standard equivalent to at least Bachelors Honours degree Class IIA and providing a suitable background for the doctoral research the candidate is proposing to undertake.
Refer also to the University’s English language requirements.
Research areas
The Faculty of Arts, Business and Law supports research in the following areas:
- Communication and media studies
- Screen and media studies
- Internet media studies
- Journalism
- Public communication and promotion
- Public relations and advocacy
- Creative arts
- Art and digital design
- Drama
- Creative writing and literature
- Interactive technologies and games
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Psychology
- Counselling and psychotherapy
- Accident and safety research
- Society and culture
- Geography, anthropology and development studies
- Indigenous studies
- Language studies
- Historical studies
- Politics and international relations
- Social work and policy
- Environment and sustainability
- Climate change
- Coastal management
- Tourism, leisure and events
- Planning
- Natural resource management
- Plantation and native forest research
- Management and business
- Management
- Entrepreneurship and innovation
- Economics, finance and accounting
- Property economics and development
- Marketing
- Information technologies
- Law
The Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering supports research in the following areas:
- Aboriginal health
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Best practice in nursing education
- Cancer prevention and control
- Cardiac rehabilitation
- Changing roles in nursing
- Chronic disease adaptation
- Dementia care
- Education
- Environmental epidemiology
- Equine influenza
- Genecology Research Centre
- Health promotion
- Human health and performance
- Infectious diseases
- Injury prevention
- Maternal and child health
- Maternal and infant nutrition
- Mental health
- Motion analysis
- Nutrition and dietetics
- Obesity
- Promoting young mothers success at university
- Skin health
- Smoking cessation and relapse prevention
- Sports biomechanics
- Women’s experiences of midwifery practice
Program structure
The Doctor of Philosophy is the main Doctoral degree offered by this University.
It is awarded solely on the basis of a thesis produced under supervision that makes an original, significant and extensive contribution to knowledge in the relevant field of study, as judged by independent experts applying accepted contemporary international standards.
As a candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy, you may be required to undertake study, such as a research methodology course or other specified courses, seminars or reading activities, in addition to and as a support for your research.
Where such activities are required, they shall be specified as a condition of candidature by the Committee and undertaken under the direction of the relevant Associate Dean (Research) or nominee.
Alternative thesis presentation
Doctoral candidates may be permitted to present a collection of thematically linked research articles in lieu of a thesis.
This approach may only be pursued with the advance permission of the Committee at the time of confirmation.
The research articles must be based wholly on research undertaken by the candidate during their candidature for the Doctoral degree.
The number and type of research articles and the form in which they are to be presented for examination will be specified.
Program requirements and notes
- Prospective applicants wishing to undertake a PhD will need to find a suitable supervisor by contacting the relevant Faculty of Arts, Business and Law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering.
- For further information, refer to the Higher Degrees by Research - Academic Policy.
- Refer to related policies, rules, plans and procedures.
- Refer to the research areas for the Faculty of Arts, Business and Law and Science, Health, Education and Engineering.
Enrolment and fees
- Domestic candidates: Australian and New Zealand citizens and permanent residents are not required to pay tuition fees for the standard duration of their HDR program. The Australian Government's Research Training Scheme (RTS) covers the cost of HDR tuition fees for these candidates. Research Master candidates are entitled to a maximum of two years full-time equivalent study. Candidates who do not complete their degree within the maximum RTS allowable completion times may be required to pay fees for any additional periods of enrolment. Please refer to Higher Degree by Research fees.
- International candidates: tuition fees apply. Refer to International HDR tuition fees.
- In any semester, full-time enrolment comprises 0.500 EFTSL.*
- In any semester, part-time enrolment comprises 0.250 EFTSL.*
- The census date for withdrawal without financial penalty or academic penalty is the Semester 1 or 2 census date.
* EFTSL - Equivalent Full-Time Student Load. One year of full-time study equates to 1.000 EFTSL.