You are here: Adelaide Graduate Centre > Handbook > Application and Admission

Print View Login

Entry Requirements

The admission requirements for Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) are set out in the relevant set of academic program rules, as published in the University’s Postgraduate Calendar. The current rules are available on the web at: www.adelaide.edu.au/calendar/pg/ The Doctor of Philosophy rules are available under the Adelaide Graduate Centre entry and the General Academic Program Rules for the Professional Doctorate rules are available under the Adelaide Graduate Centre entry with the Specific Academic Program Rules (which have been developed within the framework of the General rules) listed under their respective Faculty/School.

Admission to doctoral candidature is normally granted on the basis of a relevant Bachelor's degree with at least a second-class Honours (upper division) or a relevant research-only Master's degree. A Master's degree with a substantial research component may be considered for admission to doctoral candidature. Coursework degrees that do not contain a significant research component are not acceptable for the purposes of admission to a PhD or indeed, to any HDR program.

In some circumstances, the Research Education and Development Committee may deem that other educational and research backgrounds are equivalent to Honours for the purposes of admission. If you are seeking entry based on alternative qualifications, the key consideration will be that you have undertaken significant research training, leading to the production of a substantial written report such as a thesis or publication(s).

In addition to the formal academic requirements for admission, it is advisable for you and your prospective School to consider a number of other criteria before a higher degree by research candidature is offered or accepted. For example:

• is the School appropriate for your proposed research, and does it have the space, facilities and resources that your project is likely to require?
• is the School able to provide quality, experienced panel supervision comprising a principal
and at least one co- or external supervisor for the duration of the research program?
• is there a sufficient level of similarity between your research interests and background and those of your prospective supervisors?
• do you have the capacity to meet the on-going time, logistical and other requirements of candidature (particularly if you are in employment, or are applying as a half-time or remote student or are intending to also pursue other studies)?
• are you able to support yourself for the duration of your research program through receipt of a scholarship or other means? (note that even if you are able to secure scholarship funding, the duration of your scholarship (3 to 3.5 years) may be less than that of your research program (up to 4 years);
• Scholarship holders and (normally) full-time candidates are restricted to a maximum of 8 hours of work per week during normal working hours.

If you have entry qualifications that are insufficient for direct entry into a Doctoral program, in some cases it may be possible for you to enrol in a Master's by Research and, subject to satisfactory progress and the approval of the Research Education and Development Committee, to upgrade to Doctoral candidature following completion of the first year of study.

Masters' Students

The admission requirements for Masters' Degrees by Research are set out in the General Academic Program rules, located in the University’s Postgraduate Calendar and on the web at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/calendar/pg/agc/

Note that, in addition to the General Academic Program rules for Masters Degrees by Research, specific (supplementary) academic program rules apply to the majority of Masters' programs: check the discipline listings in the Calendar for further information: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/calendar/pg/

In general, applicants for a Master's by Research degree may be accepted with a relevant second-class Honours degree or higher. However, the Research Education and Development Committee (REDC) will also consider applications from people who have demonstrated a high level of academic achievement and are suitably experienced in research.