Doctor of Philosophy

The PhD program demonstrates the Creative Industries Faculty’s reputation for innovation and excellence in research training, welcoming collaborative and interdisciplinary research projects and activity in the Creative Industries Precinct - Australia’s first site dedicated to experimentation and commercial development in the creative industries. Some of the world’s leading practitioners in the creative industries come here to teach, theorise, research, and create. Kelvin Grove Urban Village, La Boite Theatre Company, and exhibition spaces are located nearby, with the new $80m Creative Industries Precinct Stage 2 offering state-of-the-art sound recording, visual art and design studios.

Our award-winning postgraduate supervisors are successful practitioners and researchers from the arts, media and design industries, recognised for their real- world expertise, innovation and knowledge. Indeed, the recent Excellence in Research in Australia (ERA) review ranked the Faculty as Number 1 in Australia for research in communication and cultural research. Critically, QUT Creative Industries researchers actively collaborate with colleagues from across the university, including those in health, science and engineering, education, business, and information technology, and frequently work with community, industry, educational, and government partners in tackling ‘real-world’ research projects. While students usually have considerable flexibility in defining the focus of their work, most research is concentrated across the faculty's key research strength areas:

• digital media, communication and culture,
• innovation in the performing and digital arts, and
• sustainability and innovation in design.

This world-class program provides a basis for critical inquiry to enable you to develop a significant and original contribution to disciplinary knowledge, producing bold and innovative concepts and practices. As a PhD candidate, your research must reveal high critical ability and powers of imagination and synthesis and may be demonstrated in the form of new knowledge or significant and original adaptation, application and interpretation of existing knowledge. Our goal in the Faculty is to produce confident graduates who have made an original contribution to knowledge and have the ability to independently conduct high quality, innovative research. As a Higher Degree Research (HDR) student, you will be encouraged to be a self-directed, proactive and independent learner, who takes the main responsibility for the conduct and progress of your research, and demonstrate a high level of personal commitment, initiative and the desire to actively engage in ongoing professional development. While you will work and think independently, the Faculty will provide an environment that fosters a vibrant and innovative research culture, encouraging debate, discussion and theoretical and practical grounding in the latest innovative research methodologies. 

Mandatory

• IFN001 Advanced Information Retrieval Skills
• Time based Thesis

Other units as agreed by student in negotiation with their supervisor and faculty.

• Award certificates
• Academic transcripts
• Formal identity papers, like your passport, national identity card and student visa
• Include the original copy of your IELTS or TOEFL test results.You can provide your IELTS Test Report form number, and international admissions can verify your results online.If you complete the TOEFL test, you can have your results sent directly to QUT. Our institution code is 9778.
• A completed recognised relevant First Class or Second Class Division A Honours degree or equivalent; or
• A completed recognised masters degree or professional doctorate (by research or coursework)

Masters and professional doctorate degrees by coursework must have a significant research component, normally not less than 25%. Holders of masters and professional doctorate by coursework must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) score of 5.0 on QUT's 7 point scale; and present evidence of research experience and potential for approval.

You must have access to sufficient funds to cover the full cost of your stay in Australia for the duration of your studies. Full cost includes tuition fees, study costs and living expenses. We can help you to estimate your full study cost and the cost of living in Brisbane.

You must organise and pay for your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) before you come to Australia.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

• Creative Industries International Scholarship: a scholarship for high-achieving undergraduate and postgraduate students who want to study in Creative Industries
• QUT Postgraduate Research Award (QUTPRA). A scholarship for current and future postgraduate research students.
• Australian Postgraduate Award (APA). A scholarship for future postgraduate research students in any faculty.
• Equity scholarships scheme. A scholarship for low-income students studying in any faculty.
• QUT Women's Re-entry Scholarship. A scholarship for future and current postgraduate research students.
• Endeavour Postgraduate Scholarships. A scholarship for future postgraduate coursework and research students studying in any faculty.
• QUT Write Up Scholarship. A scholarship for postgraduate research students in any faculty.
• QUT Excellence Top Up Scholarship. A top up scholarship for top-ranking future research students.
• Creative Industries PhD Top-Up Scholarship. A top-up scholarship for future and current PhD students studying in Creative Industries.