Humanities and Social Sciences

The education and training of doctoral students is one of the most important aspects of a university's activities. The pursuit of knowledge through research higher degree programs not only leads to a well-educated society and a highly trained professional work force, but also contributes significantly to the University's research and scholarship.

The aim of the PhD program is to provide research training in a manner that fosters the development of independent research skills in candidates. These skills include the capacity to formulate a significant problem, to develop mastery of appropriate conceptual and methodological skills, and to relate the research topic to a broader framework of knowledge in the relevant disciplinary area.

The doctoral thesis provides evidence of a contribution to knowledge with a level of originality consistent with 3-4 years of full-time study and research training. It also demonstrates a candidate's capacity for critical analysis and that he or she is capable of pursuing scholarly and programmatic research.

Students in the Doctor of Philosophy are expected to research, develop and write a substantial thesis that makes an original contribution to their field.

During your candidature, you’ll usually work under the guidance of two supervisors (sometimes more), who have expertise in your thesis topic. You should meet regularly with your supervisors – a schedule will need to be worked out after you enrol.

Writing a thesis is a challenging process and can take a number of years. You will need to work diligently to keep within the specified time frame. During your studies, we encourage you to participate in the University’s research life by attending different guest lectures, seminars, speaking events, and conferences.

To have your degree conferred, you will need to comply with the General Award Rules. 

To meet the Graduate School admissions requirements for a PhD you would need to provide evidence of one of the following:

• A bachelor’s degree with honours class IIA or better from approved universities, which should include a relevant research component.
• A research master’s degree
• A coursework master’s degree and an overall GPA (grade point average) equivalent to 5.65 on the 7-point UQ scale, which should include a relevant research component.
• A postgraduate degree of at least one year full-time equivalent with an overall GPA (grade point average) equivalent to 5.0 on the 7-point UQ scale, together with demonstrated research experience equivalent to honours IIA will be considered for PhD entry on a case by case basis.
• A bachelor’s degree plus at least two years of documented relevant research experience, including research publications.

English Proficiency

IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. 

International students are eligible to apply for a number of scholarships and prizes. These may be offered by the University, the Australian Government, foreign governments, or private organisations.

The UQ Graduate School support almost 1800 research students from an annual scholarship budget of almost $40 million in Australian Government and University funding. The Graduate School coordinates a competitive, merit-based process for awarding scholarships in two rounds each year.