Postgraduate research degrees
Apply your theory-driven research to the real world
Work alongside some of the world's brightest and most accomplished academics, access high-calibre facilities, and discover our Higher Degree by Research (HDR) curriculum.
Our research is driven by the big picture. The University of Sydney is home to leading researchers who are finding solutions to the world's most pressing issues by changing the way they look at them.
With more than 150 world‑renowned research centres, we are one of the world’s leading research-intensive universities. These centres include the Charles Perkins Centre, the Brain and Mind Centre, the University of Sydney Nano Institute, the Sydney Policy Lab, the Sydney Environment Institute, the Sydney Net Zero Institute and the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre.
Our interdisciplinary approach means that students are part of a community of scholars that unites experts in fields as diverse as medicine, arts, social sciences, engineering, information technologies and science.
As a researcher at Sydney, you'll work alongside some of the world's brightest and most accomplished academics. You can access high-calibre facilities and unique international partnerships with top-ranked institutions, including Harvard University, Cornell University, the University of Toronto, the University of Edinburgh, Utrecht University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and the University of Hong Kong.
Undertake your research degree at one of the world's top universities.
A master's degree by research at Sydney:
*Part-time is not available to international student visa holders.
A PhD at Sydney:
*Part-time is not available to international student visa holders
If you’re interested in a Joint PhD program, you need to follow the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) application steps 1-3. In addition, your proposed supervisor will need to complete a proposal to negotiate a student agreement form. If accepted, you will also be required to sign an individual student agreement. After your student agreement is finalised, you will then be sent an application form for the Joint PhD program.
Please refer to the University's Dual and Joint Degree Policy for full policy details.
Download our Joint PhD programs factsheet (pdf, 116KB) to learn more.
A professional doctorate at Sydney:
*Part-time is not available to international student visa holders.
Our graduates pursue diverse career paths in both academia and industry. Students are encouraged to engage in activities that complement their research throughout their PhD and enhance their career development holistically.
You can gain industry experience during your PhD through industry scholarships, research collaboration with an external partner, internships or part-time work in a relevant sector.
An internship typically involves a research and development project over 3-6 months with a government or community organisation or in the business sector. We support students to seek out opportunities themselves, while also partnering with the Australian Postgraduate Research Intern (APR.Intern), who provide internships in a range of sectors and disciplines.
The University also has a range of development opportunities to support you in building the skills you will need as you plan for your career.
Yes, all HDR courses require prior research experience. This is because HDR courses are largely self-driven, requiring pre-requisite research, time and project management skills.
If you do not have any previous research experience, there are ways to gain what you need. Both the one-year honours and masters by coursework degrees containing substantial research components are great pathways into research. These courses will allow you to gain the research skills necessary to apply for the PhD.
The PhD is our premier research award and the highest qualification on the Australian Qualifications Framework. The PhD is usually three years full-time or six years part-time.
The Master of Philosophy/Research is usually one to two years full-time or four years part-time (part-time is available to domestic students only). A PhD thesis is generally around 80,000 words while a master’s thesis is 50,000 words.
To browse through the profiles of our researchers and learn about their current and past research, please refer to Find a Researcher. Here, you will also be able to access the publications lists and contact details of our researchers.
No. Interdisciplinary research is highly regarded in the world of academia and working across disciplines can be very beneficial in developing and demonstrating different analytical skills. Working on research from two perspectives can also offer insight that you would not be able to achieve from one discipline perspective.
Please check your course page for the requirements of each course. Generally, the English requirements are between 6.0 to 7.0 IELTS overall or equivalent in other accepted English proficiency tests.
There are no course fees for domestic students – fees are covered by the government Research Training Program (RTP) fee offset. However, fees apply to international students. Please refer to the course page for fee details.
We have one of the largest research schemes in Australia. Opportunities include the Australian government-funded Research Training Program (RTP) stipend scholarships and the University of Sydney and faculty-specific awards. Explore your options.
It depends on your degree. Your faculty may define certain units of study as mandatory for a given degree. Where this is not the case, you may still have the opportunity to complete units of study that you find useful to support your learning and research.
It is possible for students to move to the PhD after the first year of study, if you have made satisfactory progress and if the transfer is approved by your Faculty. It is important to inform your supervisor of your plans early so that you can work on a timeline together to achieve this goal.
Yes, you can work during your PhD. How many hours you take on is at your own discretion, and you must ensure that you still allow time for the completion of your research. International HDR students can generally work more hours than coursework students. Please check your individual visa for specific restrictions.
There are sometimes opportunities for PhD candidates to engage in paid employment at the University, but this is not guaranteed and is dependent on the Faculty/Department. If opportunities do arise, they may be in the form of teaching, marking, acting as a research assistant, or other roles.
The Graduate Research Hub provides a gateway to all the information and resources research students need to thrive at the University of Sydney. The website provides guidance and resources about planning research, funding and support services, managing candidature, writing a thesis, internships, development opportunities and career planning.