Selection Criteria
Entry into postgraduate research degrees (either Masters by Research or PhD) requires proof of previous research experience. For entry requirements please see:
http://www.med.unsw.edu.au/medweb.nsf/page/Entry%20Requirements
PLEASE NOTE: Graduate Research School (GRS) policy now requires a confirmation progress review in order to confirm the candidature of postgraduate research students: http://www.grs.unsw.edu.au/downloads/AnnualProgressReviewsandConfirmationofCandidature.pdf
The process involved in applying to do a postgraduate research degree through the School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW is outlined briefly below.
You must also contact the Research Student Support Officer (Kate Crosbie) via resdegree-sphcm@unsw.edu.au for an information package.
1. Establish contact with a prospective supervisor.
(Please note that under the University guidelines you need: a primary supervisor AND a co-supervisor. However, it is advisable to contact and negotiate with your primary supervisor first. You can then discuss an appropriate co-supervisor with them).
The responsibility to explore supervision possibilities rests with the prospective students.
You will need to contact the prospective supervisor personally to ask if they would be willing to consider supervising you. Generally, you should have at least some idea of your proposed research before you contact supervisors (see "3: Prepare a research proposal" below).
Your application will not be considered unless you can provide evidence that you have at least a potential primary supervisor who has agreed to supervise you.
Academic research interests can be found on the following two websites:
http://www.sphcm.med.unsw.edu.au/sphcmweb.nsf/page/Research
http://www.sphcm.med.unsw.edu.au/SPHCMWeb.nsf/page/ResearchCentresUnits
This second link is a gateway to the numerous research centres and units associated with the School. There are many research students already working in these research centres.
In addition, the Faculty of Medicine has a search function for locating staff research interests. You will find this at:
http://www.med.unsw.edu.au/medweb.nsf/page/Research+Interests
The profiles of some of our current research students may also be helpful:
http://www.sphcm.med.unsw.edu.au/SPHCMWeb.nsf/page/ResearchProfiles
NOTE: Finding a prospective supervisor does not guarantee entry to a research program. There is a separate University process for consideration of ability to undertake a postgraduate research degree. However, this consideration occurs once a prospective supervisor is identified and a detailed proposal is prepared.
2. The language of instruction at UNSW is English.
Applicants who are applying on the basis of qualifications not conducted in the English language must provide proof of their competence in English.
See English Language Requirements at:
http://www.international.unsw.edu.au/future/entry/entryenglish.html
For details of accepted tests of English Competence:
http://www.international.unsw.edu.au/future/entry/acceptedenglishtable.html
3. Prepare a research proposal.
The proposal must be detailed and accompanied by a time line. In the School of Public Health & Community Medicine, you should seek your prospective supervisor's agreement with the proposal before you submit your formal applications. You might find it useful to consider the following headings in your proposal:
Abstract (max: 250 words)
Title
Background/rationale (can include a brief review of the literature)
Research questions/hypotheses
Sub-questions/objectives (if relevant)
Design and methodology (including theoretical orientation)
Proposed method of data collection
Proposed method of data analysis
Anticipated outcomes/significance (in point form)
Research program timetable: milestones
Both a PhD and a Masters by research are awarded on the basis of a thesis alone. Although students may take preparatory course-work, this is not counted as part of the award (this is quite different to US universities). This means that demonstrating a capacity for independent research, and a readiness to begin working on your chosen topic is an important part of the application.
The information on the following webpages should assist you with preparing your research proposal:
- Information about preparing a research proposal can be downloaded at http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/thesis.html
- The Learning Centre provides some useful guidelines for preparation of thesis proposals which may assist you in structuring and planning your proposal.
4. Establish funding for your research.
The School has no scholarships to offer students. Applying for a scholarship is a separate application. Information about some of the scholarships (university and other) available through competitive sources is available at:
http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/grants/apply/index.htm
http://www.unsw.edu.au/currentStudents/postgradResearch/res/cspgrfinsupport.html
http://www.scholarships.unsw.edu.au/
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/scholar/studyin.cfm
http://studyinaustralia.gov.au/Sia/en/StudyCosts/Scholarships.htm
http://www.developmentgateway.com.au/
http://www.dest.gov.au/highered/scholarships.htm#schol
http://www.idp.com/students/scholarships/default.asp/
http://www.acu.ac.uk/cgi-bin/targettop.pl?ml=scholarships&sl=scholarships&select=scholarships&page=scholarships
5. Submit the 2 applications: one to the SPHCM and one to the Graduate Research School (GRS).
For further details about the process required by the GRS, please visit: http://www.grs.unsw.edu.au/futurestudents/futurehome.html
If you are an international student, the Australian Government operates an overseas student program (OSP) that allows people who are not Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents to study in Australia. Information about this can be found at:
http://www.immi.gov.au/students/index.htm
The Graduate Research School at The University of New South Wales delivers the full range of services designed to support postgraduate research students from information on scholarships and career opportunities to thesis submission and graduation. The Graduate Research School can be found at:
http://www.grs.unsw.edu.au/futurestudents/futurehome.html