Eligibility for the PhD program, and for scholarships in FAD 19 July 2010

If you are thinking about applying to enrol in a doctoral degree in this Faculty, or applying for a scholarship to support your studies, it is useful to check that you are eligible to apply. There are a few firm criteria for entry to the PhD; the primary criterion for a scholarship is a first class honours degree, or its equivalent (discussed below).

First though: what is meant by a scholarship. Most domestic research students at UC are eligible for what is called an RTS place (Research Training Scheme), which covers the fees but does not provide a stipend - or regular income.

 

Many research students are eligible to apply for a stipend scholarship, which is usually a tax free amount of a little more than $20,000 a year. When we use the term 'scholarship' in this document, we mean stipend scholarship. 

1.   Before completing and submitting your documents to apply for PhD or scholarship, ascertain the following points:

  • Does the Faculty have appropriate supervision and adequate resources to support your research? Check with the Faculty: either by approaching a potential supervisor (http://www.canberra.edu.au/faculties/arts-design/research/supervisors), or by contacting the HDR convenor (postgrad.arts@canberra.edu.au)
  • Do you satisfy the university’s requirements for English language proficiency? (see Gold Book, Part 5, Schedule 1)
  • For entry to the PhD program, do you have appropriate qualifications, including an honours degree in a suitable area, at first class or 2a level or equivalent? (see Gold Book, Part 5, Schedule 5.1)
  • For eligibility to apply for a scholarship, do you have appropriate qualifications, including an honours degree in a suitable area, at first class level or equivalent? (see Gold Book, Part 5, Schedule 5.4)

2.   To establish that you have first class honours equivalence (H1E), you must meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • You completed a 4-year undergraduate degree without honours, and achieved exceptional results with high distinctions in the research methods and project subjects
  • You have an honours degree at 2A level, and have demonstrated excellent research capacity by: publishing refereed research papers; working for at least 3 years in a research environment; or making some other outstanding contribution to a relevant profession
  • You have a postgraduate coursework degree, with exceptional results, and with high distinction results in the research methods and project subjects
  • You hold a research masters, with exceptional results demonstrated in the form of an honours result, prizes, excellent examiners’ reports, refereed publications
  • You are halfway through a research masters, and have evidence of superior performance in your studies (shown through supervisors’ reports, assessors’ reports on seminars, refereed publications or conference papers based on the research)
  • You are partway through a PhD, and have evidence of superior performance in your studies (shown through supervisors’ reports, assessors’ reports on seminars, refereed publications or conference papers based on the research)
  • You have a significant record of scholarly publications in your discipline
  • You have at least 4 years of significant relevant research work experience, including being responsible for a research project and publishing the outcomes
  • You have been publicly recognised as having made a significant research contribution to the relevant profession

If you are eligible for entry to the PhD, but not yet eligible to apply for a stipend scholarship, talk with your supervisor about how to achieve H1E in time for the next scholarship round. The very best option, in this case, is to publish some work in refereed journals or research books, and your supervisor is the best person to guide you in this area.