PhD in Australia for Indian Students

Australia is well-known for being a cosmopolitan country with a welcoming culture. This allows a newbie to readily integrate into an unfamiliar area. This welcoming attitude of the locals, combined with the unwavering reputation of Australian institutions, has made Australia a magnet for overseas students over the years. Many of these individuals opt to pursue their PhD in Australia since the Australian school system is often regarded as providing one of the best research opportunities in the world.

Here you will find all the necessary information about PhD programmes in Australia, such as degree titles, top universities, course fees, and visa requirements. PhD programmes are available in all faculties or across disciplines at Australia's top universities and consist of independent research and writing on an approved topic toward a thesis for examination.

The cost of pursuing a doctorate in Australia is approximately 30,000 AUD-42,000 AUD, equivalent to 16 to 23 lakhs per year for an Indian student. This cost can be offset by funding opportunities available in Australia for international students, such as studentships, scholarships, government grants, and so on. In Australia, the average annual salary offered after completing a PhD in research and academics is 80,000 AUD.

There are 43 universities in Australia. They are all publicly funded institutions that receive government support and accreditation. These organisations are also responsible for conducting research and training PhD students like you.

Other higher education institutions in Australia are primarily Technical And Further Education (TAFE) institutions that place emphasis on practical and professional training. They offer some postgraduate degrees at or near the Master's level but do not award PhDs.

Why to Study PhD in Australia?

• According to the QS World University Rankings 2021, five Australian universities rank in the top 50: the Australian National University, the University of Melbourne, the University of New South Wales, the University of Queensland, and the University of Sydney, with a total of seven universities ranking in the top 100.
• According to the CSIRO, the number of PhD completions in Australia has increased dramatically, from less than 4,000 in 2000 to around 10,000 in 2019. (Commonwealth scientific and industrial research organisation).
• In Australia, a growing number of PhD students are working in business, government, and non-profit organisations. PhD graduates make up the senior management teams of 19 of the 20 largest ASX (Australian stock exchange) listed companies.
• Banking, finance and insurance employ the most PhDs in Australia, followed by mining, oil and energy, and the medical and pharmaceutical industries.
• Innovative Research Universities (IRU) are present and focus on cutting-edge research, teaching, and research activities: Charles Darwin University, Flinders University, Griffith University, James Cook University, La Trobe University, Murdoch University, and Western Sydney University.
• In Australia, PhD programmes range from Marine Biology at the Great Barrier Reef to Anthropology at Uluru.
• Australia values PhD students and offers generous post-study visas; your doctorate could allow you to stay in the country for at least four years.
• There is no viva - Australian doctorates are frequently assessed without the traditional PhD viva voce.

Top 10 university to study PhD in Australia

The top universities in Australia for higher education, as ranked by QS in 2021, are listed below, along with the fees for pursuing a PhD.

Australian National University

The Australian National University is divided into four schools: the School of Physical Sciences, the School of Social Science, the School of Pacific Science, and the School of Medical Research. ANU is well-known for its co-curricular and cultural activities, which are overseen by the University Council.

The university's campus encompasses 358 acres of land. It is located in Canberra Acton and is surrounded by thousands of trees. In addition, the campus was ranked second in Australia for being the greenest university.

The university is made up of four learned societies:

• the Academy of Humanities,
• the Academy of Science,
• the Academy of Social Science, and
• the Academy of Law.

Its library, which houses millions of books and research papers, is divided into six branches and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to students and faculty. Within a diverse and vibrant community, the university provides a wide range of housing options for students. The campus provides a calm learning environment for the students.

The university is made up of seven colleges. They are all intertwined with research and education. The academic structure is upheld by the Council, which has 15 members. Undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional degree programmes are all available at ANU.

University of Sydney

The University of Sydney is one of the world's leading research and teaching institutions. They provide an exceptional range of disciplines – over 400 areas of study – and their community includes over 70,000 students, 8000 permanent and fixed-term staff, and 350,000 alumni from over 170 countries.

Leadership has always been central to their values

Their goal is to improve people's lives not just by producing leaders of society, but also by preparing their people to serve all of their communities at all levels.

University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne has seven campuses spread across Melbourne and Victoria, Australia. The Parkville campus is the main campus, and undergraduate and graduate students can live in one of several nearby residential colleges. Other campuses include Southbank, Burnley, Creswick, Dookie, Shepparton, and Werribee. Tuition costs vary by subject at the University of Melbourne and are higher for international students. Dentistry, veterinary science, and medicine are among the more expensive programmes at the university.

Agriculture, arts, biomedicine, commerce, design, environments, fine arts, music, oral health, and science are among the bachelor's degree options available to undergraduate students at the University of Melbourne. Within these broad degree categories, they then select more specific majors. Indigenous students can also pursue extended Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science programmes. There are nearly 20 graduate schools at the University of Melbourne, including the Melbourne Business School, the Melbourne Medical School, and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. The university has five Melbourne Research Institutes that promote collaboration among university researchers as well as participation from industry, government, and non-profit organisations. The institutes are organised around the themes of neuroscience, sustainable society, networked society, energy, and social equity. 

University of Queensland

The University of Queensland (UQ) is one of Australia's best teaching and research institutions. It is a member of both Go8 (Australia's Group of Eight Universities) and Universitas 21. Currently. The University of Queensland, which has over 50,000 students from 134 countries, is ranked #47 in the world by QS World University Rankings, 2022.

MBA applications for the July intake close on April 30 and for the February intake on October 31. The annual cost of these courses at UQ ranges from $19,000 to $44,000 AUD. UQ offers a variety of scholarships to assist students in meeting these costs.

The university claims to have received the most national teaching awards of any university in Australia. UQ students can conduct research and experiments with its 100+ research centres and 400+ global research partners, which include Siemens, Boeing, Rio Tinto, Pfizer, Baosteel, and others. These are frequently some of the reasons why international students choose to study at UQ in Australia.

Monash University

Monash University is located in the state of Victoria in southeastern Australia. The Clayton campus, the largest of the university's five Australian locations, is located about 12 miles southeast of Melbourne, Victoria's capital city. Monash University also has a Malaysian branch campus, a graduate school in China run in collaboration with Southeast University, and several other affiliated international sites. Monash students come from over 100 different countries. Monash University charges a higher tuition for international students, though some scholarships are available. On-campus student housing is available at three of the university's Australian campuses.

Art, design, and architecture; arts; business and economics; education; engineering; information technology; law; medicine, nursing, and health sciences; pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences; and science are among the many academic divisions at the university.

Monash University's language of instruction is English, and the academic calendar is semester-based. Undergraduates can apply to honours programmes, which provide a fourth year of study that is heavily focused on research. A bachelor honours degree has a higher-level credential in Australia than a bachelor's degree. 

The Monash Injury Research Institute, the Monash Centre for Atomically Thin Materials, and the Monash Sustainable Development Institute are just a few of the university's research centres and institutes.

University of Western Australia

The University of Western Australia is Australia's sixth oldest university, it is also one of Australia's largest landowners. Furthermore, it collaborated with African doctors working in Australia to begin medical teachings alongside a different curriculum.

The university's campus is spread across 160 acres of land. It has extensive art collections as well as theatre venues, in addition to a plethora of sporting, cultural, alumni, and social groups. The university provides student housing on its premises. 

The university provides undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, as well as doctoral-level programmes. It also includes specialisation courses that are not included in the curriculum of the chosen programmes. The academic structure of the university includes a variety of courses organised into six faculties, which are further subdivided into numerous departments and schools.

Students have a wide range of subjects to choose from based on their areas of interest. Furthermore, the university has numerous research centres and institutes. Oceans Institute, Centre for Energy & Minerals, and Centre for Software Practice are among the well-known research institutes.

University of Adelaide

• The University of Adelaide, South Australia, is organised into five faculties and offers over 400 undergraduate and graduate courses. The university is well-known for its courses, research work, and progressive-learning approach.
• The most popular programmes are the MSc in Computer Science and the MBA.
• Students can select books from a collection of 2 million books and journals housed in one of the world's largest libraries. Currently, the University of Adelaide's four campuses house 22,181 students, 35% of whom are international students from more than 100 countries.
• International students from top contributor countries such as India and China enrol in popular programmes such as MBA and MSc in Computer Science. The university requires an average IELTS score of 6.5 to 7 bands and a GMAT score of 700 for international students.
• The average annual cost of attending the University of Adelaide is 60,000 AUD (33 lakhs), which includes tuition and living expenses. To help offset the high cost of living and tuition, students can receive tuition fee waivers ranging from 15% to 50% through university scholarships. International students can also participate in work-study programmes and work 20 hours per week.

University of Technology Sydney

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is a public university that follows the global-oriented learning model. In Autumn 2020, the university enrolled approximately 46,328 students, including 13,963 international students, making it a popular choice for students looking to study in Australia.

The University of Technology Sydney offers over 500 undergraduate, graduate, and research courses in fields such as business, communication, education, engineering, and information technology. For international students, SHU-UTS Sydney Institute of Language and Commerce (SILC) Business School, Shanghai University, China offers programmes such as the UTS Bachelor of Business and Master of Engineering Management.

UTS graduates are among the highest paid in the country, with an average salary ranging from 62,000 AUD to 98,500 AUD. Within four months of graduation, approximately 70.8% of undergraduates, 81.3% of postgraduates, and 81.7% of research students at UTS were in full-time employment, with 14.4% pursuing full-time master's degrees in Australia.

what is the eligibility to study PhD in Australia?

A PhD can begin at any point during the academic year in Australia. This means that there is no set deadline for applications. In general, you should apply at least four months before starting your PhD.

• A 4-year undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline, with a significant research component (equivalent to at least 25% of 1 year of full-time study), and a weighted average mark of at least 75% in your final year subjects or equivalent, or
• Qualification and professional experience deemed equivalent.

In addition, you must have:

• Referee reports (not required if you graduated from the University of Melbourne within the last 5 years) and
• a prospective supervisor's endorsement.

what are the Requirements to study PhD in Australia?

To apply for a PhD in Australia, you will typically need a Bachelor's and Master's degree in a relevant subject. Universities may accept you without a Master's degree, but this is unlikely.

Individual universities will have their own set of requirements and application procedures. Still, you can expect to submit some or all of the following:

• Proof of your prior qualifications (these may need to be certified by your previous university or universities)
• A study proposal (if you are putting forward your own PhD topic)
• An individual statement (this may be required for applications to advertised projects and opportunities)
• References from academia and/or the workplace.

If you are applying from the United Kingdom or Ireland, you can use the free Study Options service to get advice and guidance throughout the application process.

Documents Required

In order to apply for a doctorate in Australia, you must submit the following documents along with your master's application package:

• Transcripts: Previous study certificates and transcripts.
• LORs are an important component of your applications, and academic LORs can make or break your chances.
• Tests for studying in Australia include scores from English proficiency tests such as IELTS/TOEFL, which are required of non-native English speakers. Test results should ideally be submitted directly from the testing agency.
• The additional documentation requirements vary by university. A Statement of Purpose to Study in Australia is one of them.

What are the English Proficiency Test required to study in Australia?

The validity of IELTS, TOEFL, and Pearson PTE Academic tests for studying in Australia has been temporarily extended from two to three years.

For admission to a PhD programme in Australia, the following English language proficiency test scores are required.

Cost of studying PhD in Australia

When considering studying abroad, it is critical to plan your expenses ahead of time and then apply to the desired university. The cost of pursuing a PhD in Australia can vary depending on the university's fees and various TA (Teaching assistantship) or RA programmes (Research assistantship).

A student must generally bear two types of expenses, which are detailed below:

Pre-arrival costs: The study's costs begin long before the researchers arrive on its shores. Some of the costs that one must bear before arriving in Australia, such as visa fees, registration fees for tests required for a PhD programme in Australia, and others, are listed below:

Post-arrival expenses: According to the Australian government, one must demonstrate that they have 14,600 AUD per year for living expenses. If the individual has a partner, 5100 AUD is added, and if the individual has a child, 2200 AUD is added per child. According to the guidelines for studying in Australia, anyone should have a weekly budget of 60-317 AUD.

PhD in Australia : Scholarships

The Australian government and universities offer numerous scholarships to international students. In addition, while researching, you can work for pay, for up to 40 hours per fortnight. However, you should ensure that any work you do is in line with the requirements of your PhD. (and the expectations of your supervisor).

Jobs and Salary after PhD in Australia

Studying for a PhD in Australia opens the door to a variety of job opportunities. Whether you want to work in academia or improve your chances of getting a job in industry, a PhD can be a helpful factor in advancing your career.

In addition to academic research opportunities, there are significant jobs for international students in Australia for PhDs to work with young, global start-ups and innovative high-growth employers. According to emolument, the average salary offered after completing a doctorate in Australia is 80,000 AUD.

The following are some research and academic profiles available to PhD students in Australia:

Employees who have completed the rigorous research training that leads to a PhD can be considered highly skilled in their field. When it comes to adaptability, technical skills, and employability, employers rate postgraduate research graduates significantly higher than others. Only in collaborative skills are PhD holders rated slightly lower than undergraduates.

How to apply for PhD in Australia?

Step 1: Confirm that you meet the minimum eligibility requirements.Check the Programs & Courses website to make sure you meet the academic requirements of the institution where you want to study for a doctorate in Australia. All students, domestic or international, must also meet the minimum exam marks to study in Australia.

Step 2: Develop a Research ProposalThe draught research proposal included with the application serves as a tool for outlining your intended research or clarifying your own ideas. It is more general and adaptable to change after you have begun your programme.

Step 3: Locate a supervisor.Search potential supervisor profiles on the Researcher's website, which includes their research expertise, published works, and contact information.

Step 4: Pre-application requirements for colleges

Before applying to Australian universities, most colleges will require applicants to identify and secure the support of a potential supervisor. However, some colleges require applicants to submit a brief description of their proposed research area.

Step 5: Proposal for a Joint or Dual/Cotutelle PhD

To begin the Joint or Dual Award PhD application process, you may need to submit a proposal to potential supervisors as part of the pre-application process.

Step 6: Implement

If you have the support of a potential supervisor, you can look up application deadlines for Australian universities and apply. To support your application, you must name three referees.

Step 7: Obtain a result

Applications are typically evaluated in 6-8 weeks, or longer if you are applying for a scholarship. All communications, including application results, are delivered to your email address.

The country is a vibrant hub for its research courses, with world-class research centres and internationally ranked universities. A PhD in Australia means that you will expand your knowledge and skills, increasing your chances of employment in Australia and elsewhere. If you want a bright future, Australia should be at the top of your list! If you require any more support with your study abroad experience, please contact our AECC counsellors!

FAQs