PhD and Master by Research Programs

• General Information
  
  The School offers graduate study towards both PhD and Master by Research degrees in the field of computing and information technology. For both research degrees, it is expected that the candidate will submit a thesis embodying the research results to UWS Postgraduate Research Office who will arrange an examination committee to review the thesis. The thesis must present the candidate's original contribution to the knowledge of the field. No coursework will be involved in both programs.

• PhD and Master (Honours) Research
  
  Applicants are strongly recommended to consult the School Postgraduate Research Student Coordinator or other academic staff before they decide to apply for admission to a research degree. In general, applicants are encouraged to link their research work with the School Designated Research Groups (DRGs) while it is also possible that applicants can be supervised by suitable academic staff who are not associated with DRGs.
  Candidature Time limits for PhD:
  Full-time: 3 years (minimum), 4 years (maximum)
  Part-time: 6 years (minimum), 8 years (maximum)
  
  Candidature Time limits for Master (Honours):
  Full-time: 1 year (minimum), 2 years (maximum)
  Part-time: 2 years (minimum), 4 years (maximum)
  
  
  
• Admission Criteria for PhD Program
  
  To be admitted to the PhD program, applicants should have a Master (Honours) degree in the relevant field, or a Bachelor degree with Honours Class I or Bachelor degree with Honours Class II division I.
  Applicants with qualifications from other (overseas) tertiary institutions should be assessed by the College Research Committee or UWS Research Studies Committee to be equivalent to the above requirements.
  In the case that an applicant has a Bachelor degree but does not meet other admission requirements, the applicant must provide evidences to demonstrate substantial research experience and skills which should be recognized by the College Research Committee or UWS Research Studies Committee to be equivalent to the above PhD admission criteria.
  
  
• Admission Criteria for Master of Science (Honours) - Computing & Information Technology
  
  To be admitted to the Master (Honours) Program, applicants should have a Bachelor degree with Honours or a Bachelor degree and demonstration in an appropriate discipline or disciplines of a capacity for research deemed by the College Research Committee or UWS Research Studies Committee to be acceptable for the purpose of proceeding to the degree.
  Applicants with qualifications from other (overseas) tertiary institutions should be assessed by the College Research Committee or UWS Research Studies Committee to be equivalent to the above requirements.
  
  
• RTS Places and Scholarships
  
  Each year UWS offers a limited number of RTS (Research Training Scheme) funding places to some successful local applicants. This funding will cover students' HECS and other research related expenditure. It should be noted that not every successful applicant will automatically obtain a RTS funding place. Local applicants need to apply for RTS funding places together with their admission applications, and their RTS funding place applications will be ranked on a basis of merits (this information is presented in UWS Higher Research Degree Admission Application Form).
  Successful applicants who do not obtain RTS funding places have to pay HECS in order to enroll in research degrees.
  Click here to find out the detailed information about UWS RTS Allocation.
  Each year UWS also offers a number of research degree scholarships. These include APA (Australian Postgraduate Awards), IPRS (International Postgraduate Research Scholarships), UWSPRA (UWS Postgraduate Research Awards), and UWSPPRA (UWS Priority Postgraduate Research Awards). Details can be found here.
  The School also offers special research degree scholarships from time to time. Click here to find out details.
  
  
• Application Procedures
  
  Once applicants obtain proper information about their possible research areas and supervisions after consulting the School Postgraduate Research Student Coordinator or other academic staff, they may follow the procedure outlined at UWS Research Higher Degree home page to submit their applications.
  
  
• English Requirement
  
  Applicants for whom English is not the first language or was not the medium of instruction in their secondary or tertiary studies, are required to demonstrate their proficiency in the English language by achieving a prescribed level in an approved English examination or test before they can receive a full offer of a place.
  IELTS (International English Language Testing System) requirement: An overall band score of 6.0 with a minimum score of 6.0 in reading and writing.
  
  For any further information regarding our research study programs, please contact the School Postgraduate Research Students Coordinator Prof Athula Ginige (a.ginige@uws.edu.au).