The principles that FedUni adheres to in considering applicants for entry to its HDR programs are:

An offer of entry to HDR candidature is based upon the following:

For an offer of candidature to be issued, potential supervisors must demonstrate relevant experience within the discipline of the research topic. Experience must be demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications in a related area, awarding of grants in a related area or other relevant research experience within the last five years.

Where a proposed research topic is in an emerging field of research, the supervisory team must demonstrate how their research experience collectively engenders the capacity to adequately supervise the candidate.

The academic entry and English proficiency requirements for Masters Degree (Research), Doctoral Degree (Research) and Doctoral Degree (Professional) programs are specified in Regulation 5.1, Parts B, C, and D. 

To qualify for admission to a Professional Doctorate or a PhD program, applicants must:

To qualify for admission to Master's by Research program, applicants must:

All applications for candidature must be approved by the Chair, RHDC.

Information for applicants who are required to demonstrate evidence of professional qualifications and experience or research experience (referred to as Honours Equivalence) is detailed in the Selection and Awarding of a HDR Place Procedure.

An international applicant who does not hold a valid passport from and is not a citizen of, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland must provide the required  evidence of a satisfactory level of competence in oral and written English as specified by the Academic Board:

English language proficiency exemption requests will only be considered where applicants meet criteria outlined on the Department of Immigration and Boarder Protection website.

FedUni is committed to improving HDR research opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants.

Special consideration in selection and admission

Special conditions for candidature may include but not be limited to:

All extensions to stipend and candidature are subject to approval by the School and Dean Graduate Studies.

Applications that contain falsified information or where the applicant misrepresents their academic or professional achievements will be rejected outright with no recourse for appeal.  If an application is found to contain false or misleading information subsequent to an offer of candidature but prior to the applicant’s enrolment, FedUni will withdraw its offer without consultation with no recourse for appeal.  If an application is found to contain false or misleading information subsequent to the applicant being enrolled in their program the matter will be managed under FedUni’s Academic Integrity Policy.

Eligibility for an offer of candidature for international students may be impacted by United Nations Sanctions and Australian Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011. 

Sanctioned individuals will not be offered candidature.

FedUni will undertake a risk assessment process for all citizens from sanctioned countries applying for HDR candidature. This assessment determines whether:

HDR candidates from other institutions may apply to transfer their candidature to FedUni. Candidates requesting transfer to FedUni should apply using the standard application method as described on the FedUni website. Applicants will be required to supply:

Requests to waive confirmation of candidature must be approved by the Dean, Graduate Studies.

The period of enrolment at the previous institution will be deducted from the usual period of candidature at FedUni. Transfer to FedUni will not normally be allowed for candidates who have completed more than two years EFTSL of a doctoral program or six months EFTSL of a masters program.

Applicants will be sent an Offer of Admission to Candidature if their application has been endorsed by the School and approved by the Chair, RHDC. The Offer of Admission to Candidature sets out the terms and conditions of candidature, including any special requirements that must be met before enrolment or confirmation. All offers of candidature are probationary and subject to confirmation. Where conditions of candidature substantially change after enrolment, a revised Conditions of Candidature statement will be issued to the candidate.

Candidates are required to sign and return an Acceptance of Offer within the designated timeframe as stated in the Letter of Offer to Admission to Candidature. In accepting an offer of probationary candidature, applicants must agree to:

An offer of conditional candidature may be made to an applicant. Such conditions will be stated in the Offer of Admission to Candidature and the applicant must sign and return the provided formal acceptance to be admitted to candidature.

Applicants who have received an Offer of Admission to Candidature to an HDR program may be granted deferment on application. A written application must be made within two weeks of receiving the Offer of Admission to Candidature. Periods of deferment of six or 12 months can be requested. Deferment cannot be offered once a candidate has enrolled. If a candidate deferring a place has also received an offer of a scholarship, the scholarship offer will be withdrawn and they will be required to reapply for a scholarship in the next round.

Initial admission to HDR candidature is on a provisional basis, and an application for candidature to be confirmed must be made as follows, unless otherwise approved by Academic Board:

For candidature to be confirmed, the candidate must demonstrate that a viable research program has been developed, satisfactory progress has been made, and the degree requirements can be completed within the period allowed.  Details of the Confirmation process are provided in the Candidature Management Policy and Candidature Management Procedure.

The duration of candidature is prescribed by Regulation 5.1.  The minimum period of doctoral candidature is one year of full-time study and the maximum period is four years of full-time study or the equivalent in part-time study.  The minimum period of master's candidature is one year of full-time study and the maximum period is two years of full-time study or the equivalent in part-time study.

Domestic HDR candidates may enrol on a full-time or a part-time basis, subject to approval by the school of enrolment and the Dean Graduate Studies International students on Australian student visas are required to enrol on a full-time basis.

Candidates may study off campus provided they have the approval of the Principal Supervisor, School Associate Dean Research and Chair, RHDC, to conduct their research at another suitable location.  Off campus candidates are responsible for;

International candidates located within Australia and holding a student visa must study on campus or from a specified location, such as an external laboratory. International candidates cannot elect to enrol off campus.

All off campus candidature arrangements must be supported with a Student / Supervisor agreement and will be reviewed at every progress review.

In the case of off campus enrolment, the School of enrolment must confirm that the prospective applicant has the research experience to pursue independent, sustained and structured research off campus and that the research project and supervision arrangements are appropriate to the arrangement. Final approval of any case for off campus enrolment will be made by the Chair, RHDC.

Candidates may be required to study from an external location where research is principally being undertaken at another research site (e.g. archives repository, field site, laboratory, commercial or governmental research station, another university, etc.), the Principal Supervisor and Associate Dean Research of the School of enrolment must ensure that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) exists between that site and FedUni and that the site provides a research environment which offers appropriate resources, facilities and research expertise for the duration of the enrolment. All instances of external enrolment must be approved by Chair, RHDC.

Additional requirements for external candidature

An MOU must be jointly signed by the Dean of the School of enrolment and a representative of the external site. The MOU must cover, but is not limited to:

Candidates may be permitted to transfer between standard and external/off-campus enrolment, as assessed by the School and approved by the Dean Graduate Studies on a case-by-case basis.

FedUni is committed to the conduct of ethical and responsible research and research training.  HDR candidates are bound by the:

FedUni is committed to establishing best practice in providing a workplace and environment that are, as far as practicable, safe and without risk to health.  HDR candidates are bound and protected by FedUni’s Health and Safety Policy and Health and Safety Management Procedure.

FedUni is committed to providing a workplace and environment that are free from bullying, harassment and discrimination.  HDR candidates are bound by the FedUni’s Equal Opportunity and Valuing Diversity Policy.

Students may submit a complaint, grievances and appeals in relation to the application of this or any other procedure in accordance with the Student Grievances Policy, the Student Complaints Procedure and the Student Appeals Policy.

FedUni will offer HDR awards in partnership with suitable partner higher education institutions. These awards include:

Where the agreement has been made to partner with an international institute, all requirements, policies and procedures of FedUni must be followed.

Awarding of testamurs under joint or cotutelle awards will be governed by TEQSA requirements for both domestic and international partnerships.

The research study program proposed at the partner institution must be approved by Academic Board on the recommendation of the Research Higher Degree Committee.  Where the partner is an international institution, the HDR program must comply with the Higher Education Partner Provided Delivery Policy if applicable.  The international partner institution must be approved by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) and University Council. 

A Memorandum of Understanding between FedUni and the partner institution should be prepared concerning the awarding of a joint or cotutelle HDR.

All personal information collected by FedUni is governed by the Information Privacy Policy. The following are examples of instances where FedUni will use and disclose an HDR student’s personal information for legitimate purposes: