Domestic students can start their RHD any day of the year.

Research Quarter 1: starts 1 January

Research Quarter 2: starts 1 April

Research Quarter 3: starts 1 July

Research Quarter 4: starts 1 October

Domestic student fees

Domestic students do not pay tuition fees for a research higher degree.  The Australian Government provides funding to all Australian universities through the Research Training Scheme to cover the cost of RHD training places.

International student fees

International students pay a flat fee per semester.  The international RHD fee varies according to the School/Institute you enrol through, your research project and your study mode.  Students should negotiate a suitable start date with their advisors. It is advisable to commence as early as possible in a semester to maximise the time available to work during that semester.

Research Costs

The School/Institute you enrol through at UQ is responsible for meeting all ‘direct research costs’ that are necessary to undertake your RHD project. This includes:

• access to resources or facilities at UQ or other organisations in Australia or overseas;
• travel to complete fieldwork, collect data, or to visit libraries or other repositories;
• training in techniques; and
• necessary coursework undertaken outside the School/Institute.

Funding is available if you would like to undertake supplementary research that is not essential to your project but will enhance your research experience at UQ.

• been a resident in a country for 10 years or more where English is the principal language, or can provide evidence of work in an English speaking professional environment for a sustained period; or
• completed study for two years, in the five years prior to commencement at UQ, in a recognised degree program at an accredited university where English is the primary language of instruction and assessment; or
• achieved the following scores in English tests recognised by the University:

Students wishing to improve their English language skills can undertake intensive English language and communication training prior to commencing their RHD program at UQ’s Institute of Continuing & TESOL Education (ICTE-UQ). For more information, see English language studies. UQ offers an English Language Scholarship (ELS) program to prospective international students who are applying to study for a research higher degree at UQ.

What is a certified document?

Why do I need to submit certified documents?

When you submit documents to the University of Queensland, they become the property of UQ and will not be returned. Therefore, you should never submit an original document, please only send certified copies.

How do I get a document certified?

1. The authorised person sights and photocopies the original to ensure both are identical (in some cases you may need to take a photocopy to the representative);
2. The authorised person will then write on, or stamp, the copy a confirmation such as ‘This is a true and correct copy of the original document I have sighted’ or ‘Certified true copy’;
3. On each page under the confirmation, the authorised person will also write their name, signature, qualification, date of signing and business stamp;
4. The authorised person will need to include their contact details such as their office-hours phone number and email address.

• If the document is more than one page, all pages must be separately certified.
• The certification must be on the actual copy, not on another page attached to the copy.
• Certified copies must include original signatures and stamps. Faxed, scanned or emailed copies are not acceptable.
• If any of the documents are in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by an English translation prepared by an accredited translator.

Who is authorised to certify a document?

• Justice of the Peace (who must also provide their registration number);
• Solicitor / lawyer / barrister;
• Police officer ranked Sergeant or above, or in charge of a station;
• Staff member of an Australian Embassy or Consulate;
• Student Services Office of any Australian university; or
• Officer within the official records department of the institution that originally issued the documents.

Submitting documents through an authorised UQ representative

How should I submit a certified document to UQ?

Documents from the Peoples Republic of China

• Notarised documents by an official Public Notary: 
  Your documents will be copied and bound in white folders, and will contain a raised watermark. Please note, all academic documents will need to be notarised, both English and Chinese versions, the academic award document will also need to note that the degree has been ‘awarded according to the rules and regulations of the People’s Republic of China’.
• Original copies of your documents received direct from the institution: 
  You can request that your university sends a copy of your academic transcript and award documents directly to UQ. These will need to be in official university envelopes, and will need to arrive at UQ sealed and stamped.
• Submitted through an authorised UQ representative:
  You are able to take your original academic documents, or a copy that is in a sealed and stamped official envelope (as above), to one of UQ’s authorised representatives. Your documents will be assessed, copied, stamped and then forwarded to UQ on your behalf. The authorised agent will be required to declare that they have sighted and copied an original document, copies of notarised documents are not permitted.
• China Academic Degrees & Graduate Education Development Centre (CDGDC) verification:
  For all students who completed their degree from a non project 211 university, and also from Fuzhou University and Xiamen University, are required to submit their qualifications to CDGDC for verification. CDGDC will issue a verification certificate directly to UQ, we cannot accept the verification certificate unless it is issued directly to UQ from CDGDC.

Your academic CV helps your School and the Dean of the Graduate School determine your readiness to commence a PhD or MPhil at UQ.  You must include an academic CV with your application for admission.

An academic CV should include information under the following headings:

• Personal details
  Include your full name and contact details.
• Educational qualifications and professional affiliations
  Include the full title of the qualification, the institution attended, and the year awarded.
• Employment history
  In chronological order, starting with your current position and specifying dates of employment; include the title of each position, name of employer, main duties or accountabilities, and achievements that are relevant to your proposed field of research.
• Research publications
  Include articles published or accepted for publication (with the three most significant marked with an asterisk).  Please specify the publication details, your contribution as an author to multi-authored publications, plus the standing of the journal or conference.
• Description of most significant publications
  Include a short description (maximum 200 words each) for each of the three asterisked publications, explaining their significance in the field and why they have made an important contribution.
• Research grants
  Include only those awarded.
• Academic referees
  Please include the name and contact details (address, telephone, fax and email) of three referees.  If possible, please include a senior person (preferably your supervisor or the head of your organisational unit) closely associated with your current work.

If you are at an early stage of your career as a researcher and do not yet have any research publications and/or research grants, please include the heading and write "none to date".