Research

General Information

Entry Requirements for Research Programs (Master and PhD)

Academic entry requirements

Successful completion of post-secondary studies deemed comparable to an Australian Honours or Master's degree (with a substantial research component).
Note: For more information on Honours equivalence and documentation (e.g. copies of publications), see www.cdu.edu.au/research/office/documents/HDR05-HonoursEquivalenceChecklist.pdf

English entry requirement

IELTS (Academic) 6.5 with no band less than 6 or TOEFL 575 (TWE 5).
Note: If you have not reached the level required for entry to your chosen course, but have a minimum IELTS score of 4.0, you can apply to attend the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program at the ACL Darwin English Centre.

(top)

Application Documents Required

Application and Referee Report Forms

Application for Research Degree

Referee Report Form(minimum two referee reports required).
Note: Your referees must send these reports as soon as possible (your application cannot be assessed until they are received).

Application form for IPRS Scholarship

Please note: Other supporting documents (must submit original certified copies, including English translation, if applicable)

Academic qualifications

  • Academic transcripts and testamurs (Final Certificate/Award) of Bachelor and/or Master degree programs completed
  • Proof of GPA (Grade Point Average) - if not indicated on the academic transcripts
  • Abstract of Thesis (including word count) in English

IELTS (Academic) or TOEFL Test Result

  • Must be valid within two years upon submission of application

Resume or Curriculum Vitae

  • With comprehensive details about work experience/s and list of publications

Research Proposal Outline

All applications must be accompanied by a brief summary (400-600 words) on the proposed research project. It is appreciated that many applicants will be in the middle of completing Honours, Graduate Diploma or Masters theses at the time of application, and will be unable to commit the time to writing a detailed research proposal. However it is essential that you provide the following information to enable your application to be considered:

[Project title]
This is a working title for the proposed project. It will not necessarily reflect the final thesis title.

[General Field of Research]
The general field of study of your research (eg Educational Administration, Natural Resource Management).

[Proposed Principal Supervisor]
The CDU-based supervisor with whom you have discussed your research project.

[CDU Faculty/School]
The CDU Faculty / School in which the proposed Supervisor is based.

[Brief description]
A brief description of the research you would like to do, including details about specific methodological techniques (this is especially important for some of the more technologically based projects where capital equipment items may be required).

[Ethical considerations]
Identify any ethical considerations that will require clearance by the Animal or Human Ethics Committees (eginterviewing subjects or dissecting subjects).

[Resource implications]
The resource implications of your research and whether you are applying for other funding to cover any costs that will be incurred.

[Field work]
Whether you envisage a substantial portion of your study to involve fieldwork, and if so where. Please detail any permits and/or visas that you will require to carry out your proposed fieldwork.

IPRS Scholarship

Charles Darwin University offers only one scholarship each year for International students studying for a research program. To be eligible for a scholarship, you must meet both the academic and English entry requirements and submit ALL application documents prior to the closing date of 30 September in any given year.

The outcome of the scholarship will be determined by early November of each year and the successful applicant will be notified and issued with a letter of offer. The applicant will be expected to start no later than 31 March in the year for which the award is granted.

Applicants who are unsuccessful in securing a scholarship can still be offered a place in a research program as a full-fee paying student. If you are not applying for a scholarship, you may submit your application, along with the required supporting documents (academic records and English proficiency test result) at anytime throughout the year.

http://www.cdu.edu.au/research/students/scholarships/internal.html

http://www.innovation.gov.au/Section/Research/Pages/InternationalPostgraduateResearchScholarships.aspx

Submission of Application Documents

Only COMPLETE applications with the required supporting documents will be processed for admission. If you have not yet taken the IELTS or TOEFL exam, then you must indicate in your application when you will sit for the test or when you will expect to submit the test result.
Your complete application documents must be sent to:

Office of International Services
Charles Darwin University
Darwin NT 0909 Australia
Email: international@cdu.edu.au
Telephone: +61 8 8946 7215
Fax: +61 8 8946 6644

(top)

Assessment and Selection Process

Once your application is assessed and you are deemed to have met the entry requirements, you will be sent a letter of offer. The letter will also include the terms of agreement and further information on how to pay the fees, the student visa application process, accommodation, etc.

Accepting your offer
You need to sign and return the Terms of Agreement along with the proof of payment of fees. Please note that if your country of origin is on Assessment Level 3 or 4 on DIAC's Country Assessment Level list , you must have a Pre-Visa Approval or PVA first and submit a copy to the Office of International Services before you proceed with paying the fees.

Student Visa Application You must allow enough time for your application to be assessed and your visa to be processed prior to your intended semester start date. The student visa application process may take between 1 to 5 months depending on your country of citizenship. For information on your country's Assessment Level and information about the student visa application process, see the following DIAC website.

Enrolment Enrolment formalities will be completed by the Research Office upon your arrival. You must inform the Office of International Services of your arrival details.

A list of CDU's registered agents can be found here.

(back to the top)

Portal for International Scholarship/Financial Aid:

This portal is useful for students seeking all types of scholarship and financial aid information. Click here.

Contact us

For further information please contact the Office of International Services:

Contact us

Apply
online

Related Links

International Student Guides

International Prospectus (pdf 3.82MB)
Research, Postgraduate, Undergraduate, VET and ELICOS

Arrival Guide (pdf 3.8MB)
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees and VET