Important information, forms you need and questions you will be asked

You must answer all the questions thoroughly and attach all the requested documents. We assess your application based on the information you provide, and if information is missing then it will affect your chances of being accepted into the degree.

Please note that you can complete the form over multiple sessions. Each time you click on 'Next', the form saves the section you have completed. Click 'Save and Exit' to exit the form and resume at a later date.

Advice from potential supervisors

You are strongly encouraged to contact academic staff of the appropriate Faculty or Institute before submitting your application. These staff can provide you with assistance concerning your choice of research topic. In addition, they can advise on the preparation of the research proposal. List of potential research areas and supervisors can be found at Find a supervisor. Please mention in the form if you have had contact with a staff member whom you would like to have as a supervisor. Please also note, however, that the University may not always be able to appoint the requested person as your supervisor.

Research proposal

Please provide a brief outline of your proposed research topic. This is used to assess whether the University has appropriate supervision expertise available. If you have already been in contact with a potential supervisor, you may work with them to develop a research proposal. The number of words for your proposal is dependent on the Faculty or Institute you are applying in.

Documents Required

  • Research proposal
  • If you have had your research published, you will need a list of publications, and copies of the contents page and abstract page for each publication. The list must be broken down in the following ways:
    • Refereed journal articles
    • Refereed conference papers
    • Non-refereed conference papers
    • Books based on original research
    • Book chapters based on original research
    • Professional research reports

    Please attach a complete list of publications as per the above groups. For each, you must provide:

    • Full bibliographic references For example: Smith. J., Brown. S., Shaw. P. .Title., Name of Publication, Type of Publication, (e.g., refereed journal article, non-refereed journal article, book chapter, review etc.), Publication Details (e.g., Volume 29, issue 2, 2005).
    • Outline your contribution to the work
    • Whether the journal or conference was national or international
    • Copy of contents page and abstract page for each item. Do not attach the full article.

If relevant, a scanned copy of the following documents must be attached. You will also need to post a certified copy of the original to Deakin as soon as possible as we cannot make an offer until we have received hard copies of these documents:

  • proof of citizenship
    • For Australian or New Zealand citizens, a birth certificate, relevant pages of passport, or citizenship certificate. For Australian permanent residents, relevant pages of passport showing visa or letter from the Department of Immigration;
    • For international citizens, relevant pages of your passport showing identity and citizenship
  • transcripts of all of your tertiary education studies except those undertaken at Deakin University. These should indicate the name of the qualification, the institution of enrolment, the years of study, the subjects/units undertaken, the grades achieved, explanatory notes concerning the grades, and proof that the qualification has been completed. If transcripts are not in English, an English translation must also be supplied;
  • proof of your commencement date and evidence of any intermissions or changes of candidature (eg from full time to part time) if you are applying to transfer a Higher Degree from another institution proof of your commencement date and evidence of any intermissions or changes of candidature (eg from full time to part time) if you have previously been enrolled in a Higher Degree at another institution

English language proficiency

Where your first language is not English, or where degree qualifications were not undertaken in the English language, you must provide evidence of English proficiency. See How to apply for further information.

If applicable:

  • proof of any changes of name (eg marriage certificate);
  • if you have previously been enrolled in a higher degree by research at another institution, or are applying to transfer your research degree from another institution, proof of your commencement date and evidence of any intermissions or changes of candidature (eg from full time to part time)
  • English language test results

* A certified copy is one in which a person able to sign affidavits (eg pharmacist, medical doctor, Justice of the Peace, dentist, solicitor, Member of Parliament, school principal, etc.) has certified it as a true copy of the original document.

Questions that will be asked:

The following questions will be asked during the application process. For some questions, you have to both upload scanned copies of documents and send certified copies to us. These are marked with an asterisk. Certified copies are explained above.

Section 1

Your personal details, for contact and statistical purposes. If you have changed your named, you must attach proof. *

Section 2

Your type of application (Candidature only or candidature and scholarship) and if you are applying as part of an in-country degree program.

Section 3

Your citizenship, to determine whether any fees will be payable. You will need to attach proof of citizenship * -

  • For Australian or New Zealand citizens, a birth certificate, relevant pages of passport, or citizenship certificate. For Australian Permanent Residents, relevant pages of passport showing visa or letter from the Department of Home Affairs (Australia);
  • For international citizens, relevant pages of your passport showing identity and citizenship

Section 4

Your proposed area of study. This includes the research title, discipline or area, the research proposal, and any Deakin staff who you may have contacted. We direct your application to this area of the University.

Section 5

Your proposed study mode - will you be studying on or off campus, and full or part-time? We need to ensure we have the resources to support your study with us. What is your proposed start date? The intake dates vary depending on which Faculty or Institute you are applying in. Please align your proposed start date with the dates permitted. See How to Apply for further information on intake dates.

Section 6

Are you currently studying? This may affect your start date or entry into the degree. If you want to transfer from a research degree elsewhere, you will need to provide us with details of your progress from your current university.* If you have previously been enrolled in a research degree you will also need to provide us with the same information, for reporting to the government.*

Section 6-10 relate to evidence of your research ability and whether you are qualified for the degree. You may need to complete some or all of these questions.

Section 7

Your previous tertiary (university) qualifications. You will have to attach transcripts of results from each degree* - that is, the list of subjects and results supplied by the university, including whether you completed the degree.

Section 8

Your original research, such as a thesis, dissertation or research project (not coursework essays or assignments).

Section 9

Your research experience you may have had in your employment. You should outline what actual research you have done and what new knowledge you have discovered.

Section 10

Your research publications, such as in refereed journals, at conferences, in books with original research or in industry.

Section 11

Your scholarships or awards, including where and when you received the award.

Section 12

Your proficiency with English. You may be required to provide proof of this.*

Section 13

You may wish to provide the details of someone who can comment on your research ability. This section is optional.

Section 14

This is a checklist for your attachments, which you can view all the way through the form.

Section 15

How you heard about Deakin and why you chose to apply. You also have to declare that all the information that you have supplied is accurate. Only once you have completed all sections and attached all the required documents and pressed the 'submit' button can we process your application.