Updating Results

RMIT University

  • 45% international / 55% domestic

PhD (Computer Science)

  • Doctorate (PhD)

Use your advanced research skills to contribute to the growth of computer science.

Key details

Degree Type
Doctorate (PhD)
Duration
4 - 8 years full-time
Course Code
DR221, 079721C
Study Mode
In person
International Fees
$33,600 per year / $134,400 total

About this course

Use your advanced research skills to further the growth and development of computer science.

As a computer science research candidate, you have the flexibility to pursue an individual topic, or contribute to one of our existing research areas.

Computer science candidates may be eligible for a range of scholarships including:

  • Australian Postgraduate Awards - funded by the Australian Government
  • PhD and Research Masters Scholarships - funded by RMIT University
  • PhD scholarships in computer science and IT - funded by the School of Science
  • other postgraduate research scholarships

You will join an active research community and work with academics, peers and partner organisations who have demonstrated research success in a range of specialities, including:

  • data engineering and analysis
  • distributed systems and networking
  • artificial intelligence
  • heuristic optimisation
  • information retrieval and web search
  • software engineering

RMIT's success is demonstrated in international university rankings, with computer science at RMIT being placed in the top 200 universities in the Shanghai Jiao Tong rankings and joint sixth in Australia for computer science and information systems in the 2015 QS World University rankings. The Australian Research Council identified our research in Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing and Information Systems as above world standard in the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) reports.

There are many research collaborations with national and international institutes, centres, groups and partners, including strategic partnerships with:

  • RMIT Data Analytics Lab
  • Australian-India Research Centre for Automation Software Engineering (AICAUSE)

Throughout your candidature, you will be supported through:

  • expert supervision
  • participation in high-quality professional development programs delivered by RMIT's School of Graduate Research
  • access to RMIT's extensive facilities, laboratories and equipment and those of our partners.

Entry requirements

The minimum requirements for admission to a PhD program are:

  • a bachelor degree requiring at least four years of full-time study in a relevant discipline awarded with honours. The degree should include a research component comprised of a thesis, other research projects or research methodology courses that constitute at least 25% of a full-time academic year (or part-time equivalent). The applicant must have achieved at least a distinction average in the final year; or
  • a master degree that includes a research component comprised of at least 25% of a full-time academic year (or part-time equivalent) with an overall distinction average or a master degree without a research component with at least a high distinction average; or
  • evidence of appropriate academic qualifications and/or experience that satisfies the Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research Training and Development or nominee that the applicant has developed knowledge of the field of study or cognate field and the potential for research sufficient to undertake the proposed program.

At RMIT a grade of distinction represents academic achievement of 70% or higher and a high distinction is 80% or higher.

If you are a current master by research candidate, you are able to apply for a transfer to a doctor of philosophy program through the process prescribed in the RMIT Higher Degree by Research policy and processes.

Study locations

Melbourne City

Career pathways

You will be able to pursue an academic career in a university, be employed in senior leadership, management and research positions in government, scientific and industrial research laboratories, or work in or start high tech companies.

On completion, our candidates have gone on to senior positions with industry leaders including SENSIS, Seek, CSIRO and Tinder.