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University of Melbourne

  • 37% international / 63% domestic

Doctor of Philosophy - Science

  • Doctorate (PhD)

Join one of our world-renowned research groups, work with state-of-the-art equipment, and soak up all the professional development opportunities and international connections that come with studying at Australia's leading university.

Key details

Degree Type
Doctorate (PhD)
Duration
4 years full-time, 8 years part-time
Course Code
056958E
Study Mode
In person

About this course

Join one of our world-renowned research groups, work with state-of-the-art equipment, and soak up all the professional development opportunities and international connections that come with studying at Australia's leading university.

With seven schools to choose from (BioSciences, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, Geography, Mathematics and Statistics, and Physics) and more than 500 academic researchers to work with, you're sure to find a team and a PhD project that will suit you.

Study locations

Parkville

What you will learn

Course structure

Typically taken over 3 years full time (part time available), you'll be working independently on an innovative research project that results in an 80,000-word thesis, which will make a distinct contribution to knowledge in your field.

You'll have regular progress reviews with a supervisory panel to ensure good progress towards completion of your thesis. As they're completed, sections of your research thesis can be submitted for publication in scientific journals.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Science) involves no compulsory coursework, though with approval you may be able to take coursework subjects that are relevant to your research.

Undertake a PhD in one of seven schools:

  • BioSciences
  • Chemistry
  • Earth Sciences
  • Ecosystem and Forest Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Physics
  • Geography.

Career pathways

Career outcomes

A PhD is an essential qualification for a research career in many areas of science. A PhD is also a ticket to international research opportunities.

Many of our graduates go on to work as postdoctoral research scientists and then to careers in research and teaching in academia. Alternatively, they move into industry, where the technical and professional skills that come with completing a PhD are highly valued.

Employers of PhD graduates include:

  • Universities
  • International research institutions such as CSIRO, the Defence Science and Technology Group, the Max Planck Institutes, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and NASA
  • Government departments like the Bureau of Meteorology, the Bureau of Statistics and Melbourne Water
  • Consulting firms such as Deloitte and KPMG
  • Software and computing companies such as IBM, IRESS and Quantium
  • Large financial services companies including ANZ and NAB.

How to apply

We welcome applications from students who have completed or are close to completing their prerequisite studies. Please follow the steps below.

For more application information please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions below.

Graduate outcomes

Graduate satisfaction and employment outcomes for Science & Mathematics courses at University of Melbourne.
81.1%
Overall satisfaction
85.4%
Skill scale
72.6%
Teaching scale
74.8%
Employed full-time
$75k
Average salary