If you can’t find the answer to your query on our webpages, please email the relevant School Higher Degree Research (HDR) Services team for further assistance.

Who can I contact regarding my application or other aspects of the application process?

You can email the School HDR teams:

The HDR Administration team receives a high volume of email enquiries, so it may take a few days to respond. In the meantime, please review the College and ANU websites to check if relevant information is already available.

Am I admissible to an HDR program?

Please view the pre-application tab and check the self-assessment flow chart to determine if you may be admissible. If you are not admissible for MPhil/PhD entry at this time, consider completing a Masters by Coursework degree. After completing it, you may be considered for MPhil/PhD admission. Note: meeting admissibility requirements does not guarantee acceptance due to limited resources or supervision availability.

Are there English language requirements to study at ANU?

All applicants, domestic or international, must meet the minimum English language requirements. See the English Language Requirements for Students policy for approved methods.

How do I find a supervisor to support my research application?

Contact relevant academics in your research field. They will assess whether your background is strong enough to support a competitive application. You can explore research areas on our website. Please review the pre-application tab for more.

How do I submit an application?

If you meet the eligibility criteria and have secured a supervisor, you may apply for the Master of Philosophy or Doctor of Philosophy through the ANU application portal. See the ANU HDR application advisory page for full details.

School of Engineering

School of Computing

School of Cybernetics

What constitutes a complete application?

A complete application includes:

  • An application submitted through the ANU application portal
  • A current CV
  • A research proposal
  • Colour copies of all transcripts and completion certificates (original language and official English translations)
  • Three referee reports (referees are nominated via the application portal)

If the HDR team receives an incomplete application, you’ll be given 30 days to submit the missing documents. We recommend submitting your application at least two weeks before scholarship deadlines to allow time for referees to respond.

What scholarships are available for me to support my study at ANU?

You can search for scholarship opportunities on the ANU scholarships page. There may be additional scholarship opportunities listed on the College scholarships page. You may also be eligible for scholarship opportunities external to ANU. Applicants will be considered for all internal scholarships available if they indicate on their application that they want a scholarship.

Applicants should note that our scholarship rounds are extremely competitive. In general scholarships are awarded to the top 10–15% of applicants, depending on the number of applications submitted and the number of available scholarships.

What are the scholarship application cut-off dates?

International Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship

International students applying for this scholarship will need to have their complete application and all supporting documents including referee reports submitted no later than 31 August.

Domestic Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships

Australian citizens, Permanent Residents and New Zealand citizens will need to have their complete application and all supporting documents including referee reports submitted no later than 31 October.

Other scholarship round deadlines will be according to the scholarships listed on the College scholarships page.

Applications that are incomplete at the deadline will not be considered for scholarship under any circumstances.

Do I have to translate my documents into English?

Documents that are not in English must be translated by a National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) translator who is registered to translate the document language to and from English. You must submit certified copies of both the original language documents and the English translation.

My offer is about to expire, how do I request a new offer?

You will need to provide a valid reason for your delayed arrival. If your supporting supervisor supports your Change of Admit Term, please email the relevant School HDR Administrative Team with evidence of the supervisor’s support. If you are eligible for a Change of Admit Term, you will receive a new offer letter within three to four weeks of the request. Please be advised that Changing your Admit Term may cause you to forfeit a scholarship that may have been awarded to you by the University. Please indicate in your email if you have been awarded a scholarship.

Want more information on studying at ANU and living in Canberra?

Information on living in Canberra, studying at ANU, accommodation options and more can be found at the ANU Study webpage.

Where can I find the University rules governing graduate research at ANU?

The University rules governing graduate research at ANU can be found at Graduate Research Award Rules.

What are the tuition fees for HDR students?

Domestic students (Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens) are not required to pay tuition fees for graduate research study as they are covered by the Australian Government Research Training Scheme (RTS). International students are required to pay tuition fees unless they are in receipt of a tuition fee waiver scholarship. Information on fees can be found on the Programs and Courses page for our HDR programs.