australian phd thesis

How do I find Australian theses?

Sievers, Wolfgang (1963),  Monash University: Main Library, students at desks  1963 nla.obj-143591614

Theses completed for higher research degrees (PhD, Masters or Honours) form an important body of original research.

There are a number of places you can search for Australian theses, we have outlined the three main sources for you below.

National Library collection

While the Library holds a selection of theses presented to Australian universities, we do not have a comprehensive collection. 

To search the Library's collection for a thesis on a particular subject:

• Go to our  online catalogue  
• Type in your subject keywords, and add the keywords  dissertation or thesis, for example:  "global warming" AND thesis  ;  alpine AND thesis

To browse theses in the Library's collection:

• Select 'Browse alphabetically' and 'subject'
• Enter the terms 'Dissertations Academic'; for example:  Dissertations Academic
• Add the country of publication if known; for example:  Dissertations Academic Australia
• Hit browse.

We also hold a number of useful reference books on finding Australian theses, including:

• Guide to Microform Research Collections in the National Library of Australia .  1992. See pages 148-149 for an outline of the Australian and overseas theses held on microform at the National Library. This title is available on open access in the Newspapers and Family History zone .
• Union List of Higher Degree Theses in Australian University Libraries . 1959+ A list of theses submitted for a higher degree at Australian universities. The list is arranged by author, subject and keyword indexes. Supplements covering the period  1961-1976  and  1976-1991  can also be accessed via the catalogue.

Other Australian collections

Use the Library's discovery service  Trove to search for Australian and overseas theses in over one thousand Australian collecting institutions.

For a basic thesis search:

• Go to the homepage of Trove, type in your search terms and hit search
• Select the Books & Libraries category
• Select the 'Thesis' facet under 'Format' on the right-hand side.

If you'd like to use more advanced options in your search, on the results page you can click on advanced search (underneath the magnifying glass icon) to see the options available. 

Hint: to find thesis that are freely available online, narrow your search results to 'Freely available' under 'Online'.

You can find more search tips and strategies on Trove's  Australian theses blog .

University libraries

In most cases, a copy of a thesis is deposited in the library of the relevant university.

You can access the online catalogues of Australian university libraries through the  Australian Libraries Gateway . Links to many university libraries are also available through the Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL) .

The National Library of Australia acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples – the First Australians – as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Cultural Notification

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website contains a range of material which may be considered culturally sensitive including the records of people who have passed away.

All Australian National University theses are in digital form. You can search for them online through the  theses collection in ANU Open Research , and are also searchable via the  Library Catalogue .

The majority of ANU theses are openly accessible but a small number are restricted due to cultural sensitivities, copyright controls or other restrictions.

Digital theses

Digital theses can be searched online through the  theses collection in ANU Open Research .

The Australian National University Library’s theses collection holds the research output of the University’s academic community over the last 60 years. The first ANU thesis was awarded in 1953.

By digitising its print theses collection, ANU Library delivers the University’s unique and original research in a freely available, open access online collection. Digital delivery expands engagement with the Library’s collections, provides visibility to the university’s scholarship, and supports the careers of its academic community.

Restrictions

The majority of theses are openly accessible; however, some may not be available under open access conditions due to author or copyright restrictions.

If an author wishes to restrict access to their thesis (or part of it), they can elect to do so as part of the online submission process. If after 12 months an extension to that restriction is required, a new application must be completed.

In the case of a Higher Degree by Research thesis, approval is required from the Dean, Higher Degree Research and can be sought by filling out an  Extension of Thesis Restriction of Access Request Form  or emailing  [email protected] . If approved, the Open Research team will be notified and restrict access to the online version of your thesis in line with the decision made.

Read our  Restriction Infosheet  for more information about applying for restrictions on theses.

Hard copy theses

Hard copy theses can be requested  for reading within the Library, but cannot be borrowed.

The majority of theses are available for research or study, however some may not be available due to author or copyright restrictions.

To check whether access restrictions apply to a particular thesis, ask at the  Menzies Library  Information Desk or email the  ANU Library .

Non-ANU readers are advised to check in advance whether they will be granted access to a particular thesis.

Location of hard copy theses

• ANU Doctoral and Masters’ theses (1953-2018) –  Menzies Library
• Master of Law and International Law theses (pre-October 1987) –  Law Library
• ANU Honours theses – held by the  ANU Colleges
• ANU Law Honours theses (selected) – Law Library or online through  ANU Open Research
• Non-ANU theses (without access restrictions) are on the open shelves.
• Hard copy theses requests

Related links

• Finding theses
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Finding theses

University of sydney theses, higher degree by research theses.

We hold theses written by the University’s Higher Degree by Research (PhD or Masters by Research) students in our collections.

You can find a University of Sydney thesis by searching the  Library catalogue . Select the “Advanced search” and then select “USYD Theses” from the “Material type” dropdown menu.

You can also find digital theses by searching directly in the Sydney eScholarship repository .

Access a digital or digitised thesis

Many of the University’s digital and digitised theses are openly available for download through the Sydney eScholarship repository .

Theses marked “University of Sydney Access” are only available to current University staff and students. Libraries and private researchers can request to purchase a copy of a University of Sydney Access only thesis for AUD$18.50 (incl. GST, within Australia) or AUD$40.00 (international requests).

To purchase a digital thesis, you need to complete one of the relevant request forms below and submit it to [email protected] :

• Individuals requesting a thesis, or library requesting on behalf of an individual
• Libraries requesting a copy to be included in their collection

All requests for copies of material held at the University of Sydney Library must comply with the  Copyright Act of 1968 .

Access a hard copy thesis

Theses that are only available in printed format can be viewed in the Rare Books and Special Collections Library , Level 1, Fisher Library.

We are currently running a project to digitise hardcopy theses. You can request an update to find out where a particular thesis is in our digitisation queue by emailing [email protected] .

We don’t digitise theses on request.

Honours or postgraduate coursework theses

Search for an honours or postgraduate coursework thesis in the repository , then use the filters on the left side of the results page to narrow by “Type”.

You can also search the Honours and Postgraduate Coursework theses collection for a faculty, school or discipline (if available).

There are limited numbers of honours theses in the Sydney eScholarship repository as we have strict requirements for submission of honours theses . If you can't find the thesis you're looking for, we suggest contacting the relevant faculty office.

Theses from other Australian and New Zealand universities

Find a thesis from other Australian or New Zealand universities by searching:

• Australian theses via Trove
• Libraries Australia for Higher Degree theses awarded from 1989 onwards
• Education Research Theses for citations and abstracts from theses submitted from 1919 onwards.

If you’re interested in a thesis that isn't available online, you can request the item through our Resource Sharing Service .

International theses

For theses written and submitted at universities outside of Australia, try the following resources:

• Open Access Theses and Dissertations
• DART-Europe E-theses Portal
• British Library Electronic Digital Thesis Online Service (EThOS)
• EBSCO open dissertations
• French Thesis-On-Line Repository
• History Online – postgraduate theses in History submitted in the UK since 1995
• Index to Theses – listing of theses with abstracts accepted for higher degrees by universities in Great Britain and Ireland since 1716
• Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations – North American theses
• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global

Related information

For more help finding and accessing theses, speak to our friendly library staff.

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ANU Theses : [15741]

The Australian National University Library’s theses collection holds the research output of the University’s academic community over the last 60 years. The first ANU thesis was awarded in 1953.

By digitising its print theses collection, ANU Library delivers the University’s unique and original research in a freely available, open access online collection. Digital delivery expands engagement with the Library’s collections, provides visibility to the university’s scholarship, and supports the careers of its academic community.

The majority of theses are openly accessible, however some may not be available under open access conditions due to author or copyright restrictions.

The ANU print theses collection has been made available through Exception 200AB of the Copyright Act 1968 (http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca1968133/s200ab.html)

ANU digital theses are made available in ANU Open Research under a Non Exclusive Distribution License. Copyright remains with the author.

Communities & Collections

• Open Access Theses [15393]
• Restricted Theses [327]
• Three Minute Thesis (3MT) [16]
• Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) [5]
• 5 Woodley, Peter
• 3 Briscoe, Gordon
• 3 Davis, Robert Brent
• 3 Munro, Alison
• 3 Richardson, Alice
• 3 Wang, Lei
• 2 Abejo, Socorro D
• 2 Abraham, Mark James
• 2 Akhtar, Muhammad Saleem
• 2 Allen, Matthew G
• 12369 Thesis (PhD)
• 1653 Thesis (Masters)
• 575 Thesis (MPhil)
• 491 Thesis (Masters sub-thesis)
• 389 Thesis (Honours)
• 114 Thesis (Graduate Diploma)
• 42 Thesis (DPsych(Clinical))
• 24 Thesis (Bachelors)
• 22 Thesis (D. Sc.)
• 21 Thesis (PhD) - Exegesis
• 1689 2020 - 2024
• 3907 2010 - 2019
• 3023 2000 - 2009
• 2456 1990 - 1999
• 1957 1980 - 1989
• 1794 1970 - 1979
• 813 1960 - 1969
• 79 1953 - 1959

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University of Melbourne theses

Australian theses,   international theses, referencing theses, further help, find theses online and in print.

This guide shows you how to find Masters and PhD theses, online and in print, from:

• The University of Melbourne
• Other Australian universities
• Outside Australia

Why use theses?

Theses can be a valuable source of information, especially for topics where there are fewer published works available., the references or works cited in a thesis can also be useful to find further published sources on a topic..

If you are currently writing a thesis (Honours, Masters or PhD) you may want to:

• check if anyone has recently completed a PhD thesis in your area of research internationally
• look at PhD theses from your faculty (or supervised by your supervisor) to get an idea of how to format your thesis.

Most recent theses are available through Minerva Access , the University's institutional repository. 

Minerva includes PhD and Masters Research theses, as well as a smaller number of Honours and Masters Coursework theses.

Accessing Full-Text in Minerva Access

Open access theses.

• Many theses are open access, which means anyone is able to read the full text online, and no subscription or login is required.
• Use the download link on the left to access a PDF of the thesis.

Restricted access theses

Some theses are currently only available to university of melbourne staff/students.

Use the login link and access with your unimelb username and password

Embargoed theses

If a thesis is under full embargo , full-text is not available for internal or external access (including inter-library loan requests). It a thesis is under an external embargo , it can be requested by University staff and students for research purposes via Minerva Access .

You will be able to view an abstract 

Finding theses from your faculty or school in Minerva Access

You can limit your results in minerva access to view only theses from your faculty..

1. Select your faculty from the list of Communities on the Minerva Access homepage. You may need to also choose your school on the next page. 

2. Select the option that includes Theses  (rather than Research Publications) 

3.To further refine the list (ie. to only PhD theses) scroll down to use the Type menu on the far left menu bar.

Finding University of Melbourne print theses

University of Melbourne theses not available online are held in the Cultural Collections Reading Room on level 3 of the Baillieu Library, or in offsite storage. While you cannot physically browse the thesis collection, you can submit a request to view a thesis using the online form .

You can search the Library Catalogue  to find our print collection of University of Melbourne theses

• To restrict your search to just theses, select University of Melbourne Theses from the drop-down menu to the right of the search bar

For more information on requesting to view print theses see the Special Collections website . ( Note : Use the request form for Rare Books)

Australian theses from other universities can be found via Trove .

1. Select Advanced search on the Trove homepage, and choose Research and reports

2. Type your search terms into the first box (Keyword search box)

3. Check the box next to Australian content

4. Click the green Search button

5. On the results page, select the Show more  option under Format

6. Select Thesis  to limit your results to theses

7.  To access, check the purple link at the bottom of each record. Theses available online will either:

• have a link to where they are held

• have an Access conditions apply  link

8. Click on the title of the thesis to view the record, and select the  Read  button to access the full text

•  If the thesis is not available online through Trove, please complete a Thesis request form on the  Request Forms page . We will then try to obtain a copy of the thesis for you via inter-library loan. 
• For more information on using the Advanced Search to create more specific searches, see Trove's Australian theses page. 

These are the top four international theses databases that include full-text:

• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global The most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses from around the world. Spans 1743 to the present day, offering full text for most dissertations added since 1997.
• British Library EThOS (Electronic Theses Online Service) Search for UK theses and access or request full text. See FAQs for more information.
• DART-Europe E-theses Portal Access to digitised theses from European universities.
• OATD: Open Access Theses and Dissertations Indexes more than 1.5 million theses and dissertations. Metadata (information about the theses) comes from 600+ colleges, universities, and research institutions.

Other useful theses databases ​

• American Doctoral Dissertations
• China Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses full-text Database This database is a comprehensive, high quality database of dissertations and theses in China. The dissertations and theses are from hundreds of institutions located across China. Coverage is 1984 onwards and is updated daily. It covers a wide range of subjects such as fundamental sciences, engineering technology, agriculture, medical science, history, philosophy, education, law, economics and more.
• CNKI China Academic Journals Most comprehensive, full-text database of Chinese journals. To narrow your searching select section (G) Politics/ Military Affairs/ Law to search across the database.
• KRIS - Kiwi Research Information Service NZ open access research document portal.
• TEL (thèses-en-ligne) French theses
• Theses Canada Portal

Need help with referencing theses?

Visit the Re:cite guide to referencing

Contact us , or ask a question on Library chat

Visit us on social media.

• Last Updated: Jan 19, 2024 9:43 AM
• URL: https://unimelb.libguides.com/findingtheses

Theses and Dissertations: Find Australian theses

• Find University of Newcastle theses
• Find Australian theses
• Find International theses
• Referencing a thesis
• Help with thesis writing
• Submit your Thesis This link opens in a new window

Find Australian theses (electronic)

Search  TROVE  to find links to all theses from Australian Universities.

• On the Research & Reports page in TROVE enter your keywords, title, author (creator) or subject
• Then select 'Thesis' in the 'Format' dropdown

TROVE have created a Quick search guide to help you locate theses on their site.

The National Library of Australia  holds a selection of theses presented to Australian universities.  

• Australian Education Research Theses A comprehensive source of research found in doctoral and masters research theses accepted by all Australian universities in the field of education. It also includes some overseas theses on Australian education topics.
• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global This link opens in a new window Abstracts and indexes of doctoral dissertations and master's theses in all subjects completed at accredited Australian, North American and selected European colleges and universities from 1743 to the present day.

You can also search for digital theses through an institution's digital repository.

Help and Information

• << Previous: Find University of Newcastle theses
• Next: Find International theses >>
• Last Updated: Mar 6, 2024 11:32 AM
• URL: https://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/theses

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UNSWorks is intermittently unavailable

Some functionality of UNSWorks is currently affected due to unplanned system outages. You can still deposit your theses to UNSWorks, but intermittent outages may delay the processing of theses deposits.

See our  news item  for more information.

Finding UNSW theses

UNSW PhD or Masters by Research theses can be located via  UNSWorks . For honours theses, contact the UNSW faculty, school or the author directly.

For more information on rights of use and removing material in UNSWorks see  Copyright - UNSWorks .

Finding Australian and international theses

To find Australian theses, search via:

Library collection To find UNSW Library’s collection of Australian and international theses in print, search  Library collection  for a title or keywords. Refine your results by selecting  Refine my results > Resource types > Dissertations  in the column on the left.

Trove - Australian print and digital theses Trove includes theses at all levels, including PhD, masters and honours. To limit your search to Australian theses only, use  Trove - Research & Reports  search. Tick the  Australian content  box. Next to  Format - select  Thesis  from the drop-down list.

To find international theses, search via:

BASE BASE academic search engine provides access to the repositories of 8,000 institutions. 60% of the full-text documents are open access.

CORE CORE aggregates open access research outputs from repositories and journals worldwide.

DART-Europe e-theses portal DART-Europe is a partnership of research libraries and library consortia working to improve global access to European research theses.

EBSCO open dissertations Includes the content from American Doctoral Dissertations in addition to theses and dissertations from around the world. Coverage from 1955.

Open access theses and dissertations OATD provides access to open access graduate theses from over 1100 colleges, universities, and research institutions.

Theses Canada Theses and dissertations in the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) collection.

Non-UNSW theses

To obtain a thesis that is not available via the resources listed above, contact the library of the holding/publishing institution directly. Conditions of access to a thesis are determined by the author and holding library, and is outside the control of UNSW Library.

Depositing your thesis

How to  deposit  your UNSW thesis.

Examples of theses and dissertations in the Research Repository

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The following are examples of PhD theses and dissertations that have been examined and approved for archiving.

College of Business and Law

College of design and social context, stem college, accounting, information systems & supply chain.

• An, L 2023, Developing Wellbeing Literacy for Remote Work Integrated Learning , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Accounting, Information Systems and Supply Chain, RMIT University.
• Taj, F 2023,  The Coevolution of Organizational Routines and IT Systems in IT-enabled Organizational Transformation: A Social Constructivist Perspective ,  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Accounting, Information Systems and Supply Chain, RMIT University.

Economics, Finance and Marketing

• Ha, H 2015,  Explaining public support for climate change mitigation policies – a case study of Australia , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Economics, Finance and Marketing, RMIT University.
• Yeoh, Y 2017,  Microfinance: the impact of institutional environment in Latin America and South Asia , Masters by Research, Economics, Finance and Marketing, RMIT University.

Graduate School of Business and Law

• Taniman, C 2015,  A study of the influence of the professional development and work context of the chief executive officer in Australia, the United States and Hong Kong , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Graduate School of Business and Law, RMIT University.
• Popa, M 2018,  Medical negligence and mental harm: practitioner perspectives on challenges in litigation and mediation , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Graduate School of Business and Law, RMIT University.
• Mohamed Yusuf, R 2015,  Social inclusion practices of elite universities in Australia and Malaysia: a comparative perspective , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Management, RMIT University.

Architecture and Design

• Pferdmenges, P 2015,  Founding Alive Architecture from drawing to initiating lived space , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Architecture and Design, RMIT University.
• Gutierrez, L 2015,  Atlas of MAP office’s territories: landmarks, islands and other liquid landscapes , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Architecture and Design, RMIT University.
• Barbour, J 2017,  Spatial audio engineering: exploring height in acoustic space , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Architecture and Design, RMIT University.
• Zilka, L 2017,  Floppy effects : exploring in the territory between architecture, fashion and textile design. , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Architecture and Design, RMIT University.
• Crosbie, S 2022, Trauma, Dissociation and the Boarding School Experience , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Art, RMIT University
• Dickson, B 2017, The apprehension of mortality , Doctor of Philosophy (Phd), Art, RMIT University.
• Lu, Y 2015,  Teachers' Mandarin usage in EFL classrooms in two universities in Southeast Mainland China , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Education, RMIT University.
• Alharbi, A 2017,  The Social language strategies of Saudi students in an English as a second language context ,  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Education, RMIT University.

Fashion and Textiles

• Ha, W 2015,  Falling against texture: writing as fashion practice , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University.
• Maghrabi, H 2017,  Textile design for diagnostic X-ray shielding garments and comfort enhancement for female users ,  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University.

Global, Urban and Social Studies

• Ewins, T 2014,  Third roads and third ways in social democracy: reconciling tensions in European Left Debates , 1848–1934, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University.
• Taylor, W 2017,  Job quality under individualised funding models: perspectives of in-home support workers , Masters by Research, Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University.

Media and Communication

• Sargeant, B 2015,  How Far is Up? the functional properties and aesthetic materiality of children’s storybook applications , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Media and Communication, RMIT University.  Note: for examination purposes the application referred to in the dissertation was provided on iPads to SGR Examinations and were sent to the examiners.
• Bennett, C 2016,  Lotjpa Yorta Yorta! Retrieving, reclaiming, and regenerating language and culture through the arts , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Media and Communication, RMIT University. Note: contains a link to vimeo of Dr Bennett’s presentation that her examiners attended.
• Velissaris, N 2017,  Making a choice: The Melete Effect and establishing a poetics for choice-based narratives , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Media and Communication, RMIT University. Note: contains additional narrative file which was submitted along with the thesis for examination.
• Munz, H 2017,  The dis-play of digital errance: digital animation; becoming play , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Media and Communication, RMIT University. Note: contains a zip folder with additional images.

Property, Construction and Project Management

• Alshanbri, N 2015,  Investigating the role of Knowledge Management and Human Resources Management in assisting the employee replacement process: the case of Saudi Arabia’s new localisation program "Nitaqat" , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Property Construction and Project Management, RMIT University.
• Kolar, D 2017,  Improving the link between project management and strategy to optimise project success , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University.
• Carnovale, Catherine 2015,  Investigating the effect of gold nanoparticle size, shape and surface corona on cellular uptake and toxicity , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Applied Science, RMIT University.
• Knowles, P 2015,  Real-Time deep image rendering and order independent transparency , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Computer Science and Information Technology, RMIT University.
• Woodgate, W 2015,  In-situ Leaf Area Index estimate uncertainty in forests: supporting Earth Observation product calibration and validation , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Mathematical and Geospatial Sciences, RMIT University.
• Raducan, G 2018,  The impact of bushfires on water quality , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Science, RMIT University.
• Tamassia, M 2017,  Artificial intelligence techniques towards adaptive digital games , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Science, RMIT University.

Engineering

• Nicholds, B 2015,  An engineering approach to risk assessment of project improvement , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University.
• Pramanik, B 2015,  Biological pre-treatment to enhance low pressure membrane filtration for wastewater reclamation , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Civil, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, RMIT University.
• Gutruf, P 2015,  Transforming flexible devices to stretchable oxide-based electronics, photonics, and sensors , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Electrical and Computer Engineering, RMIT University.  Note: due to copyright restrictions the archived thesis includes DOI links to Dr Gutruf’s publications. The examinable copy of Dr Gutruf’s thesis contained the publications in full.
• Atkin, P 2017,  Investigating novel synthesis, optical properties and applications of model 2D semiconducting nanocrystals ,  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Engineering, RMIT University.
• Callingham, T 2017,  A case study investigating the impacts of coagulants on taste and odour reduction in drinking water , Masters by Research, Engineering, RMIT University.

Health and Biomedical sciences

• Hao, X 2015,  Development of Chinese medicine headache questionnaire for tension-type headache , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Health Sciences, RMIT University.
• Mandarano, G 2015,  Lymph node imaging with magnetic resonance, positron emission tomography and flourescence techniques , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Medical Sciences, RMIT University.
• Mootin, T 2017,  A socio-ecological approach to adolescent suicide ideation: the role of family, peers, and teachers , Masters by Research, Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University.
• Ali, S 2017,  The effect of tocotrienols on vascular function , Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University.

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ANU College of Science

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The Australian National University provides PhD students with a vibrant research community and outstanding program support .  When selecting a research program, an institution's reputation is everything. ANU is one of the world's leading universities, and the smart choice for your research program.

As a PhD student you will work with increased independence, under the direction of a supervisory panel of experts in the field. Your research will make an original and important contribution to human knowledge, research and development.

Program details

The major component of a research program is a substantial written work known as a thesis, which investigates a particular subject or issue. As a research student, you will work with increased independence, under the direction of an academic supervisor or a supervisory panel of academic staff.

A PhD will normally take you between 2-4 years to complete.

• 2 - 4 years full time
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities

The Doctor of Philosophy is your gateway to an academic or research career in science. In addition to academia, PhD graduates work in diverse fields within government, education, industry and media.

World class facilities

Students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and support, including labs, computational services and recreation and relaxation rooms.

Learning experience

Industry engagement

Industry engagement is one of the best ways for a PhD student to test their capabilities as a researcher, and to obtain transferable and professional skills.

Get out of the classroom

PhD student Kate Holland takes us on a field trip to One Tree Island to explain her research.

PhD student unearths the Holy Grail of paleontology

Ilya Bobrovskiy had a crazy idea for his PhD. And then he made one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs of the year.

Fees & scholarships

Scholarships.

Whether you are looking for financial support to start your studies at ANU or help to move away from home for the first time, we have scholarship opportunities for you and your situation.

• How to apply
• International

Understand the how to apply steps

Visit the domestic postgraduate research applications page to prepare for your application to ANU.

Finding an academic supervisor

Prospective research students first need to identify a research project and find an academic supervisor.

Review the  fields of research  we offer and contact the academic convenor for advice about potential projects, supervisors, and the pre-application process. The  ANU Researchers  website is also a good place to start looking for a supervisor.

Email your academic supervisor directly to enquire about projects and supervision. Your email should outline the reason(s) why you are attracted to their field of research, the type of research you would like to pursue and a summary of your academic qualifications and research experience. You may also submit a short research proposal, however, this is not mandatory at this point.

The academic supervisor may contact you to discuss your research proposal and possibly other projects, or they may forward your email to other staff in the research school / centre.

Once an academic supervisor has been confirmed to support your application you may proceed to step three.

If you are not sure which area of research or supervisor matches your interest please complete an  expression of interest  and we will get in contact with you. Do not proceed to next step until advised.

Finding available scholarships

ANU Colleges and individual research schools offer a number of  scholarships  that are awarded on a merit basis. You can also talk to your academic supervisor about other sources of funding you might access to assist with living expenses and tuition fees.

Visit the international postgraduate research applications page to prepare for your application to ANU.

Need more information?

Send us an enquiry and we'll get back to you within 48 hours

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Thesis structures

  Whether you're writing a traditional thesis, thesis by compilation or an exegesis, your work needs to have an argument (some disciplines use key message, narrative, story or exposition). The argument is your answer to your research question/s, and the structure of your thesis should support the argument. A thesis argument map can help you to stay on track and can save you a lot of time writing. 

Thesis argument maps

Key points:

• a thesis needs a clear research question/s or aim/s
• a thesis needs an argument that answers the research question/s
• each part of the thesis should contribute to your argument
• the thesis structure should support your argument
• an argument map can be very useful to guide you throughout your project

While there are different ways to produce an outline, we recommend using an argument map. Having an argument map planned out can be helpful for people in both the early and later stages of a research project. Even though in the early stages of your project you won't know exactly how it will turn out, it's still helpful to have a sense of where you are going and what you need to do. In the later stages of a project, you can revisit your argument map to see whether the different parts of the project still fit together logically.

On this page there are links to argument map examples and templates that you can choose from to help you organise your thesis or exegesis.

Filling out your argument map

To fill out your argument map, do the following. 

• Write down your research question/s or aim/s in the top part of the map. 
• Underneath the research question or aims, you'll see 'Argument' or 'Central narrative'. You might like to think of your argument as the take home message that tells the reader what your research has found overall. Even if you don't yet know the answer to your research question, write down what you anticipate your main answer/s will be. Having an idea of your argument or narrative helps you to plan out your chapters logically. 
• Reflect on your argument: does it answer the research question? If it doesn't, do you need to clarify the argument? Or do you need to refine your research question? 
• The introduction column outlines common elements of an introduction. Jot down your ideas in relation to each of the points. 
• Write down the broad purpose of each chapter in the first row of the chapter columns. How will that chapter help you to answer your research question? How do the chapters follow on from one another?
• Jot down what you will argue in each of your chapter sections. You may have fewer than three sections in a chapter, so adapt the template as you like. How does each chapter section contribute to your chapter's argument? What evidence will you draw on?   
• Reflect on your overall thesis structure. Are the chapters in a logical order to answer your research question/s? Does the structure best emphasise your analysis or themes? Are the sections organised around your themes or analytical points? Do you leave plenty of room to address counterarguments? Would another structure work? If so, which structure do you think most clearly answers your research question/s and shows a logical progression of analysis?

When you have a draft outline, carefully review it with your supervisor: is there unnecessary material (i.e. not directly related to the research question/s)? If so, remove or rework it. Is there missing material to add? Whenever you want to make a major change to your work, outlining it first can help you to consider new, more persuasive possibilities for structure.

Another way to test whether your thesis structure is persuasive and logical is to talk about it with someone who knows very little about your topic. You could try explaining it to a friend, to see whether they need to know the information in a certain sequence, and to see whether there are ideas you need to spend more/less time on explaining. You can also make an appointment at Academic Skills  to discuss your argument map.

Principles of structure

The main principle of writing an outline is to work out a structure that best supports your argument. To do this, first consider your research question, and how you would persuade someone that your response is defensible. For example, if you have a question that asks for a comparison of two or more case studies, your structure needs to enable you to make that comparison effectively. You might have a chapter or section that provides a brief overview of each case study. Then, you could have a chapter that compares the case studies in relation to one variable or theme. You could then follow with a chapter that compares the case studies in relation to another variable or theme, and so on. In this way, you would have a structure that enables comparison.

If a part of your thesis does not seem to fit in, ask yourself how it helps you to answer the question. This can help you to identify where it would fit better. Otherwise, you might need to cut the section out of your thesis - you could consider whether it would work well in a separate publication instead.

To decide which structure is best for you, it's useful to have a look at other examples in your area. You can access past ANU theses on the ANU Library's  digital thesis collection , you can ask your supervisor, and/or you can ask your College administrators to show you some past samples. When you look at them, consider:

• is it clear how each section of the thesis answers the research question?
• does the structure logically support the argument?
• is there a lot of background information that could be condensed?
• if the thesis is making comparisons, does the structure help you to understand the comparisons?

Thesis by compilation

Reference documents

• Exegesis narrative map (DOCX, 65.15 KB)
• Long Thesis Argument Map (DOCX, 65.8 KB)
• Sciences thesis argument map (DOCX, 64.9 KB)
• Short Thesis Argument Map (DOCX, 64.48 KB)
• Sample Epidemiology thesis argument map (PDF, 27.17 KB)
• Sample International Relations thesis argument map (PDF, 23.64 KB)
• Sample Film Studies thesis argument map (PDF, 45.92 KB)

Use contact details to request an alternative file format.

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How to get a PhD

Study tips Published 5 Apr, 2022  ·  4-minute read

Trying to wrap your head around how PhD programs work? We don’t blame you. Sometimes it feels like you need a PhD just to figure out how to get a PhD.

So, with a little help from our academics and some UQ PhD candidates, we’ve broken down the application and preparation process into 10 manageable steps:

• Complete prior research
• Choose your topic
• Find a PhD supervisor
• Write your PhD proposal
• Identify potential scholarships
• Gather required documents and apply
• Determine if you'll continue working during your PhD
• Calculate how long you’ll be researching your PhD
• Develop the traits and behaviours of a good PhD student
• Apply and get accepted

Let’s discuss how to get a PhD in Australia – from choosing your topic to getting stuck into the actual research.

1. Complete prior research (if necessary)

You don’t necessarily need a master’s degree to start a PhD. However, you do need to have completed extensive research. This might involve an academic research program (such as a bachelor's degree with an honours year or a Master of Philosophy ), research conducted in your professional career, or a combination of both. The important thing is that you can demonstrate experience in conducting effective research, as this is a key part of the PhD selection criteria.

Learn more about doing a PhD without a master's degree

2. Choose your topic

Whether you’re developing a thesis on a topic you’ve already worked on or branching out into a new area of interest, you’ll want to know early what kind of topic you want to research for your PhD. Finding a niche that sparks your curiosity is important for ensuring you’ll stay inspired during the 3+ years ahead.

Keep in mind that you generally have two options here. You can complete a PhD by:

• joining an existing research project in an area that interests you 
• start a fresh research project that aligns with your specific goals.

Get tips for choosing your PhD topic or explore available research projects at UQ

3. Find a PhD supervisor

One of the essential steps to consider when thinking about how to get a PhD is finding someone to guide you through the process.

Approaching academics about your PhD can be intimidating, but shortlisting and selecting the most appropriate person / team to supervise your research project is important. By choosing your mentor carefully, you can ensure you’ve got someone in your corner who understands your research, has relevant expertise, and will be there to support you throughout your journey.

Learn how to find the right PhD supervisor

4. Write your PhD proposal

Check with your supervisor to see if they require a formal PhD proposal (most will, but not all). If so, with their guidance, it’s time to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard).

Even if your supervisor doesn't explicitly ask for one, a PhD proposal is a valuable document for outlining the scope of your research and giving your project its initial momentum – so it might be worth writing one either way.

Learn how to write a good PhD proposal

5. Identify potential scholarships

Dedicating yourself to research sometimes means sacrificing your income in the short term, though it can lead to more financial security in the long term . To help support yourself during your studies, you can apply for PhD scholarships and funding.

Learn how to get a PhD scholarship

6. Gather required documents and apply

It’s time to jump online and do the official application process. Aside from your research proposal, you should also prepare to provide your:

• academic CV
• academic transcript
• degree certificate(s)
• English language documents (if needed)
• ID (such as a passport)
• two references / letters of recommendation from people who can comment on your research experience.

  Learn how to apply online for a UQ PhD

7. Determine if you'll continue working during your PhD

Some PhD candidates continue doing part-time or casual work while completing their research. However, this isn't easy and may not be feasible in most cases; it takes serious time-management skills to juggle any kind of job alongside a full-time PhD. So, think carefully about whether you’d like to keep working in some capacity or commit your attention fully to your research.

Learn more about working while doing a PhD

8. Calculate how long you’ll be researching your PhD

To complete your PhD within the standard 3.5-year* timeframe, you'll need to be organised with a clear project plan. Of course, the very nature of research is that you'll discover unexpected things and take unplanned detours along the way. So, your plan should include contingencies for any obstacles you might hit to ensure you still complete your research on time. 

*In special cases, you may be able to request an extension of your tuition for up to 4 years, but that is the maximum time allowed for a PhD.

Explore how long a PhD takes

9. Develop the traits and behaviours of a good PhD student

We know you’ve already got what it takes, but there are some skills and attributes you could cultivate or practise to make your upcoming journey a little smoother. Between writing your proposal and meeting with potential supervisors, be sure to set some time aside to work on yourself as well.

Discover what makes a good PhD student

10. Apply and get accepted

All the preparation is done. You’ve equipped all the gear, chosen your guide and mapped out your route. It's time to apply and set the wheels in motion.

Submit your PhD application

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Related stories

How to decide on a PhD topic

4-minute read

How to find a PhD supervisor

5-minute read

How to write a good PhD proposal

How to get a PhD scholarship or funding

3-minute read

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Deposit copies of all ANU Doctoral and some Masters' theses are held in the Theses Collection in a restricted area of the R.G. Menzies Building , with the following exceptions:

• Master of Law and Master of International Law theses (presented before October 1987) are kept in the Law Library .
• ANU Honours theses are not usually held by the Library. Individual teaching departments may hold some of them.
• A collection of Law Honours theses is held in the Law Library . Details of these theses can be found in the Library Catalogue or by asking at the Law Library Information Desk.

You can search the ANU Library catalogue to locate ANU theses.  Remember to limit your catalogue search to 'ANU Theses' in the drop down menu next to the search box.

ANU theses are physically located in the Rare Book Room in the Menzies Library. Please note that ANU theses are "Not for Loan' but can be viewed in the library. For further information regarding ANU theses please contact the  Menzies Information Desk  or the ANU Document Supply Service .

Australian & International Theses

• Dissertations and Theses A&I (ProQuest) Indexes U.S. research postgraduate theses from 1861, with theses from other countries now included.
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• Trove Research & Reports Trove contains almost a million theses. Some of these are in print format only, others are available online in digital format. To find theses in Trove Research & Reports, enter your search terms in the keyword search box and click the green search button. Then select 'Thesis' from the 'Format' filter options on the right-hand side of the screen. To find Australian theses, tick the ‘Australia’ option under the 'Place' filter options.
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