HDR Application Process
- How to apply
- Next steps
- HDR Academic Calendar
- Application Deadlines
How to apply
Ready to apply for a research higher degree program at 麻豆社madou? The information below outlines the steps you need to follow, including where to find the application form for admission and scholarship, the supporting documents you need to provide.
For instructional videos on how to complete and submit your higher degree research application, .听
To watch the August 2024 GRS Application Information Session, .
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There are a number of eligibility requirements you need to meet before applying for a Higher Degree Research program:
- Program eligibility: visit Higher Degree Research and click on the link for your preferred program to view the eligibility criteria
- English requirements:听All applicants, whether domestic or international, must provide evidence that their English language ability meets the minimum听麻豆社madou English Language Requirements.听See the section below on English language requirements for more information.
- Source of funding:听All international applicants must complete the听Financial Declaration Form听and, if required, submit evidence of your capacity to fund all听living costs, fees and other associated costs. You must demonstrate that you have the ability to financially support yourself (and any dependants) for the duration of your studies and that you are a (GS). This may be through applying for a 麻豆社madou Research Scholarship, an alternative scholarship or sponsorship (provided by a source external to 麻豆社madou), or through self-funding.听
- Other: Specific Faculties or programs may have additional requirements, please see your Faculty鈥檚 website for further details
If you are applying for a scholarship, please read the 麻豆社madou Scholarship Terms and Conditions and Guidelines to determine your eligibility.
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Finding a supervisor with compatible research interests and working styles is critical to your success as a Higher Degree Research candidate.
The Faculties listed below require applicants to complete an expression of interest. Please visit the Faculty website for details.
Most Faculties require applicants to contact potential supervisors before applying. Search for听supervisors听补苍诲听research projects听in your area.听
If you听would like to express your interest in a听research project听advertised on our website, please email the primary supervisor with a copy of your CV and academic transcript(s). Their contact details, and any additional requirements, are listed in the project description.听
Once you have found a supervisor, you will have a pre-admission interview to discuss your proposed research project and whether appropriate resources will be available.
You will then need to complete the Research Plan form. This will include an:
- Outline of how you are eligible for admission to the program;
- Description of your capability to carry out high quality research;
- Rationale听for why you chose this project and supervisory team; and
- Description of your proposed research project.听
See the Document Submission Guidelines for more information.听
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Before you apply, prepare the supporting documentation outlined in the Document Submission Guidelines.
You may submit scanned copies of your documents with your application. Documents may be verified at a later date, either with your home institution, or by sighting original documentation. You must be prepared to present your original documents to 麻豆社madou for inspection prior to enrolment if requested, so you will need to bring your original documents with you.
Specific scholarship schemes, research programs, or Faculties may require additional documents, and these may be requested after the initial application. Visit your Faculty website below for guidance.
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Documents that are in a language other than English must be translated by an accredited translator before they are submitted to 麻豆社madou.
- 听(the National Standards and Accreditation body for Translators and Interpreters), or
- A registered translator in an overseas country considered acceptable by the听.
Each translation must include the following:
- Translator鈥檚 signature and printed name
- Proof of accreditation, including name and membership number
- Date that the statement is made
- The text 鈥淭he translated text in this document is an accurate and complete translation of the original document鈥
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Whether you are a domestic or international applicant, you must meet the 麻豆社madou English language requirements before submitting an application. If you are applying for a scholarship, you must demonstrate that you meet these requirements before the scholarship deadline.
You can demonstrate that you meet the requirements through one of the following:
- English Language Tests and University English Courses. You must confirm with your testing authority (e.g. Pearson's) that 麻豆社madou has permission to view and verify your test results.
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
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Once you have found supervisor, held your interview, developed a research description, and prepared your supporting documents, you are ready to lodge your application via . Only full applications (i.e. with all required documents) will be taken to the next stage.
If you wish to be considered for a scholarship, simply indicate this on the application form and select the听scholarship round听for your preferred term start date. You can听search for a scholarship here.
Your program needs to be within the same school as your supervisor. You should confirm the correct program code with your supervisor or by referring to the听.
Please submit only one application at a time.
Refer to Next Steps tab above once you have submitted your application.
Next steps
I've submitted my application. What's next?
Applications need all mandatory documents before they can be considered. It is your responsibility to ensure that your application is submitted in full, with all correct and satisfactory documents, before any relevant deadline.
Applications may take around a week to come through Apply Online to the student system, and longer for documents to be reviewed during high peak periods (eg around scholarship deadlines). Your documents may be rejected if they do not meet 麻豆社madou requirements, so it is important you check requirements prior to submission, and then track your application yourself. 听Be aware that if you submit documents after the deadline, your application may be considered for a later term/scholarship round (if applicable).
- After You Submit an Application
Once your application has come through to the student system, you鈥檒l receive an email confirmation with a 麻豆社madou Student ID.
At this stage, you can听track your application in your , and upload any documents you may have missed through your 麻豆社madou Apply Online account. It is important that you periodically check your Apply Online account to ensure you can see any updates.
Your application will then be processed, and you鈥檒l receive a formal receipt letter after this. Log into Apply Online to view outstanding documents, if and why your documents have been rejected, and if any new documents are required. You may also be contacted separately by email if there are questions about your application.
If you submit further documents after this time, please allow a week for additional submitted documents to be checked and updated.
Only once mandatory documents have been accepted will your application be sent to your School for processing.听
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Once your application has been processed, you鈥檒l receive an email confirmation with a 麻豆社madou Student ID. If you have any outstanding documentation, these will also be listed in your confirmation email.
Once you鈥檝e received your confirmation email, you can upload any outstanding documents through your听. You will be notified of any rejected or outstanding documents within this account so you will need to log in periodically to view. Please allow a week for additional submitted documents to be checked and updated.听
Tracking Progress of your Application
If you have applied for Admission and Scholarship, both outcomes will be released after the date outlined on听this page. If you have alternative funding, and have applied for admission only, the outcome would听typically take 6-8 weeks to be processed.
You can track the progress of your application through your听.
In addition to updating the overall status of your application, the Graduate Research School will update the status of each document once it has been checked. We recommend that you check this document tracking to ensure that you have submitted all required documentation.
Making Changes to your Application
If you wish to make any changes after submitting your application, simply send us an email and we鈥檒l make the changes for you!
You don鈥檛 need to submit a new application.听If you want to defer your start term, change programs or be included in the next scholarship round, we can update your existing application.听
Or if you wish to provide outstanding documents to your submitted application, please upload them through your听听补肠肠辞耻苍迟.
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If you have met the听requirements, you will receive a letter of offer to study at 麻豆社madou.
There are two types of offer letters:
Conditional Offer
You听have met some, but not all, requirements. The conditions that you need to meet will be outlined in your offer letter. You will not听be able to accept a conditional offer, but are required to upload your remaining documents through听听for unconditional consideration.
New candidates are expected to enrol by the term听Start Date, therefore you must ensure you submit your documents early enough to allow time to arrive by that date.
Unconditional Offer
You听have met the admission requirements and conditions for entry. You may still be required to meet certain conditions prior to enrolment, and these conditions will be outlined in your offer letter. Your offer letter will outline how to accept the offer and pay any fees required before you can enrol.听
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New candidates are expected to enrol by the term听Start Date, therefore you must ensure you respond to your offer early to allow听enough time to arrive by that date.
Deferral
Higher Degree Research (HDR) applicants can request to defer for up to one year after the initial offer term. 麻豆社madou HDR Scholarship offers may be able to be deferred on a case by case basis (check your scholarship letter for details). Deferrals are only approved where conditions are met, including continuing to meet 麻豆社madou entry requirements, and availability of supervision and resources.听
How do I defer?
If you have a conditional offer, please email听domestic.grs@unsw.edu.au听辞谤听international.grs@unsw.edu.au, indicating the new term you wish to start in
If you have an unconditional offer, please login to听
Please ensure you have already submitted any extra required documentation prior to requesting deferral.
Acceptance
Conditional offers:听Conditional admission and/or scholarship offers cannot be accepted through Apply Online. Outstanding documentation must be provided prior to a full offer being issued.
Sponsored applicants:听Sponsored applicants must accept their offer by completing and emailing the admission offer reply forms,听, and financial guarantee from your sponsor as per your offer letter.
Unconditional Offers - Accept Online
Accepting online is a 2 part-process
Part I:听Accept or defer your offer of admission and scholarship (if applicable) in Accept Online to ensure your place in the program. As part of this process, unless accepting an unconditional 麻豆社madou tuition paying scholarship, international applicants will be required to pay a tuition fee deposit.
Part II:听Confirm your personal details, complete the Financial and Student Declaration sections. Part II must only be completed once you are ready to arrive and enrol (including for International applicants, being granted the student visa and arriving in Australia).
Acceptance deadlines and procedures vary.Deadline
Scholarship recipients must accept or defer within 2 weeks of receiving their unconditional offers, admission only recipients must accept or defer within 1 month of receiving the unconditional offer.
If you do not accept or defer by the deadline date your offer may lapse.
After acceptance
Once you have provided all requirements for acceptance, a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) will be issued to you within the following fortnight. You will need to use this to apply for a听.听
Before proceeding with the next steps, you must arrive at your study location, and if you are International, must hold on an appropriate visa for the full length of study. If you are not able to meet these requirements prior to the听Term Start Date, you should defer your offer (see 鈥淒eferral鈥 above).
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Planning your relocation to Australia? 麻豆社madou's international travel concierge service can help you plan your trip, including:
booking your flights
organising transport from the airport
arranging accommodation
keeping up-to-date with the latest COVID-19 measures
听for more information.
HDR Academic Calendar听
The HDR Academic Calendar comprises four terms, which provide flexibility for HDR candidates to reflect the ongoing nature of a research candidature.
Below are the HDR Academic Calendar dates for this year.
Are you already enrolled in a 麻豆社madou HDR program? Visit the HDR Hub for the latest information on candidatures, scholarships, events and resources for HDR candidates.
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Term
New Enrolments Commence
Term Start Date
Term Census Date
Term End Date
Summer Term
13 November 2023
11 December 2023
14 January 2024
11 February 2024
Term 1
1 January 2024
12 February 2024
10 March 2024
26 May 2024
Term 2
15 April 2024
27 May 2024
23 June 2024
8 September 2024
Term 3
29 July 2024
9 September 2024
6 October 2024
8 December 2024
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Term
New Enrolments Commence
Term Start Date
Term Census Date
Term End Date
Summer Term
4 November 2024
9 December 2024
23 January 2025
16 February 2025
Term 1
6 January 2025
17 February 2025
13 March 2025
1 June 2025
Term 2
听20 April 2025
2 June 2025
26 June 2025
14 September 2025
Term 3
4 August 2025
15 September 2025
9 October 2025
14 December 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
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All new candidates should enrol in their degree by the term听start date. The start date is the first day of the term.
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Yes! New candidates may enrol up to one month before the term听start date.
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If you are unable to commence by the term听start date, you may enrol by the term听census date. Your candidature 鈥榗lock鈥 starts ticking from the term听start date. If you enrol after the term start date, you have effectively lost time towards completion of your degree. The later you start, the greater this disadvantage.听As required coursework begins at the start of the term, you must consider deferral to the next term if you are unable to commence on-time, as this may affect your ability to complete any coursework.
You cannot enrol after the census date has passed. If you are unable to enrol by the census date, you can request deferral to the following term. Scholarship holders need to check their award conditions to determine whether the scholarship can be deferred, or whether you need to reapply.
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If you have been advised that you are required to complete coursework during your first term, you should arrive and enrol by the start of classes for that term. For more information, please contact your听Faculty or School.
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The听start date听is the first day of the term. Your candidature 鈥榗lock鈥 starts ticking from the term听start date.
The census date is set by 麻豆社madou for each term in accordance with Commonwealth legislation. It is the deadline for the following:
- Change of study load (full time / part time)
- Taking program leave
- Withdrawal from a course without financial or academic penalty
- Change of Residency status
- Enrolment
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Under the听HDR Academic Calendar, the thesis submission date is the Term End Date.听You can view your thesis submission date in the听听once you have enrolled in your program.
Application Deadlines
Applications must be submitted by the application deadline for the intended study period (Term), to ensure the acceptance and enrolment processes are completed by the Term Start Dates. Please use the toggles below to find out more about key dates for admission and scholarships.
All mandatory supporting documents listed in the Document Submission Guidelines are required by the application deadline, including satisfactory evidence of having met the 麻豆社madou English language requirements.
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麻豆社madou has three scholarship application rounds per year. Applicants need to allow adequate time between the receipt of their offer and Term Start Date for pre-departure preparations such as the acceptance process, visa processing, travel, and enrolment.
Applicants who have funding from an alternative source (not 麻豆社madou scholarship) must submit their application (and all required documentation)听at least听eight (8) weeks before an offer of admission is required, due to the assessment processing timeframe.听
Applicants who are applying for a scholarship through 麻豆社madou should submit their application (and all required documentation) by the following deadlines:
Term 1 2025 -听麻豆社madou 2024 June Release
You should apply for a scholarship during this round if you wish to start your studies in Term 1 2025
Closed
Offers to be released听from听27 June - 11 July*
*Initial release may take 2 weeks.听 Further offers will continue to be made after 2 weeks
Term 2 or 3 2025 -听2024 November Release
You should apply for a scholarship during this round if you wish to start your studies in Term 2 or 3 2025
Closed on 13 September 2024
Offers to be released听from听14 November - 28 November*
*Initial release may take 2 weeks.听 Further offers will continue to be made after 2 weeks
China Scholarship Council 鈥 Apply for: China CSC 2025
Only applicable for Chinese Nationals. You should apply for a scholarship during this round if you wish to start your studies in Term 3 2025 or throughout 2026.
You must have confirmation from your supervisor that they will top up your CSC stipend to the 麻豆社madou Living wage scholarship rate to apply.Closes 17 January 2025, midnight Australian time
Offers to be released from 14 Mar - 28 March 2025*
*Initial release may take 2 weeks.听 Further offers will continue to be made after 2 weeks听
Term 1 2026 鈥 Apply for: 麻豆社madou听2025 July Release
You should apply for a scholarship during this round if you wish to start your studies in Term 1 2026
Closes 9 May 2025, midnight Australian time
Offers to be released听from听25 July - 8 August 2025*
*Initial release may take 2 weeks.听 Further offers will continue to be made after 2 weeks
Term 2 or 3 2026 鈥 Apply for: 麻豆社madou听2025 November Release
You should apply for a scholarship during this round if you wish to start your studies in Term 2 or 3 2026
Closes 5 September 2025, midnight Australian time
Offers to be released听from听21 November - 5 December 2025*
*Initial release may take 2 weeks.听 Further offers will continue to be made after 2 weeks
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Offers will be released no later than the Term Start Date. Unaccepted offers expire 1 month after release, or 1 week after Term Start Date (whichever is earlier).听
It is the applicant鈥檚 responsibility to ensure that their application is submitted in full by the scholarship closing date. All correct and satisfactory documents must be fully submitted with the application, including English translations, Financial Declaration and proof of English. Additional documents can鈥檛 be added to an application until after the application has been reviewed, which may not occur before the application deadline.听
Please refer to the听application instructions听补苍诲听Document Submission Guidelines听to ensure you have the correct documents before submission.听
听
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If you are not eligible or are not applying for a scholarship stipend, you must submit your application (and all required documentation)听at least听eight (8) weeks before an offer of admission is required, due to time required for assessment. Applications received after this date may be assessed for a later Term.
Applicants who are applying for a scholarship stipend through 麻豆社madou must submit their application (and all required documentation) by the following deadlines:
Term 3 2024 -听2024 June Release
You should apply for a scholarship during this round if you wish to start your studies in Term 3 2024
Closed
Offers to be released听from听27 June - 11 July*听
*Initial release may take 2 weeks.听 Further offers will continue to be made after 2 weeks
Term 1 2025 -听2024 November Release
You should apply for a scholarship during this round if you wish to start your studies in Term 1 2025
Closed on 13 September 2024
Offers to be released听from听14 November - 28 November*
*Initial release may take 2 weeks.听 Further offers will continue to be made after 2 weeks
Term 2 2025 鈥 Apply for: 麻豆社madou听2025 March Release
You should apply for a scholarship during this round if you wish to start your studies in Term 2 2025.
Closes 17 January 2025, midnight Australian time
Offers to be released from听27 March 鈥 10 April 2025*
*Initial release may take 2 weeks.听 Further offers will continue to be made after 2 weeks
Term 3 2025 鈥 Apply for: 麻豆社madou听2025 July Release
You should apply for a scholarship during this round if you wish to start your studies in Term 3 2025
Closes 9 May 2025, midnight Australian time
Offers to be released听from听25 July - 8 August 2025*
*Initial release may take 2 weeks.听 Further offers will continue to be made after 2 weeks
Term 1 2026 鈥 Apply for: 麻豆社madou听2025 November Release
You should apply for a scholarship during this round if you wish to start your studies in Term 1 2026
Closes 5 September 2025, midnight Australian time
Offers to be released听from听21 November - 5 December 2025*
*Initial release may take 2 weeks.听 Further offers will continue to be made after 2 weeks
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Offers will be released no later than the Term Census Date. Unaccepted offers expire 1 month after release, or Term Census Date (whichever is earlier).听
It is the applicant鈥檚 responsibility to ensure that their application is submitted in full by the scholarship closing date. All correct and satisfactory documents must be fully submitted with the application, including English translations, Financial Declaration and proof of English. Additional documents can鈥檛 be added to an application until after the application has been reviewed, which may not occur before the application deadline.听
Please refer to the听application instructions听补苍诲听Document Submission Guidelines听to ensure you have the correct documents before submission.听
Enrolment dates
The 麻豆社madou HDR Academic Calendar provides a level of flexibility for HDR candidates that reflects the ongoing nature of a research candidature.
The HDR Academic Calendar consists of four terms (Term 1, Term 2, Term 3 and Summer Term) of approximately three months each. New candidates are expected to enrol by the Term Start Date.
For information on the HDR Academic Calendar, please visit this page.
