Doctor of Philosophy and Graduate Certificate of Research and Innovation Management

Swinburne University of Technology

Swinburne University of Technology

CRICOS 00111D · Duration: 4 Years

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Doctor of Philosophy and Graduate Certificate of Research and Innovation Management

Course Overview

About This Course

As a Doctor of Philosophy and Graduate Certificate of Research and Innovation Management (Science) candidate, you'll undertake supervised research with the aim of making a significant and original contribution to a discipline or profession. The research you'll undertake may be pure, exploratory, applied, experimental and/or creative. Our program coursework supports the development of research and career skills.

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

Requirements
  • Applicants must have completed at least four years (or equivalent) of tertiary education studies in a relevant discipline at a high level of achievement
  • A high level of achievement is defined as the equivalent of a four year Swinburne Honours degree that includes a significant research component in the fourth year, leading to an Honours degree class 1 (average grade between 80-100) or class 2A (average grade between 70-79) level
  • Four years of tertiary studies can be demonstrated by one of the following combinations:
    • A bachelor degree (three or four years) and a Masters by Research
    • A bachelor degree (three or four years) and an Honours year
    • A bachelor degree (three or four years) and a Masters by Coursework
    • A bachelor degree (three or four years) and a postgraduate diploma in Psychology
    • A bachelor degree (four years) in an approved discipline
  • Applicants must have been approved for the award of the degree(s) for which they studied
  • English Language Requirements — satisfactory completion of one of the following:
    • IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
    • Swinburne's English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 70%, all skills 65% or above
    • Or equivalent measures
  • A supervisor must be identified and willing to supervise before submitting an application
  • This course is only available for international students

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities
Academic, Researcher, Entrepreneur, Business development, Analyst – policy, market, quantitative

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Accreditation Details
Academic Regulator
TEQSA
Accreditation Status
Accredited

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units30 units
INF60016

Project Management for Research

Core unit, 12.5 credit points

ENT60010

Innovation and Impact in Research

Core unit, 12.5 credit points

AVA40001

Aviation Research Topics

Elective unit

BIO80005

Research Methods in Science

Elective unit, 12.5 credit points

BUS80003

Research Methodology

Elective unit

BUS80017

Quantitative Research Methods

Elective unit

BUS80018

Qualitative Research Methods

Elective unit

CSM80010

Research Design and Methodology

Elective unit

EDU60001

Nature of Learning and Teaching

Elective unit

EDU60002

Digital Learning Environments

Elective unit

EDU60003

Curriculum Design and Assessment

Elective unit

EDU60004

Scholarly Teaching: to explore, evaluate and improve

Elective unit

EDU60005

Developing Inclusive Learning and Teaching Practice

Elective unit

EDU60014

Design and Delivery for Online Learning

Elective unit

ENT80018

Social Entrepreneurship

Elective unit

HEA40001

Advanced Research Methods in Health Sciences

Elective unit

ICT80011

Research Methods

Elective unit

ICT90003

Applied Research Methods

Elective unit

NEU40002

Neuroscience Methods

Elective unit

NPS60001

Research Skills

Elective unit

PSY40001

Advanced Quantitative Methods

Elective unit

STA60001

Statistical Practice 1

Elective unit

STA60004

Research Design

Elective unit

STA70002

Multivariate Statistics

Elective unit

STA70003

Data Management and Analytics Using SAS

Elective unit

STA80007

Bayesian Statistics

Elective unit

COM80001

Advanced Research Communication Skills in Science, Engineering and Technology

Elective unit

MFP60001

Research Engagement

Elective unit

MFP60002

Research Training

Elective unit

MFP60003

Directed Study

Elective unit

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Graduate Certificate component involve and when must it be completed?

The Graduate Certificate of Research and Innovation Management requires students to complete 50 credit points comprising four units of 12.5 credit points each — two core units and two elective units. At the commencement of their PhD, students are enrolled into the two core units and must complete them within the first 12 months of candidature (prior to Confirmation of Candidature). The two elective units can be taken at any stage during the PhD candidature.

What are the key progress review milestones during the PhD candidature?

There are four key progress reviews: a Preconfirmation review (completion of thesis-related tasks and attendance at research training workshops) due at 3 months; a Confirmation of Candidature review due at 9–12 months; a Mid-candidature review due at 21–24 months; and a Draft thesis review due at 33–36 months with a follow-up 3 months prior to thesis submission.

What are the annual tuition fees for international students in 2026?

The indicative yearly tuition fee for international students in 2026 is AUD $45,300. These fees are estimates and are assessed according to actual study load each semester, generally including the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and subject to annual review.

What research areas are available under this program?

The program offers research opportunities across a range of Science disciplines including Astrophysics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, and Physics. Swinburne is ranked in the Top 200 universities worldwide for Physics and Astronomy (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023) and Top 5 in Australia for Physics (ARWU Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025).

What is the thesis requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy component?

Candidates are required to submit a written research thesis — including associated papers — of up to 60,000 words (with the examinable outcome normally equivalent to 70,000 to 100,000 words). Alternatively, the examinable outcome may take the form of an artefact with an accompanying exegesis. Thesis length can vary according to the nature of the work and the discipline.

Application

How to Apply

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Step 01

Enquire

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Step 02

Submit Documents

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Step 03

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Processing time: Offer letter issued within approximately 1 business days.

Hear From the Students

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Priya Sharma

Priya Sharma

India

Master of Nursing · Griffith University

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