Doctor of Philosophy and Graduate Certificate of Research and Innovation Management

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.