Universities in Australia for PhD

Known for its warm climate and spectacular beaches, Australia has always welcomed international students with open arms. The country is home to some of the best universities for PhD in the world that offer the best-in-class world infrastructure, highly qualified faculty members and next-generation technology to facilitate better learning. Owing to the multiculturalism and high living standards, Australia has turned out to be one of the top study destinations for doctoral degrees across the globe. A Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) is a research-based degree which lets students push academic boundaries and intensify their knowledge in one particular field. Studying for a PhD in Australia can be the best choice you can make availing of the incredible research opportunities on offer here. Through this blog, we are here to provide you with all the essential information you need to know about the top 5 universities in Australia for PhD.

Also read: MBA in Australia

Why Choose Australia for PhD?

 

The universities in Australia are world-renowned and the degrees awarded from them are highly-regarded among the top recruiters in the world. The reasons why you should consider studying PhD in Australia are as follows: 

• Extensive Range of Research Areas: The universities in Australia provide a broad range of research areas to students, right from a Doctorate in Medicine (MD) to Anthropology and Economics to Marine Biology. They cover almost every field of interest thus providing you with varied prospects to choose from.
• Post-study Visa: Upon the completion of a PhD degree, the graduates are allowed to live and work in Australia itself for a period of at least 4 years.
• Home to Leading Universities in the World: Five universities in Australia have successfully secured their place among the top 50 universities according to the QS World University Ranking 2021.

Top Universities in Australia for PhD: QS Rankings 2023

Universities	QS 2023 Rankings
Australian National University	=30
The University of Melbourne	33
The University of Sydney	41
University of New South Wales	45
The University of Queensland	47
Monash University	57
The University of Western Australia	90
The University of Adelaide	=108
University of Technology Sydney	=109
The University of Newcastle	=122
University of Wollongong	185
Queensland University of Technology	=222
Curtin University	=194
Macquarie University	195
RMIT University	=190
Deakin University	=266
University of South Australia	25
University of Tasmania	=293
Griffith University	=300
James Cook University	=461

Top 5 Universities In Australia for PhD

All of the 43 universities in Australia are fully funded, accredited and aided by the Australian government. Enlisted below are the top 5 universities offering PhD degrees in an array of fields and are known to be the best for carrying out research and PhD studies among international students.

University of Queensland

 

Being one of the top universities in Australia for PhD, the doctoral program offered at the University of Queensland has always aimed to foster and develop independent research skills within the students. Featuring 46th in the QS World University Ranking 2021, the university strives to impart the skills of finding significant problems, mastery of appropriate methodological skills, critical thinking abilities as well as locating logical solutions to problems. The University Of Queensland provides a three to four-year full-time PhD program which includes theoretical study and research training in a number of fields such as: 

• Engineering 
• Agriculture
• Business 
• Law
• Architecture 
• Health And Behavioural Science 
• Biomedical Science
• Information Technology
• Medicine
• Social Science
• Humanities

University of Southern Queensland

 

Offering a three to the four-year doctoral program which is awarded to those who demonstrate their capabilities and significantly contribute their knowledge to their own field of research, the University of Southern Queensland has always been committed to excellence with its teaching methodologies. Renowned as one of the top universities in Australia, the offered PhD course comprises 2 semesters and students are required to complete the 24-unit program, research training, post-graduate elective subjects, research proposal which confirms the candidature and the independent research study is available in the following fields: 

• Agriculture and Agribusiness
• Astrophysics
• Cultural Heritage
• Environmental Sciences
• Mathematical Sciences
• Engineering and Technology
• Education 
• Economics
• Health and Behavioral Sciences 

Check Out – Top Universities for MBA in Australia

The University of Melbourne

 

The University of Melbourne is one of those top universities in Australia that help in building expertise among research students in their chosen areas of study. The university, which ranks at #41 in the QS World University Rankings 2021 promotes the feeling of academic excellence, leadership, creativity, innovation and independence within the students enrolled in a PhD. The full-time program spans a minimum duration of 4 years whereas the duration of the part-time PhD program is 8 years minimum. Various doctoral programs that are offered by The University of Melbourne are as follows:

• Neuroscience
• Infection and Immunity
• Mental Health
• Ecology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Computing and Information System
• Mechanical engineering and Mechatronics Engineering
• Chemical Engineering

The University of Sydney

 

Providing world-class research opportunities, the University of Sydney, being one of the best universities in Australia, offers PhD under the domains of Science, Engineering and IT, Business, and Arts and Social Sciences. The duration of the degree ranges from three to four years during which students have to prepare a thesis, showing the research culmination that comprising of 80,000 words. With the help of advanced laboratories and research institutes, The University of Sydney ranks #40 according to the QS World University Ranking 2021 and provides PhD students with tons of career opportunities in academia and other government and private institutions. The following table enlists the PhD programs offered by the University of Sydney:

Science	Arts and Social Science	Engineering and IT	Business
1. Chemistry 2. Geosciences 3. History & Philosophy of Sciences 4. Life & Environmental Sciences 5. Mathematics & Statistics 6. Physics 7. Psychology 8. Veterinary Sciences	1. Art and Art History 2. Archaeology 3. Languages and Cultures 4. English Language and Literature 5. Ancient, Medieval and Modern History 6. Global Political Economy 7. Sociology 8. Media and Communications	1. Field Robotics 2. Agricultural Engineering 3. Biomedical Engineering 4. Human-centred Technologies 5. Complex Systems 6. Materials and Structures 7. Food Processing 8. Intelligent Energy Networks 9. Water and Environment	1. Accounting 2. Business Analytics 3. Business Information System 4. Business Law 5. Finance 6. International Business Marketing 7. Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship 8. Organizational Studies 9. Logistics

Exploring Universities in Australia? Check out our Exclusive Blog on the Cost of Studying in Australia!

Bond University

 

Bond University is one of those top universities in Australia that foster innovation and research in the regional, national and global context. A PhD at Bond University helps students build specialised methodological knowledge and culminates in 48 months with a thesis of around 80,000 words. The university partners with diverse private enterprises, government agencies, academic institutions and industrial organizations with the objective to provide students with an opportunity to learn and work with exposure to real-life situations thus augmenting their understanding of varied disciplines. Bond University provides PhD programs in the fields of Business, Health Sciences and Medicine, Law, and Society and Design.

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We hope that we have provided you with all the essential information pertaining to the best universities in Australia for studying for a PhD. If you are looking forward to pursuing a PhD but are still confused about which university to choose, take the help of Leverage Edu’s AI-based tool that aims to provide you with the top institutions sorted as per your interests, skills and preferences. Once you have found a suitable university, you can also sign up for a 30-minute free career counselling session with experienced counsellors and we’ll guide you throughout the admission process to ensure that you get successfully shortlisted.