Application procedures

A simple but essential requirement for admission to any postgraduate research degree is that an application form is completed and lodged with the relevant faculty office (or, in the case of international students, at the International Office) in good time.

Local candidates

Unless there is a specific deadline stated for a particular course, a local applicant (that is, an Australian citizen or permanent resident) must apply for candidature by no later 31 October in the previous year for commencement in Semester 1 (March), and by 31 May for commencement in Semester 2 (July). It is essential that applicants check the closing date for the course they intend to study because many courses have earlier closing dates, especially where there is a quota for admission.

If the results of your first degree will not be known by the closing date this should not deter you from submitting an application, just ensure that you forward your results when they are known.

Once your application is received, you will be sent a formal written response by the appropriate faculty office. An offer of admission will usually set out the details of your candidature, including the latest date by which you need to enrol and the latest submission date for your thesis, as well as confirming the details of your department/school and supervisory team.

Please ensure you check your letter of offer carefully. If you have any questions about the terms of the offer, check with the faculty office and your intended department/school as appropriate.

If for any reason you are unable to take up an offer of admission, please let both the department/school and the faculty office know. It may be possible for the University to offer your place to another applicant. Please note that unsuccessful applications and applications where an offer has been declined, are not retained indefinitely and a full, fresh application should be made if you reapply in a later year.

International students

An international student must apply for research candidature by no later 31 October in the previous year for commencement in Semester 1 (March), and by 30 April for commencement in Semester 2 (July). While late applications for candidature are accepted, they may not be processed in time for commencement in the next semester.

It is important to note that these closing dates are for admission to candidature only. A variety of scholarships for postgraduate study are available and each has a different closing date, often much earlier than application for candidature. See
sydney.edu.au/future_students/costs_scholarships for more information.

An international student research application form with detailed instructions on how to apply can be downloaded from the International Office website: sydney.edu.au/future_students