PhD Supervision

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the major research degree offered by the University of Melbourne and may be undertaken as a supervised research program in Public Policy and Management. Staff provide research expertise as outlined in this publication, and share a commitment to effective supervision and research training. Enquiries relating to supervision and other academic matters should be directed to the Centre for Public Policy. The PhD Handbook and application forms can be obtained from the School of Graduate Studies or, in the case of international students, from the Arts Faculty Office (see Contact details, back cover).

Coordinator: Tel: +61 3 8344 9480, email PubPol@arts.unimelb.edu.au

Duration:
3 years full-time, or 6 years part-time. An extension of up to a maximum 4 years full-time, 8 years part-time may be possible in special circumstances.

Entry requirement:
The minimum entry requirement is:

• a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree or equivalent from an approved institution with a final result of at least 75% (H2A) which normally includes considerable work in Public Policy and Management.

Preliminary research proposal
Applicants for the Doctor of Philosophy are advised to contact the PhD coordinator and are required to prepare a preliminary research proposal of at least 100 words before submitting a formal application. Applicants should provide as much information as possible about their research interests and should outline the area of intended research. The proposal should indicate familiarity with important relevant literature in the area. A comprehensive literature review is not required at this stage however a short bibliography should be included. This information is needed to determine whether the University of Melbourne can provide the supervision and the resources to facilitate the proposed field of research.

Academic activities
One of the aims of the PhD program is to provide students with experience in a variety of academic activities by encouraging conference presentations and attendance at University and department training sessions. The PhD program also supports teaching, tutoring and publishing opportunities where possible.

Facilities and resources
Postgraduate research students are valued members of the University community and are encouraged to participate fully in the intellectual and social life of the Faculty. Many departments support active Postgraduate Associations as well as student participation in Faculty committees and the development of department postgraduate policy.

The schools, institutes, departments and teaching centres of the Faculty all conduct regular research seminars presented by invited scholars, staff and students. Postgraduates are invited to play an active role in the organization and conduct of seminar programs and conference activities. Opportunities also exist in many departments for higher degree students to gain valuable teaching and tutoring experience while undertaking research of their own.
Postgraduate students receive the highest standards of support services from the moment of their arrival at the University of Melbourne. Well organised induction programs and orientation activities assist the transition to a stimulating environment of challenging academic study and the extensive study and support facilities available. These include access to networked computers, IT support and email services which are used by departments for news and information.

The Faculty is committed to providing a stimulating environment for postgraduate study and attracts research degree students of the highest potential. Students undertaking Masters by Research and PhD receive supervision from leading academics in their field and are often able to participate in well-resourced projects.  Research degree students are provided with office facilities and receive a campus postal address and mail delivery service. Telephone access is available for research purposes according to department guidelines and after hours access to buildings can be arranged for higher degree students. General department facilities include computer access, stationery and vouchers for interlibrary loans. Access is provided by PhD students to competitive funding allocations for attendance at conferences, fieldwork and for data collection purposes.

The Graduate Centre
The School of Graduate Studies is another important provider of academic enrichment activities and facilities for postgraduate students. Students are encouraged to subscribe to the email bulletin service, GradFlash, which highlights social events, conference details and funding opportunities. The Graduate Centre, located in the historic 1888 Building, provides access to fully integrated computer, multimedia and publishing resources. A variety of versatile study, seminar and function rooms are available and seminar programs are designed to assist students with skills development and career and research opportunities. The University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association also provides students with a range of support services and strong representation and advocacy on a range of matters concerning postgraduate students.

Multimedia and Information Technology Services
The University provides highly developed systems for the delivery of multimedia teaching and learning as well as excellent computer labs and training facilities. A range of introductory computer courses are offered free of charge, and advanced courses are available for a small fee.

HECS, Fees and scholarships
Information on fees is available from the Arts Faculty, Tel: +61 3 8344 5321.

International students
International students are offered a range of scholarships, including full and part-fee remission of Course Fees. More details are available from the Melbourne Scholarships Office.

Information about fees is listed on this page.

Scholarships
The University of Melbourne offers a variety of scholarships for postgraduate students. In addition to fee remission and stipend scholarships, Melbourne offers competitive scholarships for the collection of field data, access to research materials, presentation of papers at conferences and to consolidate links with overseas universities and research institutions.

Scholarships and prizes specific to particular areas of study are offered by the Faculty of Arts and include grants for student journals, conference presentations and overseas or interstate research or fieldwork. Full details of scholarships and grants are listed online by the Melbourne Scholarships Office.
More travel grant information can be found at the Arts Faculty website.

English Language Requirements
Students whose first language is not English may satisfy the University's English language proficiency requirements through the provision of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language Test (TOEFL) score. The test must be taken no more than 24 months prior to the application. The scores required are listed in the following table:

Study Program IELTS TOEFL (paper-based test) TOEFL (computer-based test)
MastersPhD 7.0 (Written 7.0) 580 (TWE 5.0) 237 (Essay 5.0)

The University's requirements for English language proficiency can also be satisfied in a number of other ways. Further information regarding these options is available at this page.

Contact Details
Director
Prof Mark Considine
Tel: +61 3 8344 6569 / 9473; Fax: +61 3 9349 442
Email PubPol@arts.unimelb.edu.au

Administrator
Lauren Rosewarne
Tel: +61 3 8344 9482 ; Fax: +61 3 9349 4442
Email PubPol@arts.unimelb.edu.au

Arts Faculty
Tel: +61 3 8344 5235 ; Fax: +61 3 9347 0424
Email enquiries@arts.unimelb.edu.au
www.arts.unimelb.edu.au

International Office
Tel: +61 3 8344 9905  ; Fax: +61 3 9347 0424
Email internationalstud@arts.unimelb.edu.au
www.unimelb.edu.au/international

School of Graduate Studies
Tel: +61 3 8344 8599  ; Fax: +61 3 8349 2103
Email graduate_information@sgs.unimelb.edu.au
www.sgs.unimelb.edu.au