Postgraduate Research – PhD and MPhil
What is a PhD/MPhil?
PhD: 3.5-4 years full-time program performing independent research supported by a supervisory team (typically two UNSW academics, one main supervisor, one co-supervisor).
MPhil: 1.5-2 years full-time program performing independent research supported by a supervisory team (typically two UNSW academics, one main supervisor, one co-supervisor). The scope/depth of the research is less than for a PhD.
In both cases the research achievements are documented in a final PhD/MPhil thesis as original and independent work of publishable quality.
What are the benefits of PhD/MPhil – Career prospects
Higher degree/postgraduate study prepares students for diverse careers including:
- Industry – research, new technologies, product development
- Start-up companies
- Consulting
- Policy making
- CSIRO and other national labs like ANSTO
- Academic career – postdoctoral researcher or research assistant (career path towards university lecturer, professor, etc)
Additional benefits include:
- Attain accreditation and obtain advanced degree
- Hone professional skills such as communication, negotiation, etc
- Potential to earn a higher salary
- Develop new competencies and change career
- Potential to make an impact and solve global issues facing the world
It is a common misconception that a PhD program will only prepare you for an academic career such as “becoming a university professor”. The career and learning prospects go far beyond this.
Postgraduate studies will provide you with a number of unique and important skills such as the ability to think critically, effectively work in teams, assess a problem in the context of the wider body of knowledge, produce original solutions independently, communicate and articulate solutions, and learn/absorb new knowledge quickly.
How to apply / scholarships
If you are considering undertaking postgraduate studies, the best first step is to identify a potential academic supervisor you may wish to work with. You can find a list of academics in the School of Chemical Engineering here. They will be able to provide specific information in relation to available projects as well as administrative details and scholarships. You can find an overview of current potential PhD projects here.
There are a number of different types of scholarships available for postgraduate studies. The most general information pertaining to UNSW scholarships is available at the Graduate Research School (GRS) website