FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Applications
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How do I apply for a research degree at UniSA?
All research degree applications are submitted online. Before you apply, you should read the important information and follow the recommended steps on the How to apply site. This will ensure you are prepared when you start your application.
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What are the entry criteria to undertake a research degree at UniSA? Am I eligible?
To be considered for admission into a PhD program both Honours 1 and Honours 2A (or equivalent) are the usual pathways to admission.
For Masters, you may be eligible if you have an Honours degree or a Bachelor degree with honours or a relevant Bachelor degree of at least 3 years and a minimum credit average.
In addition, international applicants must meet the University’s English language requirements.
There may be other ways to demonstrate eligibility for research degrees at UniSA. You can find more about the eligibility criteria here.
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Can I get into a research degree without a tertiary qualification?
You may be admitted into a research degree at UniSA without a tertiary qualification if you can demonstrate research capabilities through evidence of professional work experience in the field of proposed study and by relevant quality publications. See UniSA’s Academic Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research for more information.
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What supporting documents does UniSA require from me?
We require your relevant academic transcripts, which include detailed records of courses, subjects taken and individual grades achieved, as well as your conferral certificate.
Evidence of English proficiency and citizenship papers will need to be uploaded if you are an international applicant.
You will find a more detailed explanation on mandatory documents here.
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What are the English requirements for International applicants at UniSA?
As you are expected to be proficient in English you must provide evidence of your English comprehension and expression.
This can be demonstrated in various ways, and you can find out more information about meeting English language requirements here.
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If I am a permanent resident am I required to provide evidence that I meet the university’s English language requirements?
Permanent residents of Australia are not required to provide evidence of English.
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Do I need to upload my transcripts if I am a current UniSA student?
You are not required to upload transcripts as the Graduate Research Admissions team can access your transcripts from UniSA’s student system.
Academic Referee Reports
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Will UniSA accept a reference letter instead of an official UniSA Academic Referee Report form?
Referee reports can only be accepted using our official Academic Referee Report form. Letters of reference do not meet our requirements.
Read more about referee reports here.
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Can a nominated supervisor be a referee for a new applicant without having previously supervised the applicant?
For the main competitive scholarship rounds (International and Domestic), referees who are nominated as supervisors must have acted as a supervisor for the applicant previously (academically or professionally).
For non-competitive scholarships referees can be nominated supervisors who have not previously been your supervisor.
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If I have no previous higher education study, can I use a professional person to be my referee?
You can use professional referees. Referee reports must come from the professional nominees business email.
More information here.
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Can I submit my referee reports?
Referee reports must be submitted by your nominated referee via their official university/business email address or by post with the official university stamp and their original signature on it. We cannot accept any referee report sent by the applicant.
More information here.
Supporting Documents
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What are original certified documents?
These are not your original document from your University or College. These documents are copies of those transcripts and final certificates stating your conferral date and degree signed by an eligible Justice of the Peace or Commissioner of Oaths, Public Notary or other formally recognised authority (for example, a lawyer, doctor, police or university official).
The Official must sight the original and the copy of the document and ‘certify’ the copy by writing 'I certify that the copy is a true copy of the original document'
These documents cannot be emailed to UniSA as we need to make sure of the validity of the certification. These only need to be supplied if requested from the Graduate Research Admissions office.
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Do my supporting documents need to be originals or can they be emailed to UniSA?
When you apply online, you can upload the copy of the document to your application as an additional document or where specified. UniSA will only request to see the original certified documents if you are recommended for admission or scholarship.
Cost of Tuition Fees
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How much will I have to pay for tuition if I am a domestic student?
Domestic research degree students receive a Research Training Program fee offset scholarship which covers their tuition for a limited time. Under the RTP Fee Offset:
- Doctoral students are exempt from tuition fees for up to the equivalent of 4 years full time.
- Masters by Research students are exempt from tuition fees for up to the equivalent of 2 years full time.
Please read the information here.
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How much will I have to pay for tuition if I am an International applicant?
A full list of program codes and plans, including tuition fees, are available here.
Agent
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Can I use an agent to help me with my application?
You can nominate a UniSA recognised agent at any time during the application process.
More information is available here.
Scholarships
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If applying for an Australia Award Scholarship do I need to apply through the University of South Australia first?
You do not apply to UniSA first. You must apply directly to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through their website. If you successfully secure a scholarship the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) will contact UniSA.
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How will I know if I have been successful or unsuccessful for an Endeavour Award scholarship?
The Endeavour team will notify you if you are successful recipient or not.
UniSA supply the offer letter for admission to the university conditional upon being awarded the Endeavour Award.
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Can a family member support my living allowance if I am applying for an International Research Tuition Scholarship?
Family members are not able to support a living stipend for an International Research Tuition Scholarship (IRTS). The IRTS are awarded to international candidates on the basis of academic merit and demonstrated research capability, and who will be supported during their degree by a full living stipend supported by external funding. The living stipend needs to be in the form of an externally funded scholarship administered through the University or agreement with a sponsorship body or organisation.
Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
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How long will it be before I can expect to get my CoE?
We will issue you a CoE within 5 working days after meeting the conditions of offer. The conditions of offer are listed in the letter you receive from Graduate Research Admissions team via email.
Australian Study Visa
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Am I required to pay student visa application fees?
You will need to check the Australian Governments Department of Home Affairs website for details.
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Am I required to pay visa application fees for family members accompanying me to Australia?
You will need to check the Australian Governments Department of Home Affairs website for details.
Overseas Student Health Cover
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Is there a difference between singles and couples BUPA Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)?
All students receive the same 'Advantage OSHC' under a single, couples or family policy. More information here.
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Who is UniSA preferred Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) provider?
BUPA is the preferred partner to UniSA; however, you can choose any health fund you wish, provided you are not on a scholarship that covers OSHC. More information here.
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What Overseas Health Cover does the Research Training Program (RTPi) scholarship cover?
The RTPi will cover a single, couple or family OSHC for the duration of your candidature. A standard OSHC policy covers the costs of medical and hospital care in Australia and most prescription drugs and emergency ambulance transport. The family rate of OSHC is available to international research degree students accompanied by dependants.’ International research degree students may wish to purchase extra OSHC if they require cover for ancillary services such as dental, optical or physiotherapy.
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What level of Overseas Health Cover does the University President’s Scholarship (UPS) Scholarship cover?
UPS scholarship will cover a single person only for the duration of your candidature. A standard OSHC policy covers the costs of medical and hospital care in Australia and most prescription drugs and emergency ambulance transport. The family rate of OSHC is available to international research degree students accompanied by dependants; however, the additional cost of family cover is not covered by the UPS.
International research degree students may wish to purchase extra OSHC if they require cover for ancillary services such as dental, optical or physiotherapy.
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Do external scholarships cover OSHC?
Please refer to your Offer Letter as different scholarships have differing benefits and conditions.
Research Periods
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What are research periods?
Research Periods are the dates a research degree student will be enrolled. Each Research Period has an ‘enrol by’ date and a Census date.
Research period dates are:
- Research Period 1 (Commencement January to March)
- Research Period 2 (Commencement April to June)
- Research Period 3 (Commencement July to September)
- Research Period 4 (Commencement October to December)
Research degree students are enrolled in either Research Period 1 and 3, or Research Period 2 and 4.
Short Term Research
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How do I obtain more information regarding short term research opportunities?
If you are a senior undergraduate student, postgraduate student or research degree student from a university/institute in Australia or overseas, you may be able to undertake a short-term research project in one of the University's research concentrations.
At UniSA the short term research opportunities are referred as Visiting Student Research Placement (VISR) and Visiting Student Placement (VISP). More information is available here.
