# ANU Postgraduate research

**Source**: https://study.anu.edu.au/apply/postgraduate-research
**Parent**: https://study.anu.edu.au/related-information/information-prospective-international-students

[Find a supervisor](#find-supervisor)

[Scholarships & Fees](https://research.anu.edu.au/postgraduate-research-candidates/research-degree-scholarships)

[How to apply](#how-to-apply)

[Contact us](mailto:gro@anu.edu.au)

## **Change the conversation**

Studying an advanced, research-focused Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Master of
Philosophy (MPhil) degree at The Australian National University (ANU) is an
opportunity to make a substantial and original contribution to your discipline or
area of professional practice.

We’ll automatically consider you for a scholarship when we receive your application.

**Research areas**

Our research priorities reflect the challenges facing the world today.

ANU researchers are currently
[exploring a range of disciplines and study areas](https://www.anu.edu.au/research/our-research).

## **#32**

university in the world

QS World University Rankings 2026

## **6**

Nobel laureates among ANU staff & alumni

## **#1**

in Australia in 12 disciplines

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

## **5-stars**

for student-teacher ratio and staff qualifications

Good Universities Guide 2026

## **Before you apply**

Find a potential supervisor and explore our colleges’ research opportunities. Some colleges have
different application requirements – so make sure you’re aware of and follow these before you apply.

## 1. Find a supervisor

Discover potential supervisors. Explore their research and published works and find their contact
details.

[Search supervisors](https://researchportalplus.anu.edu.au/)

## 2. ANU college research opportunities

Our colleges can provide you with information about research areas, supervisors and groups, as
well as who to contact.

NOTE: More than one college can offer supervision in a particular study area.

- [ANU College of Arts
  & Social Sciences](http://cass.anu.edu.au/study-with-us/higher-degree-research)
- [ANU College of Asia &
  the Pacific](http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/graduate-research)
- [ANU College of Business &
  Economics](https://www.cbe.anu.edu.au/study/graduate-research/)
- [ANU College of Systems & Society](https://cecs.anu.edu.au/study/graduate-research)
- [ANU College of Law, Governance & Policy](https://clgp.anu.edu.au/)
- [ANU College of Science & Medicine](https://science.anu.edu.au/study/research)

## 3. Explore college application requirements

If you have found a supervisor you would like to work with and the college that offers this
supervision, you will need to find out if there are any pre-application steps that your college
would like you to take.

Most colleges would like you to find and secure the support of a potential supervisor before you
complete your application. For example, [the ANU College of Business &
Economics](https://www.cbe.anu.edu.au/study/graduate-research/) has different arrangements for setting up supervision, so please check in with
them before applying.

Some colleges will ask you to send a short description of your proposed area of research as an
expression of interest and a summary of your academic qualifications, including grades, to them
first.

Visit the ANU college research pages for pre-application advice (see the links under 'ANU
colleges’ content above).

## **Applying to ANU**

You can apply at any time of the year – but if you would like to be considered for a
scholarship, you will need to send your application within the scholarship’s application deadline.

**Scholarship applicants**

Your referees should send their reports before your scholarship’s deadline. Give them
as much time as possible by completing your ANU application 2–3 weeks earlier than the scholarship’s
deadline. We’ll contact your referees when we get your application.

[Explore research
scholarships](https://research.anu.edu.au/postgraduate-research-candidates/research-degree-scholarships)

### **Application requirements**

Your application to study at ANU must meet the following requirements.

## 1. Minimum admission requirements

Explore our minimum admission requirements.

**Requirements for admission to a Doctor of Philosophy degree**

- An Australian bachelor’s degree with at least second-class honours (Upper first-class
  honours may be required by some programs) or the international equivalent, or
- Another degree with a significant research/thesis component, or
- A combination of qualifications, research publications and/or professional experience
  related to your field of study

**Requirements for admission to a Master of Philosophy degree**

- An Australian bachelor’s degree or higher, with an overall grade of distinction or higher,
  or the international equivalent, or
- Another equivalent degree, or
- A combination of qualifications, research publications and/or professional experience that
  are related to your field of study

## 2. English language requirements

You must meet our English language requirements to be eligible for admission to ANU. While you
can apply without having met them, you will need to show that you do when you get a study offer
from us.

Unsure whether you can meet the English language requirements? Contact your research school or the [Graduate Research Office](mailto:gro@anu.edu.au) before you send your
application.

[Learn more about ANU English
language requirements](https://policies.anu.edu.au/ppl/document/ANUP_000408)

## 3. Research proposal

Your draft research proposal only needs to be short. Check in with your [potential
supervisor](https://researchers.anu.edu.au/) to clarify their expectations for this proposal before you send it in with
your application.

Your proposal should present your idea or question in your discipline area clearly. Consider it a
statement about the basis of the research you’d like to do.

Your research proposal should:

- establish the relevance of your idea
- show gaps in your field – and how your research would address these
- include how you would go about your research project – your approach, methodologies and
  resources.

You will be able to change the proposal once you have enrolled in your program.

[Learn
about research proposals](https://www.anu.edu.au/students/academic-skills/research-writing/research-proposals)

## 4. Referees

Referee reports are mandatory when applying for admission to a HDR Program. At least 2 referees reports are required to commence assessment of the application. Academic referees, who are able to comment on the applicant’s ability to undertake the program, are preferred, however, professional references can also be used. The University may request additional referee reports during the assessment of the application.

Ensure their contact details are correct; we will email them a report to complete from within the
application portal as soon as we have received your application.

If your referee is unable to access our system-generated referee report, they can contact
the [Admissions team](mailto:hdr.admissions@anu.edu.au) and ask for another version of
the form.

Your referees must send their completed reports confidentially and directly to the University
rather than to you.

Reference documents:

- [Research Application Referee Report (DOCX, 85.97 KB)](https://d3gu8jtw4r0om.cloudfront.net/files/2024-05/Research%20Application%20Referee%20Report%20Form%202024.docx)

## 5. Supporting documentation

Upload clear, colour copies of your academic transcripts and graduation certificates with your
application. You do not need to certify these documents, but they must be original copies. We
will verify their authenticity.

If your academic documents were originally given to you in a language other than English, we will
need official copies of the document in that language and original translations for verification
purposes.

## 6. Incomplete qualifications

You can apply to ANU before you complete your current degree if you are in your final year.
Advise the [Graduate Research office](mailto:gro@anu.edu.au) your expected
completion date via your application and supply a copy of the qualification when we make you an
offer.

For more information, refer to ‘Supporting documentation’.

## **How to apply**

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If you have the approval of a college and a potential supervisor, you can apply for admission to ANU.
Without this endorsement, though, we might not be able to assess your application.

**Step 1**

Choose the program you want to study from the Program & Courses catalogue

[Explore](https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/)

**Step 2**

On the program’s page, click 'apply’ to open the application portal

**Step 3**

Complete your application

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## **Receiving an offer from ANU**

After we assess your application, we will contact you via email about the outcome within 6–8 weeks (about 2 months). This could take longer if we're also considering you for a scholarship.

If you do not hear from ANU within two months, contact your research school or email the Graduate Research Office.

**Quick links:** 

- [Contact Graduate Research Office](mailto:gro@anu.edu.au)

**Related links**

[English language requirements](https://study.anu.edu.au/node/1071)

[Research Awards Rule 2021](https://www.anu.edu.au/about/governance/legislation/research-awards-rule-2021)

[Researcher Profiles](https://researchportalplus.anu.edu.au)

[Programs & Courses](http://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/)

[Scholarships & Fees](https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments/research-scholarship-information)

[HDR administrative support and FAQs](https://services.anu.edu.au/business-units/dean-higher-degree-research/graduate-research-office)

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