Selection criteria
PhD Admission Requirements
Academic requirements
Applicants will be assessed using the criteria described in the table. The measures include an assessment of a candidate’s knowledge of the discipline and evidence of their ability to complete a rigorous research project. Applicants are required to meet the minimum standards described for each of the six measures.
English language requirements
As success is determined in large part by your ability to communicate your findings to your peers, mentors, and the business world at large, you must possess excellent written and oral communication skills. The University’s English language requirements for both locally qualified and international candidates can be found at www.unimelb.edu.au/international
| Criteria | Minimum standard |
|---|---|
| 1. Minimum qualifications | Applicants are normally required to have completed at least a four-year honours degree at H2A (75-79%) standard from an Australian university, or a qualification or combination of qualifications considered by the Research and Higher Degree Committee to be equivalent. |
| 2. Minimum level of academic achievement | Applicants should have achieved an overall H1 (80-100%) or H2A (75-79%) grade in the relevant honours or masters degree. |
| 3. Relevance of the degree | The completed degree must be in an area that is relevant to the intended PhD. It must include sufficient specialisation, so that the applicant has already developed an understanding and appreciation of a body of knowledge relevant to the intended PhD. |
| 4. Evidence of research ability | Applicants are normally required to have completed a research project/component that accounts for at least 25% of their year’s work at 4th year or at Masters level. |
| 5. Currency of applicant’s knowledge | The applicant must demonstrate that their knowledge is of the discipline current in the discipline they plan to research, either through their degree/s and/or professional experience. |
| 6. Assessment of level of commitment | Based on interview or other communication, an assessment should be made of the level of understanding, motivation and time commitment of the student for the proposed program of study. For example, a full-time student would be expected to devote at least 40 hours a week and a part-time student about half of this. |
International Applicants
An applicant who is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident may satisfy the English language requirements in a number of ways:
- Satisfactorily completing secondary studies in a country where English is the official language and gaining a pass in final year English (applicants from countries with more than one official language may be required to meet TOEFL or IELTS requirements).
- Satisfactorily completing the final two years of secondary studies in an approved Secondary School with English as the medium of instruction and gaining a pass in English in their final year.
- In an institution where English is the language of instruction and assessment for the entire institution, satisfactorily completing either: at least the first year of a tertiary course within the last two years; OR at least a two year tertiary degree within the last five years.
Please provide formal advice from the institution to support your claim that you have satisfied this requirement.
- Obtain a grade in the General Paper, General Studies, English Language, English Literature, English Language and Literature at the General Certificate of Education AO/AS level which is deemed by the Academic Board to be at least the equivalent of applicants for the course who have completed the VCE.
- Obtain a pass of VG (grade 4) in English in the Norwegian Vitnemal or the Swedish Avgangsbetyg.
- Satisfactorily completing additional English Language Studies, which in the opinion of the Selection Committee, is the equivalent of the other tests specified above.
- Meeting the University's TOEFL or IELTS requirements in a test taken no more than 24 months prior to application. Your original TOEFL or IELTS test report form must be included with your application.
- Certified copies and TOEFL examiner's score records are not accepted. For acceptance into the PhD program the following scores must be obtained
An IELTS score, with a minimum requirement of 7.0 (with no single band less than 6.0) or a TOEFL score (derived from either an internet, computer or paper based test - see specific requirements below)
TOEFL score - Internet based test (102 + written score of 24 and no band less than 21)
TOEFL score - Computer based test (253 +5.0 essay rating)
TOEFL score - Paper based test (610 + TWE 5.0)
In addition to ensuring that non-native English speakers can cope with the language demands of the MBA, an IELTS score is now a mandatory requirement for many candidates seeking to study in Australia on a Student Visa. The School is unable to waive this language requirement in any circumstances
Master of Management (Research) Admission Requirements
For those students who do not meet the requirements for direct entry into the PhD, admission into the Master of Management with a view to upgrading to the PhD may be possible. Applicants are normally required to have completed an undergraduate degree with honors, or a qualification or combination of qualifications considered by the Research and Higher Degree Committee to be equivalent. For instance, applicants with a good undergraduate degree, a postgraduate qualification (e.g. MBA) and extensive work experience in a field relevant to their proposed research topic may qualify for entry into the Master of Management degree.
