FAQs about applying

Do I need to sign an Intellectual Property (IP) agreement?

Managing QUT’s intellectual property appropiately facilitates the best delivery of social, cultural, and economic benefits to QUT, its staff and students, and the wider community.

• Discuss with your supervisor whether you need to sign an IP agreement
• Review QUT's intellectual property policy
• Review the Student IP Protocol explanatory memorandum

When will I know the outcome of my application?

Normally, you will find out if your application has been successful in:

• six weeks if you are a domestic applicant
• eight weeks if you are an international applicant.

If we are unable to process your application in this time, we will contact you to inform you of your application's progress, or to request any additional information we need.

If you have applied during QUT's major scholarship round, you will find out the result of your application early in December.

Why does processing my application take that time?

To process your application, a number of QUT staff are involved:

• admissions staff prepare a statement of equivalence for overseas qualifications or consider equivalence arguments, as required
• your proposed supervisor must endorse your application
• the Head of School or Director of the Institute you are seeking enrolment through must endorse your application
• the research committee from your intended Faculty must recommend you for admittance
• the research degrees committee must approve your application.

What if I need to change my application during this time?

If you wish to change any details after lodging your application, please email us.

I completed my degree/s overseas. Who can assess my qualifications?

The QUT Research Students Centre can assess your qualifications. You need to provide a certified copy of your academic transcripts translated into English. The grading scale of your university (sometimes on the back page of the transcript) should also be provided.

I do not meet the PhD entry requirements, but I believe that I have the ability to undertake a PhD; what can I do?

If you satisfy the entry requirements for a Masters by Research, you can start by enrolling in a Masters course and then upgrade to PhD after 12 months through the confirmation process.

You can also discuss your qualifications with your potential supervisor. The faculty may be willing to support an argument for your direct entry into a PhD award. This would require the development of an argument for equivalence outlining how you have met the requirements without undertaking the normal studies. Arguments could include details of your publication record and/or research experience. This argument would need approval from the Research Degrees Committee.

I discontinued my enrolment in a research course at QUT a few years ago due to various reasons, but now I have the time and the motivation to continue my research. Is this possible?

Yes. You have to complete the PR form (domestic) (PDF, 429KB) or FR Form (international) (PDF, 353KB). If you are continuing your previous research, you need to attach a timeline for your completion.

If you are starting a new research topic and the gap from the date you withdrew is more than three years, as a domestic student you will be entitled to your full Research Training Scheme (RTS) entitlement to cover your tuition fees. If the gap was less than three years, your previous enrolment will be taken into consideration in determining your new RTS entitlement.