Once you have decided to enrich your research skills, knowledge, and future career with a higher degree by research (HDR) program at Bond University, it’s time to start the application process.
Explore how to apply for HDR from start to finish, learn which documents you will need to support your application, and understand the role of your proposed supervisor in the application process.
The first step towards enriching your comprehension of a chosen topic with a postgraduate research degree is submitting an expression of interest (EOI). This is completed using the University’s online application form and consists of information about you, your academic history, and your suitability to undertake your chosen program.
You must also prepare a 250–500-word description outlining your proposed research topic.
Once your EOI has been received, it will be considered by our Higher Degree Research Unit.
Not all EOIs will be approved to progress to the application phase. The status of your EOI will be communicated via email. If successful, you will be invited to complete your application online and provide a comprehensive Research Project Proposal.
Please note that a successful EOI does not guarantee entry into your chosen higher degree by research program at Bond University. As part of the application process, you must also satisfy our academic, visa, residency, and English proficiency requirements.
Before finalising and submitting your HDR application, you will be required to nominate two referees to provide an endorsement of your academic achievements and research capabilities. Upon submission of your application, the University will contact them to provide a referee report.
We strongly recommend getting in touch with your referees before submitting your HDR study application to ensure they are willing and available to complete your referee report in a timely manner. Your application won't progress past this phase until both referees have provided their reports.
If your application is successful and your referee reports are satisfactory, you will receive a letter of offer to study at Bond University.
The process from EOI submission to receiving a letter of offer can take anywhere between six and 10 weeks, so we strongly advise you submit your EOI at least 10 weeks before your chosen enrolment period to allow sufficient time for review and processing.
Once you have received your Letter of Offer, you can enrol to commence your HDR study at Bond University in the nominated enrolment period.
The first step towards enriching your comprehension of a chosen topic with a postgraduate research degree is submitting an expression of interest (EOI). This is completed using the University’s online application form and consists of information about you, your academic history, and your suitability to undertake your chosen program.
You must also prepare a 250–500-word description outlining your proposed research topic.
Once your EOI has been received, it will be considered by our Higher Degree Research Unit.
Not all EOIs will be approved to progress to the application phase. The status of your EOI will be communicated via email. If successful, you will be invited to complete your application online and provide a comprehensive Research Project Proposal.
Please note that a successful EOI does not guarantee entry into your chosen higher degree by research program at Bond University. As part of the application process, you must also satisfy our academic, visa, residency, and English proficiency requirements.
Before finalising and submitting your HDR application, you will be required to nominate two referees to provide an endorsement of your academic achievements and research capabilities. Upon submission of your application, the University will contact them to provide a referee report.
We strongly recommend getting in touch with your referees before submitting your HDR study application to ensure they are willing and available to complete your referee report in a timely manner. Your application won't progress past this phase until both referees have provided their reports.
If your application is successful and your referee reports are satisfactory, you will receive a letter of offer to study at Bond University.
The process from EOI submission to receiving a letter of offer can take anywhere between six and 10 weeks, so we strongly advise you submit your EOI at least 10 weeks before your chosen enrolment period to allow sufficient time for review and processing.
Once you have received your Letter of Offer, you can enrol to commence your HDR study at Bond University in the nominated enrolment period.
When preparing your application, you will need to provide the following supporting documents:
All HDR applicants must provide a detailed Research Project Proposal for their submission to study at Bond University. This should outline the research topic, a proposed research methodology, and any key writings in your chosen area, as well as relevant literature, research questions, and an overview of the relevance of your line of research.
Your Research Project Proposal enables the HDR Unit and your faculty to determine whether there is appropriate supervision and resources to justify the completion of this degree, the proposal has sufficient merit to justify the completion of the degree applied for, as well as to assess your ability to undertake the thesis. Research Project Proposals will be completed with the support of your proposed supervisor.
Students undertaking a degree within the Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine must also complete a whole-of-candidature budget with the guidance of their proposed supervisor.
Each faculty also offers a set of guidelines designed to support you as you write your Research Project Proposal.
Your supervisors play an integral role in your HDR candidature, from as early as the application process. Your team, which will consist of a principal supervisor and associate supervisors, is designed to provide guidance and support to you during your HDR journey.
Finding the right supervisor will ensure you can access expertise to challenge, develop, and enrich your research project. Your faculty will assist you with finding the right supervisor once you have submitted your EOI. Alternatively, we encourage you to source a supervisor to discuss your research interests and potential supervision before beginning the EOI process. Ensure you include your preferred supervisor’s name in the "research outline" section of your EOI.
You can lodge your application for admission at any time. You can specify your preferred intake date in the online application form. Applications normally close eight weeks prior to the intake to allow time for your application to be processed.
To apply for admission to Bond University for a PhD or master's degree you will need to complete an expression of interest (EOI) prior to completing an application. You may start an EOI using the Bond University Online Application Service. You will be notified of the outcome by email. If your expression of interest has been successful you will be invited to log back into the Bond University Online Application Service to complete the remaining sections of the application. Further information can be found on the HDR How to Apply web page.
HDR programs have one intake per semester. Commencement dates may be found on the Bond academic calendar.
Yes, you may defer your program. If you are unable to commence your research program as planned, you can request to defer your commencement date to a different semester. You must contact the Office of Admissions in writing to request a deferral. If approved, you will be sent a new letter of offer for the revised semester.
Entry requirements for the doctoral programs may be found on the Doctoral degrees web page.
Entry requirements for the master's programs may be found on the master's degrees web page.
Students who are Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens may be provided with a Research Training Program (RTP) Fees Offset which exempts them from tuition fees. This exemption covers 100 per cent of fees and is valid for a maximum period of four years for full-time study or up to eight years part-time study for a Doctoral program, and for a maximum period of two years for full-time study or up to four years part-time study for a master's program.
International students may apply for a faculty fee waiver. If approved, this fee waiver is up to 75 per cent and valid for a maximum period of four years for full-time study for a doctoral program or two years full time study for a master's program.
Students enrolled in a doctoral program are expected to complete in four years with a full-time study load or eight years with a part-time study load. For ODT students, this includes the two-year accelerated Master of Occupational Therapy program.
Students enrolled in a master's program are expected to complete in two years with a full-time study load or four years with a part-time study load.
Full-time HDR candidature requires a commitment to research and writing activities equivalent in time to that normally required of full-time professional employment. An applicant may elect to undertake their studies on a part-time (half time) basis, this will affect the total period of candidature, key milestone dates and fees.
International students on a Subclass 500 student visa are not permitted to undertake part-time study. Students are generally not permitted to apply for a research scholarship while undertaking part time study.
Off-campus study may be granted to those candidates who or are domiciled outside Australia or within Australia but where regular and frequent travel to the University campus would be onerous or expensive. An application for off-campus study must demonstrate that arrangements will include satisfactory regular communication between the candidate and the supervision team and that there are appropriate facilities available to the candidate.
An off-campus study request for domestic and international students will require approval by the Chair of Graduate Research and may require regular visits to campus, to be funded by the candidate. Off-campus approval may be revoked by the Chair of Graduate Research if academic progress is deemed unsatisfactory.
International students holding a Subclass 500 Student visa should first seek advice from the Student Business Centre about visa conditions and implications of off-campus study.
Finding a supervisor allows you to match your area of interest with the relevant expertise within Bond University. Faculty staff will assist you with finding a suitable supervisor once you submit an expression of interest. Alternatively, you can browse our supervisors via the button on the sidebar.
If you have already discussed your research interests with any Bond University Academic staff members, please include their details in your EOI.
You are required to complete a detailed research proposal. This is a much more detailed document than your research outline that you completed for your EOI.
The Research Proposal will outline the research topic, a proposed research methodology and key writings in the area. You should include relevant literature, research questions, research methodology and the relevance or importance of your line of research.
The research proposal will allow the faculty to consider if there is appropriate supervision for the project, if the proposal has sufficient merit to justify the completion of the degree applied for and if the student has sufficient knowledge and capability to undertake the thesis.
The faculty will provide you with templates and guidance to draft your proposal.
The compulsory HDR Orientation and induction is held once a semester and provides candidates with information about the university, research practices and resources available throughout their candidature. It is an opportunity to meet with other HDR candidates and attendance is compulsory. The HDR Orientation is always held on Tuesday of Orientation Week. Full-time/on-campus students are expected to attend in person, but there are options to attend online if you are approved for off-campus study. Further information about orientation can be found on the Orientation Week at Bond webpage.
The Bond University Higher Degree Research Subcommittee (BUHDRS) presents an initiative (HDR Support Series) to help HDR students and supervisors realise success in managing and completing degrees at the master's and doctoral levels. The HDR Support Series features topics of relevance to HDR students during your candidature and looking beyond degree completion. HDR Support Series starts in the third week of each semester.
Full-time/on-campus students are expected to attend in person, but there are options to attend online if you are approved for off-campus study. Attendance is compulsory for all HDR students. Confirmation of Candidature cannot be achieved without having attended all the sessions in the HDR Support Series & the Research Integrity Training.
