Program Overview

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Overview of the Master of Philosophy Program

The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) is an internationally recognized graduate research degree. With guidance from an advisory team, students undertake a significant research project and complete a 40,000-word thesis and an oral examination. The MPhil program takes 1.5 to 2 years to complete full-time and enables students to develop advanced knowledge and methodologies.

Program Highlights

• Be inspired and challenged to explore new ideas and develop greater understanding of complex questions.
• Access one of the country's largest libraries, with more than 2 million physical resources and 116,800+ journal subscriptions.
• Foster and improve skills through the Career Development Framework, created with industry.
• Learn from researchers whose work addresses national and global cultural, environmental, economic, and social challenges.

Supervision

Students must find a thesis supervisor before applying. This supervisor will support, guide, and mentor students through their research and can introduce them to professional networks that will start their career.

Career Development

The University of Queensland (UQ) offers a range of development opportunities via the Career Development Framework (CDF) to help students develop portable skills for any career or industry.

Entry Requirements

GPA Equivalent

The GPA requirement varies depending on where students studied and their qualification. Meeting the GPA requirement does not guarantee admission.

Academic Entry Requirements

To be considered for the MPhil program, students must:

• Have completed some relevant experience.
• Have completed an approved university degree.
• Meet the English language requirements.

Approved Degrees

Students need one of the following approved degrees to apply for an MPhil:

• Bachelor's degree from an approved university with at least honours class IIB or equivalent, which includes relevant experience.
• Postgraduate degree (at least one year full-time or equivalent) with an overall grade point average of 5 on the 7-point UQ scale, together with relevant experience, approved by the dean.
• Bachelor's degree plus at least 2 years of documented relevant experience, approved by the dean.
• Other qualifications or experience that show students can meet admission standards.

Relevant Experience

Students will be required to provide evidence of relevant experience by providing:

• A bachelor's or master's degree with completed courses that aim to develop research skills (minimum value of #1 unit, e.g., 50% of a #2 unit course), and/or the completion of a supervised research project that includes an individually graded written report with a combined minimum course volume equal to #2 units at UQ.
• One or more of the following:
  • Scholarly papers involving a substantial contribution as an author, appearing in recognized academic journals or in volumes published by recognized academic publishers.
  • Research or technical reports prepared for industry, government, or business, which adhere to the broad conventions of academic publishing.
  • A portfolio of published creative work together with published critical discussion of some or all of that work, or of a comparable body of work by others, and which demonstrates development of a scholarly approach to creative work as research investigation.
  • Demonstrable industry or work experience where students can demonstrate that they have planned and executed a project, working with a high level of independence.

Student Visas

International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Master of Philosophy are eligible to apply for an Australian Student visa (subclass 500).

Scholarships

There are several types of MPhil scholarships:

• Tuition fee scholarship: covers the fees charged by UQ for MPhil study.
• Living stipend scholarship: a fortnightly payment to support daily expenses.
• Top-up scholarship: may be provided by external organizations, supervisors, or philanthropic donations.

Fees and Costs

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees vary according to academic field, study load, and whether students study internally or remotely.

Research Costs

The department students enroll with will meet all necessary costs for their project, including:

• Resource and facility costs at UQ, which may include other organizations in Australia or overseas.
• Travel costs to complete fieldwork, collect data, or visit libraries or other repositories.
• Coursework costs for courses studied outside the department.
• Relevant training in particular methodologies or techniques.

How to Apply

Before Applying

To apply, students will need to submit:

1. An initial expression of interest (EOI) to ensure a supervisor will support their research.
2. A final application if invited after the supervisor reviews their EOI.

Important Dates

The deadlines to submit an EOI or final application depend on whether students are applying for a UQ scholarship or project with a specific closing date.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants

For support with applying or questions about university life, students can contact the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (ATSIS) Unit.

Program Details

• Duration: 1.5 to 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent).
• Start Semester: Research Quarter 1 (1 Jan, 2026), Research Quarter 2 (1 Apr, 2026), Research Quarter 3 (1 Jul, 2026), Research Quarter 4 (1 Oct, 2026).
• Program Code: 7500.
• AQF: Level 9.
• Scholarships: Available.
• Location: Dutton Park, Gatton, Herston, St Lucia.