Higher Degree Research Scholarship Details

Institute for Infrastructure Engineering

Postgraduate Research Scholarships (up to 3 available)

The Institute for Infrastructure Engineering (IIE) at the University of Western Sydney (UWS) builds on the work of the Civionics Research Centre (CRC). The Institute expands engineering research beyond civil engineering and electronic engineering into the areas of structural systems, computational mechanics, construction materials, and structural health monitoring. The IIE has a high level of research expertise and well-equipped research facilities. The IIE is home to one of Australia's best laboratories for independent testing and monitoring for the construction and manufacturing industries.

IIE invites applications from highly motivated graduates seeking to undertake PhD projects in one of the four research programs. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the relevant Program Director to discuss their potential interest and research proposal.

IIE Research Programs and Program Directors

  • Infrastructure Systems (IS): Assoc Professor Zhong Tao, z.tao@uws.edu.au, +61 2 4736 0064
  • Infrastructure Computations (IC): Professor Kenny Kwok, k.kwok@uws.edu.au +61 2 4736 0444
  • Infrastructure Materials (IM): Assoc Professor Zhong Tao, z.tao@uws.edu.au, + 61 2 4736 0064
  • Infrastructure Health Monitoring (IHM): Assoc Professor Sergiy Kharkivskiy, s.kharkivskiy@uws.edu.au, +61 2 4736 0063

Academic Criteria

Applicants should hold a FIRST CLASS HONOURS degree, or equivalent qualifications and/or research experience (including research publications) in a field such as Civil, Electrical, Materials or Mechanical Engineering. Preference will be given to applicants with research experience and publications.

What does a Scholarship at IIE provide?

  • Up to 3 scholarships are available
  • Tax free stipend of up to $34,653 per annum for up to 3 years and a funded place in the doctoral degree for domestic students.
Outstanding international applicants with a strong track record will receive:
  • tax free stipend of $24,653 per annum for up to 3 years
  • fee waiver scholarship valued at over $24,000 per annum for up to 3 years
  • up to $2,600 toward the cost of an Overseas Student Health Care policy

International applicants must also demonstrate a high level of proficiency in the English language. Please refer to the University's website for information about English Language Requirements.

  • Support for conference attendance (domestic and international), fieldwork and additional course costs as appropriate.
  • Access to the extensive range of IIE specialised equipment, laboratory space and facilities.
  • A rich environment of support and academic expertise, seminars, international and industry collaborations.

Need more information?

  • Please visit the IIE website or contact one of the Program Directors
  • Contact the Office of Research Services to discuss enrolment and scholarships: HDRscholarships@uws.edu.au; +61 2 4736 0966

How to apply?

Applications Close: 15 September 2013

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School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics

Postgraduate Research Award

The School is seeking an excellent candidate to undertake a doctoral project in the field of flow granular materials.

Granular materials are of the utmost importance in many industries such as civil, mining, agriculture engineering and pharmaceutical manufacturing. For example, 60% of chemical industry products are of particulate nature and a further 20% use power intermediates. However, industrial processes involving particles rarely reach 60% of the design capacity.

The project aims to study the mechanism governing the dynamical behaviour of particles, which is critical to the design and control of all particle processing equipments or operations, by means of simulating the particle flows in shear cell using the discrete element method technique.

Academic Criteria

Applicants should: 

  • hold a Bachelor Honours degree Class 1 or 2.1 or a Research Masters degree (or equivalent qualifications/experience) in Mechanical, Civil or Chemical Engineering, Mineral Processing, Physics or other relevant area
  • have an interest in the research area of simulation and modelling of particulate systems
  • International applicants must also demonstrate a high level of proficiency in the English language. Please refer to the University's website for information about English Language Requirements 

What does the scholarship provide?

  • Tax-free stipend of $26,000 per annum for up to 3 years
  • Research Training Scheme funded place in the degree for domestic applicants
  • Additional funding is available for conference attendance and research related costs
  • International applicants are encouraged to apply, but will be charged tuition fees. For information about tuition fees please refer to the website

How to apply:

  • Applicants are encouraged to contact an academic advisor to discuss their research interests prior to submitting an application form: Dr Haiping Zhu, email: h.zhu@uws.edu.au, phone +61 2 4736 0108
  • Submit an application form (PDF, 306.01 KB) and CV before the closing date.

Applications Close: 10 September 2013 

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The Institute for Culture and Society

Applications for Doctoral Study Now Open

The Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) invites applications from outstanding candidates for PhD study. Funding is available for a number of Scholarships. 

About the Institute 

The ICS is internationally recognised for its high quality, innovative research on the transformations in culture and society in the global era. Headed by Director, Distinguished Professor Ien Ang, and Research Director, Professor Brett Neilson, the ICS is especially interested in PhD proposals in the following areas:

  • Cities and Urban Cultures
  • Intercultural Dialogue and Transnational Culture 
  • Institutions, Governance and Citizenship
  • Cultural Economy and Globalisation 
  • Heritage, Environment and Society
  • Digital Research and Cultural Transformation 
  • Australian Cultural Fields
  • Culture and Education 

Candidates with backgrounds in cultural studies, sociology, anthropology, human geography, cultural history, media and communication studies, Asian studies and other disciplines are encouraged to apply. Applications from international candidates are particularly welcome. Visit the ICS Website to find out more information about research conducted at ICS. 

Essential Criteria 

  • Good Bachelor Honours degree (Class 1/2.1), an internationally recognised Masters that includes a research based dissertation, or equivalent qualifications and/or experience. 
  • Research or professional experience in a relevant field of humanities or social science. 

Funding Opportunities 

  • Domestic students are encouraged to apply for the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA). 
  • ICS offers a number of competitively awarded scholarships for students of exceptional research potential. The scholarships include a tax-free stipend of AUD $34,653 per annum for the period of three years (indexed annually) and a funded place in the doctoral degree programme. Outstanding international students may also be offered a tuition fee waiver.
  • Self-funded candidates are also welcome to apply. 

Further Information and Application Process 

  • To apply, candidates should submit an application form (PDF, 306.01 KB), 3-4 page research proposal and CV by September 22nd, 2013. 
  • Candidates are strongly advised, however, to initially submit a 1 page Expression of Interest to icsscholarship@uws.edu.au as soon as possible. The expression of interest should include a short summary of their proposed PhD research topic (1/2 page), the names of 2 potential ICS supervisors, and details of proposed funding (as above).
  • For further details about enrolment and scholarships, please contact the Research Scholarships Development Officer, Ms Tracy Mills t.mills@uws.edu.au

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 22 September 2013

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The MARCS Institute

PhD Scholarships—up to 5 scholarships available

The MARCS Institute is a vibrant interdisciplinary research institute of the University of Western Sydney (UWS) situated on the Bankstown, Campbelltown, Kingswood and Parramatta Campuses with members and collaborators from many disciplines: Medicine, Neuroscience, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Linguistics, Psychology, Music, and Communication Arts. MARCS research focuses on the explanation and enhancement of human-human and human-machine communication. Using behavioural, neuroscience and computational approaches, we conduct pure and applied research on perceptual, cognitive, creative and social skills from infancy to adulthood, in real and virtual worlds, and within normal, heightened (e.g., performing arts) and impaired (e.g., developmental delay, sensory loss) contexts.

MARCS invites applications from highly motivated graduates seeking to undertake a PhD in one of the five research programs. At MARCS there is a broad range of expertise, facilities and equipment, which affords the development of exciting interdisciplinary projects. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Program Leaders to discuss their interests and to ensure their research proposal is relevant to one or more research programs.

MARCS Research Programs and Leaders:

Essential Criteria

Applicants should hold a First Class Honours degree, or equivalent qualifications and/or research experience (including research publications) in a field such as psychology, sensory neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, cognitive science and technology, cognitive robotics, linguistics,  psycholinguistics, music, creative arts, human movement science, computer science, informational and communication technology, biomedical engineering or physics. 

International applicants must also demonstrate a high level of proficiency in the English language. Please refer to the University’s website for information about English Language Requirements.

What does a Scholarship at MARCS provide?

All students receive:

  • Support for conference attendance (domestic and international), fieldwork and additional costs as appropriate.
  • Access to the extensive range of MARCS specialised equipment, laboratory space and facilities.
  • A rich environment of support and academic expertise via supervisory panels, seminars, colloquia, international and industry collaborations.

Domestic Students receive:

  • Tax free stipend of up to $34,653 per annum for up to 3 years and a funded place in the doctoral program.

International Students receive:

  • Tax free stipend of up to $34,653 per annum for up to 3 years.
  • Outstanding students have the opportunity to apply for a waiver of tuition fees valued at around $24,000 per annum for up to 3 years. 
  • Up to $2,600 towards the cost of an Overseas Student Health Care Policy.

The next step?

Please visit the people webpage and the research programs webpage on the MARCS website for more information about potential supervisors and projects. 

For information about the application process, contact MARCS Institute Executive Officer Sonya O’Shanna: s.oshanna@uws.edu.au, +61 2 9772 6585 or Office of Research Services to discuss enrolment and scholarships: HDRscholarships@uws.edu.au; +61 2 4736 0966.

How to apply

Applicants should submit the application form (PDF, 306.01 KB), a 500 word research proposal and a CV by the closing date.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE:  4 October 2013