Doctor of Philosophy
Design
Overview
As a candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy in Design, you'll undertake supervised research with the aim of making a significant and original contribution to a discipline or profession. The research you'll undertake may be pure, exploratory, applied, experimental and/or creative.
Your industry experience
Internship opportunities are available for Higher Degree by Research students
Research areas
- Industrial Design
- New Product Development
- Innovation
- Design for Health/MedTech
- Humanitarian Design
- Information Design
Skills you’ll learn
- Independent thinking
- Decision-making skills
- Good judgement
- Logical thought
- Communication skills
- Project management skills
Your career opportunities
- Academic
- Researcher
- Entrepreneur
- Business development
- Analyst – policy, market, economic
- Project manager
Key codes
International student visa
International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.
Why Swinburne?
Ranked top 150 for Art and Design
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023
Ranked 240 in Architecture and Built Environment
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023Qualifications
Applicants must have completed at least four years (or equivalent) of tertiary education studies in a relevant discipline at a high level of achievement, and must have been approved for the award of the degree(s) for which they studied.
A high level of achievement is defined as the equivalent of a four year Swinburne Honours degree that includes a significant research component in the fourth year, leading to an Honours degree class 1 (average grade between 80-100) or class 2A (average grade between 70-79) level.
Four years of tertiary studies can be demonstrated by the completion of any of the combinations of qualifications below, at the required standard of achievement:
a bachelor degree (three or four years) and a Masters by Research or
a bachelor degree (three or four years) and an Honours year or
a bachelor degree (three or four years) and a Masters by Coursework or
a bachelor degree (three or four years) and a postgraduate diploma in Psychology or
a bachelor degree (four years) in an approved discipline.
Find out more about entry requirements.
A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) can now be done on campus in Hawthorn at Room 132, Building TD. Book now or call +61 3 9214 3584 for more information.
Applicants must have completed at least four years (or equivalent) of tertiary education studies in a relevant discipline at a high level of achievement, and must have been approved for the award of the degree(s) for which they studied.
A high level of achievement is defined as the equivalent of a four year Swinburne Honours degree that includes a significant research component in the fourth year, leading to an Honours degree class 1 (average grade between 80-100) or class 2A (average grade between 70-79) level.
Four years of tertiary studies can be demonstrated by the completion of any of the combinations of qualifications below, at the required standard of achievement:
a bachelor degree (three or four years) and a Masters by Research or
a bachelor degree (three or four years) and an Honours year or
a bachelor degree (three or four years) and a Masters by Coursework or
a bachelor degree (three or four years) and a postgraduate diploma in Psychology or
a bachelor degree (four years) in an approved discipline.
Find out more about entry requirements.
Admission to this program is not restricted to those with a design background. Applicants from any academic area are welcome.
Admission requirements
Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. Check admission requirements for general information about the admission process.
English language requirements
Satisfactory completion of one of the following:
- IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
- Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 70%, all skills 65% or above
- or equivalent measures available at English language requirements.
Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?
A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.
Finding your fit
At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.
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Doctor of Philosophy Design
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Master of Research (Design)
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Master of Design (Research)
Course structure
The Doctor of Philosophy degree is generally completed over a period of four years full-time or eight years part-time. Candidates undertake research, which may be pure, exploratory, experimental and/or creative, and are required to submit a written research thesis, a written research thesis including associated papers, or an artefact with an accompanying exegesis. The examinable outcome will normally be equivalent to 70 000 to 100 000 words. Where the examinable outcome takes the form of a thesis, it is acknowledged that thesis length can vary according to the nature of the work and the discipline.
Throughout your candidature you will receive guidance and support from your research supervisors. You will also have the opportunity to participate in a number of research training sessions on topics such as thesis writing, publishing and presenting.
Progress reviews
Progress reviews used to monitor academic progress and provide feedback to candidates at different stages of their candidature. Progress review due dates will vary based on your degree and enrolment status.
| Progress reviews process | Due date from enrolment |
|---|---|
Preconfirmation review Completion of thesis-related tasks and attendance at research training workshops |
3 months |
Confirmation of candidature review Completion of thesis-related tasks and attendance at research training workshops |
9-12 months |
Mid-candidature review Completion of thesis-related tasks and attendance at research training workshops |
I2-24 months |
Draft thesis review Completion of thesis-related tasks and attendance at research training workshops |
33-36 months and follow-up 3 months prior to thesis submission |
2025 fees
Yearly fee* ($AUD)
$36,300.00
Fees are estimates only
Published student tuition fees for 2025 unit enrolments in HE Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and Undergraduate Full Fee Paying (FFP) are subject to change based on individual circumstances at enrolment. Fees may vary for units studied in future years, with part-time fees being proportionally lower depending on the number of units taken per semester. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.
Fees are estimates only
The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.
Government-funded Research training program (RTP)
If you are a domestic student (including Australian and New Zealand citizens, and Australian permanent residents) your application will be automatically considered for a Government-funded Research Training Program (RTP) place.
How do I pay my fees?
HECS-HELP is a loan and discount scheme available to you if you are eligible and enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place. A HECS-HELP loan can cover all or part of your contribution amount.
International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.
To pay your fees:
- log in to My Finances
- check your Australian bank account details are correct
- check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe
- pay using your preferred payment method.
Scholarships
Scholarship applications for 2025 are now open. Our research scholarships are awarded to candidates with exceptional potential who are undertaking doctoral studies. These opportunities seek to promote equity and recognise excellence and achievement.
Please view our guidebook to help determine which documents you’ll need to prepare an application.
When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 30 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.
Apply through an agent
Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.
Apply for a research degree
Step 1: Decide on a research topic
Your research topic should align with one of the areas of research we are involved in. You can find out about Swinburne's areas of research through our:
Step 2: Find a supervisor
Using the Find a Supervisor tool search for a potential supervisor in your area of interest and contact them directly to discuss supervision. You must find a supervisor for your research project before applying for a research degree. Your application will not be considered unless you have an appropriate and willing supervisor.
Step 3: Submit your application
Once you have decided on a research topic and found an appropriate and willing supervisor, you must complete and submit the online application form.