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Postgraduate research studies in Maths

Application Procedures and Scholarships for Masters and PhD

Postgraduate scholarships are available for PhD and Masters degrees in mathematics, although there is keen competition for them. In addition, graduate students can usually obtain up to six hours of casual teaching each week. For overseas applicants there are a few fee-paying scholarships available.

Although research candidates may commence at any time of the year, applications for both candidature and scholarship close on the last working day of October each year for Australian applicants and the last working day in September for overseas applicants. Applications which are for candidature only may be received after these deadlines. Overseas applicants must obtain a score on an English language test as approved by the Faculty of Science and Technology: presently, IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 575 plus TWE 5.0.

Application forms for admission to PhD and Masters candidature and for postgraduate scholarships may be obtained by contacting the Postgraduate Coordinator (see address below). For Australian residents, application forms can be downloaded from the Research and Graduate Studies Office

Other useful information for overseas students can be found at the page for: International Students

Fields of Research

The Department of Mathematics carries out active research in the following areas:

Dynamical systems, differential geometry and its applications, operator algebras, lattice theory and universal algebra, modern classical mechanics, numerical analysis, statistical mechanics, and symmetry and differential equations.

More details can be found at the Staff research interests page. Before applying for admission or for a scholarship, you should contact the staff member whose interests are close to yours and who could therefore act as your supervisor.

Research in the department is supported by a number of large and small scale grants.

Support Facilities

Graduate students can expect to have their own PC during their candidature and access to mathematical software such as Maple and TeX. The department may provide more extensive computing facilities where it is warranted. The department provides shared office accommodation for its postgraduate students.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD)

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is the principal research degree in the University. It requires not less than two and a half years and not more than five years of full-time research within the University, under the guidance of a supervisor. The degree is ordinarily completed in three to three and a half years full time or equivalent. It is also possible, for Australian citizens and permanent residents only, to be admitted as part-time candidates. It must be demonstrated to the Higher Degree Committee (Research) that adequate and regular contact in person with the University will be maintained.

The normal requirement for admission as a candidate is at least an upper second class honours degree or a Master's degree. Either degree course must have included a substantial research dissertation as part of the course requirements. Applicants may be admitted to candidature provided the University's Higher Degrees Committee (Research) is satisfied that the applicant holds the minimum qualifications and that the department is able to provide effective supervision for the proposed research topic. External candidature, when the student cannot guarantee regular contact in person with the Department, is not possible. Joint candidature involving another Department can be arranged, as well as associate supervision at another institution if necessary. The general policy on admission is that an applicant must be appropriately qualified for enrolment and seek to do research on a topic for which resources and supervision are available.

To qualify for the degree a candidate must submit a satisfactory thesis which is a substantial original contribution to knowledge. (Coursework is not available as part of the formal assessment of the requirements for the degree). A PhD thesis in the science schools normally contains approximately 50,000 words and no thesis shall exceed 100,000 words. The award of the degree is determined by an examination of the thesis and sometimes by oral examination.

Master of Science Degree (MSc)

The degree may be completed by thesis only, the thesis being submitted in total fulfillment of the requirements for the degree. A coursework masters is not available in mathematics.

The period of completion may be either a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years full-time, or a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years part-time. Candidates should aim to complete the degree in two years full-time or equivalent.

The normal requirement for admission as a candidate is an honours degree, or its equivalent, in mathematics. Applicants who have not undertaken an honours year may undertake a Postgraduate Diploma. This involves one year's full-time study at a level equal to our honours year.

To qualify for the degree candidates must submit a satisfactory thesis which shows ability to conduct a research program and a command of the knowledge and skills pertinent to the area of investigation and, where appropriate, to demonstrate a critical appreciation and understanding of the relationship of their own work to that of others. The length of a Masters thesis normally should not exceed 50,000 words or 200 pages and should in no case exceed 60,000 words.

Postgraduate Coordinator