How to apply - Vietnam based candidates

Preparing your application

Step 1

Choose your program

Step 2

Identify your research project

Step 3

Costs and scholarships

Step 4

Prepare your application

Expand all sections

Choose your program

On average, the duration of a PhD is three to four years (or equivalent part time).

RMIT offers PhDs across a range of disciplines.

All programs in the College of Business and Law, and the College of Design and Social Context are open to enrolments from Vietnam-based candidates.
All programs in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are available except programs in the following disciplines: Applied Chemistry, Applied Physics, Food Technology, Applied Biology & Biotechnology.

Browse research programs

Am I eligible?

To be eligible for admission to an RMIT University PhD program, you must:

Satisfy the University’s entry requirements for research programs; and
Applicants must also meet the minimum English language requirements.

To be successful, you must demonstrate capacity to conduct independent research. Places are also subject to academic supervisor and resource availability, and where appropriate, the suitability of the proposed research.

A note on sanctioned countries

If you live in a sanctioned country, please apply early to allow for your application to be reviewed with respect to applicable sanctions.

Identify your research project or research area

Using the link below, search for projects in your discipline of choice.

When you apply online:

to the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), you register your interest in up to three available projects applicable to the program for which you are applying for admission. You must also submit a statement indicating why you are interested in joining the projects you nominate.
to the College of Business and Law (CoBL), you select one of the research projects
to the College of Design and Social Context (DSC), you select a research area and submit your own research proposal aligned with that research area.

It is important to take note of the College and the program to which you are applying and provide this information accordingly.

Browse research projects

Propose your own research topic

Applicants who are fully funded through an arrangement with an external sponsor may propose their own research topic.

When you propose your research topic, make sure to

align with at least one of RMIT's identified research strengths which are largely defined through the University’s Enabling Capability Platforms.
provide a research proposal that outlines the the research you expect to undertake as part of your research degree
observe the guidelines that the School of Graduate Research provides when writing your research proposal
look at the research interests of the RMIT Vietnam researchers

It is important to ensure that your application is submitted to the school where your potential supervisor is located. Further details regarding research programs are available via Study with us.

Costs and scholarships

See below for the fee structure for your PhD. We also offer scholarships to support candidates financially while they undertake their PhD.

Costs and fees

Fee information for Vietnam PhD candidates:

2022 International offshore tuition fees for higher degrees by research (PDF 374kb 2p)

All fees are quoted in Australian dollars and should only be used as a guide.

RMIT reserves the right to adjust fees on an annual basis by an amount that will not exceed 7.5% each year (subject to rounding).

For higher education fees, tuition fees are rounded up to the nearest $10 per credit point increment, and so the actual fee increase may exceed 7.5%.

Scholarships

RMIT offers fully funded scholarships (full tuition fee scholarship, and a stipend of 14 million VND per month) for Vietnam based PhD candidates who fulfill the scholarship eligibility requirements, subject to availability of funding.

Eligibility

Applicants for an RMIT Vietnam PhD scholarship must meet the entry requirements for a graduate research program at RMIT University.

Additionally, applicants must meet English requirements.

Competitive Selection

Scholarships are awarded on the basis of a competitive selection process that ranks applicants according to their academic achievement, research outputs and relevant professional experience.

Priority is given to applicants who:

have achieved a high distinction in the final two years of the qualifying program(s). At RMIT a grade of high distinction represents an academic achievement of 80% or higher
may be considered by RMIT as having an equivalent level of academic attainment, taking into account previous study, relevant work experience, research publications and other research experience
are able to take receipt of a scholarship for a minimum 12 months duration on a full time basis (or part time equivalent) because of prior enrolment in a graduate research program
have not already completed a graduate research program at the same or higher course level.
have not previously held an RMIT or Commonwealth-funded postgraduate research scholarship unless it was terminated within six months of the scholarship’s payments commencing

Terms and conditions

See the HDR Scholarship Terms and Conditions for more information.

Prepare your application

The application process	The process has two stages: Stage 1: Expression of Interest (EOI) Stage 2: Application The EOI gathers just enough information about you for the University to assess your eligibility and consider the research you will undertake as part of your research program. Creative practice schools may want to see your portfolio and interview you. The school to which you are applying will contact you if this is the case. If your EOI is successful, you will be invited to complete and submit the rest of your application. It may take up to four weeks for an outcome on your EOI, so make sure you submit your EOI well in advance of when you expect to commence study.
Application types	Admission to PhD program: You may apply throughout the year for available monthly intake periods. Admission to PhD program and scholarship: You may apply throughout the year for available monthly intake periods.
I want to transfer to RMIT from another University	To apply: Apply online using the standard form Indicate that you wish to transfer to RMIT from another university Provide a statement from your previous university which outlines the details of your previous enrolment and status of your candidature Transfers with remaining periods of candidature of less than 12 months are only approved in exceptional circumstances. If admitted, you will be asked to complete the RMIT milestones such as Confirmation of Candidature or the Mid-Candidature Review. You may be exempt from completing these milestones at RMIT if you can provide evidence that you have already completed these milestones and they are deemed equivalent to the standard of milestones completed at RMIT.
Required documentation checklist	Applicants are required to provide scanned and where applicable certified copies of the following with their expression of interest CV Complete transcripts for all academic qualifications Research proposal or statement of interest in an available research project A letter of financial guarantee if you are an international applicant being sponsored to come to RMIT to complete your research degree.
I am already enrolled in a research degree at RMIT and want to transfer to another research degree	To apply: Apply online using the standard form Indicate that you are already enrolled at RMIT and wish to transfer to another degree.
I intend to complete my study as part of a CRTA	Collaborative Research Training Agreements (CRTA) – Cotutelle Agreements and Collaborative PhD Agreements Joint PhD partnerships involve co-enrolment and supervision of HDR candidates leading to a joint award, or awards, from both partners. RMIT Collaborative PhD partnerships involve partner organisation hosting and co-supervising RMIT research candidates with single enrolment in the RMIT PhD. View the full list of CRTA’s here