How long does it take to process an application?

If you’ve submitted all the necessary documentation, we’ll take approximately six to eight weeks to process your application

If your application is successful, we’ll send you your offer directly, or to your agent if you used one.

If you apply during a QUT scholarship round, processing your application may take longer. Find outcome dates for rounds when applying for a research scholarship.

Can I change my application after I've submitted it?

If you need to change any details after submitting your application, email us at hdr@qut.edu.au and include your application number.

Can I change my planned start date?

If you’ve received your offer letter for a research degree and you want to start earlier or later than the date on your offer you can complete our request form.

Request to change start date for a QUT research degree

How do I meet my offer conditions?

Certifying and sending your documents to QUT

You may be requested to submit further documents if you were given a conditional offer.

If your documents are not in English, you will need to supply a certified English translation.

You can use the following methods to arrange for your documents to be certified and sent to QUT.

QUT Application Portal

Arrange for a Justice of the Peace in Australia or a notary office overseas to certify your documents and then upload your certified documents to the QUT Application Portal. We recommend doing this as early in your application as possible.

Previous institution issued documents

Your education provider who issued the academic documents may send the documents by email directly to hdr@qut.edu.au. If they want to post the documentation, contact hdr@qut.edu.au for the postal address.

We will only accept digital copies by email if the electronic copy is received directly from the institution. The email must be received from an authorised department's/employee's official email address with their electronic signature in the body of the email confirming their function/position at the institution.

Electronic or digital document

If your previous academic institution has partnered with a platform that enables universities to confirm the digital qualifications of students, contact them to issue your digital documents to hdr@qut.edu.au through this platform.

If your previous studies have been taken in Australia, use My eQuals to issue secure digital credentials documents.

QUT representative

You can nominate an approved QUT representative to assist with your application who can certify your documents. If there are time restraints for your acceptance we recommend using a QUT representative.

If your previous studies have been taken in Australia, use My eQuals to issue secure digital credentials documents to both your agent and QUT.

In person

If you are onshore, you can submit your documents in person at the Graduate Research Centre.

Intellectual Property

Your offer may be conditional on signing an agreement that assigns or licenses your Intellectual Property (IP) rights to QUT or an external organisation. This occurs if you are participating in a project that is either:

  • externally funded
  • subject to contractual obligations under an existing agreement
  • has commercial potential or objectives

In these circumstances, we will send you the IP agreement to review and sign. Discuss your project IP with your supervisor, and we recommend you seek external legal advice if required, before signing the agreement. Your enrolment (and scholarship if applicable) will not start until the IP agreement has been finalised.

Further information about IP can be found in QUT’s Intellectual Property Policy.

What action do I take if I am being sponsored?

If you are an international student being sponsored for your studies, send us your financial guarantee documentation from your sponsoring organisation. Follow the instructions in your offer letter.

Financial guarantees must be on official letterhead addressed to QUT, and must include:

  • the student's full name
  • the course or courses for which the sponsorship is approved
  • the duration of the sponsorship
  • whether Overseas Student Health Cover is paid for.

If I have been offered a scholarship, how do I accept the offer?

To accept your scholarship, you’ll need to:

  1. Follow the instructions in your offer email and letter. When you accept your scholarship, we’ll email you further instructions on how to provide your payment details.
  2. Accept your course offer, as instructed in your offer email and letter.

When do I need to accept my course offer by?

Once you have met any offer conditions, we recommend you accept your offer as soon as possible. You’ll need to accept at least two weeks prior to your commencement date or as specified in your offer letter.

International applicants applying for a student visa should accept as quickly as possible to allow for visa processing time.

How do I accept a course offer?

To finalise your acceptance, you must follow the instructions in your offer email and letter, noting:

  • if you receive a conditional course offer, you will need to meet the conditions stated on page 2 of your course offer letter
  • once the conditions have been met, you will receive an unconditional course offer to finalise your acceptance
  • to complete your online acceptance of offer, refer to QUT’s application portal or your Agent can assist you.

International students must also:

When should I book my flights and how can I find accommodation?

For international students, once your visa is approved, you should book your flights. Plan to arrive in Brisbane at least two weeks before your commencement date.

Advice about living in Brisbane and studying at QUT is available on our website. (Note: the application section is not relevant for research students).

Living in Brisbane

You will be able to register for one of our pre-departure briefings organised by QUT’s International Student Services team, once you have activated your student email account (see next question).

If you need temporary accommodation to stay in while you look for somewhere to live permanently, there are several temporary accommodation options close to the city and our campuses.

Accommodation

When will I be enrolled?

Domestic students

  • We will enrol you in your course approximately two weeks prior to your commencement date and we will email you to confirm when you have been enrolled.

International students

  • Once you are settled and ready to commence, visit the Graduate Research Centre where we will help you complete your International Commencement Form.
  • After you have completed the International Commencement Form, we will enrol you in your course and we will email you to confirm when you have been enrolled.

If you are a scholarship recipient, we will also help you complete your bank and tax file number documents. Scholarships will start on your course commencement date.

Contact hdr@qut.edu.au or 3138 7200 if you have any questions.

How do I activate my student email account and access QUT systems?

Once you’ve accepted your offer, you’ll receive an email acknowledging your acceptance with further details including your username and a link to set up your QUT password. When you have set up your password you can then login to your student email account. If you have any issues, contact HiQ on 3138 2000.

As a Higher Degree Research (HDR) student, you'll have a HDR student email address that ends in ‘@hdr.qut.edu.au'. All QUT communication will be sent to your student email account. We recommend checking it at least once per day.

Begin your orientation

Once you have your username and password, you can access QUT systems including the HiQ Research Students community website where you can begin your orientation to a research degree at QUT.

Getting started in higher degree research

Visit an HDR service office

HDR service office (Business, Engineering, Law, Science)

Location Room 208, Level 2, A Block, Gardens Point campus
Opening hours 9.00AM - 4.00PM

HDR service office (Creative Industries, Education, Health, Social Justice)

Location Room 436, Level 4, X Block, Kelvin Grove campus
Opening hours 9.00AM - 4.00PM