Distance Education for International Students
- PhD Program

Quick links

Distance Education - Postgraduate Study

Study with one of Australia’s leading distance education universities

As one of Australia’s oldest universities, the University of New England (UNE), located in picturesque New South Wales half way between Sydney and Brisbane, has a 77-year tradition of excellence in teaching, learning and research. UNE is also one of Australia’s most experienced distance education providers and has a recognized national and international reputation for its commitment to distance education, providing high quality postgraduate research supervision, and for setting high standards for research and academic learning.

Overview: With the support of two academic supervisors via an in-country supervisor and a UNE supervisor, students pursue a program of research at the PhD level on a research topic based on their academic interests and/or the workplace research priorities of their organization. Students have access to UNE facilities such as the University’s library collection of electronic journals and documents and e-learning tools. There is regular contact between student and supervisors. You have the option of attending a postgraduate research residential conference once a year held on campus in Australia allowing you to interact with the Faculty, your supervisors and fellow postgraduate research students from Australia, and overseas (Canada, USA, Asia, South America, Europe).

3 year PhD program

Students complete a course of advanced study and research, and present for examination a thesis which shall be substantially an original contribution to the subject. The rules for the PhD program can be found at http://www.une.edu.au/policies/pdf/phdrules.pdf.

4 year PhD program

The 4-year PhD program is a pathway for all international applicants who do not meet UNE's required eligibility criteria for direct admission to a 3-year PhD. For example those students who do not have the required level of research in their Masters degree may be admitted to a four year degree.

A 4-year PhD consists of 8 semesters over 4 years (or part time equivalent) of which the first 2 semesters are designated for coursework to assist students to develop advanced research and writing skills. All students are concurrently enrolled in the 'research thesis' component from their first year of study. This allows allocation of academic supervisors who can assist in mentoring the student through their research topic and where possible also advise on how to 'tailor' the coursework assignments to issues associated with the research topic.

Features of the PhD program

The Faculty has developed successful PhD distance education programs in Hong Kong, USA and, more recently, in Vietnam. Soon will be able to listen to audio clips of some of our students and graduates talking about their PhD program and their student experience at UNE. Other features include:

A quality and known Australian university;

One of your research supervisors is located in your country (Vietnam, Hong Kong, or USA);

Face-to-face intensive seminars are available in your country (Vietnam, Hong Kong, or USA) and Australia;

Access to the UNE Library's collection of electronic journals and documents;

Regular contact with, and support from, your Australian supervisors;

Research projects undertaken are relevant to the knowledge capacity and workplace needs to your country (Vietnam, Hong Kong, or USA); and

Voluntary attendance of postgraduate research conference at UNE once a year.