Why Study / Key Benefits

• This is a doctoral research programme designed for students who want to make a significant and original contribution to Information and Communication Technology through supervised research.
• Research can be pure, exploratory, applied, experimental and/or creative.
• Students receive research and career development through the Graduate Certificate component alongside the PhD.
• Swinburne identifies research areas including cloud computing, role-oriented adaptive design, energy-management software, data management and cybersecurity.
• Students develop independent thinking, decision-making, judgement, communication, project management and data-analysis skills.
• Internship opportunities are available for Higher Degree by Research students.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The PhD component is research-focused. Students undertake supervised research and may conduct pure, exploratory, applied, experimental or creative research. The final examinable outcome is normally a research thesis, a thesis incorporating associated papers, or an artefact with an accompanying exegesis.

For this ICT PhD, Swinburne currently identifies the following research areas:

• Cloud computing
• Role-oriented adaptive design
• Energy-management software
• Data management
• Cybersecurity

The Graduate Certificate component contains the following core units:

• Project Management for Research – INF60016 – 12.5 credit points
• Innovation and Impact in Research – ENT60010 – 12.5 credit points

Potential electives include:

• Research Methods – ICT80011
• Applied Research Methods – ICT90003
• Research Methodology – BUS80003
• Quantitative Research Methods – BUS80017
• Qualitative Research Methods – BUS80018
• Research Design and Methodology – CSM80010
• Research Methods in Science – BIO80005
• Research Skills – NPS60001
• Advanced Quantitative Methods – PSY40001
• Research Design – STA60004
• Multivariate Statistics – STA70002
• Data Management and Analytics Using SAS – STA70003
• Bayesian Statistics – STA80007
• Advanced Research Communication Skills in Science, Engineering and Technology – COM80001
• Research Engagement – MFP60001
• Research Training – MFP60002
• Directed Study – MFP60003

Disciplines / Specialisations

The named discipline is Information and Communication Technology.

The programme does not present fixed taught specialisations in the way a coursework master's degree would. Instead, students develop an individual research project within an appropriate Swinburne research area.

Current programme-specific research areas include:

• Cloud computing
• Role-oriented adaptive design
• Energy-management software
• Data management
• Cybersecurity

Programme Highlights

• Doctoral-level ICT research qualification.
• Maximum 4-year full-time candidature.
• CRICOS registered for international students: 096282B.
• Research areas include cloud computing, adaptive design, energy-management software, data management and cybersecurity.
• Graduate Certificate provides structured research and innovation management training alongside the PhD.
• Core research-management training is completed during the first 12 months.
• Internship opportunities are available to Higher Degree by Research students.
• Regular candidature progress reviews occur at approximately 3 months, 9–12 months, 21–24 months and 33–36 months.
• The final ICT thesis component is published by Swinburne as a written research thesis, including associated papers, of up to 60,000 words for this combined programme.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne lists potential career outcomes including:

• Academic
• Researcher / government consultant
• Entrepreneur
• Business development
• Analyst – policy, market, quantitative

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The most important special requirement is supervisor approval before application. Students should first identify a viable ICT research topic, locate a suitable Swinburne supervisor and discuss the proposed research before submitting the application.

The Graduate Certificate is integrated into the PhD and is not a standalone direct-entry qualification for this pathway. Swinburne states that students commencing the applicable PhD are automatically considered for the Graduate Certificate component.

The programme also has staged progress reviews:

• Preconfirmation review: approximately 3 months
• Confirmation of candidature: approximately 9–12 months
• Mid-candidature review: approximately 21–24 months
• Draft thesis review: approximately 33–36 months, with a further review 3 months before thesis submission

International Student Visa Requirements

The relevant visa for an international student undertaking this Australian CRICOS-registered programme is generally the Student visa (Subclass 500).

For this specific programme, Swinburne states that international students in Australia holding a Student visa must study full-time and on campus. This is particularly important because some Graduate Certificate electives can have online or multimodal delivery, but the overall PhD programme is not an online-only programme.

Current Department of Home Affairs requirements include:

• Valid enrolment/Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for the registered course.
• Appropriate Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless an exemption applies.
• Genuine Student requirement.
• Evidence of financial capacity where required.
• Health and character requirements where applicable.
• Students must comply with their visa study conditions.
• Student visa holders can generally work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session.