Doctor of Philosophy at Swinburne University is the university’s highest postgraduate award and centres on original research at doctoral level.
Malaysia
Swinburne University
PhD
General
In-person
3 Years
US$10,692
N/A
QS World University Rankings: 2023 296, 2024 285, 2025 291, 2026 294, 2027 291
Doctor of Philosophy at Swinburne University is the university’s highest postgraduate award and centres on original research at doctoral level. Based in Sarawak, Malaysia, it is built for candidates who want to make a significant contribution to a discipline or profession through an extended research project. The course is positioned as a serious academic pathway rather than a taught programme, with entry tied to strong prior achievement and relevant research preparation.
The learning experience is shaped by independent investigation under doctoral expectations, with the final research work typically running to 70,000–100,000 words. That makes the PhD a substantial, supervised research journey with scope to develop depth, originality and specialist expertise over three years of study. For applicants comparing doctoral options, the course offers a clear research-focused route within Swinburne’s Malaysia campus context.
Doctor of Philosophy at Swinburne University is the university’s highest postgraduate award and centres on original research at doctoral level.
Doctor of Philosophy takes 3 years and is delivered in person.
Doctor of Philosophy centres on independent research with academic supervision and formal progress milestones.
Academic entry requirements include Relevant tertiary qualification: At least four years or equivalent of tertiary education in a relevant discipline at a high level of achievement. English evidence may include IELTS 6.5.
The estimated international tuition fee is US$10,692 per year.
| Curriculum | Required Score |
|---|---|
| Relevant tertiary qualification | At least four years or equivalent of tertiary education in a relevant discipline. Achievement standardA high level of achievement equivalent to a four-year Swinburne Honours degree with a significant fourth-year research component, leading to Honours class 1 or class 2A level. Accepted qualification combinations
Additional standardApplicants must reach the required standards of achievement based on prior qualifications and research experience. |
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0. |
| TOEFL iBT | TOEFL iBT minimum score of 79. Minimum section scores
|
| Pearson PTE Academic | Pearson (PTE) 58. Minimum communicative skillsNo communicative skills less than 50 |
| Swinburne College EAP | English qualificationSwinburne College English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Advanced level certificate at the postgraduate level (EAP 5: PG-70%). |
| Details | Fee |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | US$10,692 |
| Year 2 | US$10,692 |
| Year 3 | US$10,692 |
| Estimated total | US$32,076 |
Fee amounts are estimates based on university-published international student fee information available at the time of publication. Actual fees may change by intake and may vary because of exchange rates, taxes, or university updates. Total fee is not estimated because the source duration is not a fixed numeric year count.