A Higher Degree by Research is your chance to pursue a specialist area in your field and build knowledge in your profession. You’ll make discoveries and we’ll help turn them into real-world outcomes that are highly valued by academia, industry and society.
Types of research degree
We offer research degrees in most disciplines, for those who hold a master degree or bachelor degree with first or upper-second class honours.
At least two-thirds of these degrees are pure research. Although you may need to complete some coursework units, the major part of the work will be in the form of a thesis written under the guidance of a supervisor.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Uncover new knowledge, either by the discovery of new facts, the formulation of theories or the innovative interpretation of established data.
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Become a highly skilled, critical thinking and practical manager who can read, carry out and apply the results of a research initiative.
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Contribute to the growth of the education profession and the discipline itself.
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
Expand your knowledge beyond the undergraduate honours and postgraduate diploma level with a degree that culminates in a research thesis.
Master of Research (MRes)
Obtain a research master qualification by completing one year of study in addition to your honours year.
Funding and scholarships
There are a variety of funding and scholarship options available to provide you with financial assistance during your research program. This can include a living stipend, a tuition fee offset or a combination of both.
What you can expect
Training and development
Our training and development programs for research candidates will boost your academic, professional and transferable skills.
Powerful industry connections
We’re highly engaged with a range of industry, government and academic partners, including BHP, Chevron, NASA and CSIRO.
Highest median salary in WA
Curtin graduates with a research degree earned the highest median salaries among their graduate peers in WA, and the equal second highest in Australia.
2018 Graduate Outcomes Survey
Curtin Virtual Open Day
Discover our courses, attend webinars, chat live with Curtin academics and student advisors, and enjoy a virtual campus experience – all from the comfort of your own home!
Tap into your customer’s emotions using science
In this Feed Your Mind discussion, Dr. Billy Sung discusses how psychophysiological measures can help marketers collect more reliable and valid data and develop effective marketing strategies.
Boost for liver cancer patients with new $10.8 million world-class research centre
Patients with primary liver cancer will benefit from a new $10.8 million research centre established with a $5 million Cancer Research Trust grant and an additional $5.8 million.
Study finds West Australians need better education to prevent snake bites
Curtin research has found that people living in rural and urban areas across Western Australia need to be educated about how to identify the types of venomous and non-venomous reptiles in WA.
New BHP-Curtin alliance to drive innovation, research and education
Curtin University and BHP have joined forces in a powerful new partnership to develop research and innovation projects, and support the higher education of emerging leaders.
O Christmas Tree: DNA shows WA’s largest parasitic plant adapts to climate
A closer look at DNA from south-western Australia’s native WA Christmas Tree, has found that temperature, rather than rainfall, impacts the tree’s resilience and reproductive success.
The Future of: Space Exploration
Join Professor Phil Bland from our School of Earth and Planetary Sciences as he discusses mission preparations to the Moon and Mars and what we at Curtin University are doing in this space.
The Future of: Batteries
Join Professor Jacques Eksteen and Dr Terry Humphries, a Curtin research fellow and chemist as they discuss lithium battery technology and hydrogen storage.
The Future of: Pandemics
Join Professors Archie Clements and Christopher Reid, from Curtin’s Faculty of Health Sciences as they discuss the potential long-term impacts of COVID-19 and what we could learn from it.
The Future of: Geographical Borders
Are we witnessing signs of ‘de-globalisation’? Experts Donna Butorac and Ben Rich discuss globalisation in 2020 and the relevance of geographical borders today and into the future.