Collaborative PhD program
A Collaborative PhD is a prestigious program where research students are co-supervised by academics from Curtin University and one of Curtin’s international partner institutions.
The objective of the collaboration is to enhance research capabilities in a mutually beneficial way across PhD programs of both universities.
Curtin is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide by the Academic Ranking of World Universities and values research collaboration with similarly ranked institutions.
Partner institutions
For an up-to-date list of all active partner agreements, please visit our future student Collaborative PhD website, which details all the countries and partnerships with Curtin University.
How it works
The Home Institution is where students spend most of their degree, and the Host is where the student spends 1 year studying abroad.
Once a student has secured supervisory support to undertake a Collaborative PhD with Curtin University via the Expression of Interest process, they receive an invitation to apply where they are advised how to submit additional documentation to progress their application.
As a student progresses through the initial expression of interest process, they work with representatives from each institution to finalise an Individual Student Agreement (used for inbound PhD students (i.e., Curtin University is the Host Institution), which details supervision, financial arrangements, and enrolment details.
Collaborative PhD students:
- Are co-supervised by academics from two institutions.
- Spend- at least 1 year abroad undertaking research at the host institution; and
- Graduate with the two institutions recognised on their testamur.
Key considerations
Developing a Collaborative PhD program
- Review Curtin’s existing partnerships as they may already meets your collaborative research objectives.
- Review Curtin’s policies and procedures before considering a new program (see ‘Policies and procedures’ further below).
- Assess whether a Collaborative PhD agreement is the most effective way to strengthen Curtin’s research priorities and determine whether there is sufficient overlap in academic excellence in your discipline area.
Developing and managing a Collaborative PhD program
Before developing a Collaborative PhD program, academics may consider other alternatives such as a visiting academic scholar program which is a useful way to assess if the partnership works well and is worth pursuing with a longer-term formal Collaborative PhD agreement which has a term of 5 years (duration). Other options can be scoped by contacting a member of the Research Excellence team ROC-Excellence@curtin.edu.au who can discuss your specific objectives.
Some considerations include:
- A new Collaborative PhD agreement can take between 6-12 months to negotiate and operationalise.
- There must be an equal number of inbound and outbound students each year and the usual minimum is five (5) PhD students per year.
- Academics must assess whether there is sufficient supervisory workload and student interest in the program before proceeding with a new agreement.
More information
- Expression of Interest form – Establishing a Collaborative Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program/Degree
- Individual Student Agreement_Collaborative PhDs
- Existing Collaborative PhD partners
- Accessing detailed partner agreements
- Request a copy of a detailed agreement by sending a request to ROC-Excellence@curtin.edu.au with the CTR reference number (see above).
- Policies and procedures