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Grains being examined by a female researcher

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.

How it works

The Home Institution is where you will spend most of your degree, and the Host is where you will spend 1 year studying abroad.

Once you have secured supervisory support to undertake your Collaborative PhD with Curtin University, you will receive an invitation to apply where you will be advised how to submit additional documentation to progress your application.

As you progress through the initial expression of interest process, you will work with representatives from each institution to finalise an Individual Student Agreement, which details supervision, financial arrangements, and enrolment details.

As a Collaborative PhD student, you will:

  • Be co-supervised by esteemed academics from two institutions.
  • Spend at least 1 year abroad undertaking research; and
  • Graduate with two institutions recognised on your testamur.

If Curtin is your host institution

For inbound students, we recommend commencing the second year of your PhD at Curtin University and return to your Home Institution to complete your Collaborative PhD.

How to apply (inbound to Curtin University)

Curtin University invites PhD students from one of our partner institutions to find a potential Curtin supervisor via our expression of interest (EOI) form. 

Please include the following in your expression of interest form:

  • Research project proposal which includes a minimum 12-month stay at Curtin;
  • Transcripts, CV and employment history;
  • Home Institution enrolment details; and
  • Home Institution supervisory details.

If Curtin University is your Home Institution

If Curtin University is your Home Institution, you are an outbound student who may be eligible to receive a scholarship to support your research.

Currently enrolled PhD students should contact the Graduate Research School for more information.

Partner institutions

Dr Aaron Tung

Q&A with Aberdeen-Curtin Alliance graduate, Dr. Aaron Tung

Dr. Aaron Tung recently completed a joint PhD under the Aberdeen-Curtin Alliance, co-supervised by Curtin University’s Professor Fran Ackerman, Curtin Adjunct Professor Claus Otto and the University of Aberdeen’s Professor John Paterson. We caught up with him to chat about his experience.

Read more

More information

For more information on the, please refer to the following documents: