Instructions for MoET-VIED Higher
Degree by Research Applicants
In order to submit your strongest application possible (and to avoid submitting an incomplete and
ineligible application), you are strongly encouraged to take the time to review this document thoroughly
before preparing your application form.
1. Completing the Form (application checklist)

Please complete the form electronically, print out and sign (do not hand write).

You must complete questions 1-8, and appendices A-E (Academic Background, Research Focus,
Research Publications, Relevant Professional Research Experience, Academic Referees).

Applicants must attach their letter of support from VIED in order to be considered for a MoETVIED/USC Scholarship.

Applicants from a non-English speaking background must attach original evidence of proficiency in
English. Failure to do so will result in your application being deemed ineligible. Where original
documents are not provided by the test provider, applicants must be able to verify results online.

All applicants must attach proof of citizenship documentation such as certified copies of your
passport, certificate of citizenship or or birth certificate.

All applicants must attach original or certified copies of all previous tertiary qualifications
undertaken. Where original transcripts are in a language other than English, you must provide
transcripts in native language as well as official translated English transcripts. Failure to do so will
result in your application being deemed ineligible.

If applicable, applicants must attach supporting documentation in English for any research
publications or technical reports (see instructions for Appendix C and D).
Creative Arts applicants must also include portfolio of peer-reviewed or refereed research
publications or other research works, or a portfolio of original creative arts works.
Only complete hard copy applications can be accepted (in order to meet the definition of original
or certified documents). Please do not email your application; scanned copies of supporting documents cannot be




accepted.
It is your responsibility to ensure that certified copies are complete copies (e.g. must include
information on the reverse side of academic transcripts such as the institution’s assessment key).
Submit (in person or by post) the completed form, including supporting documents such as proof
of citizenship, academic transcripts and evidence of research publications to:
Research Training Administrator
Office of Research – ML 26
University of the Sunshine Coast
Locked Bag 4
Maroochydore DC QLD 4558 Australia
2. Which program? (question 2 on the application form)
See our web site for a full list of HDR programs available at USC.
Instructions for MoET-VIED Higher
Degree by Research Applicants
3. Which program? (question 2 on the application form)
See our web site for a full list of HDR programs available at USC.
4. Finding a supervisor: (question 3 on the application form)

Applications can be accepted wihtout a nominated supervisor. However, you may wish to
discuss your research proposal with a potential supervisor in the faculty to which you are
applying. You can view a list of academic staff in each faculty and their research areas from
these websites:
Faculty of Arts and Business
School of Business
School of Communication
School of Social Sciences
Faculty of Science, Health, Education & Engineering
School of Science & Engineering
School of Education
School of Health & Sport Sciences
School of Nursing & Midwifery
Alternatively, you can commence your search using our Research Supervisor Search search
function on the website.
For assistance locating a suitable supervisor please contact your faculty: FABinfo@usc.edu.au
or SHEinfo@usc.edu.au
5. English Proficiency (Applicants from a non-English speaking background only, question 8 on the form)

English language requirements

Applicants must attach original* supporting documentation demonstrating their English
proficiency to their application, e.g.:
o
IELTS or TOEFL test results. Test results must not be more than two years old at
the time of application submission. Certified copies of IELTS are not accepted.
o
Academic transcript or letter from awarding institution stipulating that the
language of instruction was English.
* Where original documents are not provided by the test provider, applicants must be able to verify results online.
Instructions for MoET-VIED Higher
Degree by Research Applicants
Appendix A – Academic Background


You must attach to Appendix A original or certified copies of academic transcripts as evidence of
your academic background.
Detail your achievement in your undergraduate study, and any postgraduate qualifications (e.g.
Bachelor Honours, Graduate Certificate/Diploma, Master by coursework, or Master by Research
degree). Include details such as:
o
o
Grade Point Average (GPA) or equivalent (e.g. 6.4/7 to demonstrate the GPA expressed on
a seven point scale);
Other achievements such as awards or scholarships you received
Appendix B – Research Focus
Areas of research:
Please insert the appropriate codes for this section. Failure to do so will result in your application being
deemed ineligible. Your proposed supervisor is the best person to guide you if are unsure of which codes
are relevant to your proposed research.
 Field of Education codes
 Type of Research definitions are available
 If your research is aligned to one of USC’s Research Centres, Groups or Clusters, please indicate in
the section provided.
Research Outline:
 This is an early outline of your research project. It is expected to be brief (maximum 3 pages) and
to be open to some change. It should, however, demonstrate that you know what you want to
research, why, and how.
 Producing this Research Outline should enable you (and your supervisor) to be specific about your
research project and to convince the Research Degrees Committee that you have clear and
realistic ideas about the project, and that the Faculty has sufficient expertise to provide you with
appropriate supervision and adequate resources to support your work.
 Scholarship applicants must complete the research proposal section (scholarship applications
without a research proposal will be deemed ineligible).
 Applicants who are seeking advice about their eligibility for admission to a HDR program may
choose not to prepare a research proposal in the first instance. These applications will be
assessed by the Office of Research for eligibility and will not be progressed to the faculty for
consideration until a research proposal is provided.
Instructions for MoET-VIED Higher
Degree by Research Applicants
The following areas should be addressed within your outline of intended research:

PROPOSED TITLE
Provide a short descriptive title. Avoid the use of acronyms, quotation marks and upper case
characters (up to 20 words)

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED RESEARCH
Using plain language, summarise aims, significance and expected outcomes (up to 400 words)

THE RELEVANT RESEARCH LITERATURE
Brief discussion of some of the main ideas in this literature relevant to the proposed research (up
to 600 words)

THE METHODOLOGIES AND METHODS TO BE USED IN THE RESEARCH
The recognised approach to research (i.e. methodology, such as ethnography, experimental
research, grounded theory, action research). Provide a summary of the research design that will
be used to address the stated research questions. Include a brief description of the methods,
including statistical analysis where appropriate. Consider attaching your own Gant chart to map
out the timelines for your proposed research (up to 500 words).

RESOURCES REQUIRED TO CONDUCT THE RESEARCH
Brief description of the resources required to conduct the research (e.g. lab space, consumables,
survey instruments, field trips, equipment).
Appendix C – Research Publications
In this section, provide details of publications you have authored or co-authored (i.e. abstract in English,
details of publication and copy of the front page).
 Where publications are co-authored, candidates must include a statement of contribution to the
work (e.g. 20%). In cases where the applicant is not the primary author, a statement of
contribution signed by the primary author must also be provided.
 A publication must be accepted by the journal for publication prior to the application closing date
(to be considered for the purpose of scholarship application assessment). Publications submitted
but not yet accepted cannot be considered.
 If sufficient evidence of a publication is not provided (abstract or first page or publication, and a
statement of contribution signed by the primary author where applicable), the publication will
not be considered for assessment of your application.
Instructions for MoET-VIED Higher
Degree by Research Applicants
Appendix D – Relevant Professional Research Experience (if relevant)
 Briefly summarise the research projects you have undertaken (include when, and the name of the
organisation where the research was conducted).
 Briefly summarise your experience working in the field relevant to your proposed research project.
 Briefly summarise the outputs achieved from these projects (publications should appear in
Appendix C, but here you might include the impact of your research to relevant stakeholders).
 Scholarship applicants should include a research or technical report/s, a portfolio of publications
or a creative arts folio from a major research project undertaken during relevant employment.
Appendix E-F
These sections will be completed by the Faculty and Office of Research.