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Application process for ISF's graduate research program

International applicants

Key dates - for commencement from January 2025

  • 20 June 2024 – deadline for the pre-approval application to be emailed to ISF-LearningLC@uts.edu.au
  • 27 June 2024 – LDLC meeting assessing pre-approval applications
  • To be published here – UTS application due date

Key dates - for commencement from July 2025

  • 5 December 2024 – deadline for the pre-approval application to be emailed to ISF-LearningLC@uts.edu.au
  • 12 December 2024 – LDLC meeting assessing pre-approval applications
  • To be published here – UTS application due date

Domestic applicants

Key dates - for commencement from July 2024

  • 15 March 2024 – deadline for the pre-approval application to be emailed to ISF-LearningLC@uts.edu.au
  • 28 March 2024 – LDLC meeting assessing pre-approval applications
  • 8 April 2024 – UTS application due date

Key dates - for commencement from January 2025

  • 10 October 2024 – deadline for the pre-approval application to be emailed to ISF-LearningLC@uts.edu.au
  • 17 October 2024 – LDLC meeting assessing pre-approval applications
  • To be published here – UTS application due date

Please note that the ISF postgraduate application process is separate from the UTS postgraduate process. Typically, the ISF postgraduate application is required to be completed a minimum of three weeks prior to the UTS application due date. Applications for postgraduate research places at the Institute for Sustainable Futures are subject to the same criteria as applications to any UTS Faculty or Institute. 

Additionally, please note that different deadlines exist for UTS postgraduate applications for domestic and international students, and that different ISF deadlines exist accordingly.

Application process

Prospective applicants should follow the process outlined below. Applications that do not follow this process will not be accepted.

  1. Make contact: Contact ISF to express interest in a research degree. The best way to do this is to send an email to the ISF Graduate Research Program address: isf-grp@uts.edu.au. Our staff will then provide further instructions on next steps. Alternatively, if you have a potential supervisor in mind (see the list of supervisors), you can contact them directly. 
  2. Complete an EOI and confirm a supervisor: Once you have made contact, we will ask you to complete a short Expression of Interest (EOI) form with more details about your research interests and proposed topic. At this stage, you can also advise us if you are seeking a scholarship. If you have not already identified a suitable supervisor, we will use the EOI to try and find a supervisor that is interested and available. Applications are not able to proceed until at least one ISF supervisor is willing to support the application.
  3. Apply for pre-approval: Once you have confirmed an interested supervisor, you will work with them to prepare your pre-approval application. You will need to prepare and submit four documents, including you CV, academic transcripts for your previous degree(s), response to assessment criteria, and research proposal. Applications should be emailed to ISF-LearningLC@uts.edu.au and to your proposed supervisor before the closing dates. We accept applications twice a year for domestic applicants and twice a year for international applicants.
  4. Wait for confirmation: Pre-approval applications are assessed and ranked by the ISF LDLC. This usually takes place about two weeks after the application deadline. We will inform you of the outcome of the pre-approval process shortly after the LDLC meeting. Please note that pre-approval is not a guarantee that you will be awarded a scholarship. We generally do not have sufficient scholarships available for all applicants that are seeking them. 
  5. Apply to UTS: Pre-approved applicants can then proceed to submit an enrolment application to UTS. Processing of applications by UTS can take several months and includes decisions on award of scholarships. You will be contacted directly by the UTS Graduate Research School with the outcome of your application.

More information about applying to study with ISF

Applying for a research degree at ISF (PDF download)

Other information

Research degrees at UTS 

Scholarships 

How to apply to UTS (after you receive pre-approval from ISF)

Contact us

t: +61 2 9514 4950
e: isf@uts.edu.au

Level 10, UTS Building 10
235 Jones Street
Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia
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