sydney university phd thesis

Finding theses

University of sydney theses, higher degree by research theses.

We hold theses written by the University’s Higher Degree by Research (PhD or Masters by Research) students in our collections.

You can find a University of Sydney thesis by searching the  Library catalogue . Select the “Advanced search” and then select “USYD Theses” from the “Material type” dropdown menu.

You can also find digital theses by searching directly in the Sydney eScholarship repository .

Access a digital or digitised thesis

Many of the University’s digital and digitised theses are openly available for download through the Sydney eScholarship repository .

Theses marked “University of Sydney Access” are only available to current University staff and students. Libraries and private researchers can request to purchase a copy of a University of Sydney Access only thesis for AUD$18.50 (incl. GST, within Australia) or AUD$40.00 (international requests).

To purchase a digital thesis, you need to complete one of the relevant request forms below and submit it to [email protected] :

• Individuals requesting a thesis, or library requesting on behalf of an individual
• Libraries requesting a copy to be included in their collection

All requests for copies of material held at the University of Sydney Library must comply with the  Copyright Act of 1968 .

Access a hard copy thesis

Theses that are only available in printed format can be viewed in the Rare Books and Special Collections Library , Level 1, Fisher Library.

We are currently running a project to digitise hardcopy theses. You can request an update to find out where a particular thesis is in our digitisation queue by emailing [email protected] .

We don’t digitise theses on request.

Honours or postgraduate coursework theses

Search for an honours or postgraduate coursework thesis in the repository , then use the filters on the left side of the results page to narrow by “Type”.

You can also search the Honours and Postgraduate Coursework theses collection for a faculty, school or discipline (if available).

There are limited numbers of honours theses in the Sydney eScholarship repository as we have strict requirements for submission of honours theses . If you can't find the thesis you're looking for, we suggest contacting the relevant faculty office.

Theses from other Australian and New Zealand universities

Find a thesis from other Australian or New Zealand universities by searching:

• Australian theses via Trove
• Libraries Australia for Higher Degree theses awarded from 1989 onwards
• Education Research Theses for citations and abstracts from theses submitted from 1919 onwards.

If you’re interested in a thesis that isn't available online, you can request the item through our Resource Sharing Service .

International theses

For theses written and submitted at universities outside of Australia, try the following resources:

• Open Access Theses and Dissertations
• DART-Europe E-theses Portal
• British Library Electronic Digital Thesis Online Service (EThOS)
• EBSCO open dissertations
• French Thesis-On-Line Repository
• History Online – postgraduate theses in History submitted in the UK since 1995
• Index to Theses – listing of theses with abstracts accepted for higher degrees by universities in Great Britain and Ireland since 1716
• Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations – North American theses
• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global

Related information

For more help finding and accessing theses, speak to our friendly library staff.

• Current students
• Staff intranet

• University Home
• Science Faculty

About the School

Undergraduate study, for prospective students, internal pages.

• Research grants
• Postgraduate Study
• Postgraduate Scholarships
• PhD & MSc theses

Postgraduate Theses in the School of Mathematics and Statistics

Theses submitted in 2024, theses submitted in 2023, theses submitted in 2022, theses submitted in 2021, theses submitted in 2020, theses submitted in 2019, theses submitted in 2018, theses submitted in 2017, theses submitted in 2016, theses submitted in 2015, theses submitted in 2014, theses submitted in 2013, theses submitted in 2012, theses submitted in 2011, theses submitted in 2010, theses submitted in 2009, theses submitted in 2008, theses submitted in 2007, theses submitted in 2006, theses submitted in 2005, theses submitted in 2004, theses submitted in 2003, theses submitted in 2002, theses submitted in 2001, theses submitted in 2000, theses submitted in 1999, theses submitted in 1998, theses submitted in 1997, theses submitted in 1996, theses submitted in 1995, theses submitted in 1994, maths & stats website:.

• Postgraduate Program
• Undergraduate Program
• Prospective Students

© 2002-2024 The University of Sydney. ABN:  15 211 513 464. CRICOS number:  00026A. Phone:  +61 2 9351 2222. Authorised by:  Head, School of Mathematics and Statistics.

Contact the University | Disclaimer | Privacy | Accessibility

The University of Sydney - Sydney Nursing School Handbook 2018

• Nursing Handbook
• University Home
• Semester dates
• Pre-registration study
• Post-registration study
• Postgraduate study
• Postgraduate research
• Course rules
• Unit of study table
• Unit of study descriptions
• Master of Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Admission requirements Supervision Time limits

Doctor of Philosophy Our research and current research projects

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is a University degree governed by Resolutions set down by the Academic Board. Candidates should be familiar with the Academic Board documents:

• University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 , and
• Thesis and Examination of Higher Degree by Research Policy 2015 .

The most recent versions of these rules are found the Policy Register . The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is a research degree awarded for a thesis considered to be a substantial and original contribution to knowledge. The successful completion of some coursework to support the development of research skills and improve understanding of research methods may be required as part of candidature but in no case does it constitute a major component of the degree.

A preliminary research proposal outlining the topic or area of study, the likely research method and the argument for conducting the proposed research will need to be attached to the application, however, we strongly recommend that you discuss the proposed research project with an academic member of staff before making your application. Guidance on preparing a research proposal or finding a research supervisor may also be obtained by contacting the Postgraduate Coordinator at Sydney Nursing School.

PhD students are expected to work independently with guidance from at least two academic supervisors. Students will be required to present their work to colleagues and peers, a minimum of three times during their candidature, in general addressing the key candidature milestones of scoping and developing the project, refining the methodology and method, and communicating the findings of their research.

All PhD students are expected to communicate regularly with their agreed research supervisors and attend the research workshops and seminars that are held at regular intervals during each year and to participate in the annual Sydney Nursing School Research Week and to actively participate in an annual progress review and interview process.

Admission requirements

Applicants should hold one of the following to be eligible for an offer of enrolment: - a bachelor's degree with first or upper-second-class honours, OR - a research master’s degree OR - a master's coursework degree with a significant research component, and considerable work-related research experience &/or research publications OR - an advanced learning master’s degree (60 credit points) awarded by Sydney Nursing School, having achieved within the degree a minimum of a credit level for 12 credit points of research training related coursework and a minimum of a distinction level for the 12 credit point Capstone (Research) unit of study.

Time limits

Candidates can proceed on a full- or part-time basis. The normal maximum length of candidature would be three to four years for full-time students and six to eight years for part –time students.

© 2002-2024 The University of Sydney. Last Updated:  16-Nov-2017

ABN:  15 211 513 464. CRICOS Number:  00026A. Phone:  +61 2 9351 2222.

Authorised by:  Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education).

Contact the University | Jobs | Library | Disclaimer | Privacy Statement | Accessibility

• Library Home
• VC's Welcome
• Strategy and Planning
• Quality Management
• Sustainability
• Submit Your Research
• Staff Directory
• Staff Profiles
• Staff Online
• Employment at UWS
• Office of People and Culture
• Admin Login
• MyUWS Login
• Accept and Enrol
• Student Forms
• Jobs for Students
• Future Students
• Scholarships
• Tutorial Registration
• Password Management
• Air UWS - Wireless
• UWSConnect Books
• Accommodation
• IT Services
• Whitlam Institute
• SMExcellence

• Researchers

You are here

Western sydney university thesis collection.

• Twitter (X)

Doctor of Philosophy

As a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidate, you’ll complete a substantial program of independent and original research in your chosen field of study. A PhD prepares you for a range of careers - from academic to industry and is the highest degree qualification available. 

• 3–4 years (full time) minimum commitment of 35 – 40 hours per week or
• 6–8 years (part time) minimum commitment of 15 hours per week.
• Offered in all Faculties
• A thesis of no more than 100,000 words.

Entry requirements

Future careers.

• Fees & costs

UNSW undertakes world-class research that tackles some of the greatest challenges facing society today. When you join the UNSW research community, you join a passionate collective of people who are using research to transform minds, transform lives, and transform the world.

UNSW will support you to develop the skills and expertise you need to make a difference in your field. We are committed to providing you with an unmatched PhD experience that includes outstanding research training and mentorship, world-class supervision, and access to research environments defined by excellence and collaboration.

You will receive advanced specialist research training and produce a thesis that provides evidence for independent thought, critical analysis, and expert knowledge of the discipline in an international context. In some disciplines, creative work may form part of the thesis.

Find information about individual PhD programs and codes on the UNSW Handbook .

Learn about the graduate attributes and learning outcomes for UNSW higher degree research programs here . 

The minimum requirement for admission to a PhD is:

• A UNSW Bachelor degree with first or upper second class Honours from UNSW; or
• a completed Master by Research from UNSW with a substantial research component and demonstrated capacity for timely completion of a high quality research thesis; or
• an equivalent qualification from a tertiary institution as determined by the Faculty Higher Degree Committee (HDC)

The minimum requirement for UNSW Scholarship with admission to a PhD is:

• a four year Bachelor degree with first or upper second class Honours from an Australian institution or equivalent research qualification as above.

You may think of yourself as a student, but we think of you as a professional researcher in the early stages of a long and vibrant career.

UNSW will provide you with the skills and expertise to pursue a range of career pathways after you graduate, from academia to industry.

As a PhD candidate, you’ll have access to a wealth of opportunities to work with and alongside industry through industry PhD programs to internships and mentorships .

You’ll also have access to the most comprehensive student entrepreneurship program in Australia, that can help you develop your ideas, raise capital and launch a startup.

Fees and costs

The costs associated with enrolment in a research higher degree program vary depending on whether you are a domestic or international candidate. Learn more about the fees and costs here .

Have questions? Contact us

+61 2 9385 5500

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

• Search all things Library

Finding UNSW theses

UNSW PhD or Masters by Research theses can be located via  UNSWorks . For honours theses, contact the UNSW faculty, school or the author directly.

For more information on rights of use and removing material in UNSWorks see  Copyright - UNSWorks .

Finding Australian and international theses

Australian theses.

To find Australian theses, search via:

Library collection To find UNSW Library’s collection of Australian and international theses in print, search  Library collection  for a title or keywords. Refine your results by selecting  Refine my results > Resource types > Dissertations  in the column on the left.

Trove - Australian print and digital theses Trove includes theses at all levels, including PhD, masters and honours. To limit your search to Australian theses only, use  Trove - Research & Reports  search. Tick the  Australian content  box. Next to  Format - select  Thesis  from the drop-down list.

International theses

To find international theses, search via:

BASE BASE academic search engine provides access to the repositories of 8,000 institutions. 60% of the full-text documents are open access.

CORE CORE aggregates open access research outputs from repositories and journals worldwide.

DART-Europe e-theses portal DART-Europe is a partnership of research libraries and library consortia working to improve global access to European research theses.

EBSCO open dissertations Includes the content from American Doctoral Dissertations in addition to theses and dissertations from around the world. Coverage from 1955.

Open access theses and dissertations OATD provides access to open access graduate theses from over 1100 colleges, universities, and research institutions.

Theses Canada Theses and dissertations in the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) collection.

Web of Science The Web of Science ProQuest Dissertations & Theses collection provides access to the citation information of theses form around the world. To search for thesis citations, change the search from Web of Science Core Collection to ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Citation Index .

Non-UNSW theses

To obtain a thesis that is not available via the resources listed above, contact the library of the holding/publishing institution directly. Conditions of access to a thesis are determined by the author and holding library, and is outside the control of UNSW Library.

Depositing your thesis

How to  deposit  your UNSW thesis.

• Western Sydney University
• Study Smart
• Staff Directory
• Western WiFi
• Staff Online
• Staff Email
• Password Management
• WesternNow Staff Portal
• ResearchMaster
• Citrix Access
• Student Management System
• Exam Timetable
• Class Registration
• Oracle Financials
• Casual Room Bookings
• Staff Profile Editor
• Vehicle Bookings
• Form Centre
• WSU SharePoint Portal
• Learning Guide Management System (LGMS)
• Student Email
• My Student Records (MySR)
• WesternLife
• WesternNow Student Portal
• My Exam Timetable
• Student Forms (eForms)
• Accept My Offer
• Vice-Chancellor
• Leadership and Governance
• Education Quality
• Sustainability
• Staff Profiles
• Office of Human Resources
• Important Dates
• Accept and Enrol
• Student Forms
• Jobs for Students
• Future Students
• Scholarships
• Online Courses
• Western Wifi - Wireless
• Accommodation
• The College
• Whitlam Institute
• Membership & Borrowing
• Campus Libraries
• Using the Library
• Library of the Future
• Rules & Policies
• About Our Collections
• e-Resources
• ResearchDirect
• Special Collections
• Indigenous Resources
• Whitlam Prime Ministerial Collection
• Document Delivery & External Collections
• Collection Suggestions
• Study Smart Skills
• Academic Integrity
• Referencing & Citation
• Subject Essentials
• Exam Papers
• Distance Students
• Offshore Students
• Disability Services
• Study Breaks
• School Librarians
• Academic & Information Literacy
• Linking to Library Resources
• Managing Reading Lists
• Western Open Books
• Submit a Publication
• Conducting Research
• Research Data Management
• Develop a Publishing Plan
• Open Access Publishing Fee Support
• Request a DOI or ISBN
• Systematic Reviews & Covidence
• EndNote & Citation Tools
• Group Study Rooms
• Library Hours Open sub nav
• My Library Account Open sub nav
• Research Publications Open sub nav
• ResearchDirect Guidelines Open sub nav
• Literature Reviews Open sub nav
• Types of Research Methods Open sub nav
• Locating Theses Open sub nav
• Sourcing Research Data Open sub nav
• Evaluating Sources Open sub nav
• Data Management Planning Open sub nav
• Research Data Storage Options Open sub nav
• Data Literacy Open sub nav
• Sensitive Data Open sub nav
• Finding Research Data Open sub nav
• Publishing Data Open sub nav
• Copyright and Intellectual Property Open sub nav
• Research Funder & Publisher Requirements Open sub nav
• Keeping Current Open sub nav
• Read & Publish Agreements Open sub nav
• Central Funding for Article Processing Charges Open sub nav
• Request a DOI or ISBN Open sub nav
• Western Open Books Open sub nav
• Systematic Reviews & Covidence Open sub nav
• Researchers
• Locating Theses

As a researcher, locating theses in your discipline area will be useful for:

• Finding if your research topic is original.
• Referring to the references may indicate seminal work you should also consider.
• Providing an example of an appropriate research methodologies in your field of study.
• Providing an example thesis structure template that is appropriate for your discipline.

Locating Western Sydney University theses

Details of all research theses (Masters by Research or above) written by postgraduate students at Western Sydney University are available via ResearchDirect . Online access to the full-text is provided in most cases, where permission to publish has been granted by the author.

In ResearchDirect , enter your search term in the 'Search Publications' box. This can be keywords from a subject, a title or author’s name. To limit results to theses, click ‘thesis’ in the ‘Publication Type’ facet on the left. You can further limit your results by Date or Subject, if required.

Locating Australian theses

Western Sydney University theses are also available through the National Library of Australia's Trove website, along with other Australian and international theses held in Australian libraries. Results link to theses held in Australian university repositories. Full-text may be available, based on the author granting permission.

For further assistance, refer to the Trove search strategy for locating Australian theses .

Locating international theses

To locate international theses, use the following options:

• EBSCO Open Dissertations
• Open Access Theses and Dissertations
• Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses

Postgraduates and staff can request to purchase theses where full-text access is not available.

For further assistance, consult with your School Librarian .