Melbourne/Malaysia 'Split' PhD Partnership
The PhD and research collaboration initiative
The Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education recently negotiated a Partnership Agreement between seven Malaysian Universities and The University of Melbourne. This Agreement is similar to agreements which the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education has in place with Nottingham University and with Imperial College, London. The University of Melbourne is the only Australian university invited to participate in this initiative.
The primary objectives of the Agreement are:
- to build capacity in the Malaysian higher education sector by providing joint PhD research training at The University of Melbourne and the designated Malaysian Universities to selected candidates from the participating Malaysian Universities; and
- to foster collaborative research and exchange between academic staff of the participating Malaysian universities and The University of Melbourne.
To achieve these objectives, scholarships will be provided by the Malaysian universities to selected academic staff of their respective universities to undertake PhD training at The University of Melbourne. The PhD training will be based on a four (4) year full-time course of study whereby the selected candidates split their research time between The University of Melbourne and their respective Malaysian university. Full scholarships will be provided to commencing PhD students for the next four years commencing in 2007/8 through to 2010/2011. This means that in effect the Agreement continues for a period of eight years.
Important features of the Agreement are as follows:
- The PhD qualification will be an award of The University of Melbourne.
- The period of residence at The University of Melbourne will normally be a minimum of 50% of the four year full-time course of study (ie a minimum of 2 years) and this period will include the first three months and the last three months of the PhD program. Students may, however, spend more than two years at Melbourne if this is required for the particular project. The remainder of the candidature will be undertaken at the respective Malaysian university. The time period at each location will be negotiated on a case by case basis between the supervisors, candidate and the respective universities. Please note that some Malaysian universities may limit the amount of consecutive time in Australia to 12 months for any single visit.
- Each selected PhD candidate will normally be supervised by an approved supervisor from The University of Melbourne and an approved supervisor from one of the participating Malaysian universities, although there is provision in the Agreement for the co-supervisor to be sourced from any Malaysian university.
- The scholarship will cover tuition and applicable service fees over the 4 year full-time PhD program, including agreed skills development programs; accommodation and living expenses in Melbourne; costs associated with supervision (including the cost of travel, accommodation and living expenses of supervisors and co-supervisors for at least one trip per annum to each other's university for the purpose of supervising their respective candidates); overseas medical insurance; an establishment/relocation allowance; and international travel costs.
- Any staff member of a participating Malaysian university who has been offered a Malaysian Government PhD scholarship and who is interested in studying at The University of Melbourne will need to apply for admission to the PhD program and will be required to meet all University of Melbourne selection criteria and other course requirements.
- Staff members from other Malaysian universities are also eligible to participate in this initiative but they must register through one of the seven participating Malaysian universities.
- A Joint Advisory Committee, comprising equal representation from the University of Melbourne and from the participating Malaysian universities, will be established to oversee the program and to monitor progress.
- A key contact person for this initiative has been designated at Ministry of Higher Education. This key contact person is Dato' Prof. Ir. Dr. Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar (Tel: +60 3 883 5070/5146) The key contact person for the University of Melbourne is Carmella Prideaux, School of Graduate Research (Tel: +61 418 576 518). Ms Jan Drew, Regional Director (Malaysia and Singapore) (Tel: +60 3 2615 7319) who is located in the University's Malaysia Office in Kuala Lumpur can also provide assistance, including presentations/briefings at the participating universities.
Malaysian universities participating in the PhD and research collaboration initiative
The following seven Malaysian universities have been selected by the Malaysian Government to be involved in the split-PhD and research collaboration initiative with The University of Melbourne:
- Universiti Malaya
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
- Universiti Putra Malaysia
- International Islamic University Malaysia
- Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
- Universiti Malaysia Sabah
- Universiti Teknologi Mara
Applying for the Split-PhD
Applications are now open for potential candidates interested in this four year split-PhD program fully sponsored by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). The Application Form can be downloaded from www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/int/ipg/ipgapply.html. You should download the application form rather than completing and submitting it on-line.
Applications are still being accepted.
Completed hard copy applications with relevant documentation attached must be submitted to:
Dato' Prof. Ir. Dr. Sahol. Hamid Abu Bakar
Ministry of Higher Education
Level 3, Block 3, Parcel E, Precinct 1
Federal Government Administrative Complex
62505 Putrajaya
Malaysia
Tel: +60 3 8883 5070/5146
Fax: +60 3 8883 5325
Email: sahol@mohe.gov.my
Please make sure that you include the following information and required documentation with your Application Form:
- evidence of English language proficiency;
- certified copies of academic transcripts from your tertiary level studies (completed and current). If your Masters level qualification is coursework-based rather than research-based, please provide information relating to any research studies or research experience you have completed;
- a certified translation of academic records, if the originals are not in English;
- evidence of work experience, if required;
- two referee reports, one of which should be the supporting letter from your head of department/school or equivalent;
- a research proposal of no more than one page in length. This should be a simple statement of the general area of research and methodology in which you would like to undertake your PhD. The proposal should not be too narrow in focus as it will be progressively refined during discussions with your proposed supervisor. If you have an idea of a particular project you may provide this as an attachment to assist in finding an appropriate supervisor;
- a detailed curriculum vitae.
NB: The assessment/application fee of AUD $100.00 which is specified on the Application Form has been waived for applicants who are involved in the split-PhD initiative.
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be required to meet all the selection criteria for entry into the PhD specified by The University of Melbourne, and other course requirements. The selection process is competitive and applicants will be assessed against other international applicants and will be selected in order of merit.
The University of Melbourne's minimum pre-requisite for the PhD is a four year honours degree of high standard, or a qualification and experience judged to be equivalent. Applicants are normally required to have completed a research project or component that accounts for at least 25% of their year's work at fourth-year or at Masters level. Some PhD specialisations may have additional specific requirements. The minimum English language requirement is an IELTS overall band of 6.5 with a written band of 6.0. PhD courses in Arts, Dental Science, Economics and Commerce, Education, Law and Physiotherapy require an IELTS overall band of 7.0 with a written band of 7.0.
Identification of Supervisors and Co-supervisors
There is wide variation in how prospective students go about identifying supervisors and co-supervisors. Each Faculty/Graduate School/Department has a team of postgraduate research student advisors who can advise you of the preferred approach to identifying supervisors within their Faculty. Most Faculties/Graduate Schools/Departments require you to identify the University of Melbourne supervisor prior to submitting a formal application. This will require you to commence a dialogue with a prospective supervisor who is known to you or who has been recommended to you or who you have identified through the University of Melbourne web pages. The purpose of the dialogue is to see if your area of interest matches the interest and expertise of the prospective supervisor and to determine whether he/she will be able to act as your supervisor should you be selected for entry to the PhD. Some Faculties/Graduate Schools/Departments prefer to allocate the most appropriate supervisor on the basis of your research proposal following assessment of your application. It is important that you familiarise yourself with the procedures and practices within the Faculty/Graduate SchoolDepartment which is most relevant to your area of interest.
The selection of the co-supervisor in Malaysia can either be done prior to submitting a formal application or following identification of the Melbourne supervisor. It is important to be aware that the Melbourne supervisor would need to agree to the Malaysian co-supervisor you have nominated.
Useful University of Melbourne Websites
The University of Melbourne website has comprehensive and up-to-date information about courses and research programs on offer and about the nature of the University in general.
You may find the following websites of particular interest:
- The University of Melbourne homepage (includes link to Faculty homepages)
- School of Graduate Research
- Postgraduate International Prospectus
- PhD Handbook
- Postgraduate International Application Form
- Research Profile
- Research Experts
- Themis Research Profile Database
- Future Students Page
- Course Search Database
Further Information
For further information about the split-PhD initiative with The University of Melbourne please contact:
Ms Carmella Prideaux
International Projects Advisor
School of Graduate Research
The University of Melbourne
Australia 3010
Tel: +61 3 8344 4402
Mob: +61 418 576 518
Email: cprid@unimelb.edu.auMs Jan Drew
Regional Director (Malaysia and Singapore)
The University of Melbourne Malaysia Office
Menara Maxis
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Kuala Lumpur 50088
Tel: +60 3 2615 7319
Fax +60 3 2615 0088
Email: jan.drew@unimelb.edu.au