Overview

Career outcomes

A PhD is an essential qualification for a research career in many areas of science. A PhD is also a ticket to international research opportunities.

Many of our graduates go on to work as postdoctoral research scientists and then to careers in research and teaching in academia. Alternatively, they move into industry, where the technical and professional skills that come with completing a PhD are highly valued.

Employers of PhD graduates include:

• Universities
• International research institutions such as CSIRO, the Defence Science and Technology Group, the Max Planck Institutes, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and NASA
• Government departments like the Bureau of Meteorology, the Bureau of Statistics and Melbourne Water
• Consulting firms such as Deloitte and KPMG
• Software and computing companies such as IBM, IRESS and Quantium
• Large financial services companies including ANZ and NAB.

Technical and professional skills

On completion of your PhD, you’ll have high-level knowledge and research skills in your chosen area of science.

Additionally, you’ll have strong professional skills in:

• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Research planning, literature reviews and reporting on research
• Scientific communication, both written and oral
• Project management.

Intended learning outcomes

Upon completion of the PhD, the graduate researcher will be able to:

• demonstrate command of a substantial and complex body of knowledge at the forefront of a discipline
• independently and systematically engage in critical reflection, synthesis and evaluation
• independently and systematically develop, adapt and implement research methodologies to extend and redefine existing knowledge
• independently and systematically generate original knowledge and understanding such that they can make a substantial contribution to a discipline
• disseminate research findings effectively in the professional arena and in an international context
• demonstrate autonomy, authoritative judgement and responsibility as an expert and scholar
• demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, research ethics and integrity.

Graduate attributes

For graduate attributes, refer to the Graduate Research Hub.