For Students

Medical students at one of the UQRCS sites interested in research, please contact Dr Priya Martin. Please also read the further information below under the "Medical students interested in Research" tab.

UQRCS supports candidates from a broad range of disciplines, skills and topics interested in applying for a Higher degree by research (HDR) through UQRCS, either PhD or Masters of Philosophy (MPhil). Associate Professor Matthew McGrail is the key contact who can assist with your queries.

Please refer to Researchers staff profiles as we have an experienced team of potential supervisors.

Medical students interested in Research

UQRCS Research Team supports students across all the UQRCS sites, who are interested in obtaining research experience. This type of research experience often has the following characteristics:

Students volunteer their time in order to gain research experience
Projects can be with UQRCS researchers or with research-active clinicians
UQRCS-supported research covers a broad range of clinical and population health projects, depending on project availability
Students commit the amount of time they have available. Greater involvement will increase the likelihood of recognition in research outputs

The benefits to students participating in research projects include obtaining experience in research design, different methods and analysis techniques and presenting their findings at conferences and publishing in the peer review journals. UQRCS Research Team helps students in all areas of research and will also assist in facilitating engagement at conferences and other avenues for presenting their research findings.

Research Expression of Interest (EOI)

Students interested in research at UQRCS should complete a Research Expression of Interest Form. This allows the UQRCS research team to support students, by understanding their skills and interests.

Find a project

All projects available to medical students are listed on the Faculty of Medicine Student Research Portal. Projects available at the UQRCS are listed under the heading 'rural projects'; however, students are welcome to assist with metropolitan-based projects, where they can be supported remotely, especially if there is unavailability of projects in the RCS region that align with their areas of interest.

Faculty Research Portal

The Faculty of Medicine Student Research Portal is a comprehensive source of information for students to locate and enquire about available research projects and activities that have been posted by research supervisors across the Faculty.

Please note that as part of the implementation of the new MD curriculum, there are separate processes for self-guided/extracurricular research depending on whether students are in year 1 and 2 or years 3 and 4 of the program.

Further information on research in the Faculty of Medicine can be found here.

Unpaid Work Experience Form

Year 3 & 4 students who are participating in a research project are required to complete the mandatory Unpaid Work Experience Form, as their participation in these projects is outside of the usual curriculum.

Students who are participating in a research project are required to complete the Unpaid Work Experience Form, as their participating in these projects is outside of the normal curriculum.

All students participating in research projects are required to register their research before getting involved in their project. To register your project, please refer to the information for Years 1 and 2 or Years 3 and 4.

If students have any research enquiries while at the RCS, they are encouraged to contact Dr Priya Martin (students based in Toowoomba and Hervey Bay) or Dr Jordan Fox (students based in Rockhampton or Bundaberg).

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

A PhD is one of the highest degrees that can be awarded. It is an advanced academic qualification seen as a requirement for the majority of academic and research positions in a wide range of fields and industries. The aim of the PhD is to foster the development of independent research skills. These skills include the capacity to formulate a significant problem, to develop mastery of appropriate conceptual and methodological skills, and to relate the research topic to a broader framework of knowledge in a relevant disciplinary area.

Duration: Undertaking a PhD is expected to take 3-4 years full-time or 6-7 years part-time

Students are required to produce a thesis of no more than 80,000 words, with the research representing a significant new contribution to the discipline.

Entry requirements

Check your eligibility

The requirements for a PhD, applicants must provide evidence of the following:

A bachelor’s degree with at least honours class IIA or equivalent from approved universities, which includes a relevant research component; or
A research master’s degree; or
A coursework master’s degree and an overall GPA (grade point average) equivalent to 5.65 on the 7-point UQ scale, which includes a relevant research component; or
A postgraduate degree of at least one year full-time equivalent with an overall GPA (grade point average) equivalent to 5.0 on the 7-point UQ scale, together with demonstrated research experience equivalent to honours IIA will be considered for PhD entry on a case by case basis; or
A bachelor’s degree plus at least two years of documented relevant research experience, including research publications.

For those who don't quite fit any of eligibility standards, we strongly encourage consideration of a Masters pathway which can allow transition into a PhD.

Applicants with overseas qualifications should refer to the GPA equivalency table.

English language proficiency requirements apply.

Potential research topics

The UQRCS can support candidates from a broad range of backgrounds and interest areas. Though we are situated within the Faculty of Medicine, our research staff and potential HDR students come from a multitude of different disciplines beyond medicine and/or clinical research such as public health, nursing, health policy, health services research, marketing, biostatistics and psychometrics.

We strongly encourage you to read about our primary research program areas and consider how your project idea may align with one (or more) of these. Please contact one of us with your potential research idea(s) to further discuss if the UQRCS would be a suitable fit for your project.

Find and contact a supervisor

UQRCS has an experienced team of researchers and potential supervisors, see the section Research Team.

Prepare your application

Further information about preparing your application can be found here.

Apply online

If you wish to be considered for a UQ competitive, merit-based stipend scholarship simply indicate this on the application form.

Please check UQ scholarship round application deadlines and outcomes dates before applying. In addition, we can confirm that candidates who plan to study within one of the RCS sites are eligible to apply (you will not be classified as remote) for the RTP scholarship (stipends).

To apply online visit this website

Masters of Philosophy (MPhil)

Masters of Philosophy (MPhil)

An MPhil is an internationally recognised postgraduate research degree that involves undertaking a significant research project. The MPhil program provides students with an opportunity to develop and enhance analytical and research skills through independent investigation in a specific field. Many MPhil students elect to transition into a PhD.

Duration: 1.5-2 years (full time)

Students are required to produce a thesis of no more than 40,000 words that demonstrates their capacity for critical analysis and application of specialist knowledge.