Vice-Chancellor's Indigenous Doctoral Fellow Scheme

Submit a scanned copy of a valid certified identification document with your photo (passport or equivalent).

Prospective candidates must apply using their full legal name (as reflected in their passport) or a valid identification document.

Your CV should clearly indicate the starting and end dates and country of all our education, work and research experiences. This can also include scholarships and awards, relevant employment, and publications/exhibitions/performances.

Publications where applicable should be included in your CV. You can only include publications that have been accepted, are in-press or have been published.

Supporting documents can include:

A copy of your CV/resume, Proof of acceptance or publication of peer reviewed article, or book/book chapter, copies of conference abstracts and the front pages (including contents page) for each publication.

Provide scanned copies of your official academic transcripts for all completed qualifications.

Transcripts must display grades achieved during exam periods, along with dates corresponding to completed degrees.

Include an explanation of the scoring system (minimum and maximum grades), clearly indicating the passing threshold. This can be satisfied by providing the University with a grading scale from your institution(s).

Academic records not written in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

Preferred translations are those made by NAATI-qualified translators or official translation services.

If you are still completing a qualification, upload a provisional degree certificate or a document from your institution confirming your current status.

Once completed, you must submit your final transcript and any examiners’ reports (if applicable).

If you have completed an ungraded Research Masters, upload examiners’ reports along with your academic transcript (if available).

• Certified copies of official academic transcripts showing all courses/units attempted, marks, and grades achieved.
• Degree certificates/testamurs from the awarding institution for all completed qualifications.
• An explanation of the grading schema, typically found on the back of your transcript, or a link to the university’s website providing this information.
  

Along with your research proposal, you will need to clearly indicate your proposed research title or area of interest. Please also specify the supervision team involved in your supervision team across both institutions.

Supporting documents required can include: Invitation to Apply, Research Proposal, Sponsorship/scholarship letter (where applicable).

Certified English Proficiency Certificate or other proof of English proficiency, if English is not your first language. Please not that "English as a first language" refers to being a citizen in a country that has English as their primary language. You can qualify as "English as a first language" if you are a citizen from any of the countries that are listed on our recognised qualifications page.

Note: If your English proficiency certificate is not yet available, you may attach evidence of your commitment to present a valid test (proof that you booked the test). Failure to submit a valid certificate that complies with the minimum criteria may lead to rejection of your application.

All applicants must meet RMIT’s English language Proficiency (ELP) requirements. English tests must be valid at the point of commencement.

Supporting documents required can include evidence of meeting ELP requirements, if applicable (e.g. test report form, letter from institution confirming studies were completed in English).

A: Language Proficiency Test taken within the last 2 years, please view our English language proficiency test page for RMIT accepted tests.

To determine the English language proficiency test requirements for your research program at RMIT, please follow the steps below:

1. Visit the Research Programs webpage.
2. Scroll down to the "Choose a study area" section and select your relevant study area. This will direct you to a new page.
3. On the new page, scroll down to the "Explore our [discipline] courses and disciplines" section and click on the discipline you are applying for.
4. In the "Choose a [discipline] course" section, select "International Students". If a pop-up appears saying “You're viewing program information for local students,” make sure to click "Switch to international content."
5. Select the specific program you are applying for (e.g. PhD (Architecture & Design)). This will open the course information page.
6. On the right side of the screen, locate the "EXPLORE" navigation menu that follows you as you scroll. Click on "Admissions" to jump to the entry requirements section.
7. Within this section, click the fourth tab labeled "English language requirements."
8. You will now see the specific English test score requirements accepted for your program.

B: Successful completion of a postgraduate qualification from an accredited university or institution where:

i. English was the medium of instruction and assessment of study, and

ii. the final year of university study was completed during the five years immediately prior to the commencement of study at RMIT University.

(you must attach a letter from your university that clearly indicates that medium of instruction was in English)

C: Successful completion of at least two years of full-time (or part-time equivalent) university study from an accredited university or institution where:

i. English was the medium of instruction and assessment of study, and

ii. the final year of university study was undertaken during the two years immediately prior to commencement at RMIT.

(you must attach a letter from your university that clearly indicates that medium of instruction was in English)

D: Evidence of professional experience and/or academic publications in English, such as:

i. sustained work for two years immediately prior to commencement at RMIT in a country where English is an official language

ii. authorship or co-authorship of at least two English language peer-reviewed journal articles or a book chapter written and published in English within the three years prior to commencement at RMIT.

(you must attach copies of your published papers)

• Statement of Purpose (SOP) (PDF 291KB)

Some of the documents that are sent during your application must be certified.

When you apply through a RMIT-registered agent, they will send certified documents to RMIT University directly- so they may work with you on certifying documents as part of your application.

• Grading scale (specifying the pass and/or grade required for the award of the qualification issued by institutions
• Work reference letter issued by the employer
• Discontinuation letter issued by the institutions
• Language of instruction letter issued by the institutions
• Passport, National ID Card or Driver’s License to prove your identity
• Australian Passport, Australian Birth Certificate, Australian Citizenship Certificate or Australian Visa Grant Notice to prove your Australian citizenship or Australian residency status

To submit a copy of a document, you need to get a trusted person to verify that the copy you’re providing is an accurate reflection of the original. They would do this by sighting the original document, checking that the copy aligns to the original, then certifying each page (this is important) of the documentation.

They should do this by making each page of the copy includes:

• a statement or a stamp that shows the certifier has seen the original documents by using words like 'certified true copy of the original' or 'original sighted'
• the date
• the certifier's signature, full name, organisation stamp, and position title (unless the certifier is a RMIT-registered agent).

For documents submitted from outside Australia, the following people are trusted:

• solicitor
• commissioner for declarations
• government official
• public notary
• university staff from your previous university (head of department, dean, registrar or other authorised delegate).

Documents certified by:

• RMIT staff members or RMIT-registered agents ARE accepted
• Postal managers or independent/catholic school principals are NOT accepted.

A letter of financial guarantee is only applicable if you are an international applicant being sponsored to come to RMIT to complete your research degree.