To be eligible for admission, an applicant must demonstrate:

1. academic merit, and
2. adequate research preparation, and
3. English language competency.

1. Academic merit can be demonstrated by the completion of either:

• A UWA Bachelor Honours Degree, or Postgraduate Degree, or equivalent, with a thesis mark of at least 70% and a course WAM of at least 70%; or
• A qualification and additional demonstrable experience in a relevant field that is deemed to be of a standard comparable to at least a UWA Bachelor Honours Degree with an overall result of at least 70%.

2. Adequate research preparation can be satisfied by one of the following:

• By completing a UWA Bachelor Honours degree or Postgraduate degree or equivalent, with a research project, such as a thesis or dissertation, which is at least 25% of an annual full-time enrolment with a mark of at least 70%; or
• By having previously undertaken work towards a Higher Degree by Research at a standard acceptable to the Board; or
• By providing evidence of research preparation gained during a relevant occupation since graduation at a standard acceptable to the Board; or
• By producing scholarly papers as sole or primary author, that appear in recognised academic journals or in volumes published by recognised academic publishers; or
• By producing research reports for industry, government or business, as sole or primary author, which adhere to the broad conventions of academic publishing (i.e. contain a review of relevant literature, a description of relevant research methods and an evaluation of results); or
• By presenting a portfolio of published creative work together with published critical discussion of some or all, of that work, or of a comparable body of work by others, and which demonstrates the applicant's development of a scholarly approach to creative work as research investigation.

3.  English language competency:

To be eligible for admission to a HDR course, an applicant must demonstrate adequate English language competency.

The Board determines, via the qualifications, tests and equivalents that it recognises, the minimum level of English language competency and the period of currency, required for admission to a Higher Degree by Research course.

Schools may set a higher level than the University's minimum level of English language requirement for entry into some courses.

The Board may deem an applicant as meeting the English language competency requirement if evidence demonstrates the applicant's English language ability is sufficient.

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and all applicants, including domestic applicants will need to meet the University’s English language requirements to be eligible for a place. A higher level of English is required for admission to the PhD course.

Graduates from Australian or international universities are not automatically assumed to have demonstrated English language proficiency despite that they may have studied some or all of the courses in English.

Each application is considered individually. In most cases a formal English qualification is required.

Higher scores are required for applicants in:

• Business School
• Dental School
• Graduate School of Education
• Law School