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The University of Western Australia offers applicants a variety of opportunities to pursue a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) course.

Use the tabs above to discover more about our courses, research projects and scholarship opportunities.

Eligibility

Please check that you have the required background to be admitted to a HDR course at UWA. Visit the Graduate Research School to view the eligibility criteria.

Supervision

Search the  UWA Research Repository  to identify an academic supervisor to support you in your research journey.

Application

Applications may be submitted at any time and there is no application fee. 

When you have identified your course of choice, scroll down on that course page, click on the "Enquire here" button to create an account and submit an application.

Some courses do have deadlines and applicants should check the course Handbook for further information.

Scholarship Rounds 

The next available scholarship rounds for enrolment in 2025 are:

• International Round: 1 July 2024 - 31 August 2024
• Domestic Round: 1 September 2024 - 31 October 2024 (this round includes UWA international students)

Project Scholarships

Once you have identified a suitable scholarship, you can submit an application by following the instructions outlined above.

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Research proposal

Answer id 3555 | last updated on 29/05/2024 03.17 pm.

• Login to HDRhub using your student ID.
• Go to 'My project', 'Research proposal', and 'Create new application'.
• Follow the prompts and upload your completed research proposal.

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• Research Development and Innovation

We work with researchers and with industry to develop research opportunities, facilitate collaborative research projects and access to new technologies, create impact from our research, and to commercialise intellectual property created at UWA and with our partners.

Commercialisation outcomes since 2001

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Tap into UWA's world class infrastructure

UWA's infrastructure is available to research institutions and industry. Tap into our facilities and world class expertise for your projects and cutting-edge research. Our infrastructure portfolio is continually developing, some of which is unique in the southern hemisphere.

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Our ground-breaking technologies and research results are available for partnering and commercialisation

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UWA's innovations have been commercialised or are under development with partners around the world

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Opportunities exist for partnering with UWA to research, develop and commercialise new technologies

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Take advantage of collaborative research opportunities, sponsored research, consulting services and partnering opportunities to develop UWA's innovative technologies

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Our researchers tackle global, regional and local issues to make the world a better place

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The Research Impact Toolkit has been created to help you plan and execute an impact strategy for your research.

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Knowledge transfer and research impact are priorities for The University of Western Australia as our goal is to serve our stakeholders and communities. The UWA Research Impact Grants scheme will provide funds to promote academic impact on a discipline through high quality publications and presentations at international conference.

From concept to commercialisation

Commercialisation

Commercialisation can be an important way of creating impact from your research - translating it from being interesting to being useful

Engaging with Industry

Collaborative projects with industry are important for developing new skills and technologies and sharing knowledge and resources.

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Research Development staff understand the dynamics of the academic research environment. We seek opportunities to bridge gaps, act as connectors; we are facilitators, educators, coaches, advisers and introducers.

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Tap into a pool of experts from the only top 100 University in WA.

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Source an expert witness from one of the world's top 100 Universities. UWA's Research strengths are classified by the Australian Research Council as above or well above world standard.

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UWA researchers are invited to register with the Office of Research Enterprise's Consulting and Expert Opinion Engagement services team to qualify as an expert witness.

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Research Data Management Toolkit: Store active data

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Store active data

• Finalise dataset
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• Funder requirements

Before commencing your research project you will need to consider how you will store your active data during the project. Active research data is data that is currently being collected, used, and analysed during your project/activity. This page takes you through:

• Choosing secure UWA approved data storage  
• Using Microsoft Teams/SharePoint and UWA's Institutional Data Store (IRDS)

Where to store your research data

The intellectual property your research creates is just as valuable to cyber criminals as it is to you. Adversaries may steal your data to make a profit, advantage other nations or disrupt research activities on ideological basis. Ensuring adequate security measures are in place is therefore paramount. 

Security starts with you.  You are responsible for safeguarding your own data and your research project, as well as UWA’s reputation. The University provides you with multiple options to securely create, store, collaborate on, and publish, your data. It is important you carefully establish the information protection classification of your research and utilise tools and systems that cater for the sensitivity level of your project.

The following storage matrix provides an overview of common data storage options. The Supported and Recommended Section outlines UWA’s preferred options and their key features to help you make an informed choice.

1 - Increased IRDS storage can be requested from Uni IT via ServiceNow

Microsoft Teams/SharePoint for active research data

Research Projects

• Save & Access files
• Sync Teams to your computer
• Further support

• A secure place to store your active research data (up to 1TB in size) that can be accessed via Teams and SharePoint– suitable for all data sensitivity levels and facilitating multiple levels of access to research data for different team members.
• A Teams workspace for project team collaboration , including with external researchers.
• Microsoft 365 tools integration, including project management tools

For researchers who have been using AARNet CloudStor to store research data, Research Projects in MS Teams offer a suitable replacement. 

External (non-UWA) collaborators can be invited to be part of a Teams site.  Once your Teams Research Project is established, project owners can set up external access by submitting a  Digital Guest Access Service Portal form .

Completion of a RDMP in the UWA Research Data Hub  is required before you will be allocated a Research Project workspace in Teams. 

Case Studies

View short case study videos from UWA researchers on how they have been using Teams to manage their Research Projects.

Professor Michael Burton, an Agricultural Economist, explains how the Westport project are using Teams for collaboration and data management.

Linda Wilson, a PhD Doctoral Student studying the geography of Australian Honeybees, discusses how she used MS Teams to manage her research workflow and collaborate with her supervisors.

Holly Winkle, Project Coordinator of the PEAT Project demonstrates how Teams has supported collaboration across a diverse team, working remotely across South-West WA.

Your new Research Project workspace in Teams provides a secure location to store and work on your research data. Learn more about working with files in your new workspace, including saving, sharing, deleting, recovering and version control. 

*Note: To view the LinkedIn Learning videos in this section, you will need to activate Linkedin Learning. Here are the  instructions . 

To allow external colleagues from outside of UWA access to the Teams Workspace, you will need to submit a  Digital Guest Access Service Portal  form to request access.

Saving files

To start saving files to your new Research Project space in Teams, follow these steps:

• Open the MS Teams application and navigate to the Teams tab in the left-hand menu. You should see your new Research Project  workspace listed under ' Your teams ' with a default channel called ' General'. This channel will be accessible to every member of your Team and is a good place to store data that everyone needs to access.   If you need to limit access to a subset of people in your Team, see  private channels . 
• To start saving or creating files, open ' Files ' folder from the top menu
• Use the +New and  Upload  options to add content to your Files folder.  As soon as they are created or added, your new files will be available for your team members to edit as well. You can also  drag and drop  directly into the file space. 

Alternatively, if you would prefer to work in SharePoint, select ' Open in SharePoint'  from the menu. Your SharePoint site will open in a browser.

Learning more about working with channels by watching this LinkedIn Learning video:  Working with channel files from Managing Projects with Microsoft Teams

Sharing files

As files uploaded and shared to a team are accessible to every member of the Team, there is no need to check files out or worry about if one of your colleagues has the document open. Just open the file you need to edit and if other team members are editing it too your changes will be seamlessly merged as you work.

For more watch this LinkedIn Learning video:  Coauthoring in files from Managing Projects with Microsoft Teams .

If you want to share files with people outside of your Team, watch this LinkedIn Learning video:  Share files outside of Teams from Microsoft Teams: Working with Files .

Delete and recover files in Teams

See this Microsoft support page on how to delete and recover files in Teams .

Return to an earlier version of a file in Teams

Watch this LinkedIn Learning video:   Managing file versions  from  Managing Projects with Microsoft Teams .

Sync Teams files with your computer

If you are accustomed to using the UWA network drive through File Explorer to save your research data, you can sync your Project's Team channel to your computer to achieve a similar workflow. This also enables you to work on your documents offline. 

• Go to your Teams channel with the files you want to sync. This may be the main ' General ' channel or another channel you have set up. 
• Click the ‘ Files ’ tab.
• Then click ‘ Sync ’ to sync your channel to your computer. (You only need to do this once on a computer to set up syncing on that computer. After you set up syncing, the files sync automatically.)

• Open your File Explorer . You will find a new option titled 'The University of Western Australia' in the left-hand menu, under which your files will now be saved and accessible for easy access.

• To work on files offline, you will need to download them onto your computer.  The cloud icon means it's currently stored in the cloud. Either double click the cloud icon or open the document in File Explorer to download onto your PC. Once the icon changes from a cloud to a tick, it means your document is ready to be worked on offline. And when you go back online, any changes made to those files will sync automatically.

Watch this video demonstrating the same process:  How to Sync Teams Files to File Explorer

Research Projects support

For further support setting up your Research Projects workspace in MS Teams, contact your Library team:

• [email protected]  (for HDR students)
• [email protected]  (for staff)

Microsoft Teams support

There is a wealth of information available to help you with making the most of your MS Teams workspace for collaboration and confidential data use, management, and storage.

UWA Intranet pages

• Learn to use Microsoft Teams
• Getting started with MS Team  
• Support with Office.com and Microsoft Teams  

LinkedIn Learning courses. Note: To view LinkedIn Learning videos through UWA's subscription, you will need to activate Linkedin Learning. Here are the  instructions . 

• Microsoft Teams Essential Training  - An introduction to Teams, recommended for users with no prior experience. 
• Managing Projects in Microsoft Teams  
• Master Microsoft Teams: Working with Files  
• SharePoint Online Essentials Training: The Basics  - An introduction to Sharepoint

Teams, Onedrive and SharePoint - what's the difference? 

Watch this LinkedIn Learning video:  Understand the differences between OneDrive, Teams, and SharePoint document libraries from Modern Project Management in Microsoft 365

UWA Institutional Research Data Store: IRDS

The UWA  IRDS  provides researchers with a centralised, secure and UWA approved data storage facility to store electronic research data, enabling ongoing access to these valuable assets at no cost to researchers and in a broad range of file types.

A share in the IRDS can be requested once you have completed a RDMP in the UWA Research Data Hub  for your research project/activity. Once set up, additional storage can be requested via the through the  ServiceNow self-service page .

Store owners can assign access permissions to their  UWA collaborators  during the Storage Request process from the RDMP. If new collaborators come on board later in the project/activity, they can be added to an existing store via the form available at the   ServiceNow self-service page .

An IRDS share can be mapped to your drives for use on campus:

• How to map your IRDS drive in Windows
• How to map your IRDS drive in Mac OS X

External collaborator access  to your IRDS can now be achieved by asking your external collaborators to complete a  human resources form .

For assistance contact  [email protected] 

Storing physical data

What is physical data.

Physical research data is anything collected for the purposes of a research project that is not stored and accessed using a computer. This can include:

• Hand-written lab notebooks or journals
• Soil or rock samples
• Biological samples
• Physical photographic film or other analogue audio-visual media

How do I safely store and manage physical data in active use during a research project?

• Follow any protocols required by your School or research group with regards to the type of physical data.
• Physical data needs to be kept in a secure, temperature controlled place, away from windows, light, water pipes and away from dust.
• Ensure to use lockable rooms and/or cabinets, and keep a record of who is able to access the physical data - for example who has access to the key or swipe card.
• Accurately label the data and keep it organised to facilitate use for researchers who need to access the data.
• You can assign a unique identifier (igsn.org) to physical objects and samples to record the location and storage information about the data digitally, even if the data itself is a physical sample.

See the Finalise Dataset page for information on long-term archiving of physical research data.

UWA data storage compliance statements

UWA-managed storage platforms meet standard security, backup, compliance and management requirements for research funders and ethics approval. Some standard text is provided below for use in applications and agreements to assist when researchers are requested to describe UWA data storage compliance.

For projects storing data in the Institutional Research Data Store :

The data generated in the proposed research project will be stored according to UWA’s Research Integrity Policy . This policy was developed to ensure that UWA research aligns with the principles and practices of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research including those relating to research data storage. The research data for the proposed project will be stored in the UWA provisioned IRDS service. This is located on Australian servers, is backed up, includes disaster recovery provisions, and can store data classified up to Confidential Restricted. Research data stores holding Confidential Restricted information have additional monitoring and logging applied to them that record when and where changes are made to the store, potential malicious activity, and enable UWA UniIT to be proactive in preventing loss or unauthorised exposure of data. Data is accessible only to project collaborators identified by the project owner and access requires multifactor authentication using institutional usernames and passwords. Additional security monitoring software is applied to all stores classified as Highly Restricted and Confidential Restricted to protect as against unauthorised and/or malicious access, use and disclosure. Data stored in the IRDS is subject to the Western Australia University Sector Disposal Authority (WAUSDA) for retention and disposal.

For projects storing data in Microsoft Teams/Sharepoint :

The data generated in the proposed research project will be stored according to UWA’s Research Integrity Policy. This policy was developed to ensure that UWA research aligns with the principles and practices of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research including those relating to research data storage. The research data for the proposed project will be stored in UWA provisioned Microsoft Teams/Sharepoint service. This is located on Australian servers, is backed up, includes disaster recovery provisions, and can store data classified up to Highly Restricted. All stores are monitored for unauthorised and or malicious access, use and disclosure. Data is accessible only to project collaborators identified by the project owner and access requires multifactor authentication using institutional usernames and passwords. Data stored in Microsoft Teams/SharePoint is subject to the Western Australia University Sector Disposal Authority (WAUSDA) for retention and disposal.

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UWA Handbook 2024

• Engineering Research Project Part 1 [GENG4411]

Studying online

There are now 2 possible online modes for units:

Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.

Click on an offering mode for more details.

View all online units

Unit Overview

This unit is part of a 12-pt research project. Parts 1 and 2 must be taken over two successive semesters and both parts must be completed to fulfil the requirements of the project. Students can commence the project in either semester 1 or semester 2. The academic objectives of the project are to improve students' understanding of the research process and to develop their capability to conduct independent research. Students learn about recent advances and gain in-depth technical competence in at least one specialist area of their discipline, apply the basic elements of research design to investigate a theory or hypothesis, and appreciate how research skills support lifelong learning. Students are required to communicate their findings to technical audiences using a range of media. They are also exposed to the University's research culture and opportunities to pursue further study. Students may choose a project from a list of advertised topics, negotiate a topic with an academic supervisor, or apply for an industry Co-operative Education for Enterprise Development (CEED) project.

• Level 4 core unit in the Automation and Robotics Engineering; Biomedical Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Civil Engineering; Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Environmental Engineering; Mining Engineering; Software Engineering major sequences
• Level 4 option in the Mechanical Engineering major sequence

Students are able to (1) formulate a framework to answer a research question; (2) follow appropriate methodology to research an engineering problem or test a hypothesis or theory; (3) apply appropriate technical tools; (4) evaluate results to draw appropriate conclusions; (5) communicate clearly, effectively and appropriately using written, oral and visual means; (6) manage a project to meet outcomes and deadlines; (7) conduct themselves in a professional manner; and (8) evaluate relevant literature and other sources of information.

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) project proposal; (2) project progress and review; (3) seminar and abstract; (4) final report; and (5) professional conduct. Further information is available in the unit outline.

To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the final report component.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

• The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
• All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
• Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
• Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.

Face to face

Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.

Online flexible

100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.

Online timetabled

100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.

Online Restricted

Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.

NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.

No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.

Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.

Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.

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Research Forward 2025

Please read the full instructions and the Frequently Asked Questions below before completing an application.

Read a story about Research Forward.

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) has announced a new round of the Research Forward initiative to stimulate and support highly innovative and groundbreaking research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The initiative is supported by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) and will provide funding for 1–2 years, depending on the needs and scope of the project.

Research Forward seeks to support collaborative, multidisciplinary, multi-investigator research projects that are high-risk, high-impact and transformative. It seeks to fund projects that are led by PIs with an established track record of securing and successfully managing external research awards, and that have the potential to open up pathbreaking new research avenues or fundamentally transform a field of study.

Research Forward seeks projects that are foundational and likely to be competitive for a high level of external funding commensurate with a bold research agenda. Collaborative research proposals are welcome from within any of the four divisions (Arts & Humanities, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences), or from cross-divisional collaborations. Successful Research Forward proposals will include an integrated and compelling plan for establishing and maintaining an equitable and inclusive research effort.

Research Forward awards will support development of research concepts that are not yet competitive for external funding. It does not fund support for external proposals submitted before or during the Research Forward competition process nor does it supplement existing grants.

The on-line application form is available at: https://vcr-uwmadison.smapply.io/ .

You may log-in using your UW–Madison NetID and password. Select the “Research Forward 5” program title. Click “Apply” to start a new application.

Abstracts and cover sheets are due on Nov. 15, 2024, and full proposals are due Jan. 24, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.

FULL PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS: All applicants must provide: 1. A cover sheet that includes:

a. PI information (name, email address, departmental/center affiliation)

b. A list of anticipated co-Principal Investigators and co-Investigators (if the list exceeds the space provided, list the key members of the team and the total number of participants. You can provide a full list in the narrative, if your abstract is approved.)

c. A project title.

d. A list of four UW–Madison faculty with subject expertise relevant to the proposal. Please avoid listing faculty with potential conflicts of interest. For example, do not list dissertation advisors, former students, anyone in the same department as the PI (and co-PIs), or anyone with whom the PI (and co-PIs) have collaborated in the last five years.

e. A 400-word research abstract that addresses each of the following topics (in accessible language):

f. The estimated amount of funding requested (up to a maximum of $500,000). Equipment requests are limited to a maximum of $10,000 for each year.

Once you have completed all the items in the coversheet, you should scroll to the end of the first section and select “mark as complete”.

Your cover sheet and abstract (item no. 1 above) is due Nov. 15, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.

The divisional associate vice chancellors will review all the abstracts and notify the PIs by December 20, 2024 whether you have been selected to submit a full proposal or not .

If you have been selected to submit a full proposal, you may proceed with the remaining sections (items 2-7 below). Complete proposals are due by Jan. 24, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.

The full proposal must include:

2. A lay paragraph (150 words). Please summarize your project in language suitable for someone outside of your academic discipline. This will help the VCR convey the nature of your project to the WARF Board.

3. In a single PDF file: a narrative , not to exceed five pages, that describes:

Note: the following items 3a – d below are not counted in the 5 page limit: a. Up to one page of figures or tables to accompany the narrative

b. A list of additional project team members that do not fit in the cover sheet

c. References (citations from the research literature); and

d. Any letters of support or commitment to the project from outside collaborators, significant contributors or community partners (e.g., project participants who are not reflected in the budget justification).

4. In a single PDF file: An overview of plans for the structure and leadership of your proposed Research Forward activity. This overview must address approaches designed and/or selected to support your goals for an inclusive research environment at all levels, including project leadership. (300 words max.)

5. A detailed Budget Request ( Research Forward 5 Budget Template_final ), indicating the personnel to be supported and other categories of funding that will be needed. Although collaborations with faculty outside of UW–Madison may be beneficial, funds from this initiative cannot be used to support researchers at other institutions. The budget may include faculty salary for summer support only; this initiative will not provide in-semester support. For faculty with 9-month appointments, you may not exceed the NIH salary cap. For example, the current NIH salary cap is $221,900 over 12 months (1 month = $18,492, plus fringe benefits). Thus, if your annual salary exceeds the cap you are limited in your request to $18,492 (plus fringe benefits) per month. Faculty with 12-month appointments are not eligible for faculty salary support. Also, equipment requests are limited to under $10,000 for each year. Research Forward does not fund conference travel, only travel for research purposes is allowed. Use the budget template. Once you have completed the budget template, save the entire workbook as a PDF (and fit each worksheet as a single page in the PDF) and upload both the .xls workbook and the .pdf workbook to the on-line submission system.

6. Be sure to indicate your total Research Forward funding request in the space provided (last line of the budget form, tab 3). Please also provide a brief (no more than one page) budget justification that explains the rationale for each item in your budget. Proposals will not be reviewed without an itemized budget justification.

7. In a single PDF file: CVs or Biosketches, of no more than 5 pages , for the Principal Investigator, co-Principal Investigators, co-Investigators, and Collaborators. Include all current and pending intramural and extramural research support for each investigator.

Submitting the full proposal: After completing the items above, you will be able to select “review and submit” before making your final submission. Please make sure to review the entire document before you select to “submit” it. You will also have the option to download the entire document.

For questions regarding eligibility or submitting an abstract or full proposal, please contact the appropriate divisional Associate Vice Chancellor for Research (see https://research.wisc.edu/about/leadership/ ).

For technical questions or for general information, please send an email to [email protected] .

REQUIRED PROGRESS REPORT AND FINAL REPORT: A progress report and a final report will be required. The reports will provide a summary of the progress that was accomplished on the project. Second-year funding is contingent on having spent down 75% of Year 1 funds and on the receipt of a satisfactory progress report. The final report should include citations to any published papers or conference presentations that derive from the research undertaken and equipment purchased. The final report must also address the goal of major external research support: list all proposals related to the Research Forward effort that have been submitted, funded or planned since the start of Research Forward funding.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS):

WHAT IS THE RESEARCH FORWARD INITIATIVE? The goal of the Research Forward initiative is to stimulate and support highly innovative and groundbreaking research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This initiative seeks to fund research projects that have the potential to fundamentally transform a field of study and require significant development prior to the submission of applications for external funding. It further seeks to support collaborative, multidisciplinary, multi-investigator research projects that are high-risk, high-impact and transformative. Collaborative research proposals are welcome from within any of the four divisions (Arts & Humanities, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences), as are cross-divisional collaborations.

HOW IS RESEARCH FORWARD DIFFERENT FROM THE FALL RESEARCH COMPETITION? The goal of Research Forward Initiative is to fund high-impact and transformative research projects, especially those that require significant development prior to the submission of applications for external funding. The Research Forward program does not provide funding as backup support for externally submitted proposals or to supplement existing grants; rather, the proposed project should be of sufficient scope (e.g. large center proposals or multi-investigator proposals) to require a substantial investment of resources in order to make it competitive for external funds. Research Forward projects will typically involve a multidisciplinary team of investigators.

In contrast, the Fall Research Competition prioritizes the funding of junior faculty and providing insurance support to senior faculty for external grant submissions. The Fall Research Competition generally funds focused research projects, especially those close to or at the point of submission for extramural support.

WHAT ARE THE STEPS IN SUBMITTING A RESEARCH FORWARD APPLICATION? Eligibility:

Some Key Tips:

• The lead PI must initiate the application.

• • The PI can invite additional collaborators (writers/editors) to fill out the application form. However,

the PI who initiates the application must also be the person that ultimately submits the application.

An abstract for the proposal should be submitted through the online Research Forward portal. The abstract should demonstrate that the proposed project aligns with the goals of the initiative. The divisional Associate Vice Chancellor for Research will contact the applicant (Principal Investigator) if they are selected or not for submission of a full-length proposal. See the application instructions for the materials that need to be included in the full-length proposal.

CAN I BE INVOLVED ON MORE THAN ONE PROPOSAL? You can be a PI or a co-PI on only one proposal. However, you may serve as a co-investigator on additional proposals.

WHAT IS THE AWARD RANGE? The maximum award will be $500,000. Equipment requests are limited to under $10,000 for each year.

IS THERE A MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT? No. Matching funds are not required.

HOW MANY YEARS OF FUNDING MAY BE REQUESTED? Funding will be provided for 1–2 years, depending on the needs and scope of the project.

CAN FACULTY SALARY SUPPORT BE REQUESTED? For faculty on 9-month appointments, only summer salary support may be requested. You may not exceed the NIH salary cap. For example, the current NIH salary cap is $221,900 (1 month = $18,492, plus fringe benefits). Thus, if your annual salary exceeds the cap you are limited in your request to $18,492 (plus fringe benefits) per month. Faculty with 12-month appointments are not eligible for faculty salary support.

CAN A PORTION OF A RESEARCH FORWARD PROJECT BE HANDLED THROUGH A SUBAWARD TO ANOTHER INSTITUTION? No. WARF funds cannot be used to fund subawards, pilot projects, mini-grants, or other projects at other institutions or partner agencies. However, purchase of services or equipment from other institutions and industry is allowable.

ARE THERE ANY CONDITIONS TO THE AWARD? A progress report and final report will be required. Periodic updates after the funding ends will be required.

In accepting the award, the Principal Investigator agrees to seek external funding to continue the project within one year of the end of the VCR funding period.

WHEN ARE RESEARCH FORWARD PROPOSALS REVIEWED? Submission deadlines are Nov. 15, 2024, for abstracts (required) and Jan. 24, 2025 for full proposals. Award recipients will be notified in May 2025.

WHAT IS THE REVIEW PROCESS FOR RESEARCH FORWARD PROPOSALS? Full proposals will be initially evaluated by two reviewers with relevant subject expertise. The proposals and solicited expert reviewer reports will then be evaluated by a faculty committee. The review committee will be appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Research in consultation with the divisional Associate Vice Chancellors for Research. Final award decisions will be made by the Vice Chancellor for Research.

Criteria for evaluation include:

AT WHAT STAGE OF MY RESEARCH CAREER SHOULD I ENTER THE RESEARCH FORWARD COMPETITION? Proposals from faculty and researchers with permanent PI status at all career stages are invited. However, it is strongly suggested that assistant professors early in their probationary period do not submit proposals as a PI. Early-stage assistant professors can be included as collaborators. Assistant professors who submit a proposal as a PI are encouraged to include senior UW–Madison faculty and/or researchers as co-PIs and have a significant external funding history.

DO YOU HAVE ANY GUIDANCE FOR WRITING THE PLAN FOR BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT? Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW–Madison. The launch of a new research endeavor provides an opportunity to broaden participation and strengthen inclusion in the UW-Madison research enterprise through the intentional adoption of best practices at the earliest stages of the new initiative. Please include a summary describing plans for the structure and leadership of your proposed Research Forward activity, including the integration of approaches designed and/or selected to support a diverse and inclusive research environment at all levels, including project leadership.

We do not have a template or a specific write up for addressing a plan since projects and disciplines vary considerably. PIs can look at online resources created by professional societies and nonprofits in related disciplines about ways to support and promote inclusion.

Tips from NSF about writing broader impact statements can also be helpful ( https://beta.nsf.gov/science-matters/nsf-101-five-tips-your-broader-impacts-statement )

At UW–Madison, here is a link for resources that support equity and inclusivity: https://diversity.wisc.edu/inclusion-resources/

Additional resources from College of Letters & Science can be found here (bottom of the page): https://ls.wisc.edu/about/diversity-and-inclusion .

A how-to guide for promoting diversity and inclusion in biomedical engineering: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10439-019-02223-2

The U.S. Department of Energy is now requiring PI’s submitting proposals to include equity and inclusion plans: https://www.energy.gov/science/articles/everyone-has-role-play-making-science-more-equitable-and-inclusive

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT ROLES OF THE RESEARCH FORWARD PROJECT TEAM MEMBERS? (co) Principal Investigator(s) – the individual(s) who will be responsible for the scientific or technical direction of the project. If more than one, the first one listed will have primary responsibility for the project and the submission of reports. A Co-PI may share some responsibility with the PI for project oversight, budget management and reporting as part of a multi-investigator team or may direct a particular portion of the project and retain limited administrative oversight over the award.

Co-investigator – a faculty member, scientist (or other research related titles) other than the Principal Investigator(s) who will participate in the project but without the oversight responsibility of a principal investigator.

Explore research opportunities at UWA and available scholarships at our Higher Degree by Research (HDR) information session on Tuesday 17 September 6 - 7PM.

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Higher Degrees by Research

Open up an exciting world of possibilities with a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) at UWA.   Drive your career so much further with the immersive and practical experience that a UWA Higher Degree by Research offers. From tackling real-world problems to building strong, collaborative networks worldwide, you will pursue research in your area of interest. You will establish yourself as a professional with higher, in-demand knowledge and abilities. 

• Find out more

How to apply

Why choose a research-intensive university.

UWA commands 80 per cent of university research funding in WA and is proud to attract the highest calibre, world-class academics and researchers, ready to supervise you through your higher degree course.  

You’re on the most exciting journey of discovery when you study research here.

World Top 100 University*

(QS World University Rankings 2025)

Member of the  prestigious Group of Eight network of Australia's leading research intensive universities

World top 50 for 17 subject areas.

(QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024 and ARWU 2023)

UWA ranked second nationally in the 2023 Postgraduate Research Experience Questionnaire

Graduate Research School

Our Graduate Research School (GRS) helps you meet the challenges of higher-level independent thinking and planning that Higher Degree by Research study demands.

• Application and enrolment advice
• Self-help via our HDRhub dashboard 
• One-to-one support at any time in the journey
• Research internship opportunities
• And much more

Benefits of a research degree

High-achieving students undertake a research degree for many reasons but they all share a drive to develop expertise in their chosen area. Whatever your focus, the benefits of a research degree are significant.  

• Make key contributions Explore an area of interest in depth and make an important contribution to the development of knowledge in that field, guided by world-leading experts. 
• High employability and transferable skills Graduates from HDR courses are highly employable across many industries, and benefit from outstanding career development. The valuable generic skills developed for success in a Higher Degree by Research are those highly prized by employers all over the world and include: Critical thinking, evidence-based decision-making, problem solving, self management, technical skills, superior communication skills, project management, team work, enterprise and expert writing. 
• Career progression For a career in academia, a graduate research qualification is necessary. In other fields, PhDs and research masters are more often in-demand – with more people returning to higher degree research mid career. 
• Internships and other partnerships to expand networks  All students are actively encouraged and assisted to design and complete a  research internship with industry partners, or enrol in pre-existing programs. Many students have industry experts as part of their supervisory teams.  

HDR course options

A postgraduate research course provides you with a unique opportunity to explore your passion or follow your interest in an area of research, learning alongside internationally recognised researchers. Browse our research degrees below to find what suits you best.

Doctor of Philosophy

A program of independent, supervised research assessed on the basis of a thesis that demonstrates mastery of a subject and is judged to make an original contribution to knowledge. It can be taken in any UWA discipline area and includes creative practice options. 

Professional Doctorates

These programs combine a suite of coursework with a research thesis and are often designed to meet specific senior professional needs.

Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

A program of independent, supervised research which requires you to show an advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge in your field of study. This also includes creative practice options.

Master of Research

An independent, supervised degree which requires you to show an advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge in your field and for which a research thesis may be combined with some specialist coursework.

• View full range of Master degree courses

Find a supervisor

Supervisors advise and guide you on choosing a topic, designing a project and writing the dissertation. Their area of expertise should align with your research.  Learn more about supervisors

Identify potential supervisors

Find a project

UWA offers excellent opportunities to pursue a Higher Degree by Research course. You may wish to find an already existing research project to study that supports your area of interest. Search the currently available opportunities.

See projects

Researcher stories

We’re proud of all our students and graduates who are contributing new ideas and fresh thinking to help solve the world’s greatest challenges.  Read about their journeys through a UWA research degree, and why they are thriving on this rewarding path. 

This journey is a marathon and not a sprint so resilience and grit is very important. Along the way, not only do you learn more about the research topic, it provides an avenue for you to evaluate, reflect and grow as a person" Terence Chia PhD candidate at the UWA Business School   Find out more

Important HDR considerations

UWA offers support and ensures equity and access for all prospective HDR students in our community.

Scholarships and fees

UWA offers a range of stipend scholarships with the minimum value of $35,000 per annum (2024 rates). Domestic applicants may not be required to pay tuition fees if they are eligible for the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset and some international applicants may be eligible for fee scholarships. 

You will need to identify the higher degree you wish to pursue, and determine its eligibility requirements, as well as deciding the research project structure that suits you. Follow the steps to determine this.

Find an expert

See our expert researchers

World-class facilities

UWA operates over 75 research and training centres, receives around 80% of WA universities' research funding annually, significantly supporting graduates and contributing to the State's economy.

• Learn more about our facilities

Robert Street Prize

The Robert Street Prize is awarded for the most outstanding thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy each year.

• View the Robert Street Prize winners

GRS Dean's List

In recognition of an outstanding thesis, Board Members nominate the thesis for an Honourable Mention in the Board of the Graduate Research School Dean's List.

• View the GRS Dean's List

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