Higher Degree Research Industry Engagement

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Why engage with industry?

UNSW has a well-deserved reputation as a strong collaborator with businesses, all sectors of government, the non-governmental sector and community groups – broadly defined as “industry”.

By engaging with industry, our Higher Degree Research candidates can engage in a rigorous research training degree and understand how their research can be applied in external settings.

Talk to the HDR Industry team at UNSW’s Graduate Research School about how you can develop an industry engaged PhD or Masters project.

Industry PhD Applicants

Make real-world impact through your research skills, enrich your candidature with professional development and build professional networks.

Industry partners

Engage talented research candidates, gain fresh insights and innovative approaches to complex R&D challenges. Build highly capable workforce pipeline.

For Industry partners

The HDR Industry team at the GRS is ready to help you develop your industry/academic partnership into a viable research project.

You can engage with our amazing research candidates in an academic collaboration in several ways:

  • Fully fund an industry linked PhD project (3.5 – 4 years full time)
  • Sponsor an employee through our Industry Researcher program to engage in a PhD while remaining employed
  • Recruit a student for a short to medium term PhD placement

Whether you are an experience UNSW collaborator with existing academic partnerships, or an organisation who wants to connect with UNSWs amazing researchers and research students for the first time, the GRS Industry team can help you. Get in touch via industryhdr@unsw.edu.au

For Industry PhD applicants

An industry engaged Higher Degree Research program is characterised by the project being co-developed with an industry partner with the research output having direct impact to them. 

You will be guided by both the Industry partner and UNSW academics, who will jointly supervise your project and provide you with expert guidance and support to expand your research skills at the intersection of academia and industry, while embedded within UNSW’s world class research environment.

There are two ways to engage:

  1. If you are potential student interested in developing an industry engaged research project please contact us at industryhdr@unsw.edu.au  so that we can discuss your options; or
  2. Apply for an existing project - visit  this page to browse our current research projects.

Detailed information on HDR application process is available at https://www.unsw.edu.au/research/hdr/application

Are you an Engineering applicant? Check out The Australian Graduate School of Engineering (AGSE)

The AGSE Industry PhD Program builds on UNSW’s global reputation for innovation in its engineering programs, and its place as Australia’s number one engineering university. Through this PhD Program, the AGSE welcomes prospective students who are looking to focus their work on addressing a pressing, real-world problem in an industrial setting, while working with a pioneering team at the university.

Click here for more information about this program.

Have a question?  Contact us at industryhdr@unsw.edu.au.

For UNSW Supervisors and Current HDR Candidates

Exciting events and training opportunities to elevate your candidature awaits. Please visit the HDR Hub to access further information and resources .