Scholarships at NDARC

Find a pathway that rewards your ambition and supports your future.

Personalise
Group student photos

About NDARC

The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) was established at the University of New South Wales by the Commonwealth Government in 1986 to extend the knowledge base required for the effective treatment of individuals with alcohol and other drug-related problems and to enhance the overall research capacity in the drug and alcohol field. The Centre is highly regarded nationally and internationally for its contribution to drug and alcohol research.

Study with us

Since its establishment, NDARC has successfully guided over 100 students through their postgraduate research degree programs (PhD and Masters), achieving a success rate of over 90%. The Centre is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive cohort of students, providing a supportive study environment with excellent facilities such as desk space, regular training opportunities, computer access, and statistical support. NDARC students and staff contribute to general medical and health journal publications and influential specialist drug and alcohol publications. The Centre's multidisciplinary research is relevant to governments, policy agencies, communities, clinical service providers, and non-government organisations.

Our graduates have career opportunities in various organisations, including Australian and international universities, the WHO/UN, the delivery of clinical services, and with policy agencies such as NSW Health, NSW Family and Community Services and local health districts.

There are several pathways into our postgraduate research degree programs, and NDARC staff are keen to support entry for potential students from various backgrounds and with varied educational qualifications. NDARC is particularly committed to building research capacity among Aboriginal researchers and encourages consultation with us about different postgraduate pathways that may be available. If you have queries about this, please feel free to email NDARC.HDR@unsw.edu.au, and a staff member will contact you to discuss your options.

NDARC PhD, MRes, and MPhil applications are open year-round. If you have any questions or require further information about NDARC’s postgraduate research programs, please email ndarc.hdr@unsw.edu.au

Research areas

NDARC offers scholarships to postgraduate students who wish to undertake higher-degree research (HDR) on drug—and alcohol-related projects that align with NDARC’s core work plan areas.

Since the 1990s, NDARC’s internationally renowned epidemiological research quantifies and characterises alcohol and other drug use and harms in Australia and identifies emerging trends to provide a framework for policy responses and interventions that improve health and wellbeing. Our epidemiological work positions NDARC as a compass for health responses. The cornerstone of our program is the world-leading Drug Trends monitoring system.

Find out more

Our research on early intervention programs aims to identify, develop, and evaluate effective strategies to prevent alcohol and other drug-related harms. Our researchers collaborate with stakeholders across the sector to share knowledge and address current and emerging issues. 

Find out more

Our research identifies and understands mental and physical comorbidities impacting people who use alcohol and other drugs, driving evidence-based recommendations to advance screening, detection, interventions, and implementation of effective and efficient treatment services.

Find out more

Collaborating with clinicians and academics world-wide, NDARC’s treatment and harm reduction research enables optimal clinical practice and improves health outcomes. We are committed to developing new and innovative responses to reduce alcohol, tobacco and other drug problems, and evaluating existing programs in real-world settings and specific populations.

Find out more

Our research evaluates policy in law, policing, harm reduction, prevention, and treatment. Drawing on expertise across various disciplines (e.g., criminology, drug and alcohol policy, health, and social policy), our research identifies responses that can reduce drug-related harms and build evidence to support a better understanding of illicit drug markets and drug-related costs.

Find out more

Our program encompasses research on the health of people in contact with the criminal justice system, considering opportunities for therapeutic outcomes in these settings and responses that can reduce drug-related harms. We provide research evidence to support integrated law enforcement, health, and social policy and evidence to support improved treatment retention rates.

Find out more

We partner with key population groups to ensure our research extends across and addresses the needs of diverse and priority populations. Through this work, we aim to understand better alcohol and other drug use and harms among these groups and identify tailored approaches to enhance health and wellbeing.

Find out more

We use large-scale data and new technologies to support research across all our activity areas. Through routinely collected data spanning vital statistics, health service use, health registries, social services use and criminal justice system contacts, we access multiple data collections linked at the person level to provide the most accurate picture of use and harms.

Find out more

Scholarships at NDARC

At NDARC, UNSW, our scholarships are key to helping you reach your research goals. UNSW offers scholarships funded by the Australian Government, UNSW, and the Centre. The first step in applying for a scholarship at NDARC is to determine your eligibility for pursuing a postgraduate degree within the Centre's research areas. Before continuing with your application, ensure your qualifications, experience, and research interests align with NDARC's focus areas listed above.

Scholarship award amount and duration

We offer a competitive scholarship stipend and support package. The scholarship awarded to full-time HDR candidates is $37,684 per annum, tax-exempt. The PhD scholarship duration is three years (with the possibility of a 6-month extension). The duration of the MRes and MPhil scholarship is two years. In addition, up to $10,000 is available for professional development activities and $5,000 for associated research costs across the period of candidature. There are also opportunities for HDR candidates to be offered additional paid employment to work on priority projects across the Centre.*

* The funding from NDARC is contingent upon your admission and your UNSW Scholarship assessment results.

Applications now open

Several NDARC projects are currently seeking HDR candidates; please visit HDR scholarship projects for more information. Please see the Application Process below.


HDR Application Process

How to apply

Ready to apply for a higher degree program in research at NDARC, UNSW? 

The information below outlines the steps you must follow, including where to find the application form for admission and scholarship and the supporting documents you must provide.

  • There are a few eligibility requirements you need to meet before applying for a Higher Degree Research program. Briefly, to be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must:

    1. Program eligibility: Meet UNSW requirements for enrolment in a Higher Degree Research Program.
    2. Visa requirements: Meet residency and visa requirements.
    3. Enrolment requirements: Not be concurrently enrolled in a separate HDR program at either UNSW Sydney or another university during the tenure of the NDARC-based candidature.

    Full-time, part-time, domestic, and international applicants will be considered (consult UNSW’s guidelines for eligibility and tuition scholarship options for international students).

    Evidence of previous research or study (e.g., honours or master's degrees) is desirable for entry to HDR, though not essential. Experience in the drug and alcohol sector or related fields, such as psychology, public health, criminology, sociology, medicine, pharmacology, health economics, and biostatistics, is also desirable.

    Successful candidates must enrol in the HDR program through the School of Public Health and Community Medicine (SPHCM) in the Faculty of Medicine. Successful applicants will receive support via NDARC's HDR training and development program. Knowledge of UNSW’s EEO/AA principles and policies will be required.

  • Finding a supervisor with compatible research interests and working styles is critical to your success as a postgraduate research degree candidate.

    Please visit the HDR scholarship projects page to view projects currently seeking HDR candidates.

  • Before submitting a formal application, all interested applicants are invited to complete this application form.

    Your expression of interest will be reviewed, and the selection committee will contact you to discuss progress with your formal application.

     

  • Interviews: Applicants must be available for interview
    Program start: Applicants can commence in any term of UNSW’s academic calendar

    This advertisement does not intend to limit the scope of possible HDR research projects or enrolment options but to highlight the most critical aspects of NDARC’s HDR program. The aspects mentioned above may be negotiated within UNSW’s HDR policies and procedures.

HDR Academic Calendar 

The HDR Academic Calendar comprises four terms, which provide flexibility for HDR candidates to reflect the ongoing nature of a research candidature.

Below are the HDR Academic Calendar dates for this year.

Are you already enrolled in a UNSW HDR program? Visit the HDR Hub for the latest information on candidatures, scholarships, events and resources for HDR candidates.

  • Term

    New Enrolments Commence

    Term Start Date

    Term Census Date

    Term End Date

    Summer Term

    13 November 2023

    11 December 2023

    14 January 2024

    11 February 2024

    Term 1

    1 January 2024

    12 February 2024

    10 March 2024

    26 May 2024

    Term 2

    15 April 2024

    27 May 2024

    23 June 2024

    8 September 2024

    Term 3

    29 July 2024

    9 September 2024

    6 October 2024

    8 December 2024

  • Term

    New Enrolments Commence

    Term Start Date

    Term Census Date

    Term End Date

    Summer Term

    4 November 2024

    9 December 2024

    12 January 2025

    16 February 2025

    Term 1

    6 January 2025

    17 February 2025

    16 March 2025

    1 June 2025

    Term 2

     21 April 2025

    2 June 2025

    29 June 2025

    14 September 2025

    Term 3

    4 August 2025

    15 September 2025

    12 October 2025

    14 December 2025