Joint PhD opportunities

Joint PhD Opportunities

Adelaide University offers joint PhD opportunities that enable you to undertake doctoral research across two universities, either within Australia or internationally, under a single, jointly awarded degree. This model provides a unique opportunity to:

  • undertake research across two high-quality universities, enriching your academic experience
  • potentially live and study in two countries, gaining valuable cross-cultural insights
  • build diverse research connections that may open up new fieldwork or trial locations
  • strengthen your professional networks to support future career pathways.

Why choose a joint PhD?

A joint PhD allows you to:

  • study at two leading institutions and enrich your research experience
  • potentially live and study across different countries and cultures
  • expand your research scope and access diverse fieldwork opportunities
  • build international networks that support future career pathways.

Joint PhD structure

The Joint PhD is structured as follows:

  • You will be enrolled at both Adelaide University and a partner university.
  • Your ‘home’ university is where you begin and complete your candidature; the other is your ‘host’.
  • You will spend at least 12 months full-time at each institution.
  • You will be supervised by a single panel made up of academics from both institutions.

Each graduate research student’s arrangements are formalised in an individual joint PhD agreement, signed by the graduate research student, their supervisors, and representatives from both universities.

Key features

Ideally, discussions about a joint PhD should happen before you apply for candidature. However, if you are in the early stages of your PhD at Adelaide University, you may still be eligible to apply.

To enrol in a joint PhD, you must:

  • apply separately to both Adelaide University and the partner university
  • demonstrate readiness for independent, supervised research
  • meet the admission requirements of both institutions
  • sign a formal joint PhD agreement.

You may enrol simultaneously at both universities, or transfer from a single to joint award PhD, within 12 months of your enrolment at either institution.

Please allow 3-6 months to finalise the agreement. We recommend initiating discussions with both universities well in advance of your intended start date. 
 
You will complete all milestones including progress reviews and additional skills training according to the requirements of the university you are based at during each stage of your candidature. 
 
Please be aware that graduate research students hosted by Adelaide University must complete the Initial Review within two months of arriving in Adelaide.

International joint PhD opportunities with strategic partners

Joint PhD opportunities are available with many international partner institutions.

Eligibility:

  • a suitable project, supervision, and funding must be available at both institutions
  • the agreement must be finalised within the first year of candidature
  • the agreement must specify the home and host institutions, examination and the co-supervision arrangements.

If you are interested, speak with your supervisors either before you commence or early in your candidature.

Joint PhD with the University of Nottingham

The Joint PhD between Adelaide University and the University of Nottingham builds on a strong collaboration that commenced in the 1950s to address global challenges in food security, climate change, health and medicine. This longstanding partnership has evolved into a flagship Joint PhD that began in biosciences in 2015 and expanded in 2019 to include all Adelaide University Colleges.

Why choose this opportunity?

By joining the Adelaide–Nottingham Joint PhD program, you’ll benefit from: 

  • access to world-class research facilities and expertise at two leading institutions 
  • a truly international research experience, with time spent in both Australia and the UK 
  • opportunities to publish in high-impact journals and contribute to globally relevant research  
  • a single PhD degree jointly awarded by both universities. 

Fields of research and availability 

This opportunity is open to prospective PhD candidates across all disciplines. A limited number of spots are available each year for admission.

Research themes include: 

  • global food systems
  • intelligent health
  • sustainable futures.

These themes reflect the shared commitment of both universities to solving complex global problems through collaborative, interdisciplinary research.

Entry points and enrolment 

Normal entry points are on the first of the following months: February, April, July, October and December. Graduate research students may enrol up to three weeks before or after these dates.

If the University of Nottingham is your host institution, we strongly recommend contacting them before applying for a UK visa.

About the partnership 

The Adelaide–Nottingham Alliance is built on a strong foundation of research and education collaboration. It includes connections with the University of Nottingham Ningbo China and the University of Nottingham Malaysia, offering additional opportunities for joint research and global engagement.

Support for current graduate research students and supervisors

Graduate Research Engagement Leads (GRELs) at both universities coordinate the program, support graduate research students and supervisors, and manage communications.

Scholarships and funding 

Scholarships are available for eligible graduate research students whose home university is Adelaide University.  

For details on available scholarships, visit the Scholarships page.

Enquiries 

Adelaide University: augrs.jointawards@adelaide.edu.au

University of Nottingham: partner-relations@nottingham.ac.uk

Joint PhD with Nagoya University

Adelaide University and Nagoya University collaborate on some of the world’s most pressing challenges in health and medicine. Through this partnership, graduate researchers have the opportunity to undertake a jointly awarded PhD that draws on the strengths of two globally recognised, research-intensive institutions.

Why choose this opportunity? 

By joining the Joint PhD program, you will: 

  • work across two leading universities with access to specialist facilities and expertise
  • conduct research in Medicine, Medical Sciences, or Biomedical Engineering
  • be part of a global research community focused on impact and innovation
  • graduate with a single doctoral degree jointly awarded by both universities.

Fields of research and availability 

Joint PhD opportunities are available in: 

  • Medicine
  • Medical Sciences
  • Biomedical Engineering.

Up to four students are admitted to this Joint Award each year.

Key requirements 

  • Graduate research students must publish, or have accepted for publication, at least one substantive paper based on their PhD research before submitting their thesis.
  • Theses must be written in English.
  • Graduate research students whose home university is Nagoya University must include a summary in Japanese.

Scholarships and funding 

Scholarships are available for eligible graduate research students whose home university is Adelaide University. 

For details on available scholarships, visit the Scholarships page.

Enquiries

Adelaide University: augrs.jointawards@adelaide.edu.au

Nagoya University: Mika Kasai-Prince at: kasaiprince@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp

Joint PhD with Keio University

Adelaide University and Keio University, one of Japan’s top private universities, have partnered since 2015 to offer this joint PhD opportunity in the social sciences. This Joint Award has been recognised as a milestone in Australia–Japan doctorate level academic collaboration.

Why choose this opportunity?

By joining the Joint PhD program, you will: 

  • work across two leading institutions with access to specialist facilities and supervision 
  • conduct research in high-impact fields with global relevance 
  • gain international experience and build global networks 
  • graduate with a single doctoral degree jointly awarded by both universities. 

Fields of research

Joint PhD opportunities are available for graduate research students in sociology.

Scholarships and funding

Scholarships are available for eligible graduate research students whose home university is Adelaide University.

For details on available scholarships, visit the Scholarships page.

Enquiries

Adelaide University: augrs.jointawards@adelaide.edu.au

Joint PhD with Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Adelaide University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) have partnered since 2015 to offer a jointly awarded PhD across a range of research areas. This opoprtunity provides access to the combined expertise and facilities of two globally recognised, research-intensive universities.

Why choose this opportunity?

By joining the Joint PhD program, you will:

  • work across two leading institutions with access to specialist facilities and supervision
  • conduct research in high-impact fields with global relevance
  • gain international experience and build global networks
  • graduate with a single doctoral degree jointly awarded by both universities.

Fields of research and availability

Joint PhD opportunities are available for graduate researchers in all Schools and Colleges:

Up to ten graduate research students are accepted into this Joint Award each year (five per institution).

Key requirements

  • The thesis must be written and defended in English.
  • Abstracts must be provided in both Chinese and English.

Scholarships and funding

Scholarships are available for eligible graduate research students whose home university is Adelaide University.

For details on available scholarships, visit the Scholarships page.

Enquiries

Adelaide University: augrs.jointawards@adelaide.edu.au

Joint PhD with IMT Atlantique (Nantes, France)

Adelaide University and IMT Atlantique have partnered since 2018 to strengthen research, teaching, and international collaboration. Through this jointly awarded PhD oppoortunity, you will gain access to the combined expertise of two globally recognised, research-intensive universities and build an international network that supports your future career.

Why choose this  opportunity?

By joining the Joint PhD program, you will: 

  • work across two leading institutions with access to specialist facilities and supervision
  • build global research connections and professional networks
  • gain international experience and contribute to high-impact research
  • graduate with a single doctoral degree jointly awarded by both universities.

Fields of research

Graduate research students from all Adelaide University Colleges are eligible to apply.

Scholarships and funding

Scholarships are available for eligible graduate research students whose home university is Adelaide University.

For details on available scholarships, visit the Scholarships page.

Additional funding may be available through IRL CROSSING.

Enquiries

Adelaide University: augrs.jointawards@adelaide.edu.au

Joint PhD with Nantes University

Adelaide University and Nantes University have partnered since 2017 to support opportunities that promote research collaborations with a focus on Energy and Health & Well-being.

Why choose this opportunity?

By joining the Joint PhD program, you will: 

  • work across two leading institutions with access to specialist facilities and supervision
  • conduct research in high-impact fields such as Materials Engineering or the Behaviour-Brain-Body Nexus with global relevance
  • gain international experience and build global networks
  • graduate with a single doctoral degree jointly awarded by both universities.

Fields of research

Joint PhD opportunities are available for graduate research students in materials engineering, chemistry, and the intersect of biology, behaviour and technology.

Scholarships and funding

Scholarships are available for eligible graduate research students whose home university is Adelaide University.

For details on available scholarships, visit the Scholarships page.

Enquiries

Adelaide University: augrs.jointawards@adelaide.edu.au

Joint PhD with École Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Brest

This opportunity was first established in 2023 to support PhD students interested in exploring autonomous systems, human computer interaction, virtual/mixed/augmented reality as part of an international, cross-nation CROSSING research lab.

Why choose this opportunity?

By joining the Joint PhD program, you will:

  • work across two leading institutions with access to specialist facilities and supervision

  • conduct research in high-impact fields with global relevance

  • gain international experience and build global networks

  • graduate with a single doctoral degree jointly awarded by both universities.

Fields of research

Joint PhD opportunities are available for graduate research students whose research areas include Information Technology and Computer Science.

Scholarships and funding

Scholarships are available for eligible graduate research students whose home university is Adelaide University.

For details on available scholarships, visit the Scholarships page.

Enquiries

Adelaide University: augrs.jointawards@adelaide.edu.au

Joint PhD with the University of Freiburg

The Joint PhD between Adelaide University and the University of Freiburg offers a unique opportunity to build your international research profile while working with leading academics in Australia and Germany. You’ll gain access to world-class facilities, diverse perspectives and collaborative networks that enrich your research and expand your career opportunities.

Germany is globally recognised for its scientific innovation and academic excellence. Through this Joint Award, you’ll be immersed in a dynamic research environment that fosters critical thinking, cross-cultural insight and real-world impact.

Whether your focus is medicine or biomedicine, or you're exploring opportunities in sustainability, energy or the environment, this opportunity is designed to support high-impact, globally relevant research.

Why choose this opportunity?

  • conduct research across two globally respected institutions
  • receive expert joint supervision and institutional support
  • access specialist facilities in both Adelaide and Freiburg
  • build international networks and experience diverse academic cultures
  • graduate with a single doctoral degree jointly awarded by both universities.

Fields of research

This Joint Award currently focuses on medicine and biomedicine, with plans to expand into sustainability, energy and the environment.

Biomedicine themes include:

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Tumour Immunology
  • Pharmaceutical Science
  • Nursing

Graduate research students from other disciplines are encouraged to explore co-supervision opportunities aligned with the expertise available across both universities.

Scholarships and funding

Scholarships are available for eligible graduate research students whose home university is Adelaide University.

For details on available scholarships, visit the Scholarships page.

Enquiries

Adelaide University: augrs.jointawards@adelaide.edu.au

University of Freiburg (International Office): kathrin.jehle@zv.uni-freiburg.de

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