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Research Higher Degree Applications – Now Open!

We’re pleased to announce that applications for the 2026 cohort intake are now open until the 1st of September 2025.

2026 cohort key dates:

Applications will re-open on 7th of July 2025
Applications close 1^st September 2025
Offers will be sent out late September / early October 2025
Orientation will be held in November – December 2025
Commencement date will be 9^th January 2026

2026 Scholarships

We are pleased to offer up to four AIB Doctoral Scholarships for 2026 DBA /PhD applicants. AIB Equity scholarships (50% or 100% fee waiver) are available to applicants who have a disability or who come from a low socio-economic background, and an AIB Not-for-profit (NFP) Scholarship (50% fee waiver) is available to applicants working or volunteering in a not-for-profit organisation OR on an NFP research project.

Step 1: Check you meet minimum eligibility requirements

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You must meet one of the following Academic Qualifications criteria to enter:

A Bachelor Degree (AQF Level 7)
A Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) with a minimum score of 550 and at least 3 years relevant work experience.

AIB MBA graduates are automatically eligible for the GCRM.

English language requirements must be met. For all admission requirements, please review the GCRM Course Brief.

Learn more about the GCRM.

You must meet one of the following Academic Qualifications criteria to enter:

Bachelor Degree (AQF Level 7) or equivalent
AQF Level 8 qualification (or equivalent) in any discipline
Graduate Certificate in Research Methodologies
Graduate Certificate in Management

AIB MBA graduates are automatically eligible for the MMgt.

English language requirements must be met. For all admission requirements, please review the MMgt Course Brief.

Learn more about the MMgt.

You must meet one of the following Academic Qualifications criteria:

A Master’s in Philosophy
A Master’s Degree (AQF Level 9) at Credit or higher-level Grade Point Average with an appropriate research component (for example, research methods subject of research project)
A Bachelor’s Degree with Honours (AQF Level 8) with a minimum upper second class honours or equivalent

AIB MBA graduates with a GPA of credit average (5.0) or higher are automatically eligible for the DBA.

English language requirements must be met. For all admission requirements, please review the DBA Course Brief.

Learn more about the DBA.

You must meet one of the following Academic Qualifications criteria:

A Master’s in Philosophy
A Master’s Degree (AQF Level 9) in Business and Commerce or related discipline area at Credit or higher level Grade Point Average with an appropriate research component (minimum 40%)
A Bachelor’s Degree (AQF Level 8) in Business and Commerce or related discipline area with minimum upper second class honours or equivalent

English language requirements must be met. For all admission requirements, please review the PhD Course Brief.

Learn more about the PhD.

Interested in the MMgt, DBA or PhD? – Proceed with step 2. Interested in applying in GCRM? – Skip to step 3.

Step 2: Identify a suitable Supervisory panel and contact them with your research topic outline

You must identify a suitable potential Principal Supervisor and at least one suitable potential Associate Supervisor. Please review our Research Disciplines and Potential Supervisors. Once you have identified a good fit, please contact them with your research topic outline. There is no specified template for the research topic outline, however, the document should provide the potential supervisors sufficient detail about your research topic and interest.

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Supervisors

Step 3: Complete the application form and ensure you have attached all documents as per the Application Review Checklist.

If you apply for the MMgt, DBA, or PhD, please ensure that your potential supervisory panel has provided a Statement of Support. Don’t forget to send the research referee report to your referees for them to complete.

Application Form
Terms & Conditions
- PhD
- DBA
- MMgt
- GCRM
Referee Report (to be confidentially completed and received by the Research Team by the application close date)
Exemption form
Application review checklist
Scholarship form (Doctoral scholarships only – please ensure you read the information carefully and meet the eligibility criteria before applying)

Step 4: Submit your application and supporting documents to rhdadmissions@aib.edu.au

Entry into the Research Higher Degrees is, of course, highly competitive and is based on strict criteria. Successful completion of an AIB Masters qualification is a potential pathway, but not an automatic entry.

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Start Your Research Journey Today

Research Higher Degree Applications – Now Open!

2026 Scholarships

Step 1: Check you meet minimum eligibility requirements

Graduate Certificate in Research Methodologies (GCRM)

Master of Management (MMgt)

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Step 2: Identify a suitable Supervisory panel and contact them with your research topic outline

Finance Discipline

Human Resource and Management Discipline

Marketing and Entrepreneurial Discipline

Logistics and Supply Chain Management Discipline

Step 3: Complete the application form and ensure you have attached all documents as per the Application Review Checklist.

Step 4: Submit your application and supporting documents to rhdadmissions@aib.edu.au