Students

Elevate your expertise in a real-world setting

Want to deliver world-class research that benefits the
economy and broader society – while you earn a PhD? With our industry doctoral program, you can. You’ll be immersed in industry: embedded in a business and designing solutions to real commercial challenges – all while growing your career.

  • Directly impact industry

    You’ll work not alongside industry, but within it. Apply your skills to understand and solve real-word commercial problems – in real-world business timeframes.

  • Find your balance

    You’ll strike a balance between academic rigour and industry priorities. Embedded in a business, you’ll still have access to world-leading staff and facilities at Monash.

  • Build a portfolio

    You’ll take a portfolio-based approach to research – prioritising training, rather than coursework – while building towards an innovation report (exegesis).

  • Advance your career

    Whether with one of our industry partners or your existing employer, you’ll emerge with the practical skills and technical knowledge businesses crave.

How the IDP differs from a traditional PhD

Industry Doctoral Program - Doctor of Philosophy (Industry)

  • Portfolio-based approach
  • 120 training hours
  • Industry-scoped and led projects
  • Exegesis and portfolio
  • Embedded in a business

Traditional PhD

  • Theory-based approach
  • Two coursework units
  • Academic research
  • 80,000-word thesis
  • Based at the university

Areas of research

Every day, our industry partners are coming across exciting new challenges. They’re unearthing ever-increasing opportunities for R & D – and launching inspiring, innovative projects.

They’re ready for an Industry PhD candidate to help them meet these challenges head on.

Are you ready to join them?


How the program works – and who should apply

As an Industry Doctoral Program candidate, you’ll be either:

  • An existing doctoral candidate looking for a more hands-on PhD experience. You might have studied with Monash at undergraduate or postgraduate level – or you might be completely new to us.
  • An employed engineer in full-time or part-time employment, seeking a way to upskill with a PhD while advancing your career and supporting the needs of your employer.
  • An enquiring PhD candidate, you may have studied undergraduate or postgraduate studies at Monash or elsewhere.

Learn how three Monash PhD students are pioneering their own industry-focused pathways to education