Earn your PhD without quitting your day job

Disaster-recovery consultant Miranda Mears put it plainly: “I heard about the PhD@Work program from a number of sources and found that it really aligned with what I wanted to achieve, while I still maintain my existing work … It was really tailored to industry participation and wasn’t just purely academic, which really appealed to me.”

Instead of a traditional thesis, candidates produce a portfolio of work — high-impact, applied projects delivered in collaboration with academic and industry advisors. This co-designed model allows for meaningful outcomes across sectors and communities, while still aligning with the academic rigour required at AQF Level 10.

The program is structured through a three-way agreement between the candidate, employer and JCU. Dual supervision ensures quality and relevance: an academic advisor supports research integrity, while an industry advisor keeps it practical and aligned to business goals. Supervision, training and access to digital research tools — including high-performance computing, specialist databases and the Cairns Ideas Lab maker space — are delivered entirely online via Microsoft Teams, so location is never a barrier.

Cairns-based engineer and entrepreneur Kim Bender welcomed the flexibility: “Spending more years studying and taking time off work while having young kids at home was just never going to happen. So, the opportunity to be able to do it through my work is amazing and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Why PhD@Work works

• Stay on salary while you study
• Shared goals for candidate, employer and university
• Dual supervision for academic rigour and industry relevance
• Portfolio of workplace projects replaces a single thesis
• Fully online delivery, anywhere in Australia
• RTP fee-offset scholarship for eligible domestic candidates

More than 30 professionals have already lodged expressions of interest across areas including renewables, robotics, social impact, food security and digital twins. HDR Innovation and Industry Lead Dr Samantha Horseman says, “Whether you are a candidate who has always dreamed of a PhD journey, or an organisation with industry challenges teamed with talented employees, we can co-design the research roadmap with you.”

Dean of Graduate Research Professor Stephan Riek adds that PhD@Work will “provide a massive boost for research and development in regional Northern Australia by integrating professional experience with academic rigour.”

Employers support the program because it keeps high-value staff in-house, builds internal research capability and reduces reliance on consultants. Candidates gain advanced skills and a doctorate — without pausing their careers. JCU strengthens industry partnerships and proves that impactful research can happen anywhere work happens.

To check your eligibility and lodge an expression of interest, visit www.jcu.edu.au/graduate-research-school/phd@work or contact the Graduate Research School.