Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Duration

3-4 years (full-time) or 6-8 years (part-time)

Type

Research

Intake

15 January, 1 May, 15 July, and 15 October (subject to availability of supervision). Flexibility may apply for students whose enrolment is supported by external funding.

Fees

In 2026, the annual tuition fees for this course are:

• RM48,480 for Malaysian students
• RM54,720 for international students.

General fees:

• Application (once only) - RM100
• Registration (once only) - RM200
• General amenities (per semester) - RM100
• International student pass application - Click here.

• Artificial intelligence
• Computer vision and pattern recognition
• Cybersecurity
• Data science
• Digital health
• Human-machine interaction
• Image, video and speech processing
• Learning analytics
• Machine learning
• Mobile networks
• Software engineering

Monash's international reputation offers graduates career and research opportunities in Malaysia and around the world.

You'll have a highly respected qualification that positions you well for employment in multinational corporations, government and non-governmental organisations, and universities. Depending on your research area, the award can advance your career in:

• artificial Intelligence
• bioinformatics
• cryptography
• multimedia
• robotics
• software engineering
• systems analysis
• technology consultancy.

Top 100 in the world
Monash University is ranked #48 in the world for data science and artificial intelligence and #51 for computer science and information systems (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026).

Benefit from expert supervision
You'll work with some of the world’s most inspiring and distinguished researchers in a stimulating, supportive and professional environment.

Make an impact
At Monash, we recognise the potential of IT to positively transform our world. Adopting a collaborative and cross-disciplinary approach, our world-leading researchers are tackling the world’s most pressing social, economic and environmental issues. From maximising energy efficiency, detecting criminal activity to predicting worsening heart failure, join us as we unite people and advance technology in the pursuit of a smarter digital future.

Be supported
We offer a range of scholarships to help ensure money and circumstances aren’t barriers to you accessing a world-leading IT education. Click here for details and a full list of scholarships

Entry requirements

To enter Monash University, you must satisfy particular academic, English language and age requirements.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate a capacity to carry out independent research and have adequate training, qualifications and ability to pursue the proposed course of study. In all cases, the qualifications described below are expected to be equivalent to Australian Qualifications Framework levels and standards.

In considering applicants' qualifications from international institutions, the Graduate Research Committee (GRC) will consider a range of qualifications, publications, experience and demonstrated research capacity.


Standard entry

The minimum academic qualification requirements for admission into a PhD or doctoral course are:

• A bachelor’s degree of at least four years in a relevant discipline, which includes a research thesis or project, with a minimum overall average grade of an honours degree equivalent to the Second Class Honours Division A; or
• A master's degree in a relevant discipline which includes a research thesis or project equivalent to at least 25 percent of one year of full-time study, with a minimum overall average grade of honours equivalent to the Second Class Honours Division A; or
• A qualification, or combination of qualifications and relevant professional experience, deemed equivalent by the GRC (or delegate).

Please refer to the Admission criteria for more details.

Application process