PhD of Letters
The Australian National University
- Canberra, Australia
- 4 years
- English
- On campus
- PhD
About the program
PhD of Philosophy, Research School of Social Sciences is an ANU phd-level pathway focused on Letters.
Program highlights
- Internship available: no
- Placement support: yes
- Work during study: yes
- Post-study work rights (3 years): yes
- PR pathway friendly: no
What you will learn
- Design and conduct original research in Letters
- apply advanced disciplinary methods
- critically evaluate evidence
- and communicate a substantial original contribution.
Career outcomes
- Academic research
- higher education
- specialist research
- policy and advanced professional roles related to Letters.
Curriculum
- Supervised doctoral research in Letters
- research training and milestone reviews
- culminating in an original thesis.
Entry requirements
Academic
- Hold an Australian bachelor degree with at least second-class honours or international equivalent
- or another qualification with a significant research component; Secure appropriate supervisory support and satisfy English language requirements.
Accepted academic background
Language tests
- IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each skill
- TOEFL iBT 81 overall with Reading 16 Writing 19 Listening 16 Speaking 19
- PTE Academic 64 overall with 60 in each skill
- Cambridge C1 Advanced 169 overall subject to program-specific higher requirements
Documents you’ll need
- Academic transcripts
- Graduation certificates
- Research proposal or expression of interest where required
- Referee reports
- Supervisor/college endorsement where required
- English-language evidence
- Passport/identity documentation
How to apply
- Check the exact ANU program requirements
- prepare academic and English-language documents
- submit the international application through the ANU/UAC route shown on the official program page. HDR applicants should first identify a supervisor and follow college-specific pre-application requirements.
Other costs
| Tuition per year | $37,121 AUD |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $150 AUD |
| Deposit | $20,000 AUD |
Program details
| Campus | Acton Campus |
|---|---|
| Faculty or school | ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences |
| Department | Research School of Social Sciences |
| Teaching language | English |
| Credit value | 192 |
| Study pace | Standard |
| Post-study stay | 3 years |
| Scholarship note | ANU scholarships are available subject to eligibility; HDR applicants are automatically considered for relevant research scholarships when applying within scholarship deadlines. |
Intakes and deadlines
Program starts
February 2026
Apply by
15 Dec 2026
31 days leftProgram starts
July 2026
Apply by
15 May 2027
182 days left
Frequently asked questions
The program takes 4 years.
The next deadline is 15 Dec 2026. Apply early, because some programs close when places fill up.
Tuition is $37,121 AUD per year. The application fee is $150 AUD. The deposit is $20,000 AUD. The estimated living cost is $36,000 AUD.
Accepted language tests: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each skill, TOEFL iBT 81 overall with Reading 16 Writing 19 Listening 16 Speaking 19, PTE Academic 64 overall with 60 in each skill, Cambridge C1 Advanced 169 overall subject to program-specific higher requirements.