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Submit your application along with your research proposal, CV, academic referee reports, academic transcripts and other supporting documents such as identification and evidence of residency status. Applications are made via the University’s online application portal.

Postgraduate program

The School of Mathematics and Statistics offers Higher Degree by Research (HDR) programs leading to the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (Science) and Master of Philosophy (Science).

The School also offers the Master of Mathematical Sciences degree, and the units of study STAT5002 and STAT5003 form part of the Master of Information Technology .

NEW in 2024 In 2024 the Master of Data Analytics will be offered for the first time. This fully online course offers a breadth of data analytics knowledge, covering a multitude of qualitative and quantitative data research methods and their applications across industries, including business, health care, architecture, and political science.

For current and newly enrolled postgraduate students

Students should read the "School of Mathematics and Statistics higher degree by research procedures" document.

Please note that HDR candidatures and examinations of theses are managed by the HDR Administration Centre (HDRAC). To find detailed information on important matters such as:

• enrolment, research periods and census dates,
• compulsory HDR units of study: Work, Health and Safety (WHS), Responsible Research Practice, and Human Ethics,
• supervisory arrangements, in particular, requesting to change a supervisor,
• Faculty milestones: research plan, research seminar, first year report, intermediate research presentation, final research report,
• research progress: progress plan, first-year integrity check, annual progress review (APR),
• financial support for travel to attend conferences, workshops, and summer/winter schools through the Postgraduate Research Support Scheme (PRSS),
• travel insurance policy,
• requesting leave of absence or suspension from your research,
• recommencing of your studies after suspension,
• applying for an extension of candidature,
• preparation of your thesis and thesis composition,
• thesis submission procedure,
• examination process and outcomes,
• final thesis lodgement and graduation ceremony.

Degree entry requirements: Doctor of Philosophy (Science)

Applicants for a PhD (Science) program MUST hold a Master's degree or a Bachelor's degree with First Class Honours from the University of Sydney or an equivalent qualification from another university or institution. Further information about applications for admission, applications for scholarship, fees and deadlines for domestic and international students can be found on the Sydney Courses Doctor of Philosophy webpage.

Degree entry requirements: Master of Philosophy (Science)

Applicants for a MPhil (Science) program should hold a Bachelor's degree or an equivalent qualification. Further information about applications for admission, applications for scholarship, fees and deadlines for domestic and international students can be found on the Sydney Courses Master of Philosophy webpage.

Degree entry requirements: Graduate Diploma in Science

The Graduate Diploma in Science provides an alternate entry qualification for PhD. It is identical in content to the Honours (4th year) course and is available to candidates who are not eligible to enrol in that course, usually because of their background in Mathematics or Statistics from outside the University of Sydney. Graduate Diploma is a full fee-paying course. Further information about applications and fees can be found on the Sydney Courses Graduate Diploma in Science webpage.

Scholarships

• domestic students have to submit two separate applications: the PhD/MPhil application and the scholarship application,
• international students only click the relevant box in their PhD/MPhil application.

Study abroad and student exchange

Study abroad and student exchange are the two main program options for students enrolled at international universities and looking to study at the University of Sydney as part of their degree.

• As an exchange student you remain enrolled full time at your home institution while you attend the University of Sydney. While you are in Sydney you will continue to pay your usual tuition fees and other student fees to your home institution. A student from the University of Sydney will do the same in reverse, and the result is an exchange of students and places.
• Study abroad is a separate program from student exchange and involves a student enrolling and paying fees directly to the University of Sydney. There is no reciprocal exchange agreement.

Enquiries about postgraduate study in the School should be directed to the School's Coordinator of Postgraduate Studies Associate Professor Zsuzsanna Dancso by email [email protected] .

Mathematics and Statistics at Sydney

The School of Mathematics and Statistics offers a postgraduate program that is varied and flexible, catering for students of many different backgrounds. The School supports a policy of active research and insists on the highest standards of academic achievement. At present, the School consists of four research groups: Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Statistics, Nonlinear Analysis and Pure Mathematics. The Pure Mathematics group is further divided into three subgroups: algebra, computational algebra, and analysis, geometry & topology.

The School holds regular seminars, workshops and conferences that ensure that its members stay abreast of latest developments. It also supports an active program of long term and short term visits by distinguished international academics.

The School has all the facilities of a well established and progressive teaching and research institution, including a modern library and an extensive computer network of workstations. In addition the network supports a number of high-speed processors and colour graphics systems. A wide variety of software packages is available including Magma (developed in the School), Spida, S-plus, Reduce, Mathematica and Matlab.

The School is proud of its postgraduate students. Our research students are a valuable resource and the School is committed to providing them with excellent research facilities and office space in which to work. Some financial aid is available to students to allow them to attend relevant conferences and workshops. Further support is offered in the form of part-time teaching, assignment and examination marking.

Sydney and the University

Sydney is the oldest and largest city in Australia, and the capital of New South Wales. The city has a population of over four million and operates as an international centre for commerce, finance and the arts for the Asia-Pacific region. Sydney is well known for its great natural scenic beauty, beaches and climate, as well as its high quality of life.

The University of Sydney, established in 1850, is the oldest of all the universities in Australia. It has nine colleges of residence for students and visiting scholars. It has two theatres, an art gallery, several museums and a thriving cultural life in all facets of the arts. For the physically active there is a wide range of sports facilities, including a covered full-size olympic pool, tennis and squash courts, two sporting ovals, gymnasiums, sports instructors and physiotherapists. Every effort is also made to accommodate the physically impaired.

The diversity of courses and degrees the University offers is unequalled in the country. It provides a lively and challenging environment in which to pursue all aspects of academic life.

The Australian academic year begins in late February. It is divided into two semesters with a winter break of about three weeks from mid-June through to mid-July. Coursework programs finish at the end of November.

Maths & Stats website:

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Finding theses

University of sydney theses, higher degree by research theses.

We hold theses written by the University’s Higher Degree by Research (PhD or Masters by Research) students in our collections.

You can find a University of Sydney thesis by searching the  Library catalogue . Select the “Advanced search” and then select “USYD Theses” from the “Material type” dropdown menu.

You can also find digital theses by searching directly in the Sydney eScholarship repository .

Access a digital or digitised thesis

Many of the University’s digital and digitised theses are openly available for download through the Sydney eScholarship repository .

Theses marked “University of Sydney Access” are only available to current University staff and students. Libraries and private researchers can request to purchase a copy of a University of Sydney Access only thesis for AUD$18.50 (incl. GST, within Australia) or AUD$40.00 (international requests).

To purchase a digital thesis, you need to complete one of the relevant request forms below and submit it to [email protected] :

• Individuals requesting a thesis, or library requesting on behalf of an individual
• Libraries requesting a copy to be included in their collection

All requests for copies of material held at the University of Sydney Library must comply with the  Copyright Act of 1968 .

Access a hard copy thesis

Theses that are only available in printed format can be viewed in the Rare Books and Special Collections Library , Level 1, Fisher Library.

We are currently running a project to digitise hardcopy theses. You can request an update to find out where a particular thesis is in our digitisation queue by emailing [email protected] .

We don’t digitise theses on request.

Honours or postgraduate coursework theses

Search for an honours or postgraduate coursework thesis in the repository , then use the filters on the left side of the results page to narrow by “Type”.

You can also search the Honours and Postgraduate Coursework theses collection for a faculty, school or discipline (if available).

There are limited numbers of honours theses in the Sydney eScholarship repository as we have strict requirements for submission of honours theses . If you can't find the thesis you're looking for, we suggest contacting the relevant faculty office.

Theses from other Australian and New Zealand universities

Find a thesis from other Australian or New Zealand universities by searching:

• Australian theses via Trove
• Libraries Australia for Higher Degree theses awarded from 1989 onwards
• Education Research Theses for citations and abstracts from theses submitted from 1919 onwards.

If you’re interested in a thesis that isn't available online, you can request the item through our Resource Sharing Service .

International theses

For theses written and submitted at universities outside of Australia, try the following resources:

• Open Access Theses and Dissertations
• DART-Europe E-theses Portal
• British Library Electronic Digital Thesis Online Service (EThOS)
• EBSCO open dissertations
• French Thesis-On-Line Repository
• History Online – postgraduate theses in History submitted in the UK since 1995
• Index to Theses – listing of theses with abstracts accepted for higher degrees by universities in Great Britain and Ireland since 1716
• Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations – North American theses
• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global

Related information

For more help finding and accessing theses, speak to our friendly library staff.

University of Sydney Handbooks - 2019 Archive

The university of sydney - medicine and health pg handbook 2019.

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Doctor of Philosophy in the Sydney Pharmacy School

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a research degree in which students undertake supervised research leading to the production of a thesis. The PhD in the Sydney Pharmacy School is aimed at those who intend to pursue research careers in pharmacy, pharmaceutical science, pharmacy practice or a related field. Fields of study include:

• Cardiovascular and Diabetes
• Health Services and Patient Safety
• Mental Health
• Respiratory Disease

Candidates should be familiar with the Academic Board documents Thesis and Examination of Higher Degree by Research Policy 2015 and University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 . See the Policy Register at sydney.edu.au/policies for the most up-to-date versions of these resolutions.

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Management PhD

Program outline.

The Management Discipline Group (MDG) at UTS is one of Australia’s leading Management research group. Students who undertake the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program will have the opportunity to work with a supervisory panel made up of three experienced researchers with expertise in the relevant area of study.

All students enrolled in the program will have to complete three assessment stages.

• Stage 1 is usually undertaken at the end of the first year of study, and involves the presentation of the research proposal and identification of the topic for study.
• Stage 2 assessment is usually undertaken in the 2nd year of study, where students develop the appropriate methodology for their study.
• Stage 3  students are required to submit the completed draft of their thesis for assessment. This provides students with feedback about the suitability of the thesis for external examination.

Structure (potential coursework)

Students joining the PhD program will be required to complete four coursework research subjects that relate to the development of their research proposal, understanding and application of relevant management theories, and research methods.

You may also want to look at some thesis topics of our current research degree students .

Expression of interest

Learn about how to complete your expression of interest, important dates, deadlines and other requested supporting documents.

Note that completing an expression of interest, and providing us with this information before you formally apply to enrol for a Research degree saves significant time where a formal application is deemed unlikely to be successful, and also speeds up the process of application where feedback from the relevant Discipline Group indicates that an application would likely be supported.

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Economics

About the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Economics

UNSW’s Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Economics is offered by one of the world's top institutions in Economics (ranked 42nd in QS Subject Rankings - 2023) and will equip you with the expertise needed to become a globally focused and socially engaged researcher. 

You’ll be joining a cohort of high-achieving research students in tackling modern-day challenges at the forefront of economics, working alongside leaders in the field. This is your opportunity to become integrated into the UNSW Business School’s community of scholars.

The program is comprised of two components. You’ll begin by undertaking rigorous coursework covering microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, econometrics and applied economic analysis. As part of your doctoral program, you’ll also be involved in research projects even from an early stage. This research training will equip you with the skills required to identify, analyse and solve problems in the field. 

You’ll then pursue independent research under the supervision of high-profile UNSW academics, culminating in a doctoral thesis. Your PhD thesis will allow you to showcase your research skills and enable you to make an original contribution to the field of Economics. There will also be exciting opportunities throughout to interact with industry leaders, and to develop your teaching portfolio.

Our training is geared toward preparing you for a career in academia, although other career paths (e.g., consulting, government, industry, non-profit) are also enabled.

The vast majority of our higher degree research students are supported through a tuition waiver and stipend of around A$35-45K per year.

Before formally applying or contacting potential supervisors, you must complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) by sending the required material to [email protected] . Please read the "Instructions for Applicants" section below.

PhD program structure

Stream 1: 1-year of masters’ coursework + 3-year phd program (fully funded for coursework and phd).

Key Information:

• 1-year of Masters’ Coursework + 3-year PhD Program (fully funded both for coursework and PhD)
• The program starts in Term 1 (early February)
• No part-time option is available

Year One: Master of Pre-Doctoral Business Studies (MPDBS)

Year one will equip you with the skills required to identify, analyse and solve problems in the field, while helping you formulate your research agenda and identify potential thesis supervisors for the PhD component of the program. 

You will undertake coursework covering microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, econometrics and applied economic analysis. You’ll also have the opportunity to develop practical research skills by assisting in research projects. Upon successful completion of the first year, you’ll be awarded a Master of Pre-Doctoral Business Studies. 

A brief overview of the first year is presented below. Please visit the UNSW Handbook for full course structure details.

• Term 1:  COMM8100  + ECON7001  +  ECON7004
• Term 2:  COMM8102  +  ECON7002  + Research Assistance Work
• Term 3:  COMM8103  +  ECON7101  +  ECON7102

Year Two: Specialised Coursework and Identification of Thesis Topic

Year two will help you in further developing skills specialized towards dealing with the challenges relevant to your research topic. You’ll continue in the Economics stream with a further year of advanced coursework. 

You’ll choose up to eight additional research courses from a range of electives in consultation with your supervisor and PGRC, with the opportunity to take subjects outside of your specialised discipline. In year two, you’ll also be identifying your thesis topic with the aid of your supervisor. 

You’ll engage in literature review and research design and present your research proposal to the School of Economics at the end of the year.

Years Three – Four: Original Research and Your Doctoral Thesis

In the final three years of the program, you will be focused on conducting full-time research and completing your doctoral thesis. 

This is your opportunity to address some of the biggest challenges at the frontier of Economics and make a significant contribution to the field. Your research will offer new ways of critical thinking and withstand critical analysis from expert researchers in the area.

Stream 2: Direct Entry into the 3-year PhD Program

• Direct Entry into the 3-year PhD Program
• Note: it requires outside scholarship (or ARC Funding Support from your selected supervisor) AND a degree in Economics with research component (e.g., First-class Honours or Master’s in Economics) 
• You are expected to start in Term 1 (early February)
• A part-time option may be available (subject to approval)

Year One: Coursework and Identification of Thesis Topic

Year one will equip you with skills required to identify, analyse and solve problems relevant to your research topic.

You’ll choose up to eight research courses from a range of electives in consultation with your supervisor and PGRC, with an opportunity to take subjects outside of your specialised discipline.

These will include the four core courses listed below (unless you are exempted from taking them). You’ll also be identifying your thesis topic with the aid of your supervisor.

You’ll engage in literature review and research design and present your research proposal to the School of Economics at the end of the year. 

• Term 1:  ECON7001  +  ECON7004
• Term 2:  COMM8102  +  ECON7002

Years Two – Three: Original Research and Your Doctoral Thesis

In the final three years of the program, you will be focused on conducting full-time research and completing your doctoral thesis.

This is your opportunity to address some of the biggest challenges at the frontier of Economics and make a significant contribution to the field.

Your research will offer new ways of critical thinking and withstand critical analysis from expert researchers in the area.

Instructions for Applicants

Before formally applying or contacting potential supervisors, you need to complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) process by sending the following material to [email protected] . The EOI process opens 27 May  and closes 26 August . Only selected applicants will be invited to apply via the UNSW central portal.  

Important: make sure that you satisfy the UNSW academic and language entry requirements before submitting your EOI. Please read the Entry Requirements  section below. 

Subject: MPDBS Application

• Your name, citizenship, and whether you are a citizen or permanent resident of Australia.
• Your degree(s), institution(s) and year(s) of completion of previous studies.
• A list of advanced economics, mathematics and statistics courses taken and the grades you obtained for these courses.
• Names of two references (recommendation letter writers) and their contact details (e.g., affiliation, title, email).
• Names of two academics you wish to work with at UNSW.
• Three to five academic papers you have recently read that relevant for your research interest.

Attachments (in PDF):

• Your academic CV.
• Your official academic transcripts from previous degree(s).
• Your official GRE results.
• A research proposal or statement of purpose.
• If applicable, proof of your English Language requirement.

Subject: Direct Entry PhD Application

• A description of your Honours or Master’s thesis.
• Your funding source: outside scholarship, external grant, or support from potential supervisor.
• A copy of your Honours or Master’s thesis.

Academic Entry Requirement

The minimum academic entry requirement for Stream 1 is the equivalent of a four-year UNSW Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (Economics, Finance, and related subjects) with first or upper second class honours. The minimum academic entry requirement for Stream 2 is the equivalent of a four-year UNSW Bachelor’s degree with an Honours year (research), or the equivalent of a UNSW Masters’ degree with substantial research component with first or upper second class honours.

Note: an upper second class honours is equivalent to a weighted average mark of at least 75/100 (i.e., a Distinction) at UNSW and is allocated to roughly the top 30% of students. Grading systems vary across countries. For more information, read this guide for grade equivalencies between countries .

If you are unsure if you satisfy the academic entry requirement, contact us at [email protected] and we will provide feedback.

English Language Requirement

UNSW recognises the follow countries as English-speaking: American Samoa, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Canada, Fiji, Gibraltar, Ghana, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, The Gambia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland), United States of America, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

If you are not a citizen of an English-speaking country, then you will need to establish that you have sufficient English language fluency. There are four ways to establish sufficient English language fluency: English Tests (including IELTS, TOEFL, Pearson and Cambridge), UNSW Global English Course, Prior Study, or an English Waiver. For details on each of these, please review our English language requirements .

• University of Bologna, Department of Economics, Research Fellow
• The National University of Singapore, Asia Competitiveness Institute, Research Fellow
• Monash University, Centre for Global Business, Research Fellow
• University of Oxford, Magdalen College, Research Fellow, then ETH Zurich, Department of Management, Technology and Economics, Assistant Professor
• Shenzhen Research Institute of Big Data, Research Fellow
• Monash University, Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics, Research Fellow
• The University of Melbourne, School of Mathematics and Statistics (Lecturer)
• University of New South Wales, CEPAR, Research Fellow
• University of Sydney, School of Economics, Research Fellow
• Wuhan University, Economics and Management School, Assistant Professor
• Australian National University, ANU College of Business and Economics, Associate Lecturer
• East China University of Science and Technology, School of Business, Lecturer
• University of Toronto, Department of Economics, Research Fellow
• South China Normal University, School of Economics and Management, Lecturer
• University of Sydney, Research Fellow, then University of Technological Sydney, Economics Discipline, Chancellor's Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
• University of Geneva, Faculty of History, Economics and Society, Research Fellow, then South Mediterranean University, Mediterranean School of Business, Assistant Professor
• Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, School of Public Administration, Associate Professor
• International University of Japan, Graduate School of International Relations, Assistant Professor
• University of New South Wales, School of Economics, Research Fellow
• Shanghai Tech University, School of Entrepreneurship and Management, Assistant Professor
• University of Bath, Department of Economics, Lecturer
• Sun-yat Sen University, Department of Economics, Assistant Professor 
• University of Technology Sydney, Research Fellow, then Macquarie University, Centre for the Health Economy, Honorary Research Fellow
• Zurich University of Applied Sciences, ZHAW, Research Fellow
• Jinan University, Institute for Economic and Social Research, Assistant Professor
• University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, Research Fellow
• Curtin University, School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Lecturer, then Macquarie University, Macquarie Business School, Lecturer
• University of Technology Sydney, CHERE, Research Fellow
• University of Peradeniya, Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management, Professor
• University of Technology Sydney, CHERE, Senior Research Fellow
• Monash University, Centre for Health Economics, Research Fellow
• Monash University, Monash Business School, Research Fellow
• UNSW, School of Economics, Research Fellow
• Durham University, Business School, Lecturer
• UCL Australia, Faculty of Engineering Science, Lecturer
• Shandong University, School of Economics, Assistant Professor
• University of Sydney, Charles Perkins Centre, Research Fellow
• University of Mannheim, Department of Economics, Research Fellow, then Monash University, School of Economics, Lecturer
• University of Tasmania, Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, Lecturer
• City University of London, Department of Economics, Lecturer
• Shangdong University, School of Economics, Lecturer
• Fukushima University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Associate Professor

Your PhD will set you on the path to a career in a premier research institution, anywhere in the world. Throughout your research degree, you’ll also have many opportunities to develop your teaching portfolio.

Beyond academia, there’s also significant demand in the private and public sectors for people with deep knowledge and sound research and analytical skills*.

Whether you’re looking to pursue a career in academia, or take your research skills out to industry, a PhD in Economics from UNSW will get you there.

* Source:  2019 Advancing Australia’s Knowledge Economy Report

The UNSW Business School is ranked within the Top 50 worldwide for Economics and Econometrics.

An increasing number of PhD graduates find employment in business, government, and the non-profit sector. Nineteen of the largest ASX companies have PhD graduates on their senior executive teams.

Degree type

Postgraduate Research

Commencing terms

Term 1 – February

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Delivery mode, domestic / international.

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University of Sydney's 2023 financial position

The University experienced an underlying loss of $9.4 million when factors like quarantined grants and investment funds were taken into account, as they cannot be freely used to cover day-to-day operating costs. This compares to an underlying margin of $216.6 million in 2022.

The University of Sydney’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott, said the result was still strong given the tough environment.

“The financial environment in which universities operate remains challenging, and there are ongoing uncertainties ahead,” he said.

"At Sydney, we are fortunate to have been able to build a solid future fund to support our research and education, and our staff and students. This is largely thanks to strong investment returns, as well as the generosity of our donors and our international students continuing to want to study with us.

“We don’t take this for granted. We continue to significantly reinvest back into our core teaching and research activities, and our people – this includes our initiatives of strategic priority such as our Sydney Horizon Research Fellowships to support research excellence, our Sydney Horizon Educators Scheme designed to advance the way we teach and improve our student experience, equity scholarships and the development of cutting-edge infrastructure to advance our research discoveries for the benefit of society.”

Update on Employment Payment Review

As part of its ongoing Employee Payments Review, the University is continuing a detailed review of casual academic work to determine underpayments that may be owed arising from practices relating to work allocation and payments. In line with financial reporting obligations for universities, the University’s Annual Report includes a provision of $70.1m as potential underpayment liabilities that is based on a series of extrapolated assumptions while investigations are completed.  

“Paying our people correctly and remediating any historical underpayments is our absolute priority and we are devoting considerable resources to making it happen as quickly as possible,” Professor Scott said. 

“We deeply regret any underpayments that have occurred and are committed to ensuring all staff are paid according to our enterprise agreement.”

To determine the actual remediation amounts, the University is conducting a line-by-line analysis of work undertaken by casual academic staff in priority Schools across the University over a period of 13 semesters, with around 250,000 individual activities undertaken across the University each year. This process must be done manually as there are multiple sources of information and records to be identified, located and analysed.

A range of measures have also been introduced to ensure that payment practices across the University align with the Enterprise Agreement 2023-2026 and a dedicated team of legal, HR, payroll and operational experts has been established with a focus on ensuring practices and controls are in place so payments going forward are correct and that any historical underpayments are identified and remediated.  

A new online teaching allocation tool has also been developed and introduced to integrate existing curriculum, timetabling and staffing information and ensure consistent work allocation processes and reporting for casual academics across the University. This allows the University to maintain a central record of all requested work and improves record-keeping in line with its obligations under the Enterprise Agreement. 

The University is in regular contact with the Fair Work Ombudsman and keeping the agency fully informed about the progress of the review since our initial self-disclosure.

These additional funds that may be needed for remediation do not significantly contribute to the University’s small underlying 2023 deficit as adjustments will be retroactively applied to the University’s financial records going back at least six years.

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