Normally, applicants must have obtained a thesis-based Master's degree in the discipline to qualify as a doctoral student. Applicants must have academic credentials consistent with being fully-qualified to undertake graduate work at the doctoral level. The categories of probationary or qualifying student do not apply at the doctoral level.

An applicant who does not have sufficient background training or courses prerequisite to scholarly work in the particular subject of study and research will not be admitted as a doctoral student. An applicant may be admitted as a Master's student and be required to undertake specific courses toward establishing appropriate credentials, but any graduate study undertaken for this purpose cannot be counted as time spent toward formal requirements for the degree.

Alternatively, an applicant may be accepted at the Master's level as a means of illustrating suitability to enter a doctoral program, and after the first year may request, through the academic unit, a transfer to a PhD program.

A comprehensive examination or equivalent is not a formal requirement of FGSR, but may be required by individual academic units.
he Doctorate program may be entered in one of three ways:
Entrance after a completed MSc
Entrance after a completed BSc
Transfer from our MSc program
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic Version)- 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each band, TOEFL Paper-based- 580, TOEFL Internet-based- 80 with a minimum of 20 in each of the four components. Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic – 59.