Collaborative PhD supervision program
Students visiting UQ
The following information is for Technical University of Munich, Technical University of Denmark, São Paulo State University, and Justus Liebig University Giessen PhD candidates who are enrolled in a collaborative supervision program, and who are required to undertake a research stay at UQ as part of their program collaborative PhD supervision program.
Prospective students interested in applying for a collaborative supervision program should visit Collaborative supervision/ joint supervision opportunities for PhD candidates.
Planning for your UQ experience and applying for your Student Visa
Apply for your student visa
PhD candidates enrolled in a collaborative supervision PhD program at the Technical University of Munich, Technical University of Denmark, São Paulo State University, and Justus Liebig University Giessen and who have been successful in receiving an offer from UQ’s Graduate Research School will be provided with a Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) once they have paid their Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). The COE is required when applying for an Australian Student Visa.
Once you've been enrolled
Once you have received confirmation from the Graduate Research School that you have been enrolled at UQ, you should also complete the following steps:
- Apply for a physical student ID card before you leave your home institution. Many essential services, such as the Library, require a student ID to access. Waiting times do apply, so please submit your request so that your card is ready to collect when you arrive on campus.
- Register to attend the Graduate Research School’s orientation sessions and welcome BBQ.
Notify UQ of your travel
Once you have received your student visa and booked your travel to Australia, notify UQ and provide your flight booking details using the link below.
Before you arrive
Before you arrive, complete the following steps:
- Confirm your travel arrangements and your arrival date with the Graduate Research School’s HDR Partnerships Team.
- Visit our Getting prepared to come to Australia webpage which includes important information on arriving in Australia and tips on settling in.
You can find general information and useful updates for international (and interstate) candidates arriving in Brisbane on our International and Interstate Students webpage.
Travel from the airport
If you’re arriving via the Brisbane Domestic or International Airports, there are several ways to travel from the airport.
Visit the Brisbane Air Transport Options website for more information. Other useful resources include the Brisbane Airport International Arrival Guide and the Translink website (for public transport).
Candidates based at the Gatton campus
There is a free inter-campus bus that operates between Gatton and St Lucia campuses. We can book you a seat on the bus. Please let us know your preferred travel date at least 2 weeks prior to your arrival, so that we can help organise your trip to Gatton from the St Lucia Campus.
The service operates on weekdays so you may need to stay a night or two before catching the bus. If you arrive very early on a weekday, and can get to the St Lucia campus by 7am, you may be able to take the bus on the day of your arrival.
Accommodation
Find information about on-campus and off-campus accommodation options by visiting the UQ Living webpage.
When considering accommodation options, you can use the Translink website to check how long it takes to get to campus.
When you have arrived
Attend orientation activities
Orientation activities are scheduled each research quarter. You will be registered to attend the first available sessions after your arrival.
Meet with your Graduate Research Coordinator (GRC)
Book a meeting with the Graduate Research Coordinator for your UQ School/Institute to obtain information on local resources. Alternatively, you can attend a location induction meeting. Your Graduate Research Coordinator will be able to advise you of any local induction requirements.
Meet with your UQ Supervisor
At the meeting with your supervisor you can :
- discuss any outstanding compliance requirements (such as ethics approvals and mandatory vaccinations)
- confirm your data management plans
- set up a regular meeting schedule.
If you haven’t done so already, you may wish to explore your expectations and the expectations of your supervisor/s. To facilitate this, it may be useful for both you and your advisor to complete:
Update your contact details
Update your SI-net contact details with your Australian residential address and telephone number. It is a requirement for your Student Visa that you keep your contact details current with the University during your research exchange.
Opening an Australian bank account
Visit a local bank branch if you need a local bank account. Please note many banks offer accounts for international students with no withdrawal account fees.
There are numerous banks operating in Australia, with the four largest Australian banks being the Australian New Zealand (ANZ), Commonwealth Bank (CommBank), Westpac and National Australia Bank (NAB).
Complete Mandatory Training Modules
Log into your Workday account with your UQ staff credentials and complete compulsory training modules, including:
- Research Integrity Module (Epigeum)
- Respect at UQ: Higher Degree Research Context module
- Health, Safety and Wellness induction
- Annual Fire Safety
- Cyber Security Awareness
- Privacy at UQ
- Thinking about cultures and identities (Core Cultural Awareness Module 1)
- My Country, Our Country (Core Cultural Awareness Module 2)
Incomplete modules will receive regular weekly reminders. This is set at the same frequency as reminders to staff. Some courses require a refresher, so depending on the duration of your stay, you may receive a further reminder later in your visit.
Complete any other health and safety training and activities required of you, outlined on the health and safety training website. Your UQ Supervisor should be able to guide you on what is necessary for your project.
You would have received details of your staff credentials when you commenced your research exchange program. If you have not already done so, contact Information Technology Services (ITS) to activate your staff login and advise your Graduate Research Coordinator immediately if you are experiencing difficulties.
Getting around Brisbane
Brisbane is full of exciting events and activities all year round. To find your way around the city on public transport, use the Translink Journey Planner.
On all Translink bus, train, ferry and tram services you can pay for your journey on public transport using a go card travel pass, contactless Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit or debit card
All fares on Translink services cost 50 cents per journey. You do not need to apply for a concession.
UQ Campuses
UQ has four campuses:
- St Lucia - UQ's main campus, located in inner west Brisbane
- Herston - home to Medicine and Public Health schools, the Oral Health Centre, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Child Health Research Centre, and Herston Imaging Research Facility, located in inner north Brisbane
- Dutton Park - Across the river from St Lucia and is the primary teaching and research location for UQ’s School of Pharmacy and home to the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS) and the Cornwall Street Medical Centre (UQ Health Care)
- Gatton – primarily focused on Agriculture, Food Sustainability, Environment, and Veterinary Science, located 87 kilometres west of Brisbane
Other resources
Here are some other helpful links for your time at UQ:
- Visit the Career Development Framework (CDF) website to view available training sessions. Research exchange students cannot self-register for Career Development Framework sessions. Contact the Graduate Research School’s HDR Partnerships Team via email at agreements@gradschool.uq.edu.au with the details of the session you would like to register for.
- Visit the Library website to find your School/Centre/Institute’s dedicated (liaison) librarian. You should also take note of the Library’s support services for researchers.
- Find out what software you need and download free student software for personal use from ITS.
- View parking options at UQ
- Use UQ maps to help you find your way around campus
- Establish safe habits on campus
- Explore UQ Sport services
- UQ Association of Postgraduate Students (APS)
- UQ Clubs and societies
- Check out the food services offered by UQU, including Morning Marmalade & Kampus Kitchen (serving free meals to students across campuses) and Food Co-Op (free and low-cost groceries)
- Save the UQ 24-hour emergency contact in your phone and make yourself familiar with other emergency contact information and download and sign up to the SafeZone app for UQ.
Visit the Student Central website and discover the additional administrative and support services available to you
Extending your approved UQ stay
The duration of your UQ stay will depend on your home institution:
- Technical University of Munich: Doctoral candidates will be enrolled at UQ for stays of 12 months
- Technical University of Denmark: Doctoral candidates will be enrolled at UQ for 6–12 months
- São Paulo State University: Doctoral candidates will be enrolled at UQ for stays of 12 months over the course of your candidature
- Justus Liebig University Giessen: Doctoral candidates will be enrolled at UQ for stays of 3-6 months
If you would like to apply to extend your UQ stay beyond the duration in your offer letter, please contact the Graduate Research School’s HDR Partnerships Team via email at agreements@gradschool.uq.edu.au as soon as possible so we can schedule a meeting to discuss your plans.
Finalising your UQ experience
Our guide on preparing to leave UQ contains helpful information on who to advise of your departure dates, checking the status of any fee requirements, returning equipment and cleaning workspaces, etc. Please review those pages and advise your Graduate Research Coordinator of your plans to return so we can ensure you are supported through this process.
Once you have booked your travel to return to your home institution, please notify UQ of your travel plans using the link below.