Fully Funded PhD in NLP at the University of Sydney, Australia (2027)

About the role

The University of Sydney is seeking multiple PhD students to join a research group focused on Natural Language Processing (NLP).

The research will also explore related areas, including crowdsourcing, human computation, data science, and machine learning. The supervisor aims to build a collaborative and socially connected research environment, with weekly group meetings and visits from researchers around the world.

Students will work closely with their supervisor and fellow researchers while developing their research skills and contributing to projects in their chosen areas.

The PhD programme typically takes three to four years to complete. Students are generally expected to be based in Sydney and participate in in-person research group activities. Brief periods of remote work may be possible.

Responsibilities

• Conduct original research in Natural Language Processing.
• Explore research questions across NLP, machine learning, data science, crowdsourcing, and human computation.
• Participate in weekly research group meetings and collaborate with other students and researchers.
• Develop and execute a PhD research project under academic supervision.
• Engage with visiting researchers and contribute to the group's collaborative research environment.
• Complete relevant research methods coursework if you have not already undertaken it.
• Pursue industry research internships where appropriate and permitted.
• Participate in teaching opportunities if interested; teaching is not compulsory.

Requirements

Applicants should have:

• A bachelor's degree that includes significant experience in Computer Science.

• Relevant research experience demonstrated through at least one of the following:

  • An undergraduate senior thesis.
  • An honours thesis with first-class honours.
  • A master's degree involving independent research.
  • Significant industry research experience, such as an internship in a research laboratory.
  • A predoctoral research position.

A master's degree and published research papers are not compulsory. However, they may strengthen an application.

Other relevant experience, including internships, personal projects, and additional academic preparation outside Computer Science, may also be valuable.

The supervisor welcomes applicants with a broad range of NLP research interests, although projects funded by specific grants may require candidates to work on particular research topics.

Benefits

• Full PhD funding: Students in the research group are funded for the duration of their PhD.
• Annual stipend: Approximately AUD 41,000 per year, according to the supplied announcement.
• Tax-free scholarship: The advertised stipend is described as tax-free.
• Research opportunities: Work on NLP and related areas such as machine learning and data science.
• Collaborative environment: Participate in weekly group meetings and interact with visiting researchers.
• Teaching opportunities: Students can gain teaching experience and receive additional payment if they choose to teach.
• Industry exposure: Opportunities to pursue internships in industry research laboratories, subject to applicable restrictions.
• International applications: Both Australian and international students are welcome to apply.

Funding may come from the supervisor's research grants or university scholarships, including the Research Training Program (RTP).

Applicants who receive an offer are encouraged to apply for university scholarships if they are not already funded through a research grant.

How to apply

Applicants must complete the following steps.

Step 1: Complete the initial application form

Fill out the research group's application form:

https://forms.gle/1GFVDTjEMSxrYqV78

Step 2: Email the supervisor

Send an email to jonathan.kummerfeld@sydney.edu.au with the subject:

PhD application: [Your Name]

Attach the following documents:

• Statement of Purpose: A PDF of 2–4 pages explaining your academic background, research interests, and reasons for pursuing a PhD.
• Academic transcripts: PDF files or images of your transcripts.
• CV or résumé: A PDF outlining your academic qualifications, research experience, projects, and relevant skills.

Step 3: Arrange academic recommendations

Ask your referees to email their recommendation letters directly to jonathan.kummerfeld@sydney.edu.au.

The email subject must be:

PhD Recommendation for [Your Name]

The recommendation letter can be included in the email body or attached as a PDF.

The email must come from the referee's professional email address or an administrator in their academic department.

Important: Recommendation letters must be sent directly to the supervisor, not to the university's central admissions email address.

Application deadline: October 31, 2026.

The supervisor plans to conduct interviews and make offers in November. For the 2027 university scholarship round, the stated scholarship application deadline is December 18, 2026.

Applicants should note that the supervisor will not consider emails containing application documents unless the initial web form has also been completed.

What happens after you apply?

The selection process is expected to follow these steps:

1. The supervisor reviews your application.
2. Shortlisted applicants are invited for a phone interview.
3. Successful candidates are informed that the supervisor wants them to join the research group.
4. The supervisor assists candidates with the formal University of Sydney PhD application.
5. The university issues a formal offer if the application is successful.

If research grant funding is available, the supervisor will communicate this during the offer process. Otherwise, applicants can apply for university scholarships through the formal university application.

Official PhD programme information:
https://www.sydney.edu.au/courses/courses/pr/doctor-of-philosophy-engineering.html