PhD Scholarship - Enabling Rapid Affordable Housing Supply in NSW
About the role
We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join an exciting research project titled Enabling Rapid Affordable Housing Supply in NSW. This project investigates how New South Wales can deliver more affordable housing, faster, without compromising quality, safety, sustainability or long-term value. The successful candidate will be embedded in the NSW Affordable Housing Network and will work closely with academic researchers and a strong network of government, industry and community partners.
About the project
This research will examine what helps or hinders the rapid delivery of affordable housing across the full pipeline, including planning and approvals, land and infrastructure readiness, funding and procurement settings, and engineering-led delivery pathways. A major focus will be on the role of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) - such as modular construction, prefabrication, DfMA, standardised platforms, industrialised manufacturing, mass timber systems, and BIM-enabled delivery - and the policy and market settings needed for these approaches to succeed in NSW.
Possible research areas include
* Policy and legislative analysis
* Governance and institutional analysis
* Financial and feasibility modelling
* Construction productivity and supply-chain analysis
* Life-cycle and embodied carbon assessment
* Case studies of affordable housing projects across NSW
The candidate will also be encouraged to produce practice-oriented outputs such as policy briefs, delivery frameworks, feasibility tools, and partner-ready recommendations that support faster and more scalable affordable housing delivery.
The successful applicant will receive:
* A tax-free stipend of AUD 35,188 per annum for up to 3 years for domestic candidates
* Tuition fee support via the relevant fee offset arrangement
* Research support funding for approved costs such as conferences, fieldwork, and data access
* Access to a statewide collaboration platform through the NSW Affordable Housing Network, with opportunities to engage with government, industry and housing-sector partners on real-world challenges
Who should apply:
We welcome domestic applicants from a wide range of relevant backgrounds, including:
urban planning, public policy, economics, finance, law, construction management, architecture, civil/structural engineering, quantity surveying, project management, and related disciplines.
Applicants should:
* Hold qualifications equivalent to one of the following:
* oCoursework Master's with at least 25% research component
* Demonstrate strong academic performance in areas relevant to housing, planning, governance, finance, infrastructure, construction systems or engineering
* Show a strong interest in applied research that informs policy and delivery
* Be willing to work with partners, datasets, and suitable research methods
* Be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake advanced research training
How to apply:
* Review the eligibility criteria carefully
* Prepare a document explaining how you meet the project requirements
* Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via the Online Portal: https://student-westernsydney.studylink.com/index.cfm?event=security.showLogin&msg=eventsecured&fr=sp&en=default
* If your EOI is approved, return to the portal and submit the full application before the deadline
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