Highlights
- Number of Pakistani women pursuing Ph D in Australia on the rise
- As compared to Pakistan, Australian universities have easily accessible information and research funding
- Due to border closures, Australian universities are welcoming onshore students in research
A large number of female Pakistani migrants are chasing their dream of pursuing a Ph D in various universities across Australia.
Easily accessible information and funding for research are the main reasons for their inclination towards taking up research.
Asma Asif, a Melbourne resident, decided to obtain a Ph D in electrical engineering from RMIT. She has nurtured that dream for the past 11 years, but coming to Australia as a permanent resident has made her dream more achievable.
“It is really easy nowadays to complete the paperwork because of the availability of information online. From information gathering to getting admission to universities, the process of achieving a Ph D is relatively straightforward. If you have good academic credentials or your topic of research is interesting enough, you can secure funding without much hassle,” she told SBS Urdu.
Faiza Syed, who is pursuing a Ph D in sociology, believes it is hard for Pakistani women to get employment in the mainstream Australian job market without any local degree or job experience.
“I feel that many Pakistani women living here in Australia are highly-qualified but when they start job-hunting, they realise they need to upgrade their education. As they are already well-educated, postgraduate degrees suit them well,” she elaborated.
Faiza also said that after getting a degree from an Australian university, prospects for getting well-paying jobs improve significantly.
Source: Getty images
She agrees that the application process for a Ph D in Australia is quite easy.
“Every university has some specific scholarships for Ph D students. Once you apply for admission, they consider you for a scholarship as well,” Faiza explains.
- SBS Urdu is broadcast every Wednesday and Sunday at 6 PM (AEST).
