A former PHD student is suing a Queensland university for losing his reputation and sex drive, after failing to secure admission to a PhD course.

Kuldeep Mann claims he suffered "mental torture/psychological day-to-day sufferings" from staff at James Cook University.

"Everything was affected including my sex life," he told 9News.

"I... I'm no longer... wanting to be on the bed... to share bed with my partner. There is no such desire... no desire for anything."

The 52-year-old, who works at a 7/11, said he had paid $20,000 to enter the Social Sciences PhD course at the Townsville campus in 2015.

Kuldeep Mann. (9News)

When he undertook the requirements needed to gain entry, including two subjects, he claims the university accused him of plagiarism, and he was told he wasn't "up to the mark".

He's now taking the fight all the way to Queensland's Supreme Court.

Mr Mann has submitted a 20-page claim of damages for potential lost income, "mental torture" as well as "...prolonged harassment at the JCU that hovered over (his) mind day and night had also adversely affected (his) sex drive and that as a result (his) relationship with (his) partner is on the verge of collapsing."

He's now demanding $3.125 million.

"If the university didn't have this kind of trick on me, had they not destroyed my... ruined my career I should have by now completed my PhD"

9News contacted James Cook University for comment but the institution stood firm, claiming it couldn't comment on any of Mr Mann's allegations, due to the case being before the courts.

Mr Mann, who now lives in Melbourne, is waiting to see if his application for legal aid will be approved, before the matter can reach a judge.