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GUIDELINES |  |
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GUIDELINES | |
PhD regulations · Applicants wishing to pursue visual arts research projects in the School of Art should first contact the Coordinator of Postgraduate Studies, John Dunkley-Smith or Jon Cattapan at: art.postgrad@vca.unimelb.edu.au about the department's research activities and potential supervisors who are qualified and available to accept PhD candidates for supervision, prior to lodging a formal application.
The PhD Degree · Signifies that the holder has undertaken a substantial piece of original research which has been conducted and reported by the holder under proper academic supervision and in a research environment for a prescribed period. In scope, the thesis differs from a research Masters thesis chiefly by its deeper and more comprehensive treatment of its subject. In some disciplines, such as the creative arts, the thesis may instead take the form of performance and/or corpus of creative work plus a dissertation which addresses, elucidates and contextualises the work. The thesis demonstrates authority in the candidate's field and shows evidence of command of knowledge in relevant fields. It shows that the candidate has a thorough grasp of the appropriate methodological techniques and an awareness of their limitations. Its distinct contribution to knowledge rests on originality of approach and/or interpretation of the findings and, in some cases, the discovery of new facts. It demonstrates an ability to communicate research findings effectively in the professional arena and in an international context. It is a careful, rigorous and sustained piece of work demonstrating that a research "apprenticeship" is complete and the holder is admitted to the community of scholars in the discipline.
Structure of the PhD · A candidate for the PhD degree must be an enrolled student in this University and is required to carry out research at the University for a specified period under the direct supervision of one or more members of the academic staff. The degree may be undertaken in any department of the University. All candidates for PhD will be examined on the basis of a thesis. A candidate has one or more research supervisors who, in consultation with the candidate, arranges a course of supervised research designed to suit the individual requirements and interests of the candidate. There may be other components of the study and/or assessment in the progress of the candidate. For example: (a) A candidate may be required to supplement the research program by attendance at or formal enrollment in additional subjects, if these are considered a necessary adjunct to the course. (b) Candidates submitting theses in the creative arts may prepare a thesis which consists of creative work plus dissertation.
Supervision · (supervisors) The research of each candidate is supervised by members of the academic staff who have appropriate research experience and a continuing active participation in research. The RHD Committee encourages the appointment of supervisory panels. The panel comprises two or more supervisors who have specific roles and responsibilities. 'The VCA allots a panel of supervisors; usually one for dissertation - someone from Art Theory , and one from Studio and where necessary an 'overviewing' supervisor.
Such supervisory panels are especially appropriate to multi-disciplinary or cross-departmental projects but do have more general advantages: providing continuity of supervision, and encouraging the involvement of junior and research-only staff in student supervision. One supervisor will be designated the Principal Supervisor. Supervisors who have more specialised or a lesser role in the management of the candidates thesis will be designated as associate supervisors. External supervisors may also be appointed to supervisory panels. They are appropriately experienced persons, not members of the University, who are nominated by Heads of Departments. Both student and supervisors have an obligation to ensure that they confer on a regular basis throughout the candidature.
Outside Institutions · Candidates may be permitted to base their research entirely at certain approved research institutions. Candidates based at an outside institution must report on their progress to the RHD Committee through the department in which they are enrolled, and take part in graduate seminars and other activities, as required by the department. Departments should refer to Section F for the List of Approved Outside Institutions, Guidelines for Supervision of PhD candidates Based at Outside Institutions and for the Procedure to add an Institution to the Approved List.
Period of Candidature · The maximum term of candidature is three years. If necessary, candidates may apply for a maximum of two extensions of six months. All candidates are required to spend a minimum of 12 months (full-time) at the University. Candidates must have had their candidature confirmed prior to submission.
Residency · All PhD candidates are required to complete the equivalent of at least 12 months full-time advanced study and research in the University unless studying at an approved outside institution. Throughout their candidature candidates are expected to attend the University in order to benefit from planning, conducting and writing up their research within a University community and environment. During probationary candidature the student is expected to interact on a regular basis with the supervisor, the department (including staff and other research students) and the University, so as: 1. to build the skills and knowledge necessary to carry out the proposed research program 2. to acquire an understanding of the standards and requirements for a PhD awarded by the Uni. 3. to make use of support programs and facilities provided by the School of Graduate Studies throughout candidature. Under certain circumstances permission will be given to fulfill the residency requirements by means of two or more short periods of residency totaling into 12 months full-time. Time spent on approved fieldwork or other off-campus studies for a period of less than three months may be approved by the RHD Committee as part of the minimum period of residency. Application for non-consecutive periods of residency must be made to the RHD Committee. The application should include: 1. a statement of reasons for the application 2. a detailed timetable stating how the residency requirement will be met by the combined short periods 3. a letter signed by the supervisor and head of department.
Joint Department Applications · Cross-disciplinary research applicants may be offered a joint enrollment in more than one department. In such cases the application form provides for the nomination of the department.
Employment · Professional development is considered an integral part of the PhD training program, and might include tutoring or demonstrating.
The School of Graduate Studies · (SGS) provides enrichment programs and facilities for all postgraduate students at the University of Melbourne. The School aims to enhance the quality of postgraduate education through targeted academic support, policy development and performance monitoring. SGS is responsible for administering all PhD candidates and provides a range of workshops, seminars and skills development courses are run each semester. Topics include presentation, written communication, critical thinking and SPSS skills. www.gradstudies.unimelb.edu.au/services/skills/
The Graduate Centre · Single and shared study rooms exclusively for the use of postgraduate students, equipped with personal computers for word processing and thesis production *meeting rooms for postgraduate student and staff conferences, interdisciplinary seminars, and social functions, accommodating groups of up to 150 *the Graduate Presentation and Publishing Centre: a multimedia laboratory for production of high-quality written and visual presentation materials *fully supported Macintosh and PC computer labs *the Deep Dish Bar & Bistro *the Graduate Centre Loft, providing study and social space for postgraduate students. Studio space is limited but the candidate will be provided with a studio space at the Victoria College of the Arts and/or facilities to bring the project to fruition.
Information Technology Support · The School of Graduate Studies encourages postgraduate students to avail themselves of the computer skills courses and facilities available at the University. The SGS skills development program offers a range of courses including the effective use of computers to produce high quality theses and publishing on the Web. Graduate students are also invited to enroll in introductory and general computing courses conducted by the University's Information Technology (ITS). Contact the ITS Course Administrator for details. The free Email account is set up by postgraduate students by "Telneting" to host server EDUSERV.UNIMELB.EDU.AU. Additional information techsupport@its.unimelb.edu.au, or phone (03) 8344 4488.
Web links · www.services.unimelb.edu.au/admissions/apply/international/preliminaries.html
- form for application
www.services.unimelb.edu.au/admissions/apply/international/pgradapp.html
- form for application www.gradstudies.unimelb.edu.au/pgstudy/phd/
Additional subjects and courses , enrolment · PhD candidates may not concurrently undertake any other course of study at the University or elsewhere without prior approval by their head of department and the Chair, RHD Committee. It is not uncommon for candidates, in consultation with their supervisor, to seek enrollment in additional course work subjects to assist with their PhD research program. Application can be made on the "Additional course work subjects" form. The supervisor and head of department should confirm that the course work subject should be regarded as part of the PhD enrollment. Candidates should discuss with their supervisor any additional skills required to assist with the completion of their degree. Programs involving personal, academic and professional development are offered through the SGS and other sectors of the University. Short skills courses are offered to enrolled postgraduate students through the SGS. A confirmation committee of three or more members of the department is appointed for each candidate. It will comprise the supervisor(s) and other academic members of staff, nominated by the head of department, who will also nominate the Chairperson. Probationary candidates will be advised of the composition of their Confirmation Committee by the Head of their department. For confirmation, each candidate is required to verbally defend a written report to the Confirmation Committee. Guidelines for the format of the report are included in the Confirmation Report Form but may vary according to discipline. In addition the candidate may be required to make an oral presentation on the project in a departmental postgraduate seminar. During the defence, the Confirmation Committee will assess the feasibility, format and resource requirements of the proposed project and offer suggestions towards its successful completion. After the confirmation process, the Confirmation Committee will inform the Research Higher Degrees Committee of the form and presentation of the thesis. In the majority of cases the Confirmation Committee will make a recommendation to the head of department to confirm candidature. The candidate is required to sign the form after completion of the Confirmation Committee's section. Confirmation Committees may be convened at any time during candidature to assist the candidate with progress.
Progress report · PhD candidates are required to submit an annual progress report. The first progress report will be the confirmation report. The due date will be adjusted for any approved periods of leave. Progress reports provide an opportunity for both student and supervisor to review and evaluate progress on the project, and can alert the head of department and the Chair of the RHD Committee, of any difficulties in candidature. The candidate should read the supervisor's comments and is required to sign after completion of the supervisor's section.
Recreation leave · Candidates may take up to four weeks of recreation leave in each year by arrangement with their supervisors. Application does not need to be made for recreation leave and the leave taken will not alter the submission date.
Study away from the University · Candidates planning to spend periods of time undertaking research away from the University, need to apply on the "Application for Leave to Study Overseas/Away" form. Enrolment continues as usual and the submission date does not alter. Periods of leave to study away will not normally be approved beyond a total of 12 months. Periods of more than three months away require the appointment of an external supervisor, located where the candidate will be undertaking the research. If this is impracticable because of the nature of the location, or because of movement between different locations, the supervisor may apply to the RHD Committee for exemption from this requirement, indicating how contact will be maintained with the principal supervisor.
Change of project · If the student and the supervisor decide that a major change in the direction of the research or a new project is necessary, notification should be made to the School of Graduate Studies. 'Its understood and expected that there will be a fair bit of 'journeying' between the proposal and the outcome.' - Jon Cattapan. The notification, by letter or on the Annual Report form, should include a 100-word summary of the new project and advise whether the change in topic is likely to cause a delay in submission. Changes in thesis title can be made on the "Progress Report" form or "Submission of PhD thesis" form.
Advice to candidates about problems during candidature · Throughout candidature students can expect support and guidance to be readily at hand in their Department. If problems arise it is appropriate that candidates consult with their supervisor and then, if necessary, the Departmental Head. Perhaps very occasionally it may be found that a complex problem cannot be resolved satisfactorily within the Department, and then candidates may wish to seek additional advice. In these instances the Secretary RHD Committee, the Chair of the RHD Committee or the Dean School of Graduate Studies would be happy to offer any assistance with a view to resolving the difficulty. The University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association also provides advice and assistance. This is the representative body of postgraduate students and has special support for students with grievances.
Research Ethics · The Code: (a) Research is the pursuit of truth. (b) Research workers should, in all aspects of their research (i) demonstrate integrity and professionalism, (ii) observe fairness and equity, (iii) avoid conflicts of interest, and (iv) ensure the safety of those associated with the research. (c) Research methods and results should be open to scrutiny and debate.
Intellectual Property · All material produced by a student belongs to that student except where a prior agreement has been reached between the student and the University. When a student is offered a scholarship or funding where the University has a legal obligation to a third party for intellectual property created in return for the funding provided, the student must agree to the contract conditions prior to accepting the scholarship or funding.
Preparation of a PhD thesis · Candidates are strongly advised to discuss with their supervisors the style of writing to be used in the thesis before writing begins. In all cases the supervisor should be consulted at the beginning of the work. The stages of investigation and writing are likely to vary according to the nature of the subject and should be worked out in consultation with the supervisor. All candidates are required to prepare at least one substantial piece of work towards the final thesis annually, however, the form this takes, and its relation to the final draft, will vary from discipline to discipline. The thesis should include general discussion of the candidate's results and findings, and of their significance in relation to the current state of knowledge in the field. In some disciplines it will be appropriate to concentrate the review of the literature and extended general discussion in introductory and concluding chapters, in other disciplines the review and discussion should be distributed throughout the thesis. The creative work and dissertation must be presented as an integrated, coherent whole. The candidate should, at the stage of thesis preparation, be able to express herself/himself with precision, clarity and conciseness. The supervisor must be consulted on the general form and the content of the thesis up to the stage of the final draft.
Early submission of thesis · Approval for submission of thesis prior to the submission date, is granted on receipt of the form "Submission of PhD thesis" which is signed by supervisors and heads of departments and which must be submitted with the thesis. On receipt of the 80-word summary of the thesis argument, the School of Graduate Studies will send the submission form to the candidate. Candidature will not be reduced to less than these periods and candidates must have had their candidature confirmed. Where the Academic Board has approved a course in which the first year of candidature is to comprise course work and the preparation of a thesis proposal, the total period of candidature cannot be reduced to less than twenty-four months.
Questions to consider when writing a
PhD thesis · Examiners are
provided with information to assist with the marking of the thesis.
The format and style of PhD theses can differ as it is expected
that a thesis be written to the convention of that field. However
examiners are asked to consider, where appropriate, eight questions.
These are:
1. does the candidate show sufficient familiarity with,
and understanding and critical appraisal of, the relevant literature?
(see bibliography)
2. does the thesis provide a sufficiently comprehensive
investigation of the topic?
3. are the methods and techniques adopted appropriate to
the subject matter and are they properly justified and applied?
4. are the results suitably set out and accompanied by
adequate exposition and interpretation?
5. are conclusions and implications appropriately developed
and clearly linked to the nature and content of the research framework
and findings?
6. has the research question(s) in fact been tested?
7. is the literary quality and general presentation of
the thesis of a suitably high standard?
8. does the thesis as a whole constitute a substantive
original contribution to knowledge in the subject area with which
it deals?
Examiners are also asked to consider the following attributes:
1. the
thesis demonstrates authority in the candidate's field and shows
evidence of command of knowledge in relevant fields
2. it shows that the candidate has a thorough grasp of
the appropriate methodological techniques and an awareness of
their limitations
3. it makes a distinct contribution to knowledge. Its contribution
to knowledge rests on originality of approach and/or interpretation
of the findings and, in some cases, the discovery of new facts
4. it demonstrates an ability to communicate research findings
effectively in the professional arena and in an international
context
5. it is a careful, rigorous and sustained piece of work
demonstrating that a research "apprenticeship" is complete
and the holder should be admitted to the community of scholars
in the discipline.
It is expected that examiners consider the thesis solely on its merits as an independent piece of supervised research, irrespective of whether or not the thesis adopts an approach which may be considered as not falling within the mainstream or established research paradigm for the discipline, and irrespective of whether or not the approach to the research is the same as that which the examiner might have used in such a study.
Editing of theses · Editing in this context has been defined as "the detailed and extensive correction of problems in writing style and of mechanical inaccuracy (eg. "ghost writing") as opposed to providing general guidelines about problems with style and accuracy. As early as possible in the candidature the supervisor must assess the candidate's writing abilities. In the case of PhD candidates this must be an integral component of the confirmation process, which requires the candidate to provide a piece of written work. This should be of sufficient length to demonstrate writing proficiency and indicate the standard of the candidate's composition skills. If the supervisor considers that further work is required in areas such as composition and grammar for the candidate to be successful in completing the PhD, the supervisor should then provide advice and assistance as to how an appropriate standard can be achieved. The supervisor needs to explain the level and extent of support the candidate can expect of them as supervisor. The supervisor should continue to monitor the candidate's progress in order to resolve any on-going difficulties. Supervisors should advise students about structure, style, and general editing issues and should guide their candidates accordingly. It is appropriate for supervisors to undertake some editing tasks, but within limits. A thesis must express the candidate's voice. Writing is considered an important part of the degree and any assistance with writing must be conducted as part of the overall learning process. Any additional assistance received by the candidate must be fully supported by continuous feedback from supervisors as part of the integral learning process. The integrity of the work relies on the thesis as demonstrably the candidate's work and must indicate that the candidate has the ability to write and argue with clarity. Acquiring expertise in writing and editing is often seen as an important professional development for postgraduates. Postgraduate colleagues may be appropriate readers and editors of a thesis, and candidate's should be encouraged to explore alternative avenues for assistance available from within their department and the wider University community.
Published material · A candidate may not use reprints or journal articles in their published form as part of the body of the thesis. While a thesis may be published in whole or in part prior to submission, it should (both in form and content) be presented as a unified whole, prepared specifically for submission for examination for the degree. Any published papers associated with the work may be added as appendices. Any parts of the thesis which have been previously published should be indicated in the Preface. The contribution of others to the thesis should follow the signed declaration pertaining to the originality and length of thesis
Manuals on the presentation of theses · The Baillieu Library provides advice in several Infoguide publications which are available from Reader Services in the Library. Thesis Writing Guide available from the Postgraduate Association. An A4 list of bookbinders is available from the SGS or Postgraduate Association How to Write a Better Thesis or Report by David Evans, reference copy available from School of Graduate Studies Candidates may also access completed theses available from the Baillieu Library. http://www.vca.unimelb.edu.au/art/index.html
Thesis submission · Examiners' copies will only be returned if prior agreement has been made with the School of Graduate Studies. A request for the return of your thesis can be made on the "Submission of PhD Thesis: Statement by Candidate, Supervisor and Chairperson of Examiners" form, sent by the School of Graduate Studies on receipt of your 80-word summary. As an academic courtesy, it is hoped that candidates will allow examiners to keep their copy of the thesis.
Upon submission of the thesis for examination candidates will also be required to submit the "Submission of PhD Thesis: Statement by Candidate, Supervisor and Chairperson of Examiners" form. Candidates must also sign an agreement to lodge one copy of the thesis in the Baillieu Library. Candidates may restrict access to copies of their thesis for a period of up to two years, one year in the first instance (see section on Restricted Access). The "Submission of PhD Thesis: Statement by Candidate, Supervisor and Chairperson of Examiners" form, also certifies that the thesis comprises only the candidate's original work, and that due acknowledgement has been made to all other material used. A supervisor (normally the principal supervisor) and Chairperson of Examiners (normally the head of department) will be required to certify that the thesis is prima facie ready to go forward to examination and that it embodies the candidate's own work. The form also includes a section where the candidate (in consultation with the supervisor) may request that the examiners maintain the confidentiality of the thesis contents. Such a request may be required where there are research contracts with outside organisations or other issues related to intellectual property.
Health Insurance · I have Insurance Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) The University of Melbourne has Personal Accident insurance coverage for postgraduate students up to $100K. The Personal Accident Insurance provides students with various levels of benefits under the policy, including Accidental Death, Permanent Disability and non recoverable medical expenses incurred through accident whilst engaged in activities relating to studies or research including field trips.
Visas · International PhD candidates should be aware that student visas are for full-time study only. New international students · should complete an "Application for Admission as an International Postgraduate Student" and return the form to the International Office. The application for candidature also includes an application for scholarships.
The Academic Orientation Program for International Postgraduate Students (AOPIPS) has been designed to meet the needs of international postgraduate students. The program aims to provide international students with the academic, social and cultural support required to assist them with their studies and with transition. Our postgraduate Library Research Consultant runs information skills workshops and classes and is also available to individuals. Advanced Leadership and Professional Skills Program (ALPS), has been designed specifically to complement postgraduate studies, to develop transferable skills and to enhance the employability of our postgraduate students. SGS produces a number of publications. Postgraduate students are kept up to date about research and scholarship opportunities, library resources and databases, conferences, public lectures and other activities of importance through the School of Graduate Studies' weekly email bulletin GradFlash. Subscription is free and you can subscribe and unsubscribe yourself following instructions available at the SGS web page www.gradstudies.unimelb.edu.au/services/publications/gradflash/, or be emailing the GradFlash editor at gradadmn@sgs.unimelb.edu.au.