Doctor of Philosophy

• Entry requirements
• Scholarships, HECS exemptions and candidature
• Disciplines for PhD supervision
• External PhD candidature

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is undertaken by thesis (100 per cent research). However, the PhD may also be undertaken by a combination of thesis and coursework in the discipline of critical theory.

Entry requirements

The minimum qualifications for admission to PhD candidature are:

• a bachelors degree requiring at least four years of full-time study, which normally includes a research component including a grade of distinction or above for the research component in the fourth year, leading to an honours degree class 1 or honours class 2 A level
• a masters qualifying (MQual) with a research component with an overall grade of H2A or above as well as a grade of distinction or above for the research component, or equivalent masters preliminary qualification
• a masters degree with a significant research component at least equivalent to an honours degree (H2A level).

In addition, the PhD regulations make provision for research masters degree candidates to transfer their candidature after a minimum period of nine months full-time (or part-time equivalent) of satisfactory performance.
The maximum period of PhD candidature is four years of full-time or eight years of part-time study.

Scholarships, HECS exemptions and candidature

Students with an honours H1 degree or the equivalent may apply for a range of research scholarships, including the Australian Postgraduate Award and the Monash Graduate Scholarship.
Candidates undertaking full-time study for a PhD or masters degree by research are given priority in the allocation of HECS exemptions. New students who enrol in January and continuing students who re-enrol on time for PhD studies normally receive a HECS exemption and pay no HECS fee for that year. Research students who hold an Australian Postgraduate Award or a Monash Graduate Scholarship are exempt from paying HECS. HECS exemptions apply to local students only and are awarded for one year at a time.
All matters concerning the degree of PhD are handled by the PhD and Scholarships Committee of the Academic Board. The Faculty of Arts Committee for Graduate Studies transmits all recommendations regarding the PhD candidature of arts students to this committee.
The Doctoral Information Handbook provides comprehensive information about the PhD degree and is available from the Monash Research Graduate School.
An intending candidate must complete an application form for admission to PhD candidature. Application forms are available from the Monash Research Graduate School website at http://www.monash.edu.au/phdschol/ or the Faculty of Arts graduate studies office.
PhD students can start their candidature at any time of the year.

Disciplines for PhD supervision

PhD supervision is available in the following disciplines:

• Anthropology
• Applied Japanese linguistics
• Archaeology and ancient history
• Asian studies
• Australian art
• Australian Indigenous studies
• Australian studies*
• Bioethics
• Chinese studies
• Communications*
• Comparative literature and cultural studies
• Critical theory
• Cultural studies
• Development studies
• Drama and theatre studies
• English
• Environmental science
• European studies
• French studies
• Gallery and museum studies
• Geography
• German studies
• History*
• Indonesian studies
• International relations
• Italian studies
• Japanese studies
• Korean studies
• Linguistics
• Music
• Music composition
• Music performance
• Philosophy
• Police and justice studies
• Politics*
• Publishing
• Religion and theology
• Slavic studies
• Social work
• Sociology*
• Spanish studies
• Tourism
• Visual culture
• Women's studies*

* ALSO OFFERED AT THE GIPPSLAND CAMPUS.
Refer to individual discipline entries in this handbook to obtain details of research interests for postgraduate supervision.

External PhD candidature

A limited number of external PhD places are available to suitable applicants. Both local and international students can apply, but it is usually expected that international students have had some previous contact with Monash University. A 20-day residency period each year is obligatory. A special application form, obtainable from the Faculty of Arts graduate studies office, must be completed and submitted to the relevant academic unit.

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