Research students can apply for entry to the university to conduct research on a specific area of interest at masters or PhD level. Students select their research topics, which need to reflect the faculty's research strengths. Students then work under the guidance of a trained supervisor or supervisors to produce a thesis which is presented for examination.
The Faculty of Arts at Monash attracts the largest enrolment of higher degree by research candidates of any arts faculty in Australia. Monash Arts provides a diverse, stimulating and supportive environment for graduate researchers and, in conjunction with the Monash Research Graduate School, offers a range of additional funded support for higher degree candidates to undertake research. Masters by research and PhD candidates in arts have access to the full suite of Monash research resources both in Australia and overseas, and to specialist resources in the faculty.
As from 2000, the faculty commenced a complete restructure of its management of research higher degrees. In addition to expert and attentive supervision in a wide range of specialisations, Monash Arts now also provides an impressive range of research induction and research training seminars and special events for both commencing and continuing students. The 2002 seminar programs included topics such as fieldwork, getting published, software and research, research interviews, thesis writing and thesis examination.
At Monash Arts, we also recognise the importance of providing our graduate students with professional experience of various kinds. The faculty has a long tradition of employing its own graduate research candidates as sessional teachers, casual research assistants and in other capacities. In addition to providing candidates with additional income while they pursue their research degrees, this employment also facilitates the acquisition of a range of transferable skills. During their time in the faculty, students will also have the opportunity to develop and extend their research and communication skills in their chosen field, and also to acquire a range of additional skills in other areas.
Graduate researchers in the Faculty of Arts are encouraged and supported to participate in a professional research culture, as evidenced by their rate of publication. In 2001, 21 per cent of the faculty's research publications reported to DEST were authored or co-authored by graduate research students. This achievement is just one indication of the highly productive and professional graduate research environment fostered by the faculty and its schools.
The Arts faculty has identified the following established research strengths which provide the basis for PhD and masters research, and masters coursework, in a range of disciplines:
For more detailed information, refer to the website at http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/research/.
All research 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. Scholarships close on 31 October each year for students starting in the following year. Information on scholarships may be obtained from the website at http://www.monash.edu.au/phdschol/schols/. All potential applicants are asked to first make contact with the Arts faculty school where they wish to undertake their research and obtain their application form from that school. Applications are not available from the web.
The Faculty of Arts offers two Research Excellence Awards each year to candidates of outstanding quality. These supplement an APA/MGS scholarship by giving the successful awardee an additional $3000 per annum.
New scholarship-holders whose project will be enhanced by undertaking significant fieldwork research in Australia or overseas or who have specific software, equipment or technical requirements will be considered at the time of the scholarship selection process for one of two Monash Arts Special Research Awards of $3000.
A Monash Graduate Scholarship is offered to Indigenous Australian citizens and permanent residents who hold a four-year degree with first class honours or equivalent qualification and who wish to undertake a PhD or masters by research. Further information can be obtained from the Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies (CAIS) on (03) 9905 4208 or by email at cais@arts.monash.edu.au.
Candidates who have submitted their thesis or are due to submit within two months and aim to prepare a manuscript for publication, based on the postgraduate research undertaken for the degree, may apply for a Postgraduate Publication Award.
Postgraduate students who have had a prestigious publication in a DEST publication category in the previous year which was included in the school's research publication collection are eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Publication Prize of $1000. The winner will also receive an award certificate from the faculty.
Research Training Scheme (RTS) HECS-exempt places are expected to be available to all Australian citizens and permanent resident students for the duration of their research candidature. No HECS fees are payable by such students and no HECS debts are incurred. All APA/MGS scholarship awardees will receive an RTS HECS-exempt place.
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