Monash University Handbook 2011

Graduate research - Faculty of Arts

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 research environment

The Faculty of Arts at Monash attracts one of the largest enrolments of higher degree by research candidates of any arts faculty in Australia. The faculty provides a diverse, stimulating and supportive environment for graduate researchers and, in conjunction with the Monash Research Graduate School, offers a range of 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.

Research support

In addition to expert and attentive supervision in a wide range of specialisations, the faculty provides an impressive range of research induction and research training seminars and special events for both commencing and continuing students. The seminar programs include topics such as the literature review, research resources, getting published, useful software, applications, thesis writing and examination. For more information visit http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/research/graduate-research/current-students/welcome.php.

Professional experience

The Faculty of Arts also recognises the importance of providing its 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.

Research publishing

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. A substantial proportion of the faculty's research publications reported to DEST is 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. To further promote publication by research candidates, the faculty has instigated a special program, Graduate Researchers in Print (GRiP). The GRiP groups are assisted by a facilitator who enables and informs participants in various aspects of publishing including identifying appropriate journals, preparing submissions, responding to reviewers' reports and providing critical feedback on draft material. For more detailed information, refer to the GRiP website at http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/research/grip.html.

Research strengths

Monash University's Faculty of Arts is well known for high quality research in the humanities and social sciences. The Faculty of Arts has identified a number of established research strengths which provide the basis for PhD and masters research, and masters coursework, in a range of disciplines. For information on Faculty of Arts research strengths visit http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/research/research-staff/research-strengths.php.

Scholarships

All research students with a first class 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/scholarships/. 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 online.

Faculty of Arts supplementary scholarships for new candidates

The Faculty of Arts offers Research Excellence Awards 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 University Arts Special Research Awards of $3000.

Teaching and Research Scholarships

Australian citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply for a Teaching and Research Scholarship. Awardees will be able to pursue full-time research towards a research higher degree while receiving induction, mentoring and the opportunity of gaining professional experience in academic teaching (tutoring, lecturing and seminar leadership). They will spend the first four to six months of their awards engaged full-time in their research and, subject to satisfactory progress, will be then offered the opportunity to contribute to the teaching program of their school.

For further information visit http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/hdr/scholarships.

Faculty of Arts awards and prizes for enrolled candidates

Faculty of Arts Postgraduate Publication Award

Candidates who have submitted their thesis within one month of the application deadline, or are due to submit within two months of the application deadline and aim to prepare a manuscript for publication based on the postgraduate research undertaken for the degree, may apply for a Postgraduate Publication Award (PPA). The Arts PPAs are in addition to the Monash University PPA; both offer a stipend equivalent to the APA/MGS rate for four months.

Faculty of Arts Postgraduate Publication Prize

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 can be nominated for a Postgraduate Publication Prize of $1000. The winner will also receive an award certificate from the faculty.

Commonwealth-supported RTS places (course fees)

Commonwealth-supported Research Training Scheme (RTS) places are currently available to all Australian citizens and permanent resident students for the duration of their research candidature. No course fees are payable by such students and no course fee debts are incurred. All APA/MGS scholarship awardees receive a Commonwealth-supported RTS place.

Students enrolled in a research degree prior to 2007

There have been a number of changes to the requirements for research degrees over the years in respect to duration, thesis length and any coursework unit requirements. To find out the requirements for their research degree, students who commenced prior to 2007 are referred to the handbook of the first year of enrolment in the course. Past copies of the Handbooks are available at http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks.

Masters degree candidature

Grades for the award of a research masters degree

The minimum pass grade for a masters thesis is 60 C (credit). The Faculty of Arts also gives an overall grade to each successful research masters candidate. There are three qualifying grades: honours 2B (60-69), honours 2A (70-79) and honours 1 (80-100).

Review of candidature for masters students

Students undertaking a 100 per cent research load will have a review after three months of full-time or six months of part-time candidature.

In addition, an annual progress report will be called for, which will include comments on residential attendance and the student's ability to maintain interactive communication with their supervisor.

Full details can be found in the Arts faculty `Research Survival Guide', available at http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/research/survival/index.html.

External masters candidature

The Master of Arts program is also offered via external candidature.

Facilities/resources required

External mode applicants will need to satisfy both the school and the faculty's Arts Research Graduate School that their research environment has facilities and resources suitable for the proposed research, such as library and internet access, which will enable them to carry out their proposed research program.

Attendance

Students will have to attend a Monash University campus to meet with their supervisor(s) for 21 residential days over the period of candidature. This requirement may be filled in either one block of time or in several blocks.

Communication

The students must be able to demonstrate to the school and the Arts Research Graduate School that regular two-way communication - at least on a fortnightly basis - can take place with their supervisor. This communication can take the form of telephone, video conference, email or other means.

Transfer to external candidature

Current on-campus students may change to external mode, subject to fulfilling the same requirements as outlined above.

Upgrading from research masters to PhD

Students contemplating an upgrade from research masters to Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) must allow roughly two months for the upgrading process, a point to be noted especially by students approaching the time limit for masters candidature. Except in circumstances deemed exceptional, a transfer should occur after nine but before 24 months full-time equivalent candidature has elapsed. Students should discuss a potential upgrade with their supervisor in the first instance, after which the graduate coordinator or the head of the academic unit or centre should be consulted to make the necessary arrangements.

The decision to recommend an upgrade or not (or to postpone a decision) is made by a panel that includes the school graduate coordinator and the supervisor as well as other relevant academic school members.

The panel will base its recommendation on an oral presentation and a written submission by the candidate, plus any other information deemed relevant by the panel.

The candidate's written case for upgrading will provide details on the proposed research, report progress to date and a timetable for completion of each phase of the research program.

After the candidate has made an oral presentation and submitted the written statement, the review panel will meet to consider its decision. If the panel is in favour of the upgrade, a PhD candidature application form, together with the upgrade form and the candidate's written submission, are forwarded to the faculty and, if approved, to the university's Research Graduate School Committee for final approval.

For further information about the Arts Research Graduate School and research in the Faculty of Arts, visit the website at http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/research.

PhD candidature

All matters concerning the degree of PhD are handled by the Research Graduate School Committee of the Academic Board. The Arts Research Graduate School 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 on the Monash Research Graduate School website at http://www.mrgs.monash.edu.au.

PhD students can start their candidature at any time of the year. Refer to relevant entries under `Areas of study' to obtain details of research interests for postgraduate supervision.

External PhD candidature

A number of external PhD places are available to suitable applicants. Both domestic and international students may apply, but it is usually expected that international students will have had some previous contact with Monash University. A 15-day residency period each year is obligatory.

Credit for prior studies

There is no provision for credit for PhD candidates.

Masters by research degrees with a coursework component

Students enrolled in a research degree prior to 2007

Candidature rules

Grades for the award of a research masters degree with a coursework component

The minimum pass grade for masters coursework units and for the thesis is 60 C (credit). The Faculty of Arts also gives an overall grade to each successful research masters candidate. There are three qualifying grades: honours 2B (60-69), honours 2A (70-79) and honours 1 (80-100). The marks for the thesis will constitute 66 per cent and the units 34 per cent of the overall qualifying grade for the degree.

External masters candidature

Candidates undertaking a 66 per cent research load in all disciplines, apart from linguistics, will be required to enrol for all of the units in the coursework component on campus and may then apply for transfer to external candidature. Candidates undertaking a 66 per cent MA in linguistics will normally enrol for either both or only one of the coursework units on campus and then apply for transfer to external candidature.

Facilities/resources required

Attendance

Communication

Review of candidature for masters students

Students undertaking a 66 per cent research load will be subject to a review three to six months after starting their research.

In addition, an annual progress report will be called for, which will include comments on residential attendance and the student's ability to maintain interactive communication with their supervisor.

Full details can be found in the Arts faculty Research Survival Guide, available on the web at http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/research/survival/index.html.

Credit for prior studies for 66 per cent research masters courses

Candidates who have completed a Masters degree by coursework in a discipline directly relevant to the proposed research may apply for credit. Credit is subject to approval by the discipline and the Arts Research Graduate School and will only be granted for units which have been completed at fifth year level with a grade of Distinction or above with an equivalent or greater value of points to the credit sought.

Requirements for candidates without previous research experience

Candidates who have been admitted to the 66 per cent research program on the basis of 75 per cent Distinction/High Distinction in their Postgraduate coursework program without having undertaken an independently supervised research project, will still be required to enrol for a 12 point research project as part of coursework component in their 66 per cent research Masters degree, irrespective of whether credit has been granted for 5th year level units or not.