Postgraduate - Course3940 - Doctor of Philosophy (Creative Writing)

Candidature in a Doctor of Philosophy involves the independent investigation of a research problem that has been formulated by the candidate. It is expected that the research undertaken will make a significant contribution to the discipline in which the candidate is enrolled. Doctoral candidates are supported by a minimum of two supervisors throughout their candidature.

In some discipline areas on some campuses, candidates are required to complete a compulsory program of coursework and/or training. These discipline-specific programs are designed to impart skills and knowledge that will assist candidates to conduct their research.

Successful completion of the program will signify that the holder has completed a course of postgraduate training in research under proper academic supervision and has submitted a thesis that the examiners have declared to be a significant contribution to knowledge and which demonstrates the candidate's capacity to carry out independent research.

Candidature rules

For all candidature rules and other important information for PhD candidates refer to the Handbook for Doctoral DegreesHandbook for Doctoral Degrees (http://www.monash.edu.au/migr/research-degrees/handbook/content/).

This course consists of:

• a research and thesis component
• if enrolled as an on-campus student, a coursework study and training program.

Admission to programs for external candidates will be considered on an individual basis.

• Creative writing HDR program

Candidates must, in consultation with and under the direct supervision of a member/s of the academic staff:

(a.) carry out a program of research on an agreed topic approved by the school or department of enrolment in the candidate's chosen discipline for a specified period, including attending and/or presenting at seminars and other related activities as indicated by the relevant department/school

(b.) submit for assessment a thesis component which meets the requirements of the examiners consisting of:

• a piece of creative writing* of not less than 35,000 words
• a written critical commentary of not less than 35,000 words on the piece of creative writing. This critical commentary will involve researching several aspects of the creative writing project, the characteristics of the genre and the contextual framework within which the writing falls.

* For the purpose of this course, a 'piece of creative writing' will be understood to be constituted by a novel, a group of short stories, a play or group of plays, a sequence of poems, or a portfolio of works of various genres.

The total thesis component must not exceed 100,000 words.

Submission of the thesis based on or partially based on conjointly published or unpublished work may be permitted.

(c.) if enrolled as an on-campus student, or an external candidate approved to participate in the program, satisfactorily complete a program of coursework study and training as outlined under 'Areas of study'.

Candidates must pass all coursework units. If a candidate fails a coursework component of their degree, they can repeat the relevant unit once in a later semester. Candidates who fail to pass the repeat attempt of the unit will be subject to a termination process under the Candidature Progress Management RegulationsCandidature Progress Management Regulations (http://adm.monash.edu/legal/legislation/council-regulations/candidature-progress-management-regulations.pdf) (refer also to the Candidature Progress Management policypolicy (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/research/mrgs/candidature-progress-management-policy.html) and proceduresprocedures (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/research/mrgs/termination-of-candidature-procedures.html)).

Doctor of Philosophy (Creative Writing)