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 topicsin line with 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. Coursework and training may also be undertaken to enhance each student’s research training experience.

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 Institute of Graduate Research, offers a range of funded support for higher degree candidates to undertake research. Masters by research and PhD candidates in Arts have access to a full suite of Monash research resources both in Australia and overseas, and to specialist resources within 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. To further promote publication by research candidates, the faculty runs 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://arts.monash.edu.au/research/graduate-research/current-students/grip.

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 master's level research 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://arts.monash.edu.au/hdr/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.

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://arts.monash.edu.au/research/graduate-research/future-students/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 DIISRTE HERS(C) 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.

For further information visit http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/research/graduate-research/current-students/grants-prizes/.

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.

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.

Research degree candidature

All matters concerning the PhD and Masters by Research degrees are handled by the Graduate Research Committee of the Univerity's Academic Board. The Arts Graduate Research Committee transmits its recommendations regarding the higher degree by research candidature of arts students to this committee.

The doctoral and research masters handbooks provide comprehensive information about these degrees and are available on the Monash Institute of Graduate Research website at www.mrgs.monash.edu.au.

Refer to relevant entries under 'Areas of study' to obtain details of research interests for postgraduate supervision.