Doctor of Philosophy (Music Composition) - 2019

Postgraduate - Course

Commencement year

This course entry applies to students commencing this course in 2019 and should be read in conjunction with information provided in the 'Faculty information' section of this Handbook by the Faculty of Arts.

Other commencement years for this course: 2018, 2017, 2016 and more

Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the Handbook are not available for study in the current year.

Course code

4067

Abbreviated title

PhD(MusComposition)

CRICOS code

069110B

Managing faculty

Arts

Coordinator

Dr Stuart Grant

Contact details

Arts ResearchArts Research (arts.research.degree@monash.edu)

Admission and fees

Australia

Course type

Doctorate

Standard duration

4 years FT, 8 years PT

3-4 years equivalent full-time

Your PhD research project is to be conceived from the outset as clearly achievable within 3 years equivalent full time, with the expectation you will complete your degree within 3 to 4 years equivalent full time.

Mode and location

On-campus (Clayton)

Off-campus (Clayton)

Award

Doctor of Philosophy (Music Composition)

Description

You will undertake your doctoral studies through the Monash doctoral programMonash doctoral program (http://www.monash.edu/migr/future-students/phd). At the core of this program is the completion of a substantial research thesis on an agreed topic under the guidance of a supervisory team. Your research training is further enhanced by professional development activities or coursework units designed to support you in your academic and professional development.

Upon completion of your doctoral studies at Monash, you will be able to demonstrate that you have successfully designed and executed a research project that makes an original and substantial contribution to your discipline. In your research journey, you will have also acquired the necessary skills and professional attributes to make an immediate and enduring impact on academia, industry, government, or community.

Outcomes

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 10 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 10 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

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 student's capacity to carry out independent original research.

Conditions of enrolment

You will be required to complete:

  • Monash Graduate Research Induction (online)
  • Research Integrity (online)
  • any faculty or program induction requirements.

As a student of the university, you will be required to abide by all relevant statutes, regulations, policies and procedures. This includes maintaining satisfactory progress via regular milestone reviews in accordance with the Graduate Research Progress Management policyGraduate Research Progress Management policy (http://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/787311/Graduate-Research-Progress-Management-Policy.pdf) and procedures, ensuring you are undertaking research of an appropriate quality and scale as required by your course. You should refer to the University's current statutes and the University Policy BankUniversity Policy Bank (https://www.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/graduate-education) for links to relevant policies, procedures and guidelines.

Structure

This course consists of:

  • a research and thesis component
  • a practical component
  • a professional development training program.

Requirements

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

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

2. submit for assessment a thesis component which meets the requirements of the examiners consisting of:

  • a composition folio consisting of both musical scores and sound recordings
  • a written thesis.

The overall duration of the submitted music would normally be between 50 and 80 minutes depending on the complexity of the submitted music. However, the overall duration may deviate considerably from the given range. Students present at least 50 per cent of the music submitted in their folio in public concerts. The supervisor guides the student in the performance and recording of their musical works. Together with the folio of musical compositions students submit a thesis of between 20,000 and 25,000 words that demonstrates their capacity to articulate the conceptual and aesthetic basis for their folio of compositions, to assess their compositional work in the context of contemporary music and sonic art, and to research and convey creative processes involved in the production of sound and music. The thesis must be scholarly in character, and, at minimum address the following:

  • explication of a research-based argument that provides the conceptual basis for the folio and its contribution to knowledge
  • compositional approach, process, and techniques
  • aesthetic placement and stylistic predecessors
  • performance context.

The work will take the form of music compositions, a bound critical commentary and concert program notes. The concert program notes must provide evidence that a minimum of 50 per cent of the music submitted in the portfolio has been performed in public concerts. The music compositions are to be submitted in the form of a combination of individually bound musical scores and sound recordings (such as CDs). All materials (musical scores, sound recordings, critical commentary and concert program notes) are to be submitted as a single portfolio.

Submission of a thesis including published worksthesis including published works (https://www.monash.edu/graduate-research/supervisors-and-examiners/examiners/publication) may be permitted.

3. satisfactorily complete the following program of professional development training: