Postgraduate Coursework Information
The Faculty of Arts at the University of Sydney offers a range of postgraduate programs by coursework in selected subject areas. In addition to the information provided below, these programs are also outlined in the Faculty of Arts Postgraduate Coursework and Research Program Prospectus which is available on request.
You can follow the links in the list below for details on postgraduate courses. See also general Course Requirements below. You can also view a list of the range of units of study available in 2007 and those available in 2008.
Faculty Departments, Program or Studies areas, or Centres offer a range of core and elective study units that comprise each award. Some units may be compulsory and may be undertaken on a full time or part time basis.
Coursework postgraduate programs are offered at the following award levels:
- Master of Letters (MLitt)
- Master of Arts (MA) or equivalent
- Graduate Diploma (GradDip)
- Graduate Certificate (GradCert).
We also offer higher degrees by research:
- Master of Arts (Research) (MA(Research))
- Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Doctor of Arts (DArts)
- Doctor of Social Sciences (DSocSci).
Subject Areas
Our programs of study may be undertaken in a variety of subject areas. Please note that not all programs are available in each subject area.
- Ancient World Studies
- Anthropology
- Arabic and Islamic Studies
- Art History and Theory
- Asian Studies
- Buddhist Studies
- Creative Writing
- Crosscultural Communication
- Curatorship and Modern Art
- Development Studies
- Digital Communication and Culture
- e-Communications
- English
- English Language in Australia
- European Studies
- Film Studies
- Gender and Cultural Studies *New in 2008*
- Government and International Relations *New in 2008*
- Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies
- History
- Holocaust Studies
- Human Rights *New in 2008*
- Italian Renaissance Studies *New in 2008*
- Linguistics
- Media Practice
- Museum Studies
- Peace and Conflict Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Economy *New in 2008*
- Professional Communication
- Public Affairs *New in 2008*
- Public Policy *New in 2008*
- Publishing
- Sociology and Social Policy
- Strategic Public Relations
- US Studies *New in 2008*
Masters (MA), Graduate Diploma (GradDip) and Graduate Certificate (GradCert)
Admission requirements
An applicant for admission to candidature for the degree shall:
- be a Bachelor of Arts of The University of Sydney or equivalent and
- have completed a three year sequence (undergraduate major) within the subject area in which the applicant seeks to proceed, provided that the applicant’s work is of sufficient merit, or
- have completed at a satisfactory level courses deemed by the Faculty to be equivalent.
General completion requirements*
MA:
8 units of study (48 credit points), which may include a dissertation. In some subject areas, the dissertation is compulsory. The dissertation is written under the supervision of an academic member of staff, and comprises 2 units of study (Dissertation Part 1 and Dissertation Part 2), each worth 6 credit points.
GradDipArts:
6 units of study (36 credit points)
GradCertArts:
4 units of study (24 credit points)
Some subject areas include compulsory core units of study.
*May vary within a program. See course listings for details.
Master of Letters (MLitt)
Admission requirements
An applicant for admission to candidature for the degree shall:
- be a Bachelor of Arts of The University of Sydney or equivalent or, in special cases, hold another degree of the University, and
- have demonstrated high achievement in the undergraduate courses, and
- have completed courses specified by the department concerned, or courses deemed to be equivalent to those specified.
Upgrade from a MA, MApplLing, MCW, MMuseum Stud, MPACS
Candidates in the degrees of MA, MApplLing, MCW, MMuseum Stud, MPACS may apply to upgrade to the degree of MLitt. Candidates should have a good Credit average result in postgraduate units of study undertaken during MA, MApplLing, MCW, MMuseum Stud, or MPACS candidature. Upgrade from a Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate is not permitted.
General completion requirements*
The degree comprises 12 units of study (72 credit points), including a treatise of approximately 25,000 words on an approved topic. The treatise is written under the supervision of an academic member of staff, and comprises 2 units of study (Treatise Part 1 and Treatise Part 2), each worth 12 credit points.
*May vary within a program. See course listings for details.
