Degrees

The Faculty of Arts offers the following postgraduate degrees by research:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
• Master of Arts (Research) (MA(Research))
• Professional Doctorates:
• Doctor of Arts (DArts)
• Doctor of Social Sciences (DSocSci)

Refer to the Arts 2008 Postgraduate Prospectus for further information and to view areas of study.

A full time candidate is expected to devote a full working week on average to the candidature throughout the year, and not less than four working days on average per week. A part time candidate is expected to devote not less than two working days on average per week to the candidature throughout the year.

The time limits for candidature set out below under each degree are effective for students commencing after 2001 with the Research Training Scheme (RTS).

The Research Training Scheme (RTS) provides Commonwealth-funded Higher Degree Research students with an "entitlement" to HECS exemption for the duration of an accredited HDR course of study, up to a maximum period of 4 years' full time equivalent study for a Doctorate by research and 2 years' full time equivalent study for a Master's degree by research.

3-4 years full time
3-8 years part time

Admission to candidature
Applicants hold a Bachelor degree with Honours Class 1 or 2.1 (minimum) in the subject area in which they wish to proceed - eg., BA with Hons. 1 in English to proceed to PhD in English.

Course structure
The degree requires candidates to complete a supervised research thesis of
70,000 - 100,000 words.

About the thesis
A hint to prospective students: keep your eye focused on the end product. Here are the criteria which, according to the form currently in use, your examiners will be asked to judge your thesis by when it goes for examination:
1. the thesis should be a substantially original contribution to the knowledge of the subject concerned
2. the thesis should afford evidence of originality by the discovery of new facts
3. the thesis should afford evidence of originality by the exercising of independent critical ability
4. the thesis should be satisfactory as regards literary presentation
5. a substantial amount of material in the thesis should be suitable for publication

The PhD is a University degree, subject to the Resolutions of the Academic Board.

Detailed information about the degree, thesis submission, the role of the Supervisor and the examination for the award of the degree can be found in the 2008 Arts Postgraduate Handbook. The Handbook will go live online in January 2008.

1-2 years full time
2-4 years part time

Admission to candidature
Applicants hold a Bachelor degree with a good Honours result in the subject area in which they wish to proceed, or a Master degree with Merit (a Distinction average), including a dissertation.

Course structure
The degree usually requires candidates to complete a supervised research thesis of 40,000 - 60,000 words.

About the thesis
Although the Master of Philosophy thesis demands similar contributions to scholarship as the Doctor of Philosophy, it is not expected to have satisfied these requirements to the same level of achievement or contain as much material suitable for publication as that required of a doctoral thesis.

Examiners are asked to determine whether -
1. the thesis demonstrates a capacity for original research
2. the thesis demonstrates a capacity for critical ability
3. the thesis is satisfactory as regards literary presentation

The thesis is graded by the examiner, but the degree is not awarded with these grades. Thesis grades are -
HD (High Distinction) 85 or above
D (Distinction) 75 to 84
CR (Credit) 65 to 74
P (Pass) 50 to 64

1-2 years full time
2-4 years part time

The Master of Arts (Research) award course is designed to meet the needs of students who wish to extend their studies beyond their undergraduate degree primarily by thesis but do not have an undergraduate Honours degree or other qualification that would allow entry into a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The MA (Research) can be undertaken in a range of subject areas by research and thesis only, or a combination of thesis and coursework, as outlined below. It is not possible to upgrade from a Master of Arts (Research) degree to higher degree research candidature; the MA (Research) has different admission requirements to both the Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

Admission to candidature
Applicants hold a Bachelor degree with a major in a relevant subject area, and a distinction average, from The University of Sydney, or an undergraduate degree deemed by the Faculty to be equivalent.

All applicants submit a 1,000 word research proposal with their application, outlining their proposed course of advanced coursework and/or research, depending on the course of study selected from the following:

Course structure
Candidates choose to undertake the course as follows:
- Two postgraduate units of study (12 credit points) and a thesis of 26,000 – 28,000 words in length, or
- One postgraduate unit of study (6 credit points) and a thesis of 28,000 – 30,000, or
- A thesis of 30,000 – 35,000 words.
The research and writing of the thesis, which is undertaken on an approved topic, are carried out under the supervision of an academic member of staff.

3-4 years full time
3-8 years part time

The Doctor of Arts (DArts) and Doctor of Social Sciences (DSocSci) are professional doctorate degrees which allow candidates to pursue a higher degree of rigorous scholarship as well as advance their professional practice. The professional doctorate is designed to respond to the rapid changes taking place in the professional workplace which create demands on professionals such as journalists, creative writers, anthropologists, linguists, policy advisers, managers, and others to upgrade their qualifications. Leading employees are increasingly expected to be more aware of the changing environment of their professional practice, more focused on the specific developments of their field, and more skilled in research and analytical techniques. Further training at the upper levels of the discipline such as that offered to professional doctorate candidates can develop the sophisticated intellectual and applied knowledge and skills that are increasingly in high demand.

Admission to candidature
An applicant holds:
- a Bachelor degree with First or Second Class Honours in a relevant field of study from the University of Sydney; or
- an undergraduate degree deemed to be equivalent; or
- a Bachelor degree from the University of Sydney together with a substantial portfolio of published/professional work (for example, books, films, TV programs, creative work, government reports etc); or
- an undergraduate degree deemed to be equivalent together with a substantial portfolio of published/professional work (for example, books, films, TV programs, creative work, government reports etc); or
- a Master degree by research from the University of Sydney; or
- a Master degree by coursework including a dissertation from the University of Sydney with Merit (distinction average) or a postgraduate degree deemed to be equivalent; and
- has a minimum of three years recent, full-time employment or professional experience in a relevant field.

All applicants submit a 1,000 word research proposal with their application, outlining their proposed course of advanced coursework and research, and evidence that satisfies the requirements listed above.

Course structure
The professional doctorate comprises one-third coursework and two thirds research. Candidates complete 5 postgraduate units of study, including the core unit WMST 6902 Arguing the Point (a total of 30 credit points), and research and writing toward a 50,000 word thesis under the supervision of an academic staff member. The course may be undertaken full time (3 - 4 years) or part time (3 - 8 years).

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Candidates submit 4 copies of the thesis for examination.

Doctor of Arts (DArts), Doctor of Social Sciences (DSocSci), Master of Philosophy (MPhil), Master of Arts (Research)

Candidates submit 3 copies of the thesis for examination.

• Anthropology
• Arabic and Islamic Studies
• Archaeology
• Art History and Theory
• Asian Studies
• Australian Studies
• Chinese Studies
• Classics and Ancient History
• Creative Writing
• Digital Cultures
• English
• French Studies
• Gender and Cultural Studies
• Germanic Studies
• Government and International Relations - New in 2008
• Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies
• History
• Indian Sub-Continental Studies
• Italian Studies
• Japanese Studies
• Korean Studies
• Linguistics
• Media Practice
• Medieval Studies
• Modern Greek
• Museum Studies
• Peace and Conflict Studies
• Performance Studies
• Philosophy
• Political Economy - New in 2008
• Professional Communication
• Public Policy - New in 2008
• Sociology and Social Policy
• Indonesian Studies
• Spanish and Latin American Studies
• Strategic Public Relations
• Studies in Religion

Please note that each subject area may not offer all research degrees.