Doctor of Philosophy
The Doctor of Philosophy offered through the Faculty of the VCA and Music (Southbank Campus) is a University of Melbourne degree, administered by the University’s Melbourne School of Graduate Research.
Extensive information on the PhD, including the Handbook, regulations and how to apply (including the downloadable application form) is available at: www.gradresearch.unimelb.edu.au or contact
Beryl Beams
Coordinator Research Studies Administration
Phone: +61 3 9685 9466.
Email vcam-research @ unimelb.edu.au
The Melbourne School of Graduate Research can be contacted at:
The University of Melbourne
Victoria, 3010, Australia
Phone: +61 3 8344 8599,
Fax: +61 3 8349 2103,
Email: grad-info @ unimelb.edu.au
Website: www.gradresearch.unimelb.edu.au/
Inter alia, the PhD regulations state:
“in the case of creative arts disciplines the thesis may take the form of creative work plus dissertation. The creative work may be in the form of exhibition, performance (in this case taken to be both the creation and performance of original works and/or interpretation and performance of others’ works), literary work, film, CDRom or other approved format. The dissertation should describe the research process and elaborate, elucidate and contextualise the work.
The format of the creative work component of the thesis will be agreed between the candidate and supervisor, and be approved by the Head of Department at confirmation. The format of the dissertation component will normally meet the guidelines for a written thesis set out above.
Where the creative work component involves performance (dance, drama, music), a good quality recording of the performance must be included as an appendix to the dissertation, or in the case of Music composition, to the folio. Where the creative work component involves exhibited visual art works, good quality photographic reproductions of the work must be included as an appendix to the dissertation.”
Applications for acceptance as a probationary candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy can be lodged at any time. Information on prerequisites is available at www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/research/degrees/index.html
To enable the Faculty to undertake a preliminary review as to whether it has the expertise and resources to facilitate study in your proposed field of research you are asked to provide the following information to:
The Coordinator
Research Studies Administration
Faculty of the VCA and Music (Southbank Campus)
234 St Kilda Road, Southbank Vic 3006.
A 1,500 word synopsis of the research proposal which includes: a description of the area of investigation, aims and objectives, project/research methods, the format of the final submission (a description of the event/presentation, the dissertation and the relationship between them).
An up to date Curriculum Vitae, which includes all academic qualifications, research experience, professional activities, exhibitions, published or performed work, together with any experience since graduation which is relevant to the proposed field of research.
Certified copies of qualifications (transcripts).
Full list of resources required to complete the degree.
Additional Support Material
Certain areas require additional support material in order to assess the ability of the area to supervise and/or support the application for PhD. These are listed below.
Art
A folio consisting of, or documenting recent work relevant to the study proposal – a maximum of 15 jpeg images or 8 minutes of video (DVD format).
Digital Images
Digital image files must be submitted in JPEG format with image resolution of 1024x768 pixels with a strict maximum of 500kb per image. All files must be numbered to correspond to a separate list that indicates title, date, medium and dimensions of each work.
It is suggested that you label your JPEG images ’01.jpg’, ’02.jpg’, etc., so that they appear in the order that you expect them to be viewed (if you don’t use a 0 at the front, number 10 will appear first).
OR
Video
Video should be presented as a single track show reel compilation of work, no more than 8 minutes in duration, on DVD-R, together with explanatory notes of up to 300 words. Please minimise the need to navigate through menus.
Please check all disks before submission to ensure that they play as intended. All disks will need to be able to be read on an Apple computer. Label disks clearly with your name.
Film and Television
Details of the creative component, together with an indication of the resources required to execute this production.
Music (Southbank Campus)
Relevant bibliography/discography. Composers should also submit a sample of recordings where appropriate. Instrumentalists and vocalists should include recorded examples of their work.
Performing Arts
Dance
A DVD (up to 30 minutes only) and/or a maximum of 5 images showing most recent dance related to the work and including a detailed list of information about each segment – name, year, choreographer, performers, venue and indicating the candidate’s relation to each segment (e.g. choreographer in this segment, performed in this segment, collaborator in this segment).
Centre for Ideas
A maximum of 15 images, CDROM, DVD or other appropriate documentation of recent work.
Before lodging formal application prospective candidates need to identify potential supervisors. To review staff profiles go to www.vca.unimelb.edu.au/vcaschoolsandcentres/, and select the relevant School or Centre. Staff profiles can be accessed by selecting ‘Staff’ at the left of the screen. You can also search for potential supervisors at the University of Melbourne ‘Find and Expert’ website at www.findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/. Nominated supervisors will be contacted by this office to ascertain their willingness or otherwise to supervise the project.
The notification of lodgement form which is located on the front of the PhD application, of your application should be forwarded the Melbourne School of Graduate Research; this notifies the MSGR that you have lodged an application.
The PhD application form, together with any required documentation should be forwarded to Beryl Beams, Coordinator, Research Studies Administration, Faculty of the VCA and Music (Southbank Campus), 234 St Kilda Road, Southbank Vic 3006.
Phone: +61 3 9685 9466. Email vcam-research followed by @unimelb.edu.au for information on how to apply.
Information on available scholarships, how to apply, together with closing dates for scholarships are provided at the University of Melbourne scholarships website: www.services.unimelb.edu.au/scholarships
Phone: +61 3 8344 8747, Fax: +61 3 9349 1740,