Graduate research


Information about facilities, thesis submission and extensions, research administration, student services, handbooks and more.

General information

Please note: Most information for current graduate research students is located on the Faculty of Arts Graduate research web page.

Prospective graduate research students

All prospective students should consider the below prior to submitting a proposal:

  1. Prospective students should acquaint themselves with the expertise of the Asia Institute’s academic staff through their discipline areas.
  2. If the topic appears to be appropriate, prospective students should then produce a short thesis proposal document. This should follow the headings described below and be around eight pages in length.
  3. Once a thesis proposal is prepared, please submit it via email either to your nominated supervisor or the Arts Graduate Research team along with a short CV and electronic copies of academic transcripts.
  4. If you meet eligibility criteria and receive support from a nominated supervisor, please make a formal application. Information on how to apply is available via the Arts Future Graduate Research web page.

Thesis proposal document structure (approximately 8 pages)

  • Research question: Provide a concise statement of the central question or hypothesis that your thesis is intended to test or analyse. What is it that you expect to answer or reveal at the end of your thesis?
  • Significance: What is the significance of your research question or hypothesis for your area of research? What makes this question or problem important, and what is original about the proposed work?
  • Relevant literature: What is the current state of research in relation to your research problem and/or hypothesis? In what ways are you building on, advancing or applying existing knowledge? This section should make clear how the literature relates to your research objectives.
  • Approach and method: How do you propose to approach the testing of your hypothesis or the investigation of your research problem?

Thesis submission and extensions

For information on thesis submission please see the Graduate Research Hub Examination website.

Facilities at Asia Institute

Graduate research study space

Students studying a Doctor of Philosophy (Arts) and MA (Research) in the Asia Institute are eligible to apply for a workspace within the School in the Research Higher Degrees (RHD) Study Space (Level 2) and the PhD write-up phase room (Level 1) in the Sidney Myer Asia Centre. Students interested in should lodge an application here.

Research students can access the staff print room on level 2 (Room 221) of the Sidney Myer Asia Centre. Students experiencing difficulties with the computers in these rooms should contact Student IT for assistance online or call +61 3 8344 0888. Full details of printing issues, including toner replacement, should lodge a request via the Snap Send Solve mobile app with IT.

University guidelines on the use of computers can be found on the Student IT Guidelines web page. University regulations governing misuse of computers can be found on the Provision and Acceptable Use of IT Policy (MPF1314) web page.

Students who have been allocated a workspace are granted after-hours swipe access to the Sidney Myer Asia Centre. Security is contactable on +61 3 8344 6666 if help is ever needed.

Lockers

There is a limited number of lockers available for full-time graduate research students in the graduate computer lab. Students using the lockers can either provide their own padlock or use those lockers with an existing key lock. Please contact the AI Administration Officer if you wish to use these facilities.

Study away and funding

The Asia Institute allows you to undertake research-related activities such as fieldwork, attending conferences, attending classes or working with collaborators away from the University. You will need to complete an Application to Study Away to notify the University when you will be away and where you are travelling to. The University offers a range of scholarships and prizes to graduate research students that can help to cover the cost of your journey. For more information please see the Study away and funding web page.

More information