Conversion from Master of Arts – Research (MA) to Doctor of Philosophy – Arts (PhD)
If you are enrolling in the MA and thinking of converting to a PhD after commencement, you will need to satisfy the PhD-Arts entry requirements in your prior qualifications and have successfully complete the PhD Coursework component (Intensive Research Workshop, Researching Stream, Elective 1, and Elective 2) before your conversion will be approved.
For more information about transferring to another graduate research degree after commencement please visit the Graduate Research Hub Transfer to another graduate research degree web page.
MA graduate researchers seeking to convert to the PhD must complete the coursework component in preparation for conversion to the PhD and to satisfy the requirements of PhD Confirmation. You should discuss early regarding the option of converting to a PhD with your supervisor.
If you are enrolling in the MA, and have met the entry requirement for a PhD and wish to retain the option of conversion to a PhD at a later stage, then you must enrol in and complete the coursework component during your first year of candidature (full-time equivalent). Completing the coursework component will enable you to apply for conversion to the PhD.
Should you decide to remain in the MA program, it is anticipated that the coursework will have provided you with written material suitable for integration into your MA thesis.
If you are committed to completing the MA then you do not need to undertake coursework. However, please note that the option of conversion to the PhD would be closed off by your choice. (You can complete a MA and then start a PhD from scratch, but if you have an Australian Government Research Training Program (AGRTP) Stipend Scholarship for the MA, you need to be aware that AGRTP scholarships only last for 3.5 years of full-time enrolment.)
Full-time MA research students usually apply to convert around MA confirmation or at 12 month FTE. It is recommended that you aim to convert at the latest at the 12-month (or 24 months for part-time students) point in your candidature.
You must meet the minimum requirements for entry into the PhD program to be eligible to convert, which means you must have completed at least a four-year honours degree at H2A (Melbourne University equivalent) standard with H1 (Melbourne University equivalent) standard in the thesis subject or a qualification or combination of qualifications considered by the Deputy Associate Dean to be equivalent. Applicants applying to convert should have achieved an overall average of H1 (80-100%) grade in the relevant honours or masters degree.
How to apply
Request Course Conversion form
The application for conversion must be supported by your principal supervisor and the Head of School. You must provide a research plan and timeline to demonstrate that you have undoubted research ability to submit the PhD thesis within the remaining candidature duration. It is expected that you and your advisory committee will outline in your conversion paperwork that your thesis topic is demonstrably of doctoral dimensions.
PhD fieldwork
If a fieldwork component is envisaged, you must include a fieldwork plan ( an outline of methodology and timetable) and a budget as part of the work plan to be eligible to apply for the Faculty's fieldwork funding scheme after conversion to the PhD.
Transfer from Doctor of Philosophy – Arts to Master of Arts
Request Course Conversion form
You must be enrolled in the PhD-Arts program to be eligible for consideration to transfer to the MA (Thesis only).
The maximum course duration for the MA (Thesis only) program is two years full-time. The expected submission date for the MA thesis will take into account of the candidature time spent in the PhD-Arts program. The date of commencement in the MA (Thesis only) will be backdated to the date of commencement of your current course. If you have completed more than the MA (Thesis only) maximum course duration, you may be granted an extension of the maximum submission date in exceptional circumstances.