Overview of course structure

Overview of PhD Coursework Component

All Doctor of Philosophy – Arts (PhD) graduate researchers and any Master of Arts – Research (MA) graduate researchers considering conversion to a PhD in the Faculty of Arts are required to successfully complete a 25-point component of compulsory coursework in parallel with regular meetings with your supervisor.

The PhD Coursework is to be completed before Confirmation, which normally occurs at the end of the first year of candidature (full-time) or two years of candidature (part-time). It consists of 25 credit points, made up of two required subjects (12.5 points) and two electives (6.25 points each).

The PhD Coursework is designed to offer high-level engagement with the key literature and concepts in your research area, to assist with your preparation for Confirmation, and to enhance your cohort experience with PhD colleagues and academic staff.

• The two-day intensive focuses on core skills and challenges in the PhD such as writing, planning and time management, the use of data, communicating about the impact and importance of your research, the supervisory relationship and how to make the most of your candidature beyond writing an excellent thesis
• The workshop focuses on the intellectual frontiers of your broad area of research and enhances the preparation of your research project and through formulating and discussing your project proposal in relation to the current literature
• The electives provide graduate-level engagement with contemporary work in your own or cognate disciplines, as a source of intellectual enrichment and – if necessary – may also provide development of specific knowledge and expertise necessary for your thesis work. Note: GRs may substitute the electives available for other subjects of specialist relevance to their research such as language or technical subjects not included in the PhD electives list. Please see further information regarding substitutions below.

The intensive, workshop and electives will be assessed; however, the award of the PhD will be based solely on the result of the 80,000 word dissertation. Consequently, work written for the coursework can, if appropriate, be incorporated into the final thesis.

PhD Research Workshop and PhD Intensive

The PhD Research Workshop (6.25 points) and the Arts PhD Intensive (6.25 points) are the two required subjects undertaken as part of the PhD coursework program. The Arts PhD Intensive is two day-long workshops undertaken by the entire first year cohort to explore critical skills and the process of PhD candidature. The PhD Research Workshop is taught in discipline groups and is designed to enhance the critical, theoretical, and methodological skills necessary for the PhD Confirmation and further PhD study.

Graduate researchers choose one of the eight available workshop streams, which are:

• Researching Media and Culture
• Researching Ideas
• Researching Images
• Researching Language
• Researching Politics and Policy
• Researching Society and Culture
• Researching Texts
• Researching the Past

The workshop is inclusive, collaborative, and encompasses the diversity of approaches to research across the many disciplines in the faculty.

Graduate researchers must achieve a minimum grade of H2A (75%) or above in their intensive and workshop assessment as a necessary hurdle requirement for confirmation.

Choosing a PhD Research Workshop

In some cases, supervisory panels, disciplines or Schools will recommend their graduate researchers to take particular workshops. Some workshops may be restricted to graduate researchers with cognate disciplinary expertise in that area of study.

It is recommended that you discuss your workshop and electives selections with your supervisor before you complete your coursework enrolment. For more information, please visit the University Handbook web page.

PhD Electives

With the guidance of your supervisory panel, you will select two 6.25-point electives, which are completed prior to Confirmation. These electives are designed to give you an enhanced knowledge of leading-edge research work and theoretical approaches to doctoral research in the humanities and social sciences.

The list of available electives is designed to encompass the diversity of disciplines across the Faculty. Substantive content will include current research projects being conducted by senior Faculty staff, graduate seminars offered by distinguished visiting scholars, leading-edge research in specific disciplinary fields, and high level research methods.

Some electives are run as a regular seminar (such as weekly or fortnightly) and some are offered as intensives over several days.

Graduate researchers must successfully pass (50%) each elective as a necessary hurdle requirement for Confirmation.

Choosing PhD Electives

In some cases, supervisory panels, disciplines or Schools will require their graduate researchers to take particular electives. Some electives may be restricted to graduate researchers with cognate disciplinary expertise in that area of study. With the consent of your principal supervisor and relevant subject coordinator, you may be permitted to substitute the electives with a subject/s considered necessary for your research and at an equivalent level, which is graduate coursework (typically subjects with the code 90XXX). Language study, academic English, or specialised subjects that will aid your research are examples of permissible exceptions.

Graduate research students are able to enroll in a maximum of:

• 100 points for PhD graduate researchers (inclusive of the compulsory PhD coursework subjects); or
• 50 points for Master by Research (MA) graduate researchers.

Once you have received the approvals from your principal supervisor and relevant subject coordinator, attach the written support and approvals, as well as a brief explanation of the reasoning behind the request to the Graduate Research Enrolment Request Form.

It is recommended that you discuss your workshop and electives selections with your supervisor before you complete your coursework enrolment. For more information, including available subjects, please visit the University Handbook web page.

Coursework FAQs

Do I have to take the Intensive, Workshop, and Elective subjects or can I pick my own subjects outside of these?

I am a part-time PhD graduate researcher, what coursework should I do first?

It is recommended that you complete the Intensive and Workshop components in the first year of your part-time candidature and then enrol in the Electives in your second year, as the former enables cohort relationship building and assists you in planning for your thesis proposal and project in the lead up to Confirmation which will be held in your second year of your part-time candidature.

Is there an attendance requirement?

The Intensive and Workshop components have an attendance requirement as an un-assessed hurdle. To complete the component, you are expected to have attended a minimum of at least 80% of the Workshop. To gain the most value out of the Workshop, it is expected that you will endeavour and want to attend all classes.

I work full-time and study part-time. I’m unable to take time off during the day to attend these workshop classes. What do I do?

As attendance at the Intensive and Workshop is a requirement of your candidature, we expect that adequate time needs to be available.

Is there a cost to doing the PhD Coursework?

There is no financial cost to undertaking the coursework.

Will it take more time to complete my PhD?

No. The PhD Coursework Component in the first year of your candidature complements the development of your thesis proposal and project. We expect that completing the PhD Coursework will enhance rather than detract from your progress, particularly as the 10,000 words of written work submitted for assessment in the PhD Coursework can be integrated into your thesis itself.

Can I take additional coursework subjects beyond the amount required?

Yes, subject to discussion with your supervisor and Advisory Committee to ensure that you are not over-loading at the expense of progress on your thesis.

Additional subjects should be at postgraduate level (not including Language subjects), relevant to your research and not exceed the maximum credit point allowance:

• 100 points for PhD graduate researchers (inclusive of the compulsory PhD coursework subjects); or
• 50 points for Master by Research (MA) graduate researchers.

If you wish to enrol in coursework subjects beyond the PhD coursework Component, please see Add and Drop Coursework Subjects form.

I’m enrolled in the Master of Arts (Thesis Only) and I am thinking of converting to the PhD. Should I take the PhD Coursework?

Yes, you will need to successfully complete the PhD Coursework Component before your conversion can be considered and approved. Essentially, you will need to follow the PhD milestone and candidature requirements.

I am enrolled in the Master of Arts (Advanced Seminar and Shorter Thesis). Do I still have an option of converting to the PhD?

Yes. The structure of the Master of Arts (Advanced Seminar and Shorter Thesis) involves the same amount of coursework as the PhD.

If you started with the required entry level for the PhD, completed the Master of Arts (Advanced Seminar and Shorter Thesis) compulsory coursework in your first year and achieved the equivalent minimum required grades for the PhD Coursework Component, then you may be considered for a PhD conversion and be given credit for the equivalent coursework. It is recommended you complete any conversion  before undertaking your Confirmation to ensure completion of the relevant coursework requirements.

Why are the required grades for the Workshop different from those for Electives?

The minimum required grade for the Intensive and Workshop component is H2A(75%), but Pass (50%) for the Electives. This is because we want to encourage you to explore unfamiliar fields in your Electives, and you should feel free to tackle something new without fear that you would be penalised if your grades were impacted by challenging yourself with a new area.

What happens if I don’t get the required grades in the Workshop and Electives?

Your Advisory Committee will, at Confirmation, be making an assessment of the grades achieved in your PhD Coursework. Written work in the Workshop will have been double-marked by both the Workshop coordinator and your principal supervisor. Not meeting the required minimum expectations is a firm indication that you may not be ready to be confirmed in your PhD candidature. In this case, there would be an option to convert your candidature to an MA degree.

If the problem lies with a poor mark in one Elective, you should discuss with your supervisor taking a third Elective — the requirement with Electives is to have completed two at the required minimum level.

Will the Workshop and Elective subjects appear on my transcript?

Yes, any awarded subjects that you are officially enrolled in will appear on your University transcript.

Can I change my Elective or Workshop if I prefer to take a different one?

You can withdraw your enrolment from an Elective or Workshop, provided you are still able to enrol in an alternative subject. You can re-enrol in another Elective or Workshop as long as this is done before the Census Date, which is generally 31 March for Semester 1 subjects and 31 August for Semester 2 subjects. Please note that all Elective subjects have different Census Dates and should be checked against the relevant entry in the Handbook.

Can I apply for leave of absence while completing the PhD Coursework?

Graduate researchers are not typically eligible to take leave of absence in the first 12 months of their candidature (full-time equivalent), unless there are exceptional circumstances.

It is not possible for a graduate researcher to go on leave of absence and remain enrolled in the PhD Coursework. If you were to go on leave whilst enrolled in the PhD Coursework, you would be automatically withdrawn from any enrolled subjects and this may affect your Confirmation.

Handbooks (PhD and MA)

View the relevant University Handbook below for course requirements:

Doctor of Philosophy – Arts (DR-PHILART)

Master of Arts (Thesis only) (MR-ARTSTHS)

Master of Arts (Advanced Seminar & Shorter Thesis) (MR-ARTSAST)

Glossary

View the commonly used terms or phrases that you may come across throughout your candidature.

Graduate Research Glossary