Our courses
As Australia’s leading Arts faculty, we are home to globally recognised researchers and educators committed to humanities and social sciences research and teaching. You will work with experts dedicated to your success and thrive in a robust support study environment. Our interdisciplinary approach and vibrant community foster innovation and knowledge exchange, enabling you to solve global challenges in new ways.
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Doctor of Philosophy – Arts
The Doctor of Philosophy – Arts – also known as a PhD or Doctorate – is the highest Arts degree offered by the University of Melbourne. You will complete a compulsory coursework component and undertake supervised research under the direction of a supervisory team of experts in the field.
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Master of Arts (Thesis only)
If you want to develop specialised knowledge in one or more areas that interest you, the Master of Arts (Thesis Only) provides you with an advanced understanding of the major issues experienced in your chosen field.
This program is not available for direct entry into the School of Social and Political Science.
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Master of Arts (Advanced Seminar & Shorter Thesis)
The Master of Arts (Advanced Seminar and Shorter Thesis) provides you the flexibility to pursue an area of humanities and social sciences that interests you.
This degree program is only available in the Philosophy discipline.
How to Apply
Application dates
The Faculty of Arts accepts applications for Graduate Research degrees commencing in February each year. There is no mid-year intake.
Applications are considered in two rounds each year. To be considered for admission and scholarships, you must submit your complete application by the relevant closing date. Incomplete applications will not be assessed.
We recommend submitting your application well before the closing date to allow time for your nominated referees to submit their online reports.
| Applications from | Closing date | Outcome notified by |
|---|---|---|
| International applicants* | 15 August | Mid-October |
| Domestic applicants | 15 October | Mid-December |
Before you submit an application, you need to
1. Choose your course
2. Check your eligiblity
3. Identify a research project and secure superivsion support
*International applicants
- Evidence that you meet the English Language requirements must be provided by the application closing date.
- To be considered for the Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships you must submit a complete application by 15 August.
- Applicants for the China Scholarship Council (CSC) - Melbourne PhD Scholarship must apply by 31 January each year for commencement in the following year.
- Sponsored applicants may apply for admission at any time of the year. To allow enough time for application processing, submit your application at least eight weeks before the sponsorship/external funding application deadline.
Important information
- Applicants who submit their application by the relevant closing date will be automatically considered for the Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships. For all other University of Melbourne research scholarship opportunities please refer to the scholarships directory.
- If you receive an offer, you must commence your course by the first day of Semester 1 of the academic year you have been made an offer for.
Application Process
Step 1: Choose your course and check your eligibility
Before applying, you will need to decide which graduate research degree you intend to apply for
- Doctor of Philosophy – Arts
- Master of Arts (Thesis Only)
- Master of Arts (Advanced Seminar and Shorter Thesis)
and confirm that you meet the entry requirements.
- Review the entry requirements for your chosen degree
- Confirm your meet the English language requirements
If you do not yet meet the entry requirements, you may wish to consider the Graduate Diploma in Arts (Advanced) as a pathway into Graduate Research study.
Applicants are expected to have completed a relevant master's degree or a four year bachelor honours degree, including a substantial research component (a single thesis subject).
Meeting the minimum entry requirements makes you eligible for consideration. However, admission is highly competitive.
Successful applicants typically demonstrate performance in the top grade range (Melbourne H1 or First Class Honours equivalent) across both their overall results and their thesis subject.
Grading systems vary across institutions. You can use our grade equivalency guidance in the FAQ section to understand how your results compare to the expected University of Melbourne standards.
Step 2: Identify a research project and supervisor
You must obtain the support of an eligible Principal Supervisor within the Faculty of Arts. There are two ways to do this:
1. Apply to an advertised research opportunity
Browse the Research Degree Opportunities page to view projects and research areas currently recruiting candidates.
Some opportunities invite you to propose a project wihtin a defined area. Each listing includes instructions on how to apply including any Expression of Interest (EOI) process.
Follow the instructions provided in the relevant advertisement.
2. Develop your own project and contact a supervisor
If you wish to pursue an area of research that is not defined in the list of advertised research projects, you can identify a potential supervisor using the Find an Expert directory.
Search for academics whose research aligns with your proposed project and contact them to discuss your research proposal.
If a supervisor is interested in supporting your project, they will advise you on next steps.
If your research area is not covered by current advertised opportunities you should contact a supervisor directly.
When contacting a potential supervisor, you should include:
- A brief CV [ Use the template here]
- A academic transcripts ( including grading scale)
- A research proposal
- A sample of academic writing
About the research proposal
Your research proposal should:
- Define a clear research question
- Show awareness of relevant literature
- Outline a fesasible approach
Applying for the Creative Writing Discipline? |
Guideline for Creative Writing Proposals
The creative PhD at the University of Melbourne is developed and marked as a single thesis, with two major elements: a dissertation and a creative work.
Each part usually contributes 50% to the overall word count. It is possible to increase the dissertation above 50%, but the creative work cannot be more than 50%.
One way to understand the unity of the creative PhD thesis is to consider that there is one overarching research question or hypothesis, which is approached within the thesis in two different manners, a scholarly one and a creative one.
The dissertation is not an exegesis. The dissertation does not offer a commentary on the creative processes or the intentions of the writer. The dissertation is intended to stand independently as a scholarly work making an original contribution to its field or discipline. In creative writing, this field is often interdisciplinary, but it can be characterised as a discipline interested in writerly questions, that is questions that take into account creativity, creative processes, the decision-making that goes into a creative text, cultural and technological influences on writing, questions of genre boundaries (including emerging genres, hybrid genres), and questions that address issues in conceiving of writing as a craft. This is a broad description and it is not exhaustive, but it does indicate that most dissertations are investigating aspects of the act of writing.
In your proposal you should make it clear what your research question is, and how this question fits with or responds to an ongoing critical discourse. You should identify the fields or disciplines you will draw upon, what models of analysis you will adopt, and what critical and creative texts you wish to discuss in your dissertation.
The creative work will need to be articulated in your proposal with some detail, understanding that as with all creative works there will be room for re-considerations and re-drafting. You should show how your creative work addresses or arises from your research question.
Your proposal should include an indicative list of the texts you will consult.
Step 3: Submit your application
Applicants invited to proceed to formal application will be required to confirm supervisory support. This is typically confirmed through the interview process and in discussion with the Principal Supervisor before applying.
Please be aware that meeting the minimum entry requirements or having strong supervisor support does not guarantee admission to the course. All aplications are assessed competitively.
To submit an application, please visit the online application portal:
Search for the course code to start an application:
- 'DR-PHILART' for Doctor of Philosophy – Arts
- 'MR-ARTSTHS' for Master of Arts (Thesis Only)
- 'MR-ARTSAST' for Master of Arts (Advanced Seminar and Shorter Thesis)
Please also note the following study package mode:
- Liability category:
- International applicants - select ‘PG Overseas Fee Paying’
- Domestic applicants - select ‘RTP / RTS / CTS’
- Attendance mode: select 'On Campus'
- Study mode: select 'Standard'.
To be considered for entry, you must submit a complete application by the relevant closing date.
Only applications that include all required documentation and meet the eligibility requirements will be accepted.
Your application must include:
| Evidence of Supervision support | Confirmation from an eligible Principal Supervisor and at least one Co Supervisor that they support your application. Applicantions without confirmed supervision Support may not proceed to assessment. |
| Curriculum vitae (CV) | Use this template here. |
| Academic transcripts | Transcripts for all teriary study completed or in progress, including grading scales.
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| Research Proposal (up to 5,000 words) | Your proposal must present a clearly defined research question, demonstrate the significance of the project, and outline an appropriate methodology and resources required to complete the project. It should also show how the project aligns with the proposed supervisors' expertise and can be completed within the expected course duration. |
| Writing sample | A sample of your academic writing (e.g. thesis chapter or research paper) that demonstrates your ability to undertake independent research and communicate effectively. |
| English language proficiency | Evidence of meeting the University's English language requirements. |
More information
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To support your application, you will need to nominate two referees who can comment on your academic ability and research potential. We recommend that at least one report from someone who has supervised your thesis/dissertation or research work.
All referee reports must be submitted using the online tool. On submission of your application, your referees will be emailed a link to access the online referee form and they must provide their references using this online form. You will be notified when they submit the reference. Your application may be deemed as incomplete if the referee reports are not submitted by the application closing dates.
Please note: students who have completed honours or a master degree through the University of Melbourne need only to provide two University of Melbourne referee contacts, and are exempt from providing referee reports.
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If you have completed a thesis that is assessed on a pass/fail basis, please include a copy of the thesis and the examiner’s report with your course application. You are also required to submit an Academic Report of Ungraded Thesis Form completed by the most senior academic staff involved in the assessment of your thesis.
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Please note that the University does not offer distance or online supervision. All candidates must spend a minimum of 12 months full-time equivalent study at the University. This on campus presence is essential for fostering a vibrant research culture and cultivating a sense of belonging within your respective school’s research community. The residency requirement is deemed especially important during the period of probationary candidature and while completing the PhD coursework component in the first year.
Throughout your candidature, it is expected that you will attend the University to fully benefit from planning, conducting and writing up your research. For more information on residency requirements please see Graduate Research Training Policy (MPF1321)
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You will be automatically considered for the Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships when you apply for the course. No separate application is required.
Please note: In order to be eligible for consideration for a Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship, you must have met the University of Melbourne English Language requirements by the application closing date.
Other scholarships
- Domestic students experiencing compassionate or compelling circumstances (including illness, disability, care responsibilities or personal hardship), may be eligible to apply for the Fay Marles Scholarship or the Frederick Blake Shepherd Scholarship.
- Human Rights Scholarship
- Hansen Scholarship in History
- Refer to the Scholarships Directory for other available scholarship opportunities. If a separate application is required, follow the instructions provided in the scholarship page.
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Transferring students apply through the same application process as new applicants. Please note, however, that the ability of students to transfer into the Doctor of Philosophy – Arts has been severely limited because of the requirement to complete the PhD coursework in the first year prior to confirmation. Your application will be assessed based on your ability to meet our degree requirements and complete your course in a timely manner. Please ensure that if you are considering a transfer from your current course that you discuss the following with a nominated supervisor:
- Reasons - what are the reasons for transferring?
- Confirmation - have you met your current university's Confirmation requirements?
- PhD Coursework – If you have not been confirmed in your current candidature, how will you complete the Arts PhD coursework component before Confirmation?
- Completion - do you have a plan for completion of your course within 3 years from the initial enrolment date when you started your current research degree? You will also need to provide evidence of satisfactory progress in your current program.
- Residency requirements - will you be able to meet the University of Melbourne's residency requirement if your transfer is successful?
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To support you in your studies you should bring your own laptop for University use. Our shared workstations are equipped with monitors and power sockets to allow you to connect your own device to the University network for internet access and printing facilities.
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If your course application is successful, you will receive an offer letter by email. Please read it carefully and follow the instructions provided to accept your course offer online.
If you have also been awarded a stipend scholarship, you will need to to accept your scholarship offer separately by following the instructions outlined in your scholarship offer letter.
If you wish to defer your course offer, refer to your course offer letter for the steps to do so.
Please note that scholarships cannot be deferred. If your course deferral is approved, you will be reconsidered for a graduate research scholarship in the following round.
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If you are successful in obtaining an offer for a place, you must complete your enrolment and commence your course by the first day of Semester 1.
All commencing graduate researchers are invited to an Orientation Welcome Session before the start of the semester. At this session you’ll be introduced to your Graduate School, learn about our facilities and services, and get a chance to meet coordinators and peers from your program. For more information please visit the Faculty of Arts Orientation and Induction web page.
Graduate Researchers completing a Doctor of Philosophy – Arts degree are required to complete 4 PhD coursework subjects in the first year as part of the Confirmation of Candidature prerequisite. For more information about the coursework and candidature requirements, please visit the Faculty of Arts Current Graduate Research Students website.
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Domestic students who are admitted in a graduate research degrees will receive a Research Training Program Fee Offset Scholarship to acknowledge the contribution from the Australian Government towards the cost of their tuition. Learn more about the RTP Fee Offset Scholarship and Graduate Research Scholarships
International students should consult the Study Fees web page for details about calculating your fees, the cost of living in Melbourne, and the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
For more information about fees please visit the Students Fees web page.
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