3. OVERVIEW OF DIGITAL ARTS POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES

3.1. PhD WITS DIGITAL ARTS - AN OVERVIEW

WHAT IS A PhD_

A PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is an exit degree, meaning it is the highest academic degree. Conducted after a Master’s and when a researcher or creative practitioner is in a position to contribute new knowledge to a field or subject.

The contribution to new knowledge is not easy and requires extensive understanding of the field being engaged, in addition to a well developed methodology for generation of new knowledge.

A PhD at the Wits School of Arts can be taken full time or part time over 4 to 6 years. Part time proposals complete within 12 months of registration and full-time proposals complete in 6 months of registration.

PhD applications are assessed at School level and accepted on an above 65% MA average, the merits of an expression of interest and supervision capacity. PhD’s ranges between 70 000 to 100 000 words, the Wits School of Arts allows for creative research submission as a contribution.

→ Find more on the PhD Stages in Section 8

→ See our current list of Research Supervisors in Section 7.

3.2. MASTERS BY RESEARCH OR MASTERS BY RESEARCH & CREATIVE WORK - AN OVERVIEW

WHAT IS A ‘MASTERS’_

Completing a ‘Masters’ shows that you are a ‘master of’ or have ‘mastered’ a chosen or specified field or subject. Thereby proving that you are so well read and researched that you understand it well enough that you can ask and defend a significant research question in that field or subject.

This Digital Arts MA can be taken full time in 12 months (usually February to February) or part time over 2 years. It is a research intensive MA in which you work towards a single dissertation often accompanied by creative work, with a subject specialist as supervisor.

Research areas for an MA with the Dept. are described under the following general sector categories: Animation, Gaming & Interactive Media, BUT as the range of expertise and specialisation of supervisors in the Dept. are far broader than this, we accept a range of topics under the definitions of digital culture and digital creativity.

→ See our current list of Research Supervisors in Section 7.

WHAT IS EXPECTED_

Candidates are expected to produce research that is relevant to current research in the chosen field, is critical in nature, forms a Project Palies (2021). Credit: Wits Digital strong argument and is academically sound..

The value of our MA is it allows for part of the examinable output to include creative work - you can therefore submit your MA in the following research vs creative work formations:

1) 100% Written Research

2) 60% Written Research with 40% Creative Research

3) 50% Written Research with 50% Creative Research

The percentage balance is an important choice that should be led by not only to how the creative work relates to the research, but if your creative work is considered examinable at an MA level.

MA DEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS_

There are three major contributions to your MA development in the research community.

1) The Research Proposal & Proposal Presentation

A research proposal (2 000 - 3 000 words) is presented after 6 months for candidates registered full time and 12 months for candidates registered part- time.

→ Find more on proposal development in Section 9.

2) Research Seminars

In building an environment for collective knowledge and aiding in developing a community for research, MA students are invited to present their research or invite guests to the research seminar series.

→ See Section 2

Guests should be researchers or creatives who’s work you are exploring or inspired by. You can also work with your supervisor to identify and invite guest speakers.

3) Final Research Submission

A final submission is submitted at the end of 12 months (usually by 15 February the year after registering) for candidates registered full time or after 24 months for candidates registered part-time.

→ See details on expectations and timelines in Section 9. All submissions must have ethical clearance and meet the non-plagiarism criteria in order to be examined.

→ See more on Ethics & Plagiarism in Section 5.

In the final submission written research is expected to meet the following word counts:

● 40 000 to 45 000 words for 100% written research

● 24 000 to 27 000 words for 60% / 40% written and creative work split.

● 20 000 to 22 000 works for 50% / 50% written and creative work split.

Research (written & creative) must be academically sound, have a clear methodological trajectory and make a strong and defended argument of a central research question.

3.3. HONOURS IN DIGITAL ART - AN OVERVIEW WHAT IS AN ‘HONOURS’_

An Honours Degree is a professional degree in which a 4th year of specialisation is completed - not only in a subject area, but also in academic writing and research. It is additionally understood as preparation for a Masters Degree.

The Digital Art Honours can be taken by candidates completing their 4th Year in the Digital Arts undergraduate programmes OR by candidates that have completed an NQF level 7 degree (3 Year BA or equivalent) from another college or university. In the latter candidates join the Dept. for the final Honours year only. This mix of candidates makes for a really great community of digital makers coming in from lots of different programmes. The Honours can be taken part-time over two years or full-time in one year.

WHAT IS EXPECTED_

The Digital Arts Honours is a research and coursework programme and can be taken in one of three subject areas: Animation, Interactive Media, Interactivity & Writing or Game Design.

The coursework programme includes:

● A one year written research project, either as Digital Arts Research Project or Long Essay.

● A year long Digital Arts Creative Project.

Cat-Astrophe! (2021). Credit: Wits Digital Arts Exhibition, Siyathnda Nontolwana, Linda Sumbu and Nhlanhla Langa.

● A semester long theory course: Digital Arts Theory.

● One honours / 4th year level practice course in either Animation, Game Design, Interactive Media or Writing & Interactivity - these are to be taken at either ‘introductory - year long’ or ‘advanced - semester long’ level - on advice of the supervisor and based on the applicant's academic history or experience in the respective field.

→ See more on Honours Research in Section 10.

HONOURS RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS_

There are three research contributions to your Honours development and the research community.

1) Research Project or Long Essay

As a written research contribution, students can choose between a Research Project which is developed with a group in a seminar and work series under a specific research area OR a Long Essay which is developed by the student independently (on approval) with a supervisor.

→ See more in Section 10 and Appendix B.

2) Creative Project

The Creative Project is your opportunity to explore a creative output of your choice for the Honours. You will have around 6-8 months to complete your project. It will be examined and exhibited at the Dept.'s year end exhibition.

The creative project is unlinked to any other course, however you have the option to further your research through this creative project and use it to support the research project or long essay.

4. SUPERVISION: What You Need to Know

At postgraduate level the supervisor and student relationship is an important part of successful postgraduate study. This relationship requires clear communication and commitments from both the supervisor and student.

The supervisor's role is sometimes not well understood. This section aims to give a bit of insight into what to expect.

→ The role of supervisor is academic guidance & research mentorship, leading students through the expectations of honours or masters research and helping them meet academic and University standards. An extraordinary opportunity to explore deeper insights, the development of ideas and new methods.

4.1. FORMAL COMMUNICATION & CHANNELS

The supervisor and student relationship is a formal one, and therefore formal communications channels must be used for all communications from setting meetings to sharing drafts and feedback. Every supervisor is different and will catch you up on their preferred channels, which should be either Wits Email, Wits Ulwazi (see section Section 6) or Wits Microsoft Teams.

→ It is important that you always share research drafts for feedback and review to your supervisors at least one to two week prior to a submission deadline.

4.2. POLICY & REGULATION COMPLIANCE

In compliance with University policies and regulations the signing of a Statement of Principles between a postgraduate student and their supervisor is compulsory. The Statement of Principles includes acceptance of the plagiarism policy and agreement on intellectual property rights.

4.3. SUPERVISOR & STUDENT ROLES

There are 3 main phases in the Supervision journey:

1) Foundation, 2) Momentum and 3) Final - the following details the basic responsibilities of Supervisor & Student at each phase.

1) Foundation Phase_

Supervision Assignment

Supervisor: At MA & Honours level supervisors are assigned. Assignment is based on the topic you are pursuing and / or capacity in the Department or School.

Student: Students should submit a good expressions of interest (MA & Long Essay) or join a research group (Research Project) to be assigned a supervisor.

Establishment of Support and Resources

Supervisor: One of the foundation roles of a supervisor is to guide you to research resources. *NB This does not mean selecting them for you. Supervisors will also work to help you understand research supporting structures and the expectations of the research programme.

Student: It is the student’s role to follow up & closely interrogate which resources are valuable or suitable to their research; this is an exciting and exploratory part of preparing for your research.

Approval of Research Topic

Supervisor: It is the role of the supervisor to approve research topics and the research questions.

Student: Students may go through a number of ideas, drafts and edits of a research topic and question, it is important to acknowledge this as a process of progress towards the supervisor’s final approval.

Completion and Approval of Proposal (MA only)

Supervisor: In tandem to the Dept.’s proposal development workshop seminar series, a supervisor will guide you in the timeous completion of your proposal. Including the proposal presentation, assigning a suitable reader, guiding any final changes and signing off the proposal for submission to Faculty (see section 9).

Student: Students are responsible for developing and writing an original proposal in the recommended academic style and within the deadline and expectations of the Dept.

Ethics Approval

Supervisor: Supervisors will guide and approve your research ethics applications to the School.

Student: Students are required to meet the University’s research ethics requirements for all research, which includes attending a mandatory ethics workshop (see section 5).

2) Momentum Phase_

Research Work Plan and Timelines

Supervisor: Supervisors will work with you to put together a work plan, this should be guided by your academic ability and research methods. Work plans should include a timeline mapped to Dept. and Faculty deadlines.

Student: Work plan developed with supervisors should be collaborative and realistic to your needs and abilities. Every student (and supervisor) is different! Most importantly and no matter what, the work plan must take deadlines into account.

Progress Monitoring and Reporting

Supervisor: Supervisors are formally required to report on your progress to the Faculty, they will also help you track your development, encourage your progress and assist if an academic or personal crisis comes up in the development of your research.

Student: Students are expected to stick to agreed work plans and respond to supervisor requests. Any concerns or issues around development must be brought to the attention of your supervisor as soon as possible. Students are additionally required to submit progress reports to the Faculty.

Research Essay / Report / Thesis Preparation

Supervisor: Your supervisors will advise and guide you in setting up the structure and output expectations of your thesis. Your supervisor will read, give feedback and approve drafts to make sure that your work meets examinable academic expectations.

Student: Students are expected to submit drafts to supervisors in good time to allow for thorough feedback and revision prior to internal and Faculty deadlines. Students are advised to meet the required examinable academic expectations of research at Wits.

3) Final Phase_ Submission for Examination

Supervisor: Supervisors assist with the submission processes by assigning internal and external (MA) examiners, reading , approving and signing off on final submissions to Faculty.

Student: A student does need approval from their supervisor for their final submission, and should submit work in good time to meet the time required for feedback and review within the deadline. (see more in Section 9 for MA and Section 10 for Honours examination processes).

Examination Process

Supervisor: Supervisors will assist in any examination feedback and will monitor and support you on any post examination changes and outcomes.

Student: The examination process tends to be long and you may be required to make corrections or changes before the work is given a mark. Generally a work submitted for examination with the approval of a supervisor, will have minimal or no corrections.

Paper Publication → PhD & MA

Supervisor: During the momentum and final stages supervisors may start discussing the prospect of you publishing your research as papers to academic journals or conferences. In this case supervisors may assist or co-author with you in taking examined research into further publication.

Student: Though not mandatory at all, one of the most exciting parts of producing research is getting recognition for it outside of the University. Discuss with your supervisor what it takes to publish out of your research and what opportunities exist for this.