Scholarships and Funding

The final assessment of the degree, done by 2 local assessors and one international assessor, is based on the originality of the body of creative work and the written thesis as original contributions to knowledge. We emphasize that the PhD experience, however, should not only focus on the final exhibition and thesis, but also on the long journey of making, research, writing and reading as a continuous reflexive and critical process for both research and practice over the course of the three year degree. Research proposals should be submitted to two external readers within 6 months of registration for feedback. Regular meetings and written submissions to supervisors are important steps in this process. Open studios are organised in each term over two days for students to engage peers and staff in critical feedback and PhD students are encouraged to show work regularly, or at least discuss their ongoing ideas in these sessions.

New PhD Research Proposal Process.

The Faculty Graduate Studies Committee or a panel, formally appointed by the Faculty Graduate Studies Committee, must consider the recommendations regarding worthiness of a PhD by creative research candidate of the School, after an initial period of registration (6-9 months full-time or 12 months part-time) in order to decide whether to allow their registration to continue. A candidate is required to submit their research documents, from this initial registration period, demonstrating a focused and well researched topic that is elucidated in both practice and written form. For the proposal submission process, candidates are required to present the following to two identified proposal readers: • Present a body of practical work that embodies/speaks to/ elucidates the trajectory of their research – this may be presented in physical form or in documentation; • Present one draft chapter of the dissertation (approximately 4000-5000 words). This chapter can be written as historical, content, textual or visual analysis or a creative / performative response to your practice (and research focus) but must amply demonstrate the manner in which literature reviews are incorporated into writing in our field, while attending to the following: title of research; identifying a focused research question; stating the aims/rationale of the research; problems and gaps identified that the research is responding to; research methods employed (this includes creative research); ethical considerations of the research;

• A comprehensive bibliography of sources identified on the research area;

• An abstract of no more than 250 words, including keywords; • Chapter outlines: Summary of what each chapter in the dissertation will cover (approximately 500 words for each chapter). *If a student chooses to hand in an experimental chapter that does not conform to academic writing, then the following is proposed: the student hands in addition to the above 4000-5000 chapter, chapter outlines, abstract, bibliography, a two page document detailing the following clearly: title of research; identifying a focused research question; stating the aims/rationale of the research; problems and gaps identified that the research is responding to; research methods employed in the research.

Ethics Consideration: PhD students will supply the abstract and chapter (and if necessary the two page document) as part of their individual ethics application via the University Ethics system. NOTE: Within the first 3 months of registration, all candidates will be required by the Department to present their research topic and initial creative investigations to their peers and staff through the open studio process so that they are given feedback on their developing ideas. Candidates are also required by Faculty to present their proposals to the staff and student body to solicit feedback on their ideas in a