Future Students
What is a Research Degree?
At Monash, a Higher Degree by Research is a postgraduate degree comprising 66% or 100% research. The research is presented and assessed as a thesis. The aim of a research degree is to produce an original work of scholarship that will contribute substantially to the understanding of the subject matter. Some of the Faculty programs allow coursework units to be undertaken alongside a research thesis. The coursework component is designed to support research. Once accepted into the degree, students are allocated an academic supervisor who will guide the research and ensure appropriate standards are met.
Why do a Research Degree?
People do research for a number of reasons. It may be a passion for a particular topic or an intense desire to make a change in the world. For some, it's a career investment or an opportunity to acquire specialist knowledge to gain an edge in the workplace. For others, research is about satisfying an innate hunger or curiosity, or a desire to take knowledge to a higher level and explore frontiers.
For many, research is the basis of an academic career and a PhD is the entry level for an academic position in most Australian universities. Strong growth in the tertiary education sector means demand for academic staff, and many universities are actively recruiting staff, both here and internationally.
For every vision, there is a practical side and research demands a substantial investment of time and energy. Studying at a reputable and dynamic university such as Monash can be the point of difference in achieving your goal.
Quality Supervision
The Faculty of Arts attracts one of the largest enrolments in higher degrees by research in Australia. Monash Arts scholars have distinguished themselves on international and national levels as leading commentators, theorists and critics in a wide range of research areas. The Faculty Supervisor Accredittaion Scheme is one of the ways we assure quality supervision. New staff are mentored and provided with a structured program before taking on supervision roles, and only research-active staff with strong records in bringing candidates to completion are allowed to act as main supervisors of PhD and Masters by Research candidates.