Creative Practice Higher Degrees: Information for Students
Creative Practice Higher Degrees: Information for Students MPhil, PhD
The research Masters referred to here is the Creative Practice MPhil.
What is a higher degree by research?
A higher degree by research is one which research is primarily conducted and presented by thesis at MPhil or PhD level. The thesis is an extended, logically constructed, coherent and integrated argument designed to address and answer a specific research question or questions and is written according to strict conventions.
What is a Creative Practice higher degree?
While requiring the same standard of research and presentation as the higher degree research project by thesis only, the Creative Practice higher degree provides the opportunity to pursue research and present project outcomes in a variety of investigative modes, genres of practice, and forms of expression including print and other media. The creative component is complemented by a formal written analysis component (exegesis) See below.
What is the Creative Practice MPhil?
The Master of Philosophy is an higher degree research project that comprises a creative practice component and a formal written analysis in the form of an exegesis. Both components will be worked on under the guidance of supervisors.
What genres and media are possible in the creative practice component?
Practice-based genres may include fiction, non-fiction, drama, musical composition or performance, life writing, scripts, professional writing and potentially other forms, subject to availability of resources and suitable supervision. The creative practice works may be developed and presented in print, musical, dramatic, web-based or other media, by approval.
What is an exegesis?
The exegesis is a formal written analysis that complements the creative-work component in the inquiry into the research question(s). The exegesis articulates the research question that both parts of the project address, explains the purpose of the project, discusses the literature relevant to it and develops a coherent argument.
What is the word length of each component of the Creative Practice MPhil?
The major creative practice component should be of publishable standard and equivalent to 30,000 to 40,000 words (depending on project genre and type).
The exegesis component should usually be 10,000 to 15,000 words, depending on length of the creative practice component.
The final combined length of the thesis will normally be the equivalent of 50,000 to 60,000 words.
What are the admission requirements for the MPhil?
The normal requirements for admission to candidature for the MPhil program are usually a first-class or second-class Honours degree in a discipline appropriate to the proposed thesis project from a recognised university or tertiary institution.
Because of the number of applicants, you should, before completing the University’s formal application forms, forward a Preliminary Information Package about yourself to the School of Arts.
Applicants judged not to be adequately prepared for candidature may be advised to enrol in a preliminary course of study or in some specially directed preliminary program.
What is the PhD?
The Doctor of Philosophy program is a Research Higher Degree administered by the University. The University policy states that doctoral candidates shall pursue a program of research and writing in an approved topic area for a minimum of three years.
Within the School of Arts, the Creative Practice Higher Degree program will involve students writing a thesis of two parts:
- Significant creative work of publishable standard (e.g., a book-length manuscript) of 60,000 to 70,000 words (depending on project genre and type);
- An exegesis, usually 20,000 to 30,000 words, depending on length and nature of the creative work.
What are the admission requirements for the PhD?
The normal university-wide requirements for admission to candidature for the PhD apply. For the Creative Practice PhD, candidates must
- show evidence that they have the potential for research;
- show evidence of a capacity for producing work of publishable standard; and
- have appropriate academic qualifications.