Humanities and Social Sciences

School of Visual Arts and Design

Postgraduate Studies

Postgraduate studies leading to Masters Degree by Research and Doctor Of Philosophy within Visual Arts are available in the studio disciplines of Animation, Ceramics, Design, Drawing, Illustration, Painting, Photography and Printmaking. The usual form for postgraduate study in Visual Arts and Design involves research leading to an exhibition and a written thesis.

Postgraduate studios, workshops and laboratories are available on campus and these are supported and maintained by studio technicians. The La Trobe Visual Arts Centre at 121 View St., opposite the Bendigo Art Gallery,  provides a focus for postgraduate studies within the School. The Centre houses two galleries and two sculpture courtyards, an artist-in-residence flat and studio, and an auditorium for postgraduate exhibitions and seminars

Applicants should familiarise themselves with the research profiles of academics in the School in order to identify suitable supervisors'. Information about staff research

For further information contact

James McArdle
Telephone : 03 5444 7208
Facsimile: 03 5444 7965
j.mcardle@latrobe.edu.au

Admission to Masters of Visual Arts by Research

Guidelines for Schools/the Faculty to recommend provisional enrolment in a Masters by Research.

Admission to Masters by research candidature

The usual requirements for admission to Masters by research candidature include:

• a relevant Honours degree at LTU or another recognised institution or
• a relevant Masters preliminary course or
• a qualification from this or another recognised institution that is deemed to be equivalent to one of the qualifications listed above or
• a pass degree or other equivalent qualification from this or another recognised institution that is strengthened by additional qualifications or demonstrated skills, professional experience, research or publications of an especially meritorious nature that is considered an acceptable basis for admission to Masters candidature.

Provisional Admission to Candidature

When an applicant for a Masters by research does not demonstrate an appropriate academic research background in one of the above ways, provisional candidature may be considered in the following circumstances:

• An applicant will be asked to complete an approved program of study within an agreed appropriate time (usually six or twelve months) and to an agreed standard as formally assessed by the School postgraduate coordinator and the supervisor (or other appropriate senior academic) who will advise the HDC(R) in writing when the program is complete and make a recommendation regarding continuation of candidature.
• The program of study will normally include participation in and completion of all assignments required in a research methods unit, and a substantial item of work such as a 5000 word literature review and research proposal. Other units or work (such as studio pieces) may be required. The student will not be required to enroll in the subject, pay fees or sit an exam. No record of the unit undertaken will appear on a transcript.
• The letter of offer will make is clear that satisfactory completion of the specified program of study within the prescribed time is a condition for the continuation of candidature. Usually the program will be required to be completed at equivalent to Honours 2A level.

Documentation of relevant skills and experience could include:

• a tangible product such as one or more substantial written research reports, literature review or research proposal assessable by an independent referee (not the proposed referee of the applicant)
• continuity of study in the chosen field, or other area of relevance to the proposed research program
  demonstrated high level professional or other expertise

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Admission to Doctor of Philosophy in Visual Arts

Examination Guidelines For A Doctor Of Philosophy Within Visual Arts
(that has both a written component and an exhibition of studio work)

1. General:

A candidate who is admitted as a candidate for a PhD in visual arts has the option of presenting a thesis in the form of an exhibition and (smaller) written thesis, rather than in the form of a written thesis only. (The thesis may be presented in written form only.) If a PhD candidate chooses the thesis/exhibition form, these guidelines will apply.

The exhibition and written thesis together will constitute the material for examination. As such, they will be evaluated for their scholarly nature and contribution to knowledge to the same standard as any other PhD thesis. It is envisaged that the written component will be of the order of 50,000 words.

It is required that the student, the supervisor(s) and the Head of School/Postgraduate Coordinator agree that this is to be the form of examination in the first year of candidature.

2. Appointment of Examiners

Because all examiners must attend the exhibition, HDC(R) will not normally require the appointment of an overseas examiner.

3. The Thesis:

3.1 Written thesis components

Assessment for the award of a PhD shall include a written thesis presented in a format appropriate for a PhD in this discipline. (Refer Regulation 21.12, Section 16 and Appendix A, Guidelines for Examiners for a PhD in the LTU Handbook for Candidates and Supervisors for Masters by Research and Doctoral Degrees.) The thesis should define the purpose and theoretical basis of the project work, and the factors taken into account in its conception, development and resolution.

Four copies of the written thesis should be provided to RGSO at least 4 weeks prior to the planned opening date for the exhibition, to allow them to be sent to examiners before they visit the exhibition.

3.2 Exhibition component

1. Projects such as works of art, design, photography, installation or architectural models resulting from creative investigations shall be presented in a professional accredited gallery or other appropriate venue approved by the Professor of Discipline or Head of Visual Arts. Approval for the exhibition shall be sought no less than three months beforehand, as part of the usual Notice of Intention to Submit a Thesis.

   As bookings for a professional gallery have to be made perhaps a year or more before the planned submission date, a backup arrangement for a gallery should also be made. In the event that the written thesis is not ready by the date booked for the exhibition in the professional gallery, a second exhibition may be required for examination at the time the written thesis is finished.

2. The assessable components shall include:
1. the project(s) to be assessed
2. a catalogue of the presented assessable work, which shall be available to examiners as they enter the exhibition. Four copies shall also be provided to RGSO as soon as it is available.
3. Four copies of a durable visual record of the presentation to a professional standard, in a form as approved by the University HDC(R) from time to time must also be provided to RGSO within one week of the opening of the exhibition, and will be made available by RGSO to the examiners as an additional resource. Copies of the visual record will be retained permanently together with the final written thesis in the library and the archives.

Currently, approved forms for the durable visual record include: 35 mm slides and photographic prints. If a candidate wishes to submit the visual record in another form it must be endorsed by the Chair HDC(R) prior to submission and the exhibition.

4. The Examination

1. The three examiners shall attend the exhibition independently and follow the usual practice of not communicating with each other or with supervisors or the candidate or other academic staff during the examination of the exhibition and the written thesis. Each examiner shall receive a copy of the visual durable record as noted in 3.2(c) above, and a copy of the catalogue of the exhibition as noted in 3.2(b)ii above. Any other supporting written documentation will be sent to examiners with the thesis.
2. Following the exhibition, the examiners will complete their individual examination, including the written thesis, the exhibition, the catalogue and any other supporting documentation, and prepare their reports following the usual requirements of the HDC(R). (Refer Appendix A, Guidelines for Examiners,in the LTU Handbook for Candidates and Supervisors for Masters by Research and Doctoral Degrees.)
3. The examiners shall be guided in their examination of both the written and exhibition components of the thesis by the normal University requirements for the award of a Doctor of Philosophy and evaluate it according to the normal criteria which apply in relation to the scholarly nature of the work, its originality, and its contribution to knowledge. (Refer Appendix A, Guidelines for Examiners, in the LTU Handbook for Candidates and Supervisors for Masters by Research and Doctoral Degrees.)
4. If the written thesis and visual presentation are accepted for the award of the degree, the candidate shall make two hard bound copies of the thesis, two sets of the visual presentation in the form of the durable record provided to examiners, and two copies of the catalogue and any other supporting documentation, and provide these to RGSO for depositing in the University library.
5. In all other respects, the examination shall take place according to the University's Regulation 21.12, which governs the examination of a PhD.