What you can study - research degrees

Example of Masters Students work: Linda Lou Murphy, Pleatpeice 2006 Within the School of Art, Architecture and Design, research degree students engage in an intensive individual program of research under the guidance of an experienced supervisor with research expertise in a specific area.

The School has an active visiting scholars and artists program, and a vibrant postgraduate student culture, fostered through ancillary programs, including a critical reading group, work-in-progress seminars, studio critiques and social functions, in which all candidates are encouraged to participate.

Study Art, Architecture or Design
What you need to consider
Fees and scholarships
How to apply (eligibility, scholarships, finding a supervisor)

Study Art, Architecture or Design

To do a research degree in Art, Architecture, Industrial Design, Interior Architecture or Visual Communication Design, you need to choose a research topic and find a supervisor.

Program name	Program code	CRICOS code	Program length
Master of Visual Arts	MMRD	024083E	2 years
Master of Architecture	MMRD	013177A	2 years
Master of Design	MMRD	013571B	2 years
Doctor of Philosophy (Visual Arts)	MPHD	036284G	4 years
Doctor of Philosophy (Architecture)	MPHD	015041B	4 years
Doctor of Philosophy (Design)	MPHD	070417F	4 years

Masters by Research (MMRD)

Discipline areas include Architecture, Design and Visual Arts.

Doctor of Philosophy (MPHD)

Discipline areas include Architecture, Design, Design by Major Studio Project, Industrial Design, Interior Architecture, Visual Arts, Visual Arts by Major Studio Project and Visual Communication.

Academic requirements for research degrees

Research expertise

Sunny Wang, 2 Self, 2006 Supervision is available for projects in all specialisation areas, as well as in contemporary art and design history, and theory and criticism. The main areas in which academic staff could supervise a research project leading to a Masters or PhD are:

Postmodernism, critical theory and post colonial studies
Art history, European, trans-Atlantic and Australian modernist and post modernist art history
Contemporary studio practice, including sculpture, painting, printmaking, ceramics, glass, textiles, photography, drawing, digital media
Contemporary art theory - Asia-Pacific region
Contemporary craft history and theory
Feminist studies in visual art
History and theory of design, material culture and design
History and theory of architecture (19th and 20th centuries)
Australian architectural, urban design and planning history
Conservation and management of heritage places
Cross-cultural design and garden history
Post-structuralist philosophy and architecture
Aesthetics and meaning in industrial design
Sustainable architecture and design, practice and theory
Language-based writing about design
Spatial relations, bodies and movement
Contemporary Australian visual arts and curatorial practice.

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What you need to consider

Before applying for entry to a research degree, as a prospective research student you should consider:

Are you eligible to do a research degree?

Degrees by research are offered each year by the School of Art, Architecture and Design to a limited number of suitably qualified applicants on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants for research degrees are expected to hold a good honours degree or equivalent in a visual art or design-related discipline.
International applicants need an IELTS score of IELTS 6.5 (academic) or equivalent

Suitable candidates will be looking to enhance and improve their creative and conceptual skills through investigation of a specific research topic. Before applying for a research degree, you should identify:

a suitable research topic (areas of expertise are listed below under each discipline below)
a potential supervisor from amongst the staff in the School qualified to supervise your topic.

The School advises you to contact a Portfolio Leader well in advance of submitting your application.

See How to apply for more details.

Do you have a suitable research project?

The intended focus or area of your research project should be something you know enough about to determine whether it is really a viable, 'researchable' topic. See Defining your research topic (PDF file 274kb, download Adobe Acrobat) for more information.

Successful applications usually outline a well-defined research problem or area of focus linked to a body of literature that discusses some of the issues relevant to the proposed topic. If you are uncertain of your proposed topic, try to define what you want to do or find out.

Is a research degree supervisor available?

A research degree supervisor in the School of Art, Architecture and Design or elsewhere in the University of South Australia with an interest in your area must be available and willing to supervise the proposed project over the two or three years required to complete it.

Principal Supervisors must be on the University's Register of Postgraduate Research Degree Supervisors. See the list of research degree supervisors within the School or search the Directory of Research Expertise

Can you submit a portfolio?

All applicants to a research degree within the School of Art, Architecture and Design must submit a portfolio that includes:

up to 15 images of original recent work
Statement of academic qualifications
Resume or curriculum vitae

See Portfolio submission for more information.

Cannot meet these criteria?

If you cannot meet the above criteria, you may be eligible to do a postgraduate coursework degree - for more information go to the relevant discipline (Art, Architecture, Industrial Design, Interior Architecture, Visual Communication Design and Sustainable Design).