Postgraduate research students
New travel awards for higher degree by research students
Successfully applying for a national or international travel award will enable recipients to undertake more extensive research within Australia or overseas - more information and application forms (closing date in 2008 TBA)
This page provides information containing details specific to commencing and continuing HDR Students enrolled at the South Australian School of Art (SASA).
The following program information pertains to the programs Master of Visual Arts by Research (DMRV), Master of Design by Research (DMRT), PhD Visual Arts (DPAT), PhD Visual Arts (Major Studio Project) (DPRV)
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Postgraduate Research Handbook 2008 (PDF 566kb - download Adobe Acrobat)
Supervision
Students undertaking a research degree within the University of South Australia engage in an individual program of research under the principal supervision of a member of staff with appropriate expertise in the student’s area of study. Students also have an associate supervisor for the duration of the program. Supervision expertise at the South Australian School of Art is available in the following areas:
- 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
See Responsibilities, roles and relationships: Supervisors for more information.
Statement of Responsibilities for Associate Supervisors in the School of Art (Word doc 25kb)
Induction and Research Education Support Activities
Research degree students at the University of South Australia generally do not undertake set coursework, however, they are required to complete a 'structured program of induction' after initial commencement of candidature. Participation in the University-wide Induction Program is compulsory for all students commencing a higher degree by research.
- Induction Program for more information and resources
- Calendar of uni-wide on campus Research Education Support Activities
- Index of online workshops, courses and resources
The School also holds an induction where you will be introduced to the School's program of events and meet other commencing students and research staff. All research candidates are required to participate in seminars and studio critiques, determined through negotiation with individual supervisors and the School's Research Degree Coordinator
The School recognises that some students may not have had recent tertiary education and
holds workshops on research methodologies, thesis writing, relating artefacts to writing,
and development of peer networks to facilitate the research degree process. This
process is supported by the University's
Learning Connection group.
Proposal
Within six months full-time study (or twelve months of part-time study), all HDR Students must submit a comprehensive research proposal as part of the formal requirement for the completion of the degree. Failure to do so will terminate candidature. Once the process has been completed, the School will complete a Confirmation of Candidature so that the HDR Student will continue to be enrolled in the program.
While the Research Proposal will be loosely based on the Research Outline you prepared for your application to the degree, it should provide a more comprehensive guide to the literature, the method, and methodology, and the structure, and the timeframe of your research. The research proposal is used to asses whether your research is feasible, as well as whether your progress has been satisfactory. It is a major reference point in the Annual Review process.
More information on research proposal approval
Research proposal examples
Examples of previous SA School of Art research proposals (staff and student access only)
You can deposit your research proposal or its abstract in the eResearch Degree Candidate Proposal Collection (Library).
Searching the collection
The eResources Degree Candidate Proposal Collection can be searched
using the
Library Catalogue.
To search for a title list of submitted proposals
- Go to the Quick Search screen
- Do a Title Search for: research degree candidate proposal
To search for a subject list of submitted proposals
- Go to the Quick Search Screen
- Select eResearch Proposals from the Quick Limits drop down menu
- Search the catalogue using keywords or subjects for the research area you are interested in
Note: to access the full text of a proposal you will need to Login to the Library Catalogue using your University Username and Password.
Proposal expectations
Research goal and questions
The aim of evaluating the proposal is to assess whether the proposal will achieve the research goal nominated by the HDR Student. To this end, we need to ask the following questions:
- Is the research field/focus/topic/clearly identified?
Extrapolation of Field/Focus/Topic with specific application to studio-focused projects:
- Does the proposal adequately describe the aims and objectives of the project?
- Does the HDR Student make a sufficient case for establishing the significance of the project?
- Does the literature (and artefact) review demonstrate an appropriate understanding of the relevant field and focus? Does the review establish the contemporary context for the HDR Student's anticipated contribution to the field to be made through the research?
- Is the methodology appropriate to achieving the aims and objectives described in the proposal?
- Are the methods (including data collection) appropriate to the application of the particular methodology described?
- Does the timeline include specific reference to application of specific methods and the anticipated outcomes?
- As practising artists, what is our research field?
'Contemporary visual art practice (informed by cultural theory and criticism)'
- What is meant by a research focus?
An area of research within a given field, eg 'Manifestations of the sublime in contemporary painting and photography' or 'Theories of psychosis and their influence on contemporary painting'.
- What is meant by a topic?
This might be illustrated as follows: 'An examination through practice (supported by theoretical and critical analysis) of the historical influence of theories of the sublime upon contemporary approaches to landscape painting in Australia.'
- What is a question?
Illustration: 'The question is how to integrate into my art practice new insights arising from current debates about the influence on culture of globalisation.'
Submission and evaluation process
HDR Students must lodge an electronic copy of their proposal to Pippa Mathews at the SASA Research Office six months after they commence. Proposals will then be circulated to the SASA Research Proposal Panel for reading ahead of the Panel meeting.
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Deadline for final Draft Proposal submission: Monday 21 July 2008
- SASA Research Proposal Panel - Evaluation meeting: Friday 1 August 2008
Principal supervisors of students presenting proposals should be on hand to speak to those proposals. If the Principal is unavailable, it is their responsibility to contact the Associate Supervisor to request their attendance at the relevant meeting. Successful proposals will be endorsed by RDC and forwarded to EAS and UniSA Research Offices for re-enrolment and the student will be notified accordingly.
Thesis
HDR Students in the School of Art work predominantly in either of these areas:
- contemporary art/design history and theory, or
- studio practice
Writing the thesis
Thesis requirements for those undertaking history/theory research are conventional and in accordance with the university-wide expectations regarding word length. See Writing the thesis for more information.
Artefact thesis guidelines and requirements
Guidelines for Presentation of Artefact Theses
Thesis presentation, submission and examination
At least two months before a HDR Student is ready to submit, they should read the Guidelines for Submission and Examination of Theses at UniSA. The guide provides details on how to submit a finished thesis and how a HDR Student and Supervisor can manage the process of examination. See Thesis presentation, submission and examination for more information.
Studio critiques
Studio critiques are held on Friday mornings (9.30am-12pm) for Visual Art studio students. They are usually held in the student's studio or the exhibition space at Liverpool Street. All Studio students are urged to attend as this is an essential part of the feedback process. All other postgraduate students and supervisors are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Progress Review Symposiums
In addition to participation in studio critiques, all SASA HDR students are required at least once a year to present a paper at either the school's symposium or the Div EAS Postgraduate Research Forum. These are an opportunity to find out what peers are working on (supervisors also occasionally present on current research activities). Part time students present every 2nd year.
The paper's focus generally should be on giving an explication of an aspect of the HDR Student's research topic. It is not an opportunity to give an artist's talk - or for a detailed 'blow by blow' account of the HDR student's entire thesis. Presenting a seminar is excellent training for national and international conference presentations. For studio students it can be especially useful for presenting on aspects of methodology relevant to studio.
All SASA HDR students and supervisors are expected to attend symposium events and help contribute to the development of a dynamic School research culture. Seminar feedback indicates that attendance contributes to a sense of research community through sharing of advanced knowledge.
The SA School of Art Progress Review Symposium for 2008 will be held in the second half of the year. More details will be forwarded to you closer to the time.
The Div EAS Postgraduate Research Forum will be held on Saturday 9 August 2008. More details will be forwarded to you closer to the time.
Further information
For more detail about research at the South Australian School of Art see
Contacts
Dr John Barbour, Research Degree Coordinator at the School of
Art
Phone: +618 8302 0332
Email:
john.barbour@unisa.edu.au
Pippa Mathews, Research
and Postgraduate Administrative Officer
Phone: +618 8302 0426
Email:
pippa.mathews@unisa.edu.au