Research Degrees
The Media Department offers supervision at both the Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy levels.
Postgraduate research in the Media Department is highly valued for its contribution both to local and international academic scholarship and to the Media Department's teaching program.
Research orientations reflect the Department's integrated approach to media theory and production and theses can be presented in a variety of formats and media. A research thesis may be 100% written or may include a creative component. Where there is a creative component, this could include digital video, audio, multimedia or media arts programs, media writing and scripts or non-fiction writing. for theses including creative components, a written critical analysis of at least 25,000 words (M. Phil.) or 50,000 words (Ph.D.) is also required.
Supervision
Supervision by qualfied staff is offered for research in the following areas:
- Media Theory
- Film Music/Sound Theory
- Film Theory
- New Media
- Industry & Policy
- Theories of Writing
- Documentary History & Theory
- Creative Non-Fiction for Print
- Screen Production
- Screenwriting [Features and Documentary]
- Multimedia Production
- Radio/Audio Production
- Media Arts
Degree by Combined Thesis and Production
These are offered in the following areas:
- Screenwriting [Features or Documentary]
- Documentary Production
- Multimedia
- Writing for Print (creative non-fiction (including essays, memoir, travel, etc), fiction, ficto-critical)
- Radio/Audio /Sonic
The theoretical component needs to be of a standard that could be published in relevant academic journals. The creative work needs to be of a standard able to be published or produced.
We expect candidates to be interested in innovation and ‘best practices’ in their relevant industries and art forms.
Exegesis v. Creative Component
The theoretical work is not simply your account of ‘how I wrote my novel’ or ‘how I made my film’. It must contribute to existing knowledge and research traditions in the appropriate area.
The two parts - creative and theoretical - taken together should be coherent and integrated. There needs to be a sense of an intellectual project that underlies both elements of the thesis.
The word count/length/scope of the creative element should be approximately 50% of the whole degree.
- M. Phil. - 20-25,000 words.
- Ph.D. - 40-50,000 words.