Studying for Higher Degree by Research (HDR) at the School of Philosophy and Theology

HIGHER DEGREE BY RESEARCH (HDR) The School of Philosophy and Theology Studying for Higher Degree by Research (HDR) at the School of Philosophy and Theology

The School of Philosophy and Theology, Research background a step further and provide an intelligent, in cooperation with the Research Office, informed, original and academically offers three kinds of HDR programs in MRes and PhD programs require not robust contribution to the development Philosophy and Theology: only some coursework background of the discipline in which your research in Philosophy and/or Theology, but is carried out. Thus, a PhD project is • Master of Philosophy (MPhil) also some research background. This not simply an extended, longer Masters • Master by Research (MRes) background can be an Honours thesis, project. It is a different kind of project • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) a substantial research component of altogether and due to the different a coursework degree (e.g. a capstone expectations with regard to the level of research-based project) or some its originality, a PhD thesis is going to Preliminary remarks publications in the area of interest. be structured and carried out somewhat Please note that marks which you • Eligibility – can I enrol into a differently to a Masters thesis. As the received from your Honours or your HDR program? regulations of the University stipulate: research-based capstone project will “The PhD research and the resulting If you wish to enrol into a HDR program be taken into account in the process of thesis are an independent supervised available at our School you must have making the decision about admission. a substantial degree of knowledge and systematic advanced level investigation In the MPhil program the research experience in the area of Philosophy into a significant question or related background would certainly also be very and/or Theology. If your academic questions, problems or useful, however it is not a necessary background is in another area you phenomena. The thesis must make an prerequisite for admission since the should consider enrolling into one original and substantial contribution to MPhil program includes four units of of our postgraduate coursework knowledge.” coursework which are designed to help programs in Philosophy and Theology. you to gain the most important research You can find the list and explanation skills in your area of interest. of these coursework programs here: www.notredame.edu.au/about/ The timeframes for the HDR schools/sydney/philosophy-and- Masters or Doctorate? programs are: theology/our-programs. The two Masters programs (MPhil and MPhil 1.5 years of full-time study The best contact persons for these MRes) require writing a thesis which is MRes 2 years of full-time study coursework degrees are shorter than a PhD thesis. A standard PhD 3 years of full-time study • Dr Dejan Šimković in Philosophy MPhil thesis in Philosophy and/or ([email protected]), and Theology is c. 45,000-55,000 words long and a standard MRes thesis is c. Please note that it is possible to enrol • Dr Kevin Wagner in Theology (kevin. 50,000-60,000 words long. A PhD thesis either in full-time or part-time mode. [email protected]). should normally be between 80,000 and For more information about this please 100,000 words long. All these figures contact the Research Office. Choosing the right program refer only to the body of the text and For some more general information about exclude footnotes and bibliography. the HDR degrees here: If you already have some academic, www.notredame. coursework background in the area in However, the length of the thesis is not edu.au/research/research-at-notre- which you want to pursue your research, the only difference between a Masters dame/postgraduate-research/ you need to think about which HDR thesis and a doctorate. The main postgraduate-information. program would be most suitable for you. difference concerns the level of the in- If you have doubts about which program There are two things which need to be depth analysis of the given issue and the would be most suitable for you, please taken into account here: your research originality of the scholarly contribution of contact the Associate Dean of Research background and the difference between your project. While the aim of MPhil and and Academic Development, the Masters programs and the Doctoral MRes theses is to synthesise the existing Dr Mariusz Biliniewicz program. knowledge in an original way, PhD ([email protected]). should do this too, but it should also go THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME AUSTRALIA NOTREDAME.EDU.AU/SYDNEY www. bibliography (what works have you you have works (what bibliography already consulted and are going to consult?) timeline (when are you going do to your project? what will be the most important milestones?) What happens when my is confirmed? candidature Onceyour candidacy is confirmed, all that is left do to is write your project! In the process of writing remember work to closely with your supervisors and to keep regular contact with them, keep to yourto deadlines and liaise to with the Research Office and the School should difficultyany arise. Should you have any questions about the process of admission HDR to degree at our School, please contact the Associate Dean of Research and DrMariusz Development, Academic mariusz.biliniewicz@ at Biliniewicz nd.edu.au, ph. 02 8204 4179 • • how about information More prepareto the official research proposal can be found here: notredame.edu.au/__data/assets/ pdf_file/0007/2005/GUIDELINE- Format-and-Presentation-of-a- Research-Proposal-for-Higher- Degrees-by-Research.pdf. researchYour proposal will need be to approved your by supervisor and then by the SRC. When this happens, it will be sent out for review two to readers, oneinternal and one external the to University. Once the reviews arrive, the SRC will examine School the whether determine and them can confirmyour candidacy. If it happens proposalthe that requires revisions,this willbe communicated you to and the SRC will explain you to what changes are required and how much time you have to implement them. proposal Oral As a part of the process of confirmation of candidature youwill need present to your research proposal orally our to community ofacademics and your fellow HDR students. This is usually organised Associateby Dean of Research when the proposal is ready. Normally both of your supervisors should be present at this presentation. If this is not possible then at least the principal supervisor should be present. Although the oral presentation can take placeeither before or after the written presentation is submitted, the School suggests that you present your proposal orally first. The reason for this is that usuallythe feedback received at the oral the strengthen to presentation helps official written proposal.

research question (what is it that you you that it is research (what question project?) this in doing are proposed including methodology, outline of chapters (how are you going do to it?) scope and limitations (what are you goinginvestigate to closely and what are you going leave to out, and why?) already has (what review literature been done in this area and where does your own work fit in this context? how will those sources be useful you? to which of them will be examined in detail and which will not, and why?) Confirmation of candidature – candidature of Confirmation oral and written proposal In the first stage yourof studyyou will need develop to an official research proposal which will be sent out for review and upon which the confirmation yourof candidature will depend. In the MRes and PhD programs this will need happen to in study you if study of months six first the full-time, or in the first twelve months if you study part-time. In the MPhil program one of your four units of coursework will be devoted helping to you with writing the proposal. Officialproposal written official,Your written proposal, which will your with cooperation in developed be supervisors, will need be to normally 5,000-6,000 words long and will need to include: • • • • Research Office for further details (www. sydney. notredame.edu.au/research; [email protected]). and to the program Admission plan of study comes official application your Once through and is accepted, you will be officially admittedto the program and will begin your study under the guidance of supervisors.your If you are enrolled in the MPhil program, you will needcomplete to fourunits of commencing the before coursework Supervised Dissertation partof your supervisorsstudy. Your and the Associate Dean of Research will help you choose to the most suitable courses for your project (for more information about the MPhil program and its structure, see www. notredame.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_ file/0024/32784/MPhil-Sydney.pdf). If you are enrolled in the MRes or PhD program, you will notbe required to complete any coursework and will enrol straight into the Supervised Dissertation part of your study. . Your academic CV. You will academic needYour You CV. academic experience, your state to contact provide also and credentials referees academic two of details who can confirmyour suitability for enrolling into a HDR program. Initialresearch proposal. will You need explain to what it is that you are planning do to in your project andhow youare planning doto it. This initial proposal should not be longer than words 1500 andshould partially a accompanied be by bibliography. annotated Supervisors. are expected You to make an initial contact with those academics who you think would be good supervisors for your project. Every project should have two supervisors, in some cases having three supervisors is also possible. At least one of your supervisors needs beto working at our School or be our academics our of list The adjunct. and their areas of specialisation can be found here: https://www. notredame.edu.au/about/schools/ sydney/philosophy-and-theology/ supervision-expertise. What happens next? Oncethe AssociateDean ofResearch receives your initial your CV, proposal and the details of your proposed supervisors, he will present the documents the to (SRC) Committee Research School and contact the proposed supervisors confirmto their readinessto supervise you in this project. If the SRC considers the project viable and suitable for our School, you will be encouraged to through official application your in put the Admissions Office https://www. notredame.edu.au/current-students/ your-enrolment/admin-and-fees/ sydney/admissions If you wish discuss to fees and contact the should scholarships, you If you have the necessary the have background you If in your research area, developed a specific research question and decided into which program you would like to enrol, you should get in touch with the School through the Associate Dean of Research and Academic Development. At this initial contact it will be explained you to thatin orderenrol to intoa HDR degree in our School you will be strongly encouraged organise to a few important things before you apply officially. These include: • • • First steps in the process of in the process First steps enrolment Useful contacts regarding HDR programs include: Dr Mariusz Biliniewicz, Associate Dean of Research and Academic Development [email protected]; ph. 02 8204 4179

Research Office ([email protected]; ph. 02 8204 4426) Admissions Office ([email protected]; ph. 02 8204 4430) Your prospective supervisors Dean of the School, if needed ([email protected]; 02 8204 4171)

School of Philosophy and Theology, Sydney University of Notre Dame Australia [email protected] 02 8204 4139 / 02 8204 4175

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