Admission requirements
Attendance
Course duration
Assessment
Supervision

Research degrees are undertaken wholly by thesis. The research degrees offered in the Institute for International Studies are especially valuable for those people wishing to pursue an academic career or a career in research.

The Master of Arts (by thesis) provides an opportunity for graduates to develop their research skills, to deepen their knowledge in some area of international study and to undertake some original research. The Master of Arts in China Studies (by thesis) provides an opportunity for graduates to develop their research skills, to deepen their knowledge in some area of China studies and to undertake original research. Graduates may choose to write their thesis in Chinese rather than English.

The Doctoral degrees provide an opportunity for graduates to acquire high-level research skills and to make a major contribution to knowledge. Entry to these degrees is on the basis of proven research achievements. The Doctor of Philosophy is for those graduates who wish to undertake advanced-level research through the exploration of ideas and issues in a thesis. The Doctor of Philosophy in China Studies is for those graduates who want to undertake advanced-level research through the exploration of ideas and issues in a thesis on some aspect of China studies and who choose to write their thesis in Chinese.

Admission requirements

Applications for research degree candidature are welcome from all graduates with an interest in cultural diversity and social, political, economic and cultural change in East Asia, South-East Asia, Latin America or Europe. Potential candidates are advised to consult the Institute for International Studies website to obtain information on the Institute's research areas and the expertise of academic staff at:

www.iis.uts.edu.au

Applicants should contact potential super-visors to discuss their proposed research project prior to submitting their application. Application forms are available from the University Graduate School or online at:

www.gradschool.uts.edu.au

The deadline for applications for all applicants wanting to commence the following March is the end of October. For mid-year intake, the deadline is the end of May.

Local applicants

Local applicants need to:

• complete the UTS Application for Admission form, available from the UTS Student Info & Admin Centre, or from the University Graduate School and website, and provide the supplementary information required by the Institute for International Studies
• make sure that they address the course selection criteria and supply all documents required, and
• lodge the completed course application form with the UTS Student Info & Admin Centre.

The deadline for course applications for those wanting to commence the following March is the end of October. For mid-year intake, the deadline is the end of May.

Overseas applicants

Overseas applicants need to:

• complete the International Student Application form
• address the course selection criteria and supply all documents required, and
• lodge the completed course application with the UTS International Office.

The UTS International Office website is:

www.uts.edu.au/international/index.html

Closing dates for international student applications are:

• Autumn semester – November 30
• Spring semester – May 31.

The application form and course information package are available from the UTS International Programs Office.

Supplementary information for PhD candidates

In addition to completing the University's application form, the Institute for International Studies requires PhD applicants to provide the following.

• Evidence of their ability to undertake advanced original research, appropriate to the proposed doctoral program. This may include previous research at Honours and/or Master's level, experience as a research team member, or professional practice involving systematic inquiry or advanced scholarship. Applicants should include a list of their published work, if appropriate.
• Project proposal: The proposal is to be 1,500–2,000 words and should include a statement of the problem, research question or area of investigation; discussion of the relevant literature; an outline of the methodological approach; and a justification of the importance of the research.

Applications without this information are not considered. Applicants may be interviewed in person or by telephone.

Scholarships

Local students

Scholarships are available for full-time students. All scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis. For further information, contact the Scholarships and Promotion Manager at the University Graduate School on (02) 9514 1521 or check the website for further information. There is no mid-year intake for scholarships.

Overseas students

A limited number of scholarships are available for overseas students. For further information on available scholarships, contact your nearest Australian Education Centre or Australian Embassy. Scholarship information is also available from the UTS International Programs Office.

Attendance

Students undertaking a PhD or MA are, in general, not required to attend classes. However, regular contact is maintained with the supervisor(s) throughout the candidate's enrolment.

Students undertaking the PhD in China Studies or the MA (by thesis) in China Studies may study in either Sydney or China. Candidates who are resident in China and who have difficulty travelling to Sydney can receive supervision in China through periodic visits by their supervisor, email contact and cooperation with a local university.

Course duration

The research programs can be undertaken on either a full-time or part-time basis. Master's degrees by thesis take a minimum of two semesters of full-time (three semesters, part-time) research and writing to complete. Doctorates take a minimum of four semesters of full-time (six semesters, part-time) research and writing to complete. Further information can be found in the UTS Calendar, Rule 3.4 for Master's degree by thesis students and Rule3.5 for Doctoral degree students.

Assessment

All research degrees are undertaken wholly by thesis. A Master of Arts thesis is normally a work of around 40,000 words. A Doctoral thesis is normally a work of 80,000–100,000 words. A Masters thesis is examined by two appropriate examiners, at least one of whom is external to UTS. A Doctoral thesis is examined by three appropriate examiners, at least two of whom are external to UTS.

Supervision

Each student is supervised by a supervisory panel, consisting of the principal supervisor and two other academics. A major criterion for the acceptance of applications for admission to these programs is the availability of appropriate supervisors. Further information can be found in the UTS: Calendar, Rule 3.5.6.3.

The Institute for International Studies has the capacity to supervise theses in the fields of cultural diversity and social, political, economic and cultural change in East Asia, South-East Asia, Latin America or Europe. Within these broad fields there are specific areas of supervision capacity which change slightly from time to time.