Research Higher Degrees
The School prepares candidates for research higher degrees in a range of fields, including: Performance, Composition, Musicology, Music Therapy and Music Education. Depending on the field, the School accepts candidates at the levels of Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). These degrees are taught within the School of Music, but are awarded by the UQ Graduate School. Both the School of Music and the Graduate School share responsibility for administering these degrees.
The School of Music currently has around 50 postgraduate students active in all fields of research, all of whom contribute to the intellectual life of the School, not only through their research, but through seminar presentations, tutoring, publication, conferences and representation on committees. Enquiries about research higher degrees can be directed to the School's administrative office [musicrhd@uq.edu.au].
Contents of this page
Entry Procedures and Requirements
Entry Procedures and Requirements
Entry Procedures and Requirements
Applications for Research Higher Degree programs can be made at anytime. The standard level required for admission to the degree is a Bachelor of Music with at least Class IIB Honours for MPhil, and Class IIA for PhD. Candidates with an equivalent level of qualifications and/or experience may also be considered, provided that they can satisfy both the Head of School and the Dean, UQ Graduate School, that they have the required knowledge and skills to complete the degree within the funded period. The opportunity also exists for meritorious candidates for the MPhil (excepting those in the field of Performance) to apply for transfer to PhD candidature.
Applicants for the MPhil or PhD in the field of Performance who are not graduates of the School of Music will need to audition. For more information, and to arrange an audition date, please contact the School's administrative office [musicrhd@uq.edu.au] or the School Manager.
Applicants for either the MPhil or PhD programs should first contact the School Postgraduate Administrative Officer [musicrhd@uq.edu.au] who will put them in touch with relevant staff so that they may work out an initial proposal for a program of research. After this, applicants may download the Application for Admission and Enrolment and Proposal for a Research Project forms from the Forms Onlinesection of the UQ Graduate School Website, complete these in consultation with staff, and submit them to the School Postgraduate Administrative Officer [musicrhd@uq.edu.au].
For more information, including general University-wide policies and procedures on admission, and information for International applicants see the UQ Graduate School's page on Admission.
Research Scholarships
Domestic PhD and MPhil applicants with Class I Honours who are intending to study full-time in the School of Music are encouraged to apply for an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) or University of Queensland Postgraduate Research Scholarship (UQPRS). Application for scholarship is included in the Application for Admission form.
Domestic PhD and MPhil applicants with Class I Honours who are intending to study full-time in the School of Music are encouraged to apply for an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) or University of Queensland Postgraduate Research Scholarship (UQPRS). Application for scholarship is included in the Application for Admission form.
Scholarships for International Students are also available, although these are extremely competitive. For comprehensive information on these and other scholarships, see Research Scholarships at UQ on the UQ Graduate School website.
Managing Research Candidature
Candidates for research higher degrees in The University of Queensland are expected to take responsibility for their own candidature, and are required to be aware of their various rights and responsibilities, including reporting obligations. Detailed information is provided on the Graduate School Website, and in the Handbook of University Policies and Procedures, especially the section on Research and Postgraduate Studies.
This page summarises the main issues relating to candidature, but is not exhaustive; it also sets out specific School-based rules regarding Research Higher Degree candidature. MPhil candidates in the field of Performance are advised to note the Special Rules for Candidates in Performance (MPhil).
Obligations, Rights and Responsibilities
Students should consult both the Standard Terms and Conditions of Candidature and Candidature sections of the Graduate School Website for comprehensive information relating to conduct as a UQ research higher degree student.
Students should consult both the Standard Terms and Conditions of Candidature and Candidature sections of the Graduate School Website for comprehensive information relating to conduct as a UQ research higher degree student.
In summary, these rules set out the conditions concerning contact with the University, requirements of advisors or postgraduate coordinators, the provision of regular progress reports, the payment of all student charges, as well the expectations regarding the length of candidature and acceptable rates of progress. Remember that if your research involves you interacting with people as the subjects of research in some way, ethical clearance is required (see Ethics, below).
Students are entitled to expect a high level of professionalism in their dealings with the University and its Staff. See the Postgraduate Research Student Charter [http://www.uq.edu.au/hupp/index.html?policy=4.60.2] for information on your rights and responsibilities as a research higher degree candidate at UQ.
Email and Enrolment Maintenance
The primary mode of communication between you and sections of the University (including the School of Music) is e-mail. Students are issued with a student e-mail account when they are enrolled and are required to check this account regularly. Please note: the University will not send communications to you via any e-mail account other than your official student e-mail account. It is essential, therefore, that you check this account regularly.
The primary mode of communication between you and sections of the University (including the School of Music) is e-mail. Students are issued with a student e-mail account when they are enrolled and are required to check this account regularly. Please note: the University will not send communications to you via any e-mail account other than your official student e-mail account. It is essential, therefore, that you check this account regularly.
(It is possible, for a small annual fee, to have UQ Connect redirect [https://www.uq.edu.au/secure/uqconnect/site/factsheets.html?faqdir=01_Account_Information&faqcont=mailforward.fct] your student email to an account you are more accustomed to checking.)
You are also required to log into mySI-net at the commencement of your candidature and at least once a semester thereafter, and to attend to any enrolment, financial or reporting requirements as they might occur. Please note that the mandatory, annual Progress Report (see below) is distributed through mySI-net in May of each year.
Contact with Advisors
Students take the burden of responsibility for maintaining contact with their advisors, according to mutually agreed arrangements. While advisors do take responsibility for mentoring students and providing appropriate, sufficient and constructive feedback on work, they are not responsible for maintaining a schedule of contact, nor are they required to prompt students to see them or submit work. Advisors are required to give serious attention to work submitted by students for feedback, and students are reciprocally responsible in terms of: (1) providing adequate time for proper consideration of their work, and (2) taking positive action in regard to feedback provided.
Students take the burden of responsibility for maintaining contact with their advisors, according to mutually agreed arrangements. While advisors do take responsibility for mentoring students and providing appropriate, sufficient and constructive feedback on work, they are not responsible for maintaining a schedule of contact, nor are they required to prompt students to see them or submit work. Advisors are required to give serious attention to work submitted by students for feedback, and students are reciprocally responsible in terms of: (1) providing adequate time for proper consideration of their work, and (2) taking positive action in regard to feedback provided.
School Milestones policy – Music Performance
School Milestones policy – Composition
School Milestones policy – Music Education, Musicology, Music Therapy
School Milestones policy – Composition
School Milestones policy – Music Education, Musicology, Music Therapy
Students who hold scholarships are obliged to make themselves aware of and adhere to all conditions of their particular scholarship, including those pertaining to enrolment status, absence, limits on hours of paid work, and so on. For the most commonly held scholarships, the conditions are set out under UQ Research Scholarships General Conditions on the Graduate School Website.
The School runs a series of Research Higher Degree seminars for its research higher degree students. These are comprised of:
- an Induction Seminar, usually held at the commencement of semester one
- Milestone Seminars (the forum for the oral-presentation component of the School's Confirmation of Candidature process)
- Free Seminars, presented by invited speakers (either external or internal to the School of Music)
The School considers these seminars to be a vital part of its postgraduate activities.
Provisional research higher degree students in their first year are required to attend ALL seminars. They are required to present the oral part of their confirmation requirement at one of the Confirmation Seminars. Those not meeting these requirements will not be confirmed in their degree.
Students who are confirmed in their degree should attend the RHD seminars as scheduled. All staff, undergraduate students and members of the public are welcome to attend both the Confirmation and Free Seminars.
Any research project undertaken at The University of Queensland that uses human subjects (e.g. as interviewee's, questionnaire respondents, subjects in an experiment or clinical trial, etc.) require appropriate ethical clearance. The School maintains its own Ethical Review Panel, which is able to review submissions in which the level of risk to the subjects involved is deemed minimal. For work involving greater levels of risk, including those with particularly sensitive cultural issues, applications to the Behavioural & Social Sciences Ethical Review Committee (BSSERC) is required. The School adopts The University of Queensland Guideliness for Ethical Review of Research Involving Humans [http://www.uq.edu.au/research/rid/human-guidelines], and uses the same application form as the BSSERC. Students who need to obtain ethical clearance must consult with their principal advisor in the process of making application. If they are applying for School-based review, they should submit the completed paperwork (an original plus 2 copies) to the Ethics Administrator, School of Music Office. For further enquiries, please contact the School’s Ethics Coordinator, Dr Samantha Owens [s.owens@uq.edu.au]
Special Rules for Candidates in Performance (MPhil)
For MPhil candidates in the field of Performance, there are additional School-specific rules which they must follow in addition to the standard conditions for all MPhil candidates.
For MPhil candidates in the field of Performance, there are additional School-specific rules which they must follow in addition to the standard conditions for all MPhil candidates.
These are as follows:
- Final programs for both recitals are to be submitted to the Head of School for approval not less then three months prior to the scheduled date of the performance. Programs should be between 60 to 90 minutes in duration and must be accurately timed.
- Program notes for each recital are to be written by the candidate and submitted to the Head of School for approval not less than one month prior to the scheduled date of the performance. The final version is to be given to the School's Concert Officer [concerts@uq.edu.au] in MS Word format on disk or as an e-mail attachment not later than two weeks prior to the concert, whereupon the School takes responsibility for production of the program.
- A first complete draft of the critical commentary must be submitted to the candidate's academic advisor within twelve months (FTE) of the commencement of his or her candidature. Lessons with the candidate's practical advisor in preparation for the final recital will be withheld until this requirement is met.
- A final draft of the critical commentary is to be presented to the candidate's academic advisor no later than eighteen months (FTE) after the commencement of candidature. Permission to present the final recital will be withheld until this requirement is met.
- The maximum number of lessons provided for by the School in preparation for each recital is twenty (20).
The Midterm Review milestone is normally undertaken within nine to 15 months of full-time candidature for MPhil students and 18-24 months for PhD students.
For PhD and MPhil candidates in musicology, music education and music therapy, this milestone comprises an oral presentation at one the School’s RHD seminars and a written submission. A conference presentation may be substituted for the seminar presentation. In this instance, candidates should seek the approval of their advisors beforehand.
PhD Performance candidates present a recorded public recital either on site at the University or at an external venue approved by the School’s Research Higher Degrees Committee.
For MPhil Performance candidates, the Midterm Review comprises the first public recital and a written draft of the Critical Commentary.
For PhD and MPhil candidates in musicology, music education and music therapy, and PhD candidates in Performance, the written submission should include drafts of thesis or critical commentary chapters (about 30% of the expected thesis length).
Composition candidates should provide an equivalent sample from their portfolio with a contextual statement and critical self-reflection. Candidates may submit peer-reviewed articles, published or accepted, of equivalent length in lieu of the written requirements for this milestone. In this instance, candidates should seek the approval of their advisors beforehand.
The Thesis Review is normally undertaken three months before the thesis or Critical Commentary is submitted for examination.
For PhD and MPhil candidates in musicology, music education and music therapy, this milestone comprises an oral presentation at one the School’s RHD seminars and a written submission. A conference presentation may be substituted for the seminar presentation. In this instance, candidates should seek the approval of their advisors beforehand.
PhD Performance candidates present a recorded public recital on site at the University.
For MPhil Performance candidates, the Thesis Review comprises the second public recital and a complete draft of the Critical Commentary including all front matter.
For PhD and MPhil candidates in musicology, music education and music therapy, and PhD candidates in Performance, the written submission should include all front matter and a number of chapters equivalent in length to at least half of the complete thesis or critical commentary.
Composition candidates should provide an equivalent sample from their critical commentaries with supporting works from their portfolios. Candidates may submit peer-reviewed articles, published or accepted, of equivalent length in lieu of the written requirements for this milestone. In this instance, candidates should seek the approval of their advisors beforehand.
Interviews between the candidate, advisory team and milestone committee are not normally required for the thesis review milestone but may be provided upon the request of the candidate, principal advisor or the postgraduate coordinator.
Theses and critical commentaries prepared within the School of Music must be presented to the highest editorial standards. Examiners expect theses and critical commentaries to demonstrate a high level of written English expression. This naturally includes the expectation that they be free of typographical, spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors. Candidates should also bear in mind that advisors are not proof readers. While advisors will comment on style and expression and correct errors where they see them, they do not assume responsibility for the final draft being completely error free. This responsibility lies with the author of the thesis/critical commentary (i.e. the candidate).
The acknowledgement of the contribution of others through thorough and consistent referencing and citation is integral to the nature of a thesis or critical commentary. Candidates include a signed statement (see below) to the effect that all ideas expressed in the text are their own unless otherwise acknowledged. The thesis or critical commentary must follow a consistent and well recognised style manual for referencing and citation. Generally, the School of Music adopts MLA style, except for theses prepared in the fields of Music Therapy and Music Education, which usually adopt APA style. While the School's own Style Sheet provides some guidelines for MLA style, students should consult either Joseph Gibaldi, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th ed. (New York: MLA, 2003), or American Psychological Association, Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th ed. (Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2001.). The UQ Library also maintains a quick reference for APA style.
Thesis Preparation - UQ Graduate School guidelines
Information on thesis preparation on the Graduate School Website.
Information on thesis preparation on the Graduate School Website.
Examination
Except for MPhil Performance candidates, all research higher degree candidates are examined solely on the submission of their thesis or composition folio/critical commentary. Candidates are required to notify the Graduate School approximately one month before they submit, by filling out a Notice of Submission [http://www.uq.edu.au/grad-school/downloads/theses/Notice_of_Submission.doc] form and sending it to the Graduate School, as well as to the Head of School or Postgraduate Co-ordinator and their Principal Advisor.
Except for MPhil Performance candidates, all research higher degree candidates are examined solely on the submission of their thesis or composition folio/critical commentary. Candidates are required to notify the Graduate School approximately one month before they submit, by filling out a Notice of Submission [http://www.uq.edu.au/grad-school/downloads/theses/Notice_of_Submission.doc] form and sending it to the Graduate School, as well as to the Head of School or Postgraduate Co-ordinator and their Principal Advisor.
For more information about the examination process, refer to the page Thesis Examination [http://www.uq.edu.au/grad-school/index.html?page=26304] on the Graduate School Website.
Candidates for the MPhil in Performance are examined three times in total: for their two recitals and on their critical commentary. For the steps required prior to the submission of the critical commentary, see the information above.
In preparation for examination by recital, candidates are also required to adhere to the Special Rules for Candidates in Performance (MPhil).
Candidates also need to bear in mind that recitals are usually scheduled as public concerts in the School's annual series of Concerts. They are, therefore, not only examinations but quasi-professional engagements. Alterations to the schedule are both costly and difficult to manage. While the School recognises that events beyond a candidate's control may emerge at short notice, it will only alter the date scheduled for a recital under very exceptional circumstances. Any alteration, to the scheduling or to the advertised program, is subject to final approval by the Head of School.
| Research Higher Degrees section | |||
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Confirmation of Candidature |
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Music RHD Student Academic Portfolio.doc |
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PhD in Music Performance |
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School Facilities and Resources |
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