Doctor of Philosophy at Victoria University

Overview

Become an independent and highly sought-after researcher with a Doctoral Degree (PhD) in Creative Arts at Victoria University.

PhD in Creative Arts program

We offer an advanced research program for our doctoral degree in the arts, across our research focus areas.

Conduct original research in an area of interest to you and of broader significance to VU, industry and the community. This research will inform your creative work. You will be assisted by an experienced research supervisory team.

The PhD includes:

• producing a creative work informed by substantial research
• an accompanying analytical written component or exegesis (thesis by creative project)
• a component of required coursework, usually undertaken in the first year
• participation in both formal and informal learning opportunities.

Our learning opportunities enable you to develop your research skills and other generic and transferable skills.

You will also learn to be an effective communicator through the presentation and defence of your research in a wide variety of contexts such as:

• refereed academic outlets appropriate to your field (e.g. ranked journals, academic conferences, book chapters, monographs)
• public presentation to broader audiences.

Research areas in creative arts

Our PhD in Creative Arts will give you the opportunity to undertake advanced study in your chosen discipline, if you are a high-achieving graduate in:

• Arts
• Professional and Creative Writing
• Music
• Screen Media
• Creative Arts
• Marketing Communication.

You’ll undertake a significant research (thesis) and creative project with the guidance of an academic supervisor, as well as coursework subjects in one of our main research programs:

• creative writing (fiction, poetry, plays, memoir, autobiography, creative non-fiction)
• visual arts (video, performance, installation)
• journalism (print, online)
• media arts (film, television, radio and digital media)

Conducting your own research allows you to further explore an area of interest as well as contributing to your discipline.

Creative project

Our researchers in creative arts and writing combine skills and methodologies in creative arts research with more traditional humanities and social science research, including narrative and ethnographic research, and textual and archival research.

Our Creative Arts students have the opportunity and guidance to create major creative work, such as published novels, as part of their PhD.

Research opportunities & development

VU Research gives you opportunities to:

• connect with other researchers
• participate in research festivals and competitions
• develop your research skills
• get funding for your research
• publish and promote your findings.

We offer support for graduate researchers including:

• an orientation program
• a specialised Office for Researcher Training, Quality & Integrity
• study spaces
• units to help you conceptualise and contextualise your research
• research ambassadors and student association.

Careers

PhD graduates are prepared for a wide range of roles in government or the public service, community and non-government organisations and media.

Our graduates often go on to work in the following areas:

• academia
• journalism, writing or strategic communications
• arts administration and management
• government and policy work
• community sector professional roles
• creative arts.

Career options with this qualification vary greatly depending on discipline. Some example average annual salaries for potential jobs are:

• community arts worker: $62,556
• journalist/writer: $67,600 
• program/project administrator: $72,124 
• university lecturers, over $100,000