Two very important steps to take before applying for a research degree with the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Step 1: Contact the School?s Research Coordinator
Before you make a formal application through Student Administrative Services for entry to our postgraduate research program, you need to contact the hasspgresearch@adfa.edu.au
(You may have been attracted to research in the School by a particular member of the academic staff. By all means engage that academic in a discussion about your research plans, but ultimately you must approach the Research Coordinator for the process to move towards enrolment.)
The Research Coordinator (and the School?s Research Committee, advised by the research Coordinator), is required to make recommendations based on answers to the following questions:
- do you have the appropriate qualifications for entry into a UNSW research degree?
- do you have a project that could be used as the basis for a research degree?
- does the School have supervisors with the appropriate expertise to supervise your research?
To assist with determining this information you will therefore need to supply the Research Coordinator with the following materials:
- a curriculum vitae which clearly sets out your academic background and achievements. (Please do not send originals of your academic transcripts.)
- a 2,000 to 3,000 word proposal outlining your project. This proposal should cover at least the following issues: what you propose to research what your methods of research will be what your research will add to the existing literature what is the literature within which your research will be situated whether you intend your research to be a Masters or Doctoral project (you may be guided in this proposal by previous discussions with a member of the School?s academic staff)
- a suggestion about at least one member of the School whom you think would be an appropriate supervisor of your work
- a statement about whether you wish to study full-time or part-time
- if you are a student from a non-English speaking country, a statement about whether you believe you satisfy the University?s English-language proficiency standard (available here: http://www.international.unsw.edu.au/future/entry/entryenglish.html )
- a statement about whether you intend to reside in Canberra if your candidature is accepted. (If you live outside Canberra, and cannot attend the University on a regular basis, we will require you to reside in Canberra and work with your supervisor for between four and six weeks every full-time equivalent year of your candidature.)
The Research Coordinator will circulate these materials to the School?s Research Committee, which will make a recommendation to the Head of School about your candidature, and inform you as soon as practicable.
It is only after you have received the School?s approval that you should begin to make a formal application to UNSW@ADFA for entry as a research student.
(Please note that applications for entry as a research student made directly to Student Administrative Services will be forwarded to the School?s Research Coordinator, who will contact the applicant to ask for the materials outlined above. Processing your request will thereby be delayed.)
Step 2: Contact Student Administrative Services
Once the School has accepted your proposal, and satisfied itself that you meet the eligibility requirements, you should begin the formal process of enrolment. This process is handled by the UNSW@ADFA Student Administrative Services centre, and is described on its website, at http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/student/future/research.html