ANU School of Art - Graduate Prospectus

Requirements and Guidelines for Preparing an Application to Visual Arts Postgraduate Courses

Requests for Application forms and submission of Admission Applications and Proposals should be addressed to:
University Admissions
The Australian National University
Canberra ACT 0200
Telephone +61 2 53046/5594
Email address for Australian and New Zealand students is: admiss.enq@anu.edu.au
Email address for International students is: graduate.int@anu.edu.au

Comprehensive information for postgraduate applicants is at: http://www.anu.edu.au/graduate/prospective/research.php
For Domestic students Tuition Fees information go to: http://www.anu.edu.au/sas/fees/tuition_fees_postgraduate/index.php#coursework
Application forms may be downloaded from: http://www.anu.edu.au/sas/forms/
For specific Visual Arts postgraduate application guidelines go to: http://www.anu.edu.au/ITA/CSA/grad.prospectus/ApplicationGuidelines.html
For options within the PhD course structure go to: http://www.anu.edu.au/ITA/CSA/PhD/PhD_CourseStructure.html
For current students, all relevant forms are to be found at:
http://arts.anu.edu.au/student_information/postgraduate/forms.asp

For specific inquiries and requirements concerning the Visual Arts Graduate Program please contact:
Nigel Lendon
Convenor, Visual Arts Graduate Program
Telephone +61 2 6125 5806
Facsimile +61 2 6125 5723
Email Nigel.Lendon@anu.edu.au
URL: www.anu.edu.au/arts

Admission to the Visual Arts Graduate program courses of study is based on the Admissions Panel's approval of an applicant's research proposal. As well as providing the details requested on the relevant Application Form (Couresework or Research, Local or International students – see url below), an application should provide the following:
(a) an outline of the Research Proposal, which addresses the guidelines below
(b) up to 24 quality colour slides of recent work in a transparent slide envelope. Each item must be clearly marked with name, date, title, medium, and size of the work. Where appropriate applicants may also submit material in other media (CDs, videos, etc.).
(c) a curriculum vitae
(d) (For the PhD) evidence of the applicant's capacity to satisfactorily complete written research material (in the English language) to confirm the applicant's capacity to undertake the Dissertation component of the degree.

Preliminary assessment and shortlisting of applicants is made by relevant academic staff. Selected applicants may be invited for interview by the Admissions Panel and further discussion of the study proposal. Applicants who are unable to attend an interview may be required to provide additional material and/or interviewed by telephone.

Applicants must satisfy the Admissions Panel that they have the educational preparation and capacity to pursue study at the relevant graduate level. In addition, applicants must satisfy the Panel that they have a clear understanding of the amount and level of work involved, and that they are able to devote the time and effort to the proposed research program.

For Research Degrees the Panel will also require evidence of the applicant’s capacity to satisfactorily complete written research material to confirm the applicant’s capacity to undertake the theoretical components of the degree.

Prospective applicants are invited to consult with the Heads of relevant Workshops and the Graduate Program Convenor prior to lodgement of an application. The Admissions Panel may consult with short-listed applicants in regard to the refinement of the applicant’s Research Proposal. Consideration of a Research Proposal may involve consultation and advice at interview from the Graduate Program Convenor or members of the Admissions Panel, and subsequent amendment and re-submission.

Guidelines for Preparation of Applications for Graduate Studies

Applications for the awards of the Visual Arts Graduate Program at the ANU School of Art are assessed in terms of the applicant's prior achievement, the merit of the Research Proposal, and the availability of appropriate human and material resources. The following general advice may assist in the preparation of a proposal.

The research proposal prepared by the candidate should be a clear and concise outline of the objectives of the proposal and the means by which the goals will be achieved. The Admissions Panel looks for research proposals which demonstrate that with the advice of the Supervisors, the applicant has the capacity to translate the ideas into an appropriate Study Program, with potential outcomes appropriate to graduate level study.

The proposal should also demonstrate that the applicant recognises the benefit of the academic context of critical feedback, advice and assistance. This may mean that consideration of a Study Proposal may involve consultation and advice at interview from the Graduate Program Convenor or members of the Admissions Panel, and subsequent amendment and re-submission. Where the proposal is for an award which comprises more than one component (Studio Practice and Sub-thesis or Dissertation - as for the Master of Philosophy or the PhD), separate proposals are required for each component. In preparing the Study Proposal(s), applicants are advised to use the headings below, and to make sure that they have addressed the questions raised under each heading.

• What are the general aims of the research program proposed? Please outline the topic of your proposed study, the nature of your project and its anticipated outcomes.

• How does the proposal relate to your prior practice and experience?

• For the MPhil or PhD, what is the relevance of the Sub-thesis or Dissertation to the Studio Practice component?

• What is distinctive about your approach to your topic?

• What methods and/or processes and materials do you intend to use?

• What expertise will be developed, and what specific resources will be needed?or the MPhil or PhD, what is the relevance of the Sub-thesis or Dissertation to the Studio Practice component?

• What is the wider context for the proposed study program? Please indicate how you see your proposed work in the wider context of practice in your field by referring to specific examples of precedents, traditions, and other relevant visual practices.

• For theoretical components, indicate the specific thematic focus of your proposed study, and the historical period of the study, and its relevant cultural context(s)

• Indicate what reference material has been relevant to the development of your research proposal (e.g. provide a bibliography, etc.)ub-thesis or Dissertation to the Studio Practice component?

• In addition to the slides requested, you may provide other photographs, diagrams, drawings or other related visual material to substantiate the proposal

If the proposal is for the Master of Philosophy you should indicate the relative proportion of the theoretical component (20% or 33%). For the PhD the Dissertation comprises 33% of the thesis.

In addition to completing the requirements for an ANU “Postgraduate Research Course and/or Scholarship Application” (available from University Admissions and online) applicants for Research Degrees are required to present a research proposal as outlined above. Prospective applicants are strongly advised to consult with respect to their research proposal through the Convenor of the Visual Arts Graduate Program.

In addition to completing the requirements for an ANU “Postgraduate Coursework Application” (available from University Admissions and online) applicants for Admission is on the recommendation of an Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee may require applicants to attend an interview.

Admission to the Coursework Diplomas and Degrees follows the existing procedures for other graduate awards. However rather than requiring a detailed study proposal as the basis for a studio research course, the application procedure for coursework degrees and diplomas requires the applicant to provide a more general statement of the reasons for wishing to enter the course of study, together with an indication of their preferred study disciplines. The final structure of an individual study program is subject to approval by the relevant Heads of Workshop as recommended by the Admissions Committee.

International students who are applying for graduate study must follow the same requirements as for students resident in Australia (please refer to the relevant requirements and guidelines outlined above). Where consultation and interview is not possible, the Admissions Panel may require additional material or information about the proposal.

Local and International students application forms are available at:

http://www.anu.edu.au/sas/forms/