About Higher Degrees

Curtin University of Technology, through the Faculty of Humanities, offers a variety of Doctoral and Masters research degrees, supported and supervised by experienced academic researchers across the diverse field of Humanities. These programs are referred to as Higher Degrees by Research (HDRs). Past graduates report that although a significant investment of time and effort is required, completing a HDR is one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their career, often positioning them at the forefront of their chosen discipline.

To qualify as a research degree, at least two-thirds of the required work for the award must be research. The award of a Masters (by Research) or a PhD indicates that a student has contributed substantially to the knowledge or understanding in a field, and is capable of carrying out independent research.

What are my options for Postgraduate Study?

Prospective students should be aware that there are two main types of postgraduate degree: coursework and research. Many postgraduate degrees incorporate elements of both coursework and research, but degree programs generally emphasise one aspect more strongly than the other:

• Postgraduate coursework degrees
  Coursework degrees are similar in structure to undergraduate degrees; students enrol into individual coursework units that are each worth a particular number of credit points, and a certain number of completed credit points are required to fulfil the requirements of the degree. Coursework degrees may involve research, however at least two thirds of the course must be made up of coursework units equalling a particular credit point value.

Postgraduate research degrees
Higher Degrees by Research (HDRs) are awarded to students who complete a thesis, or a combination of a thesis and coursework units, or an exegesis plus creative research and coursework units. Research must comprise at least two thirds of the degree program.

The Humanities Graduate Studies web site was created with prospective Higher Degree by Research applicants in mind. If you are interested in postgraduate coursework degrees, you should visit the Curtin Postgraduate Study site.