University of Sydney Handbooks - 2019 Archive

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Master of Fine Arts

Coursework structure and requirements

The course is normally undertaken full-time over four semesters with examination in the final semester. Full-time candidates are expected to devote the equivalent of a 35-hour week to their research.

At the beginning of your course you are required to nominate one of the following methods of candidature:

  • creative work and research paper, culminating in a substantial exhibition, performance or installation of works in a joint show of candidates at the end of candidature, together with a research paper of 10,000–12,000 words and oral presentation, or
  • thesis of 35,000–50,000 words in the field of art theory, art history, cultural studies or professional studies in visual art.

You must confirm the method of your candidature at your first Progress Review, which will take place towards the end of your first year.

MFA Seminar Program

At the commencement of candidature, all first year MFA candidates attend an introductory seminar program, which aims to support the proposed research project through extending research and critical skills. You will make presentations on your project and engage in peer group discussion on written and visual aspects of your work and learn how to shape your research proposal and select appropriate research methods to achieve your project goals. Seminars are held weekly and you must attend no less than 90% of each seminar program. Students with non-satisfactory attendance will have to repeat the required seminars unless there is an evidence of extenuating circumstances or approval from the HDR Coordinator.

At the start of the second year of candidature MFA candidates attend a weekly seminar program dedicated to contemporary exhibition practices and critical writing. The program is integrated with the Graduate School Gallery curatorial program. Candidates must attend 90% of the program unless there is an evidence of extenuating circumstances or approval from the HDR Coordinator.

Studio Crits

In the second and fourth semesters of candidature (or equivalent), MFA candidates attend studio crits, usually scheduled in six-week blocks, and overseen by a member of SCA's academic staff. These crits are designed to encourage dialogue between candidates and develop each candidate's practice and presentation skills.

Seminar and Studio Crit Units of Study

All Master of Fine Arts seminars and studio crits are structured as the following units of study:

  • Introduction to Research Methodology (CART7001)
  • Exhibition Practices (CART7002)
  • Critical Analysis in Studio (CART7003 + CART7004)

Graduate School Forum

While not compulsory, MFA candidates are welcome to attend the Graduate School Forum.

Upgrade requirements

MFA candidates may seek permission to transfer to the Doctor of Philosophy at the end of their first year of study, provided that they have the support of their supervisor. Each candidate wishing to upgrade will make a presentation on the current state of their research alongside the first-year PhD cohort during PhD probation reviews to demonstrate successful completion of work to a standard commensurate with the requirements of the PhD. These upgrading candidates will also need to demonstrate that they have met the first-year PhD milestones.

Examination

Submission for Examination

At the end of your final year, you must submit for examination:

  • a substantial exhibition, performance or installation of artwork with supporting visual material of work completed during candidature; a presentation addressing the structure and mode of exhibition and developmental process; and a research paper of 10,000 -12,000 words relevant to the work and its development, its cultural and historical or theoretical references; or
  • a thesis of 35,000-50,000 words which is the result of original investigation in the fields of art theory, art history, cultural studies or professional studies in visual arts.

You must present your written work in English and identify those components of assessable work which are respectively the your own and that of others.

The research paper should achieve, via its own internal consistency and nominated methodology, the following objectives:

  • Be a coherent document which illustrates your concerns as a creative work practitioner through words and images
  • Present a clearly sequenced and expressed discussion, including introduction, analysis and conclusion at a level appropriate to a Masters degree
  • Indicate the location of the creative work within the context of contemporary art practice
  • Show evidence of your familiarity with recent literature relevant to general developments in the discipline and to the concerns of your own creative work
  • State your intentions in the development of the exhibited works; and more broadly, the intentions in work developed over the course of study. (Both should relate clearly to your original research proposal)
  • Included appropriately presented and labelled illustrations to which the text makes specific reference, and which represent your creative work
  • Include all relevant bibliographic and pictorial reference data
  • Observe the required work length
  • Observe all formal presentation requirements (number of copies, binding, etc)

The research paper is seen as a complement to your creative work. Some candidates wish to extend the creative possibilities of their work into the written component. Should you elect to take this approach, you should indicate this in the Introduction (or Foreword, if there is one) to the research paper to clearly establish expectations of form and scholarship for examiners.

For information on supervision, annual progress reviews and examination procedures please refer to the Higher Degree by Research website.

 

Master of Fine Arts


These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2014 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Coursework Policy 2014, the Resolutions of the Faculty, the University of Sydney (Student Appeals against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006 (as amended), the Academic Honesty in Coursework Policy 2015 and the Academic Honesty Procedures 2016. Up to date versions of all such documents are available from the Policy Register: http://sydney.edu.au/policies.

Course resolutions

Part 1: Preliminary

1 Course codes

Code

Course and stream title

RMFINART-01

Master of Fine Arts

Part 2: Admission requirements

2 Eligibility for admission to candidature

(1)
To be eligible to be admitted to candidature by the Dean or Associate Dean, an applicant must:
(a)
hold or have completed the requirements for:
(i)  the degree of Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours) from the University of Sydney; or
(ii)  the degree of Bachelor of Visual Arts and the Graduate Diploma of Visual Arts from the University of Sydney; and
(b)
present evidence of having the aptitude required for undertaking the course, by the method nominated, through a research proposal and a portfolio of creative work.
(2)
The Dean or Associate Dean may admit to candidature an applicant who does not meet the requirements of sub-clause (1), provided that the applicant holds a qualification or qualifications that, in the opinion of the Faculty, are equivalent to those prescribed in sub-clause (1).

3 Application for admission to candidature

(1)
In addition to requirements prescibed in the HDR Rule, an applicant for admission to candidature must submit to the Faculty:
(a)
the proposed method of candidature: by thesis comprising a body of creative work for exhibition and a written component; or by written thesis only;
(b)
a proposed course of research and advanced study;
(c)
for applicants wishing to proceed by thesis comprising a body of creative work for exhibition and a written component, a portfolio of creative work reflecting the applicant's recent art practice; and
(d)
for admission to part-time candidature, a statement that the applicant will have sufficient time available to complete the requirements of the degree in accordance with these resolutions.

4 Credit transfer

The HDR Rule specifies the conditions for the granting of credit for previous studies, including the effect on completion times.

Part 3: Candidature

5 Appointment of supervisor

The Head of Department will appoint a research supervisor and auxiliary supervisor for each candidate in accordance with the HDR Rule and Academic Board policies for postgraduate research higher degree supervision.

6 Control of candidature

The HDR Rule specifies the conditions for the control of candidature by the University.

7 Location of candidature and attendance

The HDR Rule specifies the conditions for the location of candidature and attendance by candidates at the University.

Part 4: Requirements

8 Degree requirements

(1)
To satisfy the requirements of the degree all candidates must:
(a)
complete any specified probationary requirements;
(b)
attend any prescribed weekly seminars and Graduate School fora; and
(c)
conduct research on the approved topic.
(2)
Candidates proceeding by written thesis only must also write a thesis embodying the results of the research.
(3)
Candidates proceeding by thesis comprising a body of creative work for exhibition and a written component must also:
(a)
submit for examination, at an exhibition by candidates, a substantial exhibition, screening, performance or installation of works; and
(b)
submit a research paper on an area relevant to the creative work.

9 The thesis and the research paper

(1)
A candidate proceeding by written thesis only shall produce a thesis that:
(a)
meets the requirements specified in the HDR Rule; and
(b)
is in the range of 35,000 to 50,000 words.
(2)
A candidate proceeding by thesis comprising a body of creative work for exhibition and a written component shall produce a research paper that:
(a)
meets the requirements specified in the HDR Rule; and
(b)
is in the range of 10,000 to 12,000 words.

Part 5: Enrolment and progression

10 Probation

(1)
A candidate is normally accepted for candidature on a probationary basis for a period not exceeding one year according to the provisions of the HDR Rule.
(2)
In the probationary period each candidate must:
(a)
complete any specified seminar programs;
(b)
develop and present a refined research proposal to the satisfaction of the Supervisor and Head of Department; and
(c)
demonstrate adequate English language competency for the completion of the degree.

11 Time limits, earliest and latest submission dates

The HDR Rule specifies the allowable completion times and submission dates available for full- and part-time candidates in this course.

12 Mode of attendance

(1)
The attendance pattern for this course is normally full-time in the first year of candidature.
(2)
Candidates may apply to change to part-time candidature thereafter. Visa requirements commonly restrict international students to full-time study only.

13 Discontinuation of candidature

A candidate may discontinue enrolment in a unit of study or the degree subject to the conditions specified by the HDR Rule.

14 Suspension of candidature

A candidate may suspend enrolment from the degree subject to the conditions specified by the HDR Rule.

15 Leave of absence

A candidate may take leave of absence from the degree subject to the conditions specified by the HDR Rule.

16 Progress

A candidate is required to maintain satisfactory progress towards the timely completion of the degree. Progress will be reviewed annually according to the provisions of the HDR Rule.

Part 6: Examination

17 Examination of the thesis

Examination of the thesis will be conducted according to the requirements for the examination of a higher degree by research prescribed in the Thesis and Examination of Higher Degrees by Research Policy 2015.

18 Award of the degree

The degree is awarded at the Pass level only.

Part 7: Other

19 Transitional provisions

(1)
These course resolutions apply to students who commenced their candidature after 1 January, 2016 and students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January, 2016 who elect to proceed under these resolutions.
(2)
Candidates who commenced prior to 1 January, 2016 may complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement, provided that requirements are completed within the time limits specified in those resolutions. The Dean or Associate Dean may specify a later date for completion or specify alternative requirements for completion of candidatures that extend beyond this time.