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Design - 2266
Design
Program Description
Program Objectives
Program Structure
Academic Rules
Fees
Area(s) of Specialisation

Program Summary

 
Faculty: College of Fine Arts
 
 
Contact: http://www.cofa.unsw.edu.au
 
 
Campus: College of Fine Arts Campus
 
 
Career: Research
 
 
Typical Duration: 2 Years
 
 
Typical UOC Per Semester: 24
 
 
Min UOC Per Semester: 12
 
 
Max UOC Per Semester: 24
 
 
Min UOC For Award: 96
 
 
Award(s):
 
 
Master of Design (Honours) (Research)
 
 

Program Description

The Master of Design (Honours) is a two year full-time, or four year part-time, program in design research where candidates nominate a research thesis/project focusing on Graphics/Media Design, Environments/Spatial Design, Applied/Object Design, Integrated Design, Design Management, or Design History/Theory. The degree is aimed at providing candidates with an opportunity to demonstrate mastery in their approved area of research in design through investigation of the theoretical underpinnings of design process, practice and/or product. The program requires research resulting in a written thesis and/or studio project.

The program is individually oriented and cannot be undertaken by coursework.

Studies are available in the following areas for the Master of Design (Honours):
  • Graphic/Media Design including photographic and computer imaging in both still and animated formats;
  • Environments Design including interiors, exhibition, theatre and garden projects;
  • Applied/Object Design including industrial design, product design, jewellery design, ceramics design and textiles design;
  • Integrated Design with reference to the cross disciplinary nature of studio practice and/or theory;
  • Design Management/Practice with reference to the integration of design management strategies toward the development of the Australian design culture;
  • Design History/Theory with reference to the application of historical and theoretical methodologies to design process and product.
Candidates are largely self-directed under the guidance of a qualified supervisor, co-supervisor or a panel of supervisors.

Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes

The objectives of the program are:
  • to provide the opportunity for designers of proven ability to undertake advanced work in design, thereby extending their creative and research capacity from the base established in undergraduate and graduate studies;
  • to foster a climate which encourages speculation, experiment and soundly based working procedures;
  • to promote critical reflection on the relationship between designers, their work and society;
  • to encourage candidates to take advantage of the supportive climate of the College whilst at the same time developing those capacities required in assuming their place within the wider community as practitioners.

Program Structure

Please contact the College of Fine Arts for information.

Academic Rules

The degree of Master of Design (Honours) may be awarded by the Council on the recommendation of the Standing Committee of the College of Fine Arts [hereinafter referred to as the Committee] to a candidate who has demonstrated ability to undertake research by the submission of the results of an original investigation.

Qualifications
1. A candidate for the degree shall have been awarded an appropriate degree of Bachelor with Honours from the University of New South Wales or a qualification considered equivalent, from this, another university or tertiary institution at a level acceptable to the Committee.

2. In exceptional cases an applicant who submits evidence of such other academic and professional qualifications as may be approved by the Committee may be permitted to enrol for the degree.

3. If the Committee is not satisfied with the qualifications submitted by an applicant the Committee may require the applicant to undergo such assessment or carry out such work as the Committee may prescribe, before permitting enrolment.

Enrolment
1. An application to enrol as a candidate for the degree shall be made on the prescribed form which shall be lodged with Faculty Administration at the prescribed time before the commencement of the session in which the enrolment is to begin.

2. In every case, before making the offer of a place, the Committee shall be satisfied that initial agreement has been reached between the School of Design Studies and the applicant on the topic area, supervision arrangements, provision of adequate facilities and any coursework to be prescribed and that these are in accordance with the provisions of the guidelines for promoting postgraduate study within the University.

3. The candidate shall be enrolled as either a full-time or part-time student.

4. A full-time candidate will present the thesis for examination no earlier than two years and no later than three years from the date of enrolment and a part-time candidate will present the thesis for examination no earlier than four years and no later than six years from the date of enrolment except with the approval of the Committee.

5. The candidate may undertake the research as an internal student, i.e. at the College, or as an external student not in attendance at the College except for periods as may be prescribed by the Committee.

6. The research candidate will normally carry out the research at the College except that the Committee may permit a candidate to spend a period in the field, within another institution or elsewhere away from the College provided that the work can be supervised in a manner satisfactory to the Committee. In such instances the Committee shall be satisfied that the location and period of time away from the College are necessary to the research program.

7. The research shall be supervised by a supervisor or supervisors who are members of the academic staff of the School or under other appropriate supervision arrangements approved by the Committee. Normally an external candidate within another organisation or institution will have a co-supervisor at that institution.

Progression
1. The progress of the candidate shall be considered by the Committee each session following report from the School in accordance with the procedures established within the School and previously noted by the Committee.

2. A candidate for the degree shall be required to submit to such assessment or conditions as prescribed.

Advanced Work**
1. On completing the program of study a candidate shall present for examination:

a) a thesis/project embodying the results of the investigation;

b) an exhibition or appropriate presentation of work embodying the results of the investigation. This mode of presentation will include appropriate, comprehensive documentation of the project hypothesis and all stages of the studio study.

2. The candidate shall give in writing to the Faculty Manager two months notice of intention to present for examination.

3. The advanced work shall present on account of the candidate's own research. In special cases work done conjointly with other persons may be accepted, provided the Committee is satisfied on the candidate's part in the joint research.

4. Three copies of the documentation of the advanced work shall be presented in a form which complies with the requirements of the University for the preparation and submission of theses for higher degrees.

5. It shall be understood that the College retains the three copies of the documentation of the advanced work submitted for examination and is free to allow the documentation to be consulted or borrowed. Subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act, 1968, the College may issue the thesis in whole or in part, in photostat or microfilm or other copy medium.

** or equivalent work as determined by the Standing Committee.

Examination
1. There shall be no fewer than two examiners of the advanced work, appointed by the Committee, at least one of whom shall be external to the University unless the Committee is satisfied that this is not practicable.

2. At the conclusion of the examination each examiner shall submit to the Committee a concise report on the advanced work and shall recommend to the Committee that:

a) The thesis or project merits the award of the degree;

b) The thesis or project merits the award of the degree, subject to minor corrections as listed being made to the satisfaction of the Head of School;

c) The thesis or project requires further work on matters detailed in the examiner's report. Should performance in this further work be to the satisfaction of the Committee, the thesis or project would merit the award of the degree;

d) The thesis or project does not merit the award of the degree in its present form and further work as described in the examiner's report is required. The revised thesis or project should be subject to re-examination;

e) The thesis or project does not merit the award of the degree and does not demonstrate that re-submission would be likely to achieve that merit.

3. If the performance in the further work recommended under 6.2(c) above is not to the satisfaction of the Committee, the Committee may permit the candidate to re-present the same thesis or project and submit to further examination as determined by the Committee within a period specified by it but not exceeding eighteen months.

4. The Committee shall, after consideration of the examiners' reports and the results of any further examination, recommend whether or not the candidate may be awarded the degree. If it is decided that the candidate be not awarded the degree the Committee shall determine whether or not the candidate be permitted to resubmit the thesis or project after a further period of study and/or research.

Fees
A candidate shall pay such fees as may be determined from time to time by the Council.

Fees

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html


Area(s) of Specialisation

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© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.