Doctor of Musical Arts

As an experienced musician, this degree will provide you with the opportunity to upgrade your skills and qualifications through research based on your practice. This program emphasises work-based learning and will utilise your experience and working environment.

For admission as a candidate, an applicant will:

• hold a bachelor degree with first-class or second-class honours (Division A) or equivalent qualification from a recognised institution or
• hold a masters degree from a recognised institution or equivalent qualification deemed by the Dean, Griffith Graduate Research School to be of a standard comparable at least to a bachelor degree with second class honours (Division A) or
• possess a record of research or a qualification granted by a professional or other body, deemed by the Dean, Griffith Graduate Research School to be of a standard comparable at least to a bachelor degree with second-class honours (Division A)
• have been enrolled in a research Masters degree at the University for not less than one year as a full-time candidate and two years as a part-time candidate and will have had their work as a research Masters candidate certified by the Dean to be of a standard required for candidature in a professional doctorate.

Students admitted to the Doctor of Musical Arts program will normally have at least five years professional experience.

A portfolio assessment and/or interview will be part of the admission process. If specialist equipment or computer programs are required, this must be stated within the application. In cases where the candidate does not meet all formal criteria, the Dean, Griffith Graduate Research School can establish equivalence on the basis of curriculum vitae, portfolio and publications.

Refer to the Equivalent Qualifications for HDR Program Admission web page.

The following University policy will apply to Higher Degree Research (HDR) programs:

• Higher Degree by Research Admission Procedure

Scholarships

Applicants wishing to commence in Research Intake 1 should lodge their application prior to the closing date listed at the top of this page. Applicants applying to commence at any other time should submit their application at least four months before their preferred intake date. Refer to the Scholarship Key Dates for further information.

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English.

All Higher Degree Research (HDR) applicants are expected to have reached an appropriate level of proficiency in English. International applicants must provide documentary evidence of their English Language Proficiency (ELP). Further, there may be occasions when a Head of Element or Dean feels it is appropriate to seek confirmation of ELP from applicants for whom there is no formal requirement to provide evidence of ELP (for example, Australian citizens or applicants with permanent resident status whose tertiary studies were not conducted in English or International applicants who have undertaken some studies in English). Full documentary evidence in support of English proficiency must be submitted with applications for candidature.

The minimum English Language proficiency requirements for applicants to Higher Degree Research (HDR) programs are as follows:

• A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS (Academic) with no band score less than 6.0
• OR a minimum score of 575 on the paper-based TOEFL including a score of no less than 5.0 on the TWE
• OR a score of 79 on the internet-based (iBT) TOEFL with no sub-score less than 19
• OR a score of no less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only)
• OR a minimum overall score of 176 (no score less than 169) on C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English) or C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• OR an overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50.

An applicant may be exempted from the requirement to provide an ELP test score if the applicant's tertiary level studies were completed within the specified timeframe and in one of the countries listed in the University's Admission Schedule: English Language Proficiency.

An applicant may also be exempted from the requirement to provide an ELP test score if the applicant has completed at least two years full-time work experience in an English speaking professional work environment or has successfully completed the Griffith English Language Institute (GELI) Direct Entry Program (DEP) in accordance with the requirements as specified in the University's Admission Schedule: English Language Proficiency.

The Direct Entry Program (DEP) is not available for Domestic students.

Position yourself within your field of expertise with authority and conceive, initiate and conduct substantial artistic research projects independently. You will be able to provide leadership and authoritative feedback on other research and may find employment opportunities in universities and other educational or arts institutions, as well as in industry environments.