Here is some information about the graduate degrees we offer in Literature. For each of these degrees, applications should be lodged through the University’s online application portal about one month before the first semester in which you wish to begin your programme: Click Here

1. Postgraduate Diploma

Students in the Postgraduate Diploma complete the programme part-time over two years. Completing the programme involves completing four courses (one per semester). Each semester, you will be offered one of the following courses: LT401, LT402, LT403, LT406, LT407, or LT410.

Entry Requirements

An undergraduate degree with a major in either Literature or Language and Literature. In your second- and third-year literature courses, you need an average of at least a B (a GPA of 3.0).

2. Masters by Thesis or Masters by Coursework

Masters by Thesis students write a thesis of 50,000 words on a topic of their choosing (subject to supervisor availability).

Masters by Coursework students must first complete two additional courses from the Postgraduate Diploma listings, and then write a Supervised Research Project of 20-25,000 words.

Full-time students have between two and three years to complete the Masters, while part-time students have between four and six years to complete the Masters.

Entry Requirements

Either:

1. 1. A completed Postgraduate Diploma from USP with a B average (a GPA of 3.0); or
   2. A three-year Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Literature) from another university. If you completed your undergraduate degree at a different university, then in your second- and third-year literature courses, you must have an average of at least an A (a GPA of 4.0).

As part of your application, you will write a 2,000-word Statement of Research Intent in consultation with your nominated thesis supervisor (information about potential supervisors can be found here). The Statement of Research Intent should include an introduction, your background, your objectives, your proposed research methodology, the implications of your research, discussion of the logistics of your proposed project, a proposed timeline, and a bibliography.

Your application will then be either provisionally accepted or declined. If your application is provisionally accepted, you will work with your supervisor to convert your statement of intent into a full proposal by the end of week 7 of your first semester (if you are enrolled full-time) or by the end of week 14 of your first semester (if you are enrolled part-time). On the basis of your full proposal, a final decision on your candidature will be made.

3. PhD

Completing a PhD involves writing a thesis of around 80,000 words on a topic of your choosing (subject to supervisor availability). Full-time students have between three and five years to complete the PhD, while part-time students have between four and 1/2 years and eight years to complete the PhD.

Entry Requirements

Successful completion of either:

1. 1. A Masters by Thesis;
   2. A Masters by Coursework (an applicant with a Masters by Coursework must first complete a Directed Research Project – for further information about this option, contact Literature’s Discipline Coordinator, Dr. Matthew Hayward); or
   3. A First Class Honours degree from another university.

Applicants write a 2,000 word Statement of Research Intent in consultation with their nominated thesis supervisor (information about potential supervisors can be found here). The Statement of Research Intent should include an introduction, your background, your objectives, your proposed research methodology, the implications of your research, discussion of the logistics of your proposed project, a proposed timeline, and a bibliography.

Your application will be either provisionally accepted or declined. If your application is provisionally accepted, you will work with your supervisor to convert your Statement of Research Intent into a full proposal by the end of your first semester (if you are enrolled full-time) or by the end of your second semester (if you are enrolled part-time). On the basis of your full proposal, a final decision on your candidature will be made.