The Advanced Studies courses are taken under the direction of the supervisor, but may involve teaching and learning from a wide variety of sources, including other ANU Colleges/Schools/Centres. In each case, the experience of the student will be oriented towards the development of a research career. Advanced Studies courses can be counted towards a major, with the permission of the discipline concerned and of the Assistant Dean (PhB).

There are two main ways in which Advanced Studies courses may be negotiated:

An individualised tailor-made course 

• Under the guidance of the supervisor, the student may arrange for a Reading Course in which to pursue a particular topic in more detail. The Reading Course may be run by the supervisor, or by another member of academic staff working in an area of particular relevance to the student’s interests. If the course is run by someone other than the supervisor, that person is known as the ‘course convenor’.
• Alternatively, the student may want to focus on a mini-project. Once again the student would negotiate an appropriate program under the guidance of the supervisor and, once again, such a program may be run by someone other than the supervisor: the course convenor. 
• Undertaking an internship. Again, this would be negotiated under the guidance of the supervisor.

OR, an extension of an existing course: 

• With the agreement of the supervisor, the student may do additional work in a course already offered, and classify it as an Advanced Studies course. Such a decision would take into account the student’s interests and academic direction. The supervisor, course convenor and student would together decide on an appropriate theme that would be the focus of the student’s work throughout the semester (ideally this would occur prior to Week 1), and this theme would result in a major project.

A total of 4500-5500 words, although this may be reduced in special cases in consultation with the Assistant Dean (PhB). The type and breakdown of assessment exercises will be negotiated between student, supervisor and course convenor (if there is one) early in the semester, and must be approved by the Assistant Dean (PhB).

Normal duration 12-13 weeks, although this may be varied in consultation with the supervisor and Assistant Dean (PhB).

Enrolment in the Bachelor of Philosophy degree program (College Consent)