Postgraduate Study in Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) | Master of Philosophy (MPhil) | Co-tutelle | Facilities for students | Funding for students | External and international students | Upgrade policy | Philosophy postgraduates | Graduate Diploma
Thinking of doing research in philosophy? The Philosophy Department at Macquarie University offers two research degrees: The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and the Honours Degree of Master of Philosophy (MPhil). The Philosophy staff are able to offer expert supervision in most areas of philosophical inquiry. The research strengths of the Department lie particularly in philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, metaphysics, history and philosophy of science, nineteenth and twentieth century European philosophy, aesthetics, feminist philosophy, ethics (including metaethics and applied ethics), political philosophy and social philosophy.
Graduate students in Philosophy work with staff in a lively, attentive, and collegial atmosphere. In addition, we are able to offer our research students excellent library and word-processing facilities, e-mail accounts with internet access, and generous funding to attend conferences and to pursue research elsewhere in Australia and overseas. Research students are accommodated in the Philosophy Department itself, with easy access to staff and resources.
The Department has a program in place aimed at making research productive and enjoyable. In addition to the supervision you get from your supervisor (or panel of supervisors) there are regular research seminars; conferences; a postgraduate research seminar and research training seminar; reading groups; and social events. All these activities are guided by a pluralist ethos: at Macquarie we recognise the worth of different philosophical traditions and we welcome creative interaction between them.
As well as accommodating research in different philosophical traditions, the Department welcomes inter-disciplinary research. Members of the Department are active in the Centre for Research on Social Inclusion in the Division of Society, Culture, Media and Philosophy, and there is collaboration with the Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science. Other Centres for philosophical research are in the planning stage.
Contacts and Sources of Information
If you are interested in applying to do a research degree in Philosophy, you should contact the Head of Department, A/Prof Nick Smith, or Philosophy Postgraduate Convenor, Dr Albert Atkin, or the member of staff whom you would like to have as your supervisor. Anyone of these people will gladly offer you academic advice. Application forms and further information about enrolment, scholarships etc. can be downloaded from http://www.research.mq.edu.au/students.
Once you are enrolled your supervisors will be the main source of any
information you require. In addition, the Philosophy Department
administrator (Clara Wong, 9850 8837, email philos@scmp.mq.edu.au)
can answer general questions about offices, stationery, pay
forms etc. The Philosophy Postgraduate Convenor (Albert Atkin, 9850 6880) can answer any general questions
you have about departmental policies, scholarships, progress
reports etc. The Division of SCMP postgraduate studies administrator,
Ammy Kotesrimuang (9850 8857) will keep you informed of events
organised by the Division. Finally, the Higher Degree Research
Office (HDRO) (9850 6410; email hdrenq@vc.mq.edu.au (domestic
students); hdrint@vc.mq.edu.au (international
students) ) can help with enquiries about your enrolment status,
fees, etc.
Besides this website, you should also consult the following web pages for important information:
The SCMP postgraduate pages at http://www.scmp.mq.edu.au/hdr/hdr.html
The Higher Degree by Research Unit pages at http://www.research.mq.edu.au/students
Students New to Philosophy
If you already have an undergraduate degree but have no formal training in philosophy, you will not normally be in a position to undertake a research degree in philosophy. However, you may wish to consider the Graduate Diploma. Click here for more information on the Graduate Diploma in Philosophy.
Postgraduates in the Department
Click here for a list of postgraduate students in the Department.
Postgraduate study at Macquarie University
Thesis Preparation and Submission Guide
Australasian Philosophy Network (APnet)
Australasian Association of Philosophy (AAP)
Application Form for HDR Direct Funds
Postgraduate Progress Monitoring Form
Click here for the monitoring form.
The members of the Department of Philosophy at Macquarie wish to state publicly that we are opposed absolutely to racism in any shape or form, and indeed to all forms of injustice and discrimination. We are committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive and supportive academic environment for students and scholars from all backgrounds.