Doctor of Philosophy - Arts
Course code: DR-PHILART
4 years full time / 8 years part time
Expected candidature is 3 years full time (or part time equivalent)
March
Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) places available
March
AUD $50,976 (2026 indicative first year fee)
Student experience
Overview
Life as a graduate researcher: Dominica Meade
Dominica Meade at the European Sociological Association (ESA) Conference 2024.
Australia relies on volunteers in disaster response. But formal emergency management organisations tend to exclude women. University of Melbourne PhD candidate Dominica Meade researches how women’s informal volunteering practices could help recruit more volunteers and make disaster recovery more inclusive of gender.
“Women experience disproportionate levels of social and economic hardship after a disaster for a variety of reasons,” says University of Melbourne arts PhD candidate Dominica Meade.
Dominica researches the gender dynamics in community volunteering practices following disasters like bushfires and floods. She receives a stipend and PhD scholarship through the Melbourne Social Equity Institute.
“I didn't go into the PhD very confident at all. But knowing that I was doing a PhD that really strongly aligned with my values – even though I felt unsure throughout the process about how competent I would be at it – that was my main motivator,” she says.
“I've actually found the PhD – not easier, but less stressful than honours.”