The Graduate Diploma in Arts by Research is offered by Schools and approved disciplinary programs in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. It is designed primarily to enable students with substantial concentration in an area of study in an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree to achieve a qualification to meet the requirements for entry to postgraduate research programs in the Faculty.

The Graduate Diploma in Arts by Research degree will enable students with substantial concentration in an area of study to be competent in carrying out research in their chosen area. Students will have achieved a qualification to meet the requirements for entry to postgraduate research programs in the Faculty.

The Diploma involves the writing of a 15 - 20,000 word research thesis under supervision and the completion of two-session length courses. The program is undertaken on a full-time basis over one year or two years part-time.

It is designed as a replica of the honours year program, and the research and supervision are exactly as for an honour student. It is therefore normally expected that the thesis mark will be determined by a committee of the relevant School, after evaluations by at least two thesis examiners (internal or external) appointed by the School.

1. The Graduate Diploma in Arts by Research may be awarded by the Council on the recommendation of the Postgraduate Affairs Committee of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) to a candidate who has satisfactorily completed a program of study that includes the submission of a research thesis embodying the results of an original investigation and the completion of prescribed coursework.

2. (1) A candidate for the Graduate Diploma shall have been awarded an appropriate degree of Bachelor from the University of New South Wales or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution at a standard judged by the Committee to be equivalent to that required for entry into the undergraduate honours year in a course offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
(2) an applicant who submits evidence of such other academic and professional attainment, as may be approved by the Committee, may be permitted to enrol for the Diploma.

3. (1) An application to enrol as a candidate for the diploma shall be made on the prescribed form which shall be lodged with the Registrar at least two calendar months before the commencement of the session in which enrolment is to begin.
(2) In every case before making the offer of a place, the Committee shall be satisfied that initial agreement has been reached between the School, or teaching unit authorised to enrol research students, and the applicant on the topic area, supervision arrangements, provision of adequate facilities and any coursework to be prescribed and that these are in accordance with the provisions of the guidelines for promoting postgraduate study within the University.
(3) The normal duration of the program is two academic sessions from the date of enrolment in the case of a full-time candidate or four sessions in the case of a part-time candidate. In special circumstances a variation of these times may be approved by the Head of School/Unit.
(4) A candidate shall be enrolled as an internal student, ie. undertake the research at a campus or research facility with which the University is associated except that the Committee may permit the candidate to spend a period in the field, within another institution or elsewhere away from the University provided that the work can be supervised in a manner satisfactory to the Committee. In such circumstances the Committee shall be satisfied that the location and period of time away from the University are necessary for the research program.

4. On completing the course of study a candidate shall submit to the School/Unit a research thesis embodying the results of the original investigation and which shall present an account of the candidate's own research.

5. The School/Unit shall specify, at the time of the candidate's acceptance into the program, any courses to be undertaken and the level of achievement required in each of the courses. It is normally required that the candidate complete two 8 units of credit courses at the level of achievement specified.

6. Applicants with appropriate backgrounds at undergraduate or postgraduate coursework levels may be granted advanced standing for part of the coursework. No advanced standing may be granted for the thesis component of the course. Advanced standing will not be granted for work completed more than six years before the date of admission of the applicant.

Candidates may be awarded a maximum of one course exemption in the Graduate Diploma program.

This course exemption must be authorised by the Associate Dean (research) and it will only be authorised on the grounds that the student is likely to duplicate work already completed in a previous degree program.

A student who receives a course exemption in the Graduate Diploma will not be eligible for entry into the Masters Research program or PhD.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html