Doctor of Letters (DLitt)
Course Overview
| Course code: | 4199 |
| CRICOS code: | Not applicable |
| Campuses: | Not applicable |
| Duration: | Not applicable |
| Fees: | $4000 (comprising $1000 for ‘Stage A’ and $3000 for ‘Stage B’) |
| Conditions of candidature: | refer to the Monash Research Graduate School webpage, Higher Doctorate Programs |
The Doctor of Letters (DLitt) is of a higher standing than either a masters degree (such as the Master of Arts (MA)) or the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and is awarded for work that makes an original, substantial and distinguished contribution to knowledge in a field with which the faculty is concerned. Work submitted for the degree normally comprises publications that have appeared in the forms of books or papers in scholarly journals that are then presented in the form of a thesis. The degree will give the applicant authoritative standing in that field and the right to general recognition of this standing by scholars in the field.
Entry Requirements
- Monash University graduate
- A graduate of seven years standing of Monash University; or
- Monash University staff member
- A full-time member of the staff of Monash University for at least six consecutive years or where part-time, for the equivalent of six full-time consecutive years; or
- Graduate of another university
- A graduate of seven years standing of any other university, and who has had a close research association with Monash University for at least six years.
Application Process
The application process comprises two main stages:
- In ‘Stage A’ applications for the degree are made to the Faculty of Arts for initial assessment by the Faculty of Arts Research Graduate School Committee. If a sufficient case is established the applicant is accepted as a candidate for the degree.
- In ‘Stage B’ the work is sent by the Monash Research Graduate School (MRGS) to three examiners for assessment.
Stage A: Submission of Application for Initial Assessment
The following are to be submitted to the Faculty of Arts Research Graduate School for initial assessment:
- Doctor of Letters application form (rtf 209kb)
- application fee of $AUD1000
- three copies of the work.
The Faculty will convene a Higher Doctorate Committee to determine whether the applicant satisfies the admission requirements and whether the work submitted is prima facie worthy of examination.
Further information about the application form
For question 3, please tick the box for ‘Doctor of Letters’ and indicate the school, centre, or unit most closely aligned to the field of research of the work.
Stage B: Examination Following Successful Initial Assessment
Where the Faculty Higher Doctorate Committee determines that the applicant qualifies for admission to the Doctor of Letters, the applicant will be formally admitted to candidature and required to provide to the Monash Research Graduate School:
- four copies of the work submitted to the Faculty
- a cheque for $AUD3000 payable to Monash University
- a list of any persons he or she does not want to examine their work.
Three external examiners will be nominated by the Faculty Higher Doctorate Committee and appointed by the Research Graduate School Committee to formally examine the submitted work.
The Research Graduate School Committee determines whether or not the degree will be awarded following receipt of the examiners’ reports. In the case of a successful outcome, the applicant will then be able to graduate through the usual process.
Submission of Work for Examination
General Requirements
Work for submission should comprise publications in the form of books or scholarly papers in peer reviewed journals that are presented in the form of a thesis. The number of publications required will be determined on a case by case basis at the discretion of the Faculty. Generally multiple publications produced over a number of years will be required. However in some disciplines a single publication of great academic significance may be considered to qualify the applicant, in which case this work would need to define or re-define the respective field. It is strongly recommended that prospective applicants contact the Associate Dean Graduate Research and relevant disciplinary representatives in the first instance to discuss the body of work to be submitted. The work must make an original, substantial and distinguished contribution to knowledge in the field concerned; and give the applicant authoritative standing in that field and the right to general recognition of this standing by scholars in the field.
Conjointly Authored Work
Work submitted for the degree may have been written conjointly with another author or authors, as long as the conjoint work is clearly indicated and that there is satisfactory evidence to show that the applicant was responsible for a major portion of the work.
Publication Date
Publications must have been published at least one calendar year prior to the date of submission. For example, if the Doctor of Letters thesis is submitted on 1 May 2007, the publications contained therein would need to have been “published” at least one year before this date, that is, 30 April 2006. The definition of “published” is normally taken to be the date when the work in question was issued. For example, a paper may be submitted on 1 January 2006 but not appear in press until 15 April 2006. This last date would be the date that the work was “published”.
Further Information
- Faculty of Arts, Research Training Coordinator
- Monash Research Graduate School , Higher Doctorate Programs
- Monash University, Research Graduate School Committee Regulations