Postgraduate research
UNSW School of Art & Design offers three Higher Degree Research (HDR) programs: 补苍诲听听
Research candidates are guided by academic experts to undertake innovative research and scholarship in their field of interest.
The School champions practice-based approaches to postgraduate research, in which both the dissertation and the creative project are accorded an equal weighting in the overall 鈥渢hesis鈥. Theory-only research, producing a听traditional thesis with no practice-based component, is equally supported.
Candidates have the opportunity to present their research at the HDR Conference on an annual basis, developing skills and confidence to communicate ideas, fostering meaningful relationships among peers and building professional networks.
Research with us
Our community
Workspaces and facilities
The Sherman Postgraduate Studios provide the main workspaces for our research candidates, featuring a variety of individual studios, computer workstations and spaces for test installations and studio critiques.
The space boasts a large outdoor terrace with city views, spacious storage and lockers, a fully equipped kitchen, lounge areas, meeting rooms and all-gender bathrooms.
Additional workspaces are situated across the School鈥檚 various research centres and labs. Candidates also have access to The Making Centre, a collection of nine fully equipped, modern workshops and studios.
Current research candidates
There are currently over 80 candidates enrolled across all of our Higher Degree Research programs.
School of Art & Design HDR Team
Director HDR, Art & Design
d.eastwood@unsw.edu.au
David is the Postgraduate Coordinator for second half of candidacy, examinations, completions.听
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HDR Coordinator, Art & Design
e.robertson@unsw.edu.au听听听听听
Emma is the Postgraduate Coordinator for first half of candidacy, recruitment, admissions, confirmation.
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Graduate Research Officer
Eva Ostrowski
support.pgresearch.artdesign@unsw.edu.au
Contact Eva for administration related matters. 听
Events
Postgraduate Research Conference T1 2025
The Postgraduate Research Conference showcases the work of candidates enrolled in our Higher Degree Research (HDR) programs.听听
Our HDR cohort invites you to engage with their creative and impactful projects, representing all forms of research across the School. Presented at the Paddington campus from 25 鈥 26 March 2025, the two-day conference will be complemented by a program of ancillary events.
Postgraduate Research Open Week 2024
Postgraduate Research Open Week showcases the work of candidates enrolled in Higher Degree Research programs. The cohort invites the public into their workspaces to share creative and impactful projects, representing all forms of research across the School.
In 2024, the inaugural program commenced with a three-day Postgraduate Research Conference and was followed by an open studio exhibition with a program of talks, workshops and studio critiques.
Selected photographs on this page were taken at the opening of Postgraduate Research Open Week 2024 by Cassandra Hannagan.
Acknowledgement of Country
UNSW School of Art & Design stands on an important place of learning and exchange first occupied by the Bidjigal and Gadigal peoples.
We acknowledge the Bidjigal and Gadigal peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land that our students and staff share, create and operate on. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend this respect to all First Nations peoples across Australia. Sovereignty has never been ceded.
