The University of Auckland

Board of Graduate Studies

PhD with Creative Practice Component

Guidelines for PhDs that include a corpus of creative arts or design work for examination.
The University of Auckland 2011 PhD Statute allows creative practice components to be integrated
within a PhD thesis and presented for examination. This has significant implications for the resources
and processes of the PhD candidate, supervisor and host Academic Unit, and would normally only be
considered for candidates whose research project adheres to these guidelines.
These guidelines have been developed with reference to the 2011 Statute and Guidelines for the Degree
of Doctor of Philosophy, which remains the current, definitive policy for all PhD research processes
within The University of Auckland.

1. Admission
1.1 Expression of intent
It is expected that PhD applicants will indicate their wish to present creative arts or design components
for examination within their Expression of Interest or initial research proposal prior to admission into The
University of Auckland PhD programme. This would include a brief description of the expected creative
outputs for examination (e.g. performance, exhibition, design), expected resources required by the
research, and an indication of how theoretical and practical components will be integrated. Only in
exceptional circumstances would creative practice components be introduced into a research project
following admission.
1.2 Prior training and experience
It is expected that PhD applicants seeking to present a corpus of creative arts or design work for
examination have advanced training and/or professional experience in the subject. Advanced training
may be understood as a postgraduate degree or diploma, and professional experience may be
understood as at least two years of employment and/or professional productivity in the relevant field(s).
1.3 Supervisor selection
In addition to The University of Auckland expectation that a primary supervisor will have a PhD or
equivalent academic status, for candidates seeking to have a creative arts or design component
presented for examination, it is advised that at least one of the supervisors will also have extensive
professional experience as a practitioner in the field of research.

2. Provisional year review

2.1 Confirmation of creative practice components
The provisional year review is the time at which a candidate will confirm their wish to present creative
arts or design components for final examination, and seek approval for this from the Academic Head
(HoD), Faculty Dean (or nominee), and the Board of Graduate Studies.

Approved by Board of Graduate Studies 21 February 2011

Last updated 21.02.11

2.2 Content of review

In addition to the normal expectations of a provisional year PhD candidate, it is expected that a
candidate intending to present creative arts or design components for examination would have:

clarified the intended examinable format of the creative arts or design component (as discussed in
the examination guidelines below) within their completed research proposal;
completed a draft of the methodology section of their thesis outlining their approach to the research,
and addressing how theory and practice will be integrated in process and presentation.

2.3 Criteria for progression

The decision of the Academic Head (HoD), Faculty Dean (or nominee), and the Board of Graduate
Studies to confirm a PhD candidates inclusion of creative practice components at the provisional year
review will be informed by:

the candidates eligibility to engage in creative practice research within a PhD;

the candidates progress within their provisional year; and
the Academic Units capacity to provide resources for the research, supervision and examination
processes required by the candidates research proposal.

It is not expected that PhD candidates would be allowed to introduce creative practice components for
examination following the provisional year review.

3. Submission and Examination

3.1 Submission formats
Students submitting creative work for examination within a PhD will normally present their creative
component in one or more of the following three formats:

as printed material integrated into the bound thesis;

as a digital recording in a portable format that can accompany the thesis;
as a live performance or exhibition.

3.2 Examination of live performance/exhibition

While the research process might incorporate (and make reference to) several performances or
exhibitions, only one live performance/exhibition can require the attendance of the doctoral examiners
and HoD nominee.

Costs associated with bringing examiners and the HoD nominee to such an event will be borne by
the Academic Unit the student is enrolled in, and should be considered as an event independent of
the oral examination.
It is expected that the normal protocols determining that examiners do not confer on the candidates
work would be observed at any such event.
It is expected that the submission of examiners reports, the decision of the Examination Committee
to proceed to oral examination, and the oral examination itself, will follow the normal schedules and
protocols for PhD examinations and not be guided by the timing of examiners viewing creative
practice at live events.

Approved by Board of Graduate Studies 21 February 2011

Last updated 21.02.11

3.3 Attribution
It is the candidates responsibility to correctly attribute the contributions to creative work made by
collaborators. This should include:

the completion of Co-Production Form(s) with all collaborators on the creative work; and
an articulation of the distinct contributions of such collaborators within the written thesis.

3.4 Copyright
It will also be the candidates responsibility to obtain third party permission on copyright for:

any subsequent public dissemination of such recordings;

presentation on ResearchSpace and other publicly-accessible digital archive.

This should be obtained through media release forms or other relevant contracts.
3.5 Documentation
All performances or exhibitions being presented for examination should also be recorded for records and
documentation. It will be the candidates responsibility to organise such recordings.

If a live performance or exhibition is presented for examination as a digital recording instead of

presentation at a live event, the candidate is expected to articulate their role in the digital recording
and editing process within their written thesis.
As with other co-production processes, the candidate will be expected to gain the permission of any
co-producers of the digital recording of the work through the use of Co-Production Form(s).

Approved by Board of Graduate Studies 21 February 2011

Last updated 21.02.11