Research at Pilgrim

“Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.”
Zora Neale Hurston

Research, and the creation of new knowledge is the very heart of academic work. It is also something that we do on a daily basis. There are many opportunities to engage in research at every stage of a course of study.

Research degrees are open to graduates with at least four years of full-time tertiary study, including at least one year of study in theology or an associated discipline. Potential students can apply at any time, and are enrolled formally four times a year in February, May, August and October.

For further information about preparing an application and joining the vibrant research community at Pilgrim please contact our research co-ordinator Professor Katharine Massam by email Katharine.Massam@pilgrim.edu.au or phone +61-3-9340 8822. There is a guide to the application process here.

At postgraduate level, Pilgrim offers a 16,000-word minor thesis. You can include this minor thesis as an elective in a postgraduate coursework award, including the one-year Graduate Certificate in Research Methodology. If you have not studied theology formally before, the GCRM is the most common route into a higher degree by research (HDR) or PhD.

The PhD degree is an opportunity to explore a question in depth with the support of a team of at least two research supervisors. It requires a thesis of no more than 100,000 words, and is normally a commitment of three years full-time study (or equivalent). A doctoral thesis makes ‘an original and substantial contribution to knowledge’. In the world of scholarship there is nothing more exciting than this!

Resources

University of Divinity School of Graduate Research

Pilgrim students who are enrolled in Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) are members of the University of Divinity’s School of Graduate Research (SGR). They have access to a range of activities that support their work and that provide opportunities to meet with students and faculty across different colleges.

Dalton McCaughey Library

Research students at Pilgrim have full borrowing rights at all the libraries of the University of Divinity including the Dalton McCaughey Library. The ‘DML’ houses the most significant theological collection in Oceania and is your first stop for any research. Search the library catalogue as your first stop.

The University of Divinity Library Hub

The Library Hub is a key online research tool. It provides all currently enrolled students, staff and other members of the University with access to an extensive range of online resources. This includes full-text databases, eJournals, eBooks, and a range of other useful links and resources.

Because the Library Hub uses a discovery layer (EDS), a general query searches across multiple databases. So, simply follow the link and start typing.