Research and impact
Where creativity meets scholarship: shaping the future of arts, media and performance at UNSW.
Our research in the School of the Arts & Media (SAM) at UNSW advances knowledge across media, culture and communication, literary studies, creative writing, theatre and performance, music, film and screen.
We bring together internationally recognised scholars and practitioners whose work interrogates culture, storytelling and representation in all their forms. Through interdisciplinary collaborations, industry and community partnerships, and innovative creative practice, we examine how media and the arts shape societies, challenge assumptions, and inspire change.
Research strengths
At UNSW School of the Arts & Media, we undertake creative, critical and applied research into the arts and media. Find out more about our research strengths: English and creative writing, film, media and communications, music, and theatre, performance and dance studies.
Research hubs & networks
UNSW School of the Arts & Media is home to a range of research hubs and networks that seek to identify scholars working in research fields, such as film studies, philosophy, art history, comparative literature and language studies. They provide forums for exchange and produce research outputs through collaborations including grants, publications, screenings and other projects.
Our funded projects
Discover the breadth of research at UNSW School of the Arts & Media. From AI and live performance to the technologies of perception in war and culture, our projects reveal the reach and impact of our work.
Higher Degree Research (HDR)
UNSW School of the Arts & Media research candidates work closely with leading academics to pursue innovative scholarship and creative inquiry in their chosen fields. The school champions postgraduate practice-based research, where the creative project and written dissertation hold equal weight within the overall thesis. At the same time, theory-focused research culminating in a traditional written thesis is fully supported.
HDR candidates also have the opportunity to showcase their work at the annual HDR Conference, gaining valuable experience in presenting research, exchanging ideas and building connections within the academic and professional community.
