QUT adopts a project management approach, with higher degree research (HDR) candidates working closely with their supervisory team to meet collegially reviewed milestones. During candidature, the supervisor and other key stakeholders will provide advice and direction to the candidate to encourage their participation in a range of scholarly activities, including research seminars, workshops, teaching and publication. The length of the thesis varies according to the topic, but should normally be no longer than 100,000 words, excluding bibliography. Creative practitioners enjoy a strong commitment to practice-led research, in which the Creative Industries Faculty is a national leader. The PhD program demonstrates the Creative Industries Faculty’s reputation for innovation and excellence in research training, welcoming collaborative and interdisciplinary research projects and activity in the Creative Industries Precinct—Australia’s first site dedicated to experimentation and commercial development in the creative industries. Some of the world’s leading practitioners in the creative industries come here to teach, theorise, research, and create. Kelvin Grove Urban Village, La Boite Theatre Company, and exhibition spaces are located nearby, with the new $80m Creative Industries Precinct Stage 2 offering state-of-the-art sound recording, visual art and design studios. Our award-winning postgraduate supervisors are successful practitioners and researchers from the arts, media and design industries, recognised for their real- world expertise, innovation and knowledge. Indeed, the recent Excellence in Research in Australia (ERA) review ranked the Faculty as 'well above world' for research in Communication and Media Studies. Critically, QUT Creative Industries researchers actively collaborate with colleagues from across the university, including those in health, science and engineering, education, business, and information technology, and frequently work with community, industry, educational, and government partners in tackling ‘real-world’ research projects. While students usually have considerable flexibility in defining the focus of their work, most research is concentrated across the faculty's key research strength areas: Digital media, communication and culture, Innovation in the performing and digital arts, and Sustainability and innovation in design Career outcomes With QUT's real-world approach, QUT Creative Industries researchers develop expertise in a wide range of innovative research methodologies and make a significant contribution to new knowledge in their field. Our graduates are building prominent and successful careers around the world as architects, renowned designers, global artists, creative leaders, communicators and cultural experts – in academia, government, community and industry settings.