The Master of Arts by Research degree program involves the completion of a thesis proposal and a research thesis. It is designed for students wishing to engage in serious research but not able to devote the three years required to complete a PhD or with a research project which does not lend itself to that level of extended treatment. Theatre and Performance Studies investigates the live arts in all their diversity, and how they reflect and shape our sense of who we are. It explores both theatre and performance history and current trends, and all aspects of performance, including rehearsal, production and reception. Research in Theatre and Performance Studies at UNSW focuses on contemporary theatre, including live arts, dance and media-enhanced performance. It also addresses theatre history, playwriting and popular entertainment, and is enriched by interdisciplinary collaborations with film, literature, media studies, music and the visual arts. This research is also enhanced by the Creative Practice Lab, a specialised unit in the School of the Arts and Media that hosts a wide variety of productions and closely supports practice-led experimentation. Research students in Theatre and Performance Studies can either write a full-length thesis, or undertake practice-based research. The former’s output is written prose; the latter’s output is a portfolio that includes a creative work and a dissertation. Both involve the investigation of a significant problem within the discipline.