Master of Engineering Science (Research)
Full candidature for the MEngSc (Research)
For admission to full candidature for the degree of MEngSc (Research) there must be clear and irrefutable evidence that a candidate has (a) a university honours degree in engineering or (b) a university pass degree in engineering or similar degree plus honours-equivalent experience appropriate to the field of study.
Preliminary candidature for the MEngSc (Research)
A candidate who seems to have the potential but is deemed to be inadequately prepared for MEngSc (Research) studies may be considered for preliminary candidature. Such a candidate would be required to pass a preliminary prescription recommended by the head of the department; this will normally consist of undergraduate subjects for which credit towards the MEngSc (Research) will not be allowed. Admission to full candidature will follow on receipt of an appropriate recommendation from the head of department certifying that the preliminary prescription has been passed.
MEngSc (Research)
Candidature is either on a full-time or part-time basis as determined by the Graduate Affairs Committee of the faculty board. The duration of the full-time course is twenty-four months and every two months of part-time study counts as one month of full-time study for the purpose of calculation of duration of candidature. There are no levels of candidature other than part-time or full-time.
Part-time candidature is permitted under the following guidelines, approved by the Graduate Affairs Committee at its meeting no. 2/94.
(a) The supervisor shall be a full-time member of the academic staff of the university. An associate supervisor may be an appropriately qualified member of an external organisation. If the associate supervisor is from an external organisation, frequent communication with the supervisor should be maintained.
(b) The topic of the thesis shall be decided by the candidate in consultation with the supervisor.
(c) (i) In order to undertake part-time candidature, a candidate must be able to devote the equivalent of a minimum of two days per week to the pursuit of the research project.
(c) (ii) Where the postgraduate's research work involves the systematic use of the university facilities, the faculty may require that these two days be week days.
(c) (iii) Where the candidate is engaged in full-time employment, the head of the department will be required to certify that the head is satisfied that the candidate is able to spend the equivalent of two days a week in pursuit of the research project.
(d) The candidate must discuss progress with the supervisor in person at least once each calendar month.
(d) The candidate must attend the university frequently and on a regular basis; one day per week on average is considered the minimum necessary.
(f) The candidate must attend all such courses, seminars, workshops, etc., as are deemed necessary by the head of department (in the case of a regular seminar or lecture series a minimum of 80 per cent attendance may be deemed adequate).
(g) The candidate shall be required to undertake the equivalent of three months of full-time study within the university (including its research stations and teaching hospitals); the apportionment of that attendance period should be determined by the faculty at the time of application but need not be continuous.
(h) Where the candidate is engaged in full-time employment, the head of department will be required to certify at the time of application that the head is satisfied that the candidate will be able to comply with the residency requirements of this regulation.
(i) The supervisor and head shall certify that the requirements for candidature have been met and an annual report of attendance and progress will be presented to the Graduate Affairs Committee.
(j) The thesis is to be available for publication (under conditions no more restrictive than at present).
(k) Off-campus equipment and other facilities may be used with the permission of the head and supervisor. Whenever feasible, on-campus facilities shall be used or developed in preference to those off-campus.
The faculty administrative officer will maintain a master list of all candidates enrolled on a part-time basis, and the certification required should be presented for all such candidates at the December meeting of the Graduate Affairs Committee.
There may well be circumstances in which to ensure equity with regard to duration of candidature, a supervisor may wish to recommend that a part-time candidate be registered as a full-time candidate who is undertaking field work (see regulation 8 of the MEngSc [Research] regulations). All such cases should be brought to the Graduate Affairs Committee who will consider each case on its merits.
Probationary candidature for the MEngSc (Research)
A candidate whose preparation for the MEngSc (Research) and potential for MEngSc (Research) studies may be adequate, but for whom some doubt exists in respect of either or both, may be considered for probationary candidature.
Such a candidate will be required to pass a probationary prescription recommended by the head of department. This prescription may take different forms dependent upon the nature of candidature.
The prescription may consist of the requirement to prepare an adequate literature survey and research program proposal in the candidate's chosen field of study. Admission to full candidature will follow on receipt of an appropriate recommendation from the head of department which includes examiners' reports on the documentation submitted.
For all MEngSc (Research) candidates probationary candidature will not normally exceed one calendar year.
Probationary candidature is not applicable to MEngSc (Coursework and Minor Thesis) candidature.
PhD candidature
The guidelines for part-time PhD candidature were approved by the Graduate Affairs Committee at its meeting no. 2/94 and are the same as the eighteen points listed above for MEngSc (Research), save that part-time PhD candidates must also attend the department, faculty, centre, school or unit for not less than six of the first twenty-four months of candidature.
In this faculty the six months attendance requirement for each candidate should be specified at the time of admission. Each case is considered in terms of the candidate's demonstrated experience and aptitude for research.
All requests for admission to part-time candidature and for transfer from full-time to part-time candidature should be brought before the Graduate Affairs Committee which will decide each case on its merits.
The duration of candidature is five years for full-time candidates and eight years for part-time candidates.
A candidate for a PhD will normally undertake the first year of studies on probation. During this probationary year the candidate may be registered either for a MEngSc(Research) or for a probationary PhD. It should be noted that, in general, it is not possible in the Faculty of Engineering to transfer from PhD candidature to MEngSc candidature. Candidates who do not possess an honours degree in either the first or upper second class must register initially for an MEngSc(Research) degree.
The transfer to full PhD status will be initiated by the PhD and Scholarships Committee in the case of a candidate who is registered or a probationary PhD or by the candidate's department in the case of a candidate who is registered for an MEngSc(Research). In either case, on receipt of an appropriate recommendation from the head of department and the presentation to the Graduate Affairs Committee of an account of the candidate's progress during the first year of research and performance in the appropriate departmental transfer procedures together with assessors' reports of the candidate's performance in such departmental transfer procedures, the candidate will be permitted to transfer to full PhD candidature.
In order to preserve the status of an MEngSc(Research) as a major academic award within the Faculty of Engineering no transfer will be permitted from PhD status to MEngSc(Research) status on academic grounds.
Department of Chemical Engineering
The Department of Chemical Engineering offers to engineering and science graduates the opportunity to work towards the degrees of Master of Engineering Science(Research) and Doctor of Philosophy.
Research activities are aimed at improving techniques and at understanding the phenomena in the fields of fluid dynamics, kinetics, thermodynamics, control and reactor design for organic and inorganic processes. Of interest are processes in which natural resources are utilised, especially those in the metallurgical, pulp and paper, food and biochemical areas.
In addition to the specialised equipment necessary for the work outlined below, the department has a range of service instruments including infrared and ultraviolet spectrophotometers, atomic absorption spectrographs, gas chromatographs, polarographs, a thermal gravimetric and differential thermal analyser, a Weissenberg rheogoniometer and other rheometers, a mass spectrometer and high pressure liquid chromotographs.
An X-ray diffractometer and a scanning electron microscope are available for use in conjunction with the Department of Materials Engineering. Microprobe facilities are available in conjunction with the Department of Earth Sciences.
Currently research is in progress in the following broad areas: general chemical engineering, in particular chemical reactor engineering, coal conversion processes, transport phenomena, particulate systems; pulp and paper technology; minerals engineering and extractive metallurgy; biochemical engineering and food processing; environmental protection engineering; polymer process engineering.
Full descriptions of these research programs are available from the Department of Chemical Engineering on request.
Department of Civil Engineering
The graduate research program in the Department of Civil Engineering at both the Caulfield and Clayton schools is designed to equip the student with skills and knowledge through individually supervised projects on advanced topics of relevance to professional needs and practice. Graduate students may specialise in one of six areas of civil engineering: structural engineering (both schools), geomechanics (both schools), offshore engineering (Clayton only), water resources/environmental engineering (both schools), transport and traffic engineering (both schools) or timber engineering (Caulfield only) .
Doctor of Philosophy
The PhD is awarded by the university to candidates who submit a thesis which represents a significant contribution to knowledge or understanding, and which demonstrates the capacity to carry out independent research.
Depending on qualifications, candidates may be enrolled initially for PhD, probationary PhD or MEngSc (Research). Probationary PhD and MEngSc (Research) candidates are assessed after about twelve months candidature and, if suitable, may convert to PhD. The maximum period of candidature for PhD is eight years. In most cases, candidature for PhD is back-dated to the start of MEngSc (Research) candidature.
Master of Engineering Science (Research)
Research students enrolled for MEngSc (Research) are required to undertake a research project and a prescribed coursework program (three coursework subjects). The maximum period of full-time candidature is two years, and students are encouraged to complete their work in eighteen months.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for admission to MEngSc (Research) are an honours degree in engineering or equivalent. Proven research ability, usually established in the way described above, is necessary for entry to PhD candidature.
Research and teaching programs
MEngSc (Research) students are required to undertake a coursework component as part of the degree requirements. The coursework component depends on the field of study. Students studying in the areas of structural, water and environmental, offshore, transport and traffic engineering and timber engineering must complete three of the graduate subjects offered by the department. These subjects are normally taken from within the student's field of specialisation. Students studying in the area of geotechnical engineering must complete a course of prescribed reading as specified by the supervisor. Recent research projects carried out in each area are listed below.
Structural engineering
Research in structural engineering covers the full spectrum from fundamental theory to practical problems, the latter stimulated by enquiries from industry. Particular areas of interest include the effects of variable repeated loads on structures, crashworthiness of structures, design criteria, thin-walled structures such as box girders, stiffened plates and pipe bends, structural steel connections, performance of steel structures in fire, softening in reinforced concrete structures, buckling of concrete panels and high strength concrete, and timber structural members and systems. Projects range in content from fundamental and analytical, through numerical to experimental. Various levels of computing facilities exist to match the complexity of numerical tasks. Comprehensive and flexible testing and data logging facilities are also available.
Geomechanics
Research in geomechanics is oriented mainly towards the field and laboratory determination of soil and rock parameters for use in design and analysis, and the development of improved methods for design. Current research is concentrated in the following areas: the stability of soft clays, including three dimensional failure criteria and finite element elastoplastic analyses; the behaviour of shallow and deep foundations in weak rock, including full-scale loading tests, laboratory tests on rock, rock-joint and rock-concrete interfaces, numerical and mathematical modelling and statistical analysis, fracture behaviour; performance predictions for earth and rock dams through parameter determination and numerical analysis, slope stability analyses; repeated load behaviour of soils and rocks; analysis and interpretation of pressuremeter tests including laboratory and numerical modelling; creep phenomena; numerical analysis of earth pressures.
Water resources/environmental engineering
Research activity in water engineering in the department covers the fields of hydrology, hydraulics, water resource systems and environmental engineering. Projects have included modelling the infiltration process, river hydraulics, effect of land-use change, mathematical models of rainfall and runoff, parameter estimation for rainfall-runoff models, urban hydrology, low streamflow analysis, reservoir capacity and yield analysis and stochastic data generation and water resource optimisation. Recent research has also involved projects relating to runoff-routing for flood estimation, flood flows in rivers, physical and numerical hydraulic modelling relating to spillway flows, flow measurement in open channels, culverts and flood plain hydraulics, hydrologic effects of land use change, design guidelines for stable channels and waterways, capacity sharing of surface water resources, and delivery of engineering experience using computer-aided learning. Both field and laboratory studies are performed.
Transport and traffic engineering
Research in transport engineering is oriented towards transport planning, traffic engineering, road safety, freight and public transport operations, with continuing research in the following fields: transport and location choice modelling, public transport use and operation, traffic management, road safety, traffic flow, parking, urban and non-urban freight and transport systems modelling.
Timber engineering
Research activity in timber engineering is undertaken almost exclusively at Caulfield. It is inspired largely by problems associated with the forest products industry. As such there is a strong focus on timber engineered structures, the manufacture of forest products and quality systems. Current research is concentrated in the following areas: timber connections for industrial portal frames, structural stability theory, finite element applications, finger jointed and glued laminated timber manufacture, Monte Carlo simulation to predict the strength of adhesive bonded products, forest product durability with particular reference to adhesive bonded products, life extension studies for timber pallets, nail plated structures, quality systems, concrete formwork design. A wide range of testing, data logging and environmental aging equipment is available.
Further informatiom
Further details of the department's research activities may be found in a leaflet entitled `Graduate studies and research', available from the department.
Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering
The department offers to suitably qualified students the opportunity to undertake postgraduate studies and research. The degrees awarded are Master of Engineering Science(Research) and Doctor of Philosophy.
The Clayton division maintains a number of well-equipped graduate laboratories such as telecommunications, electronics, optical communications, bioengineering, video coding, protocol engineering, ISDN, ionospheric propagation, control, computer engineering, computer vision and robotics, electrical machines, power systems, power electronics and high voltage. These laboratories are supported by excellent workshop facilities and highly qualified technical staff.
The current research activities in the Clayton division fall into the following broad categories: circuit theory and signal processing; electromagnetic field theory; antennas and wave propagation; microwave and optical communication systems; control systems; telecommunications including video coding, network performance, protocol and software engineering; power systems and power electronics; electronics and photonics; computer systems engineering; computer vision and robotics; bioengineering.
The main graduate laboratory facility in the Caulfield division consists of a suite of work stations with a complete software package for electronic design automation, both analog and digital. Facilities for telecommunications, antennas, optical communications, ISDN, control, computer engineering and high voltage cable research are also available.
The current research activities at Caulfield fall into the following categories: digital signal processing, antennas and wave propogation, optic fibre communications, control systems and robotics, computer software engineering, area networks, electronic design, bioengineering (molecular electronics), artificial intelligence (expert systems and neural networks), high voltage equipment condition monitoring, surge arrester design, cogeneration and treeing in HV cables.
Further information on detailed research activities and supporting facilities at Clayton are contained in a booklet entitled `Postgraduate studies and research opportunities in electrical and computer systems engineering', available on request from the Clayton division. Further information on Caulfield research activities can be obtained from the division at Caulfield.
Department of Materials Engineering
Suitably qualified graduates in engineering or science may undertake studies in the Department of Materials Engineering towards the degrees of Master of Engineering Science (Research) and Doctor of Philosophy in one of six research programs: ceramics engineering, metal forming, corrosion engineering, physical metallurgy, polymer engineering and surface engineering.
Candidates for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy or Master of Engineering Science (Research) undertake full-time supervised research work.
The major current research activities in the department include properties of engineering plastics, composites, rubbers and adhesives; polymer alloys and blends; ageing of polymers; phase transformations and theory of alloy phase equilibria; corrosion and corrosion protection; optical fibres; damage and remanent life in engineering materials; electrical and magnetic properties of alloys; ultra-high strength aluminium alloys; thermo-mechanical processing of steels; yield and fracture in metals and alloys; metal forming; modelling of metal deformation processes; metal-matrix composites; solidification processing; corrosion and corrosion protection; biomaterials; thermally sprayed coatings; properties of surface coatings and films; ceramic powder processing; superconducting ceramic oxides; mechanical properties of ceramics; analytical electron microscopy.
Further details of the department's excellent research facilities and ongoing research projects are available on request from the department.
Department of Mechanical Engineering
The department offers to suitably qualified candidates the opportunity to undertake postgraduate study for the degrees Master of Engineering Science (Research) and Doctor of Philosophy.
The department has graduate teaching and research capabilities in engineering dynamics, hydraulic and pneumatic systems for powered control and logic, kinematics and mechanisms, robotics, manufacturing management and technology, experimental and computational structural (solids) mechanics, composite structures, bonded structures, repair technology and ageing structures, vibration analysis and control, acoustics and noise control, environmental fluid mechanics, transition and turbulence, computational fluid mechanics, wind effects on buildings and structures, hydrodynamics and water quality of bays and estuaries, mixing in swirling flows, scalar mixing, energy conversion, heat transfer and gas flow in non-circular ducts, boiling heat transfer, technology policy, automation, control and systems and machine condition monitoring. At Caulfield a wide range of mechanical and industrial engineering subjects are studied. Caulfield has special facilities for materials testing, composites and adhesives, pumping systems, manufacturing engineering including machining, automation, flexible manufacturing. Caulfield also has active research in the management areas of CAD/CAM/CIM and industrial engineering including manufacturing and resource planning, optimisation of manufacturing systems and quality improvement.
There are well-equipped laboratories and supporting workshops catering for teaching, research and projects in these areas, including several world-class research facilities. The department has very substantial digital computing and data processing facilities and access to faculty analog and hybrid facilities.
The department offers MEngSc(Research) candidature by full-time, major research with minor coursework (proceeding under MEngSc(Research) regulation 6.1.1).
The department offers coursework subjects from which candidates select and complete subjects to the value of at least eighteen credit points. Further details of coursework are to be found in the preceding chapter.
Candidates for the PhD degree in the department may be required to complete several of these coursework subjects.
Documents providing further details on graduate study are available from the department.
Gippsland school
At the Gippsland school the Master of Engineering Science program is available by research and is individually tailored to suit the needs of applicants. Encouragement is given to programs which are industry based. Candidates must demonstrate that they have the necessary background to succeed: approval to undertake a program will only be given where appropriate supervisors and adequate resources are available. Anyone contemplating a masters degree program should contact Professor B A Parker to discuss its suitability.
At Gippsland, research is currently being conducted in the following areas: machine condition monitoring (especially vibration analysis and performance monitoring); strain gauge applications and dynamic response of robots; renewable energy applications (especially wind energy and solar refrigeration systems); energy auditing; utilisation of brown coal (especially gasification); engineering applications of geographic information systems (especially flood predictions); road pavement construction; traffic management and transport planning; engineering applications of digital imaging; artificial intelligence and expert systems; engineering management (especially maintenance management and reliability engineering); interaction between energy utilisation, economics, politics and the environment.