1999 Arts Handbook - Master of Arts

Master of Arts

Master of Arts by research
- Entry requirements
Master of Arts by coursework
- Entry requirements
The Master of Arts prior to 1998

Master of Arts by research

The research degree of MA may be undertaken by thesis or by thesis and coursework. There is also an MA undertaken entirely by coursework. However, all academic units do not necessarily offer the three options. The Faculty of Arts guidelines for the normal length of theses are as follows:

66 per cent thesis 25,000-35,00 words;
75 per cent thesis 35,000-40,000 words;
100 per cent thesis 40,000-60,000 words.

Candidates undertaking a 66 per cent thesis must complete sixteen points of coursework and those undertaking a 75 per cent thesis complete twelve points of coursework. All such coursework subjects must be at fifth-year level. Each department or centre outlines its research programs and lists the thesis percentage and the number of subjects to be undertaken.
Prior to 1995 some programs offered a minor thesis of 18,000 to 25,000 words. Students who started prior to 1995 are encouraged - after consultation with their department or centre - to undertake a 66 per cent or 75 per cent thesis if available in their program, but have the option of undertaking a minor thesis.
The period of candidature for students undertaking a 66 per cent or 75 per cent thesis is one year full-time or two years part-time. Students undertaking a 100 per cent thesis normally study for two years full-time or four years part-time. Minimum candidature for all research students is one year full-time or two years part-time. Students, whether full-time or part-time, must be able to attend the university regularly.

Entry requirements

Candidates qualified for either

a bachelors degree with honours class 1 or honours 2 division A or the equivalent or
an MQual with a research component with a grade of H2A or above or the equivalent

in an appropriate discipline are eligible for admission.
Applicants should check the entry requirements detailed under the various programs for more specific details, including the definition of 'relevant disciplines'. Please note that these are the minimum entry requirements and that they may differ from program to program and from time to time.

Master of Arts by coursework

Some departments and centres offer an MA program entirely by coursework. All students must complete forty-eight points of courseworks subjects at fifth-year level in order to qualify for the degree; in some cases a research project of twelve or more points may be undertaken.
Students undertaking coursework degrees are not eligible to apply for scholarships.

Entry requirements

An honours degree with H2B or above or an MQual with grades of credit average or above or a Graduate or Postgraduate Diploma of Arts with grades of credit average in a relevant discipline are the minimum entry requirements. Some departments and centres may require higher grades - please refer to the individual program for details.

The Master of Arts prior to 1998

Prior to 1998 the MA programs by thesis and coursework and by coursework only were divided into two parts, namely part one and part two.
A candidate admitted into part one of the degree must achieve at least a credit average in the subjects undertaken before proceeding to part two of the degree unless otherwise allowed by the board of examiners. Some programs may also require credit grades to be achieved in the core subjects. Students should note that prior to second semester 1997 students in part one of a masters degree needed credits in all subjects.
Candidates who undertake a coursework only program enrol for fourth-year level subjects to the value of forty-eight points in part one and a further forty-eight points of fifth-year level subjects in part two. One of the subjects could be a research project. To qualify for the degree of MA candidates will have undertaken a total of ninety-six points and obtained credit level grades or above in all subjects in part two of the degree.
Candidates who undertake a thesis combined with a coursework program also enrol for fourth-year level subjects to the value of forty-eight points in part one. In part two candidates enrol for sixteen points of fifth-year level coursework subjects plus a 66 per cent thesis, or twelve points of fifth-year level coursework subjects plus a 75 per cent thesis, depending on the program. To qualify for the degree of MA candidates need to obtain credit grades or above in all part-two subjects and for their thesis.
Students who enrolled for their current MA program prior to 1998 will normally continue under the old structure. Students starting in 1998 or later must follow the new structure, where the Masters of Arts part one usually has been replaced by an MQual program or a graduate diploma and part two now is a one-year full-time, two-year part-time MA degree.
The administration of the MA degree, including the formal admission of students to candidature and whether a student has formally qualified for the degree, is under the control of the Arts faculty board. In this matter and on all related questions the faculty board relies on the advice of its Committee for Graduate Studies.