Research masters degrees

• General information
• Entry requirements
• Course structure
• Grades for the award of a research masters degree
• HECS exemptions
• Disciplines

General information

A research masters degree is defined as having a research/thesis component of 66 per cent or greater.
The Faculty of Arts offers four research masters degrees: Master of Arts, Master of Bioethics, Master of Social Work and Master of Environmental Science. The Master of Arts is offered in a wide range of disciplines.

Entry requirements

The minimum entry requirements for a research masters degree are a four-year bachelor degree with honours class 1 or honours 2 division A or the equivalent, or an MQual with a research component with an overall grade of H2A or above, as well as a distinction or above in the research component, or an equivalent qualification in an appropriate discipline. Applicants should check the entry requirements detailed under the various programs for more specific details. Note that the minimum entry requirements may differ from program to program and from time to time.

Course structure

The Master of Arts, Master of Bioethics and Master of Social Work are available by 100 per cent thesis. Candidates undertaking these degrees by 100 per cent thesis are expected to submit a thesis of 40,000 to 60,000 words. The period of candidature is 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. Research students, whether full-time or part-time, must be able to attend the university regularly.
The Master of Arts is also available by coursework and research. Candidates must complete 24 points of coursework at fifth-year level and are expected to submit a thesis of 25,000 to 35,000 words (weighted at 66 per cent).
From 2000, the period of candidature for students undertaking a Master of Arts by 66 per cent thesis is one-and-a-half years full-time or three years part-time. The minimum pass grade for masters coursework subjects and for the thesis is 60 C (credit).
Prior to 2000, the Master of Arts was available by 66 per cent or 75 per cent research with a duration of one year full-time or two years part-time.
The Master of Environmental Science degree is offered by coursework and research. Candidates are required to successfully complete 16 points of coursework and a thesis weighted at 66 per cent. The normal duration of the Master of Environmental Science is one year full-time or two years part-time.
Refer to individual discipline entries for details of the masters degrees available by coursework and research.

Grades for the award of a research masters degree

For all research masters candidates who have qualified for the degree, there are three qualifying grades: honours 2B (60-69), honours 2A (70-79) and honours 1 (80-100). A candidate who fails to qualify for the award will obtain the grade of fail (NN).
In cases where a candidate has undertaken a thesis combined with coursework subjects, the marks for the thesis and the subjects shall be taken into consideration when deciding upon an overall qualifying grade for the degree, however the thesis results are given greater weighting. For Master of Arts degrees commenced prior to 1998, the overall qualifying grade will be based on the thesis and results of subjects taken in part two of the course only.

HECS exemptions

Australian citizens or permanent residents who enrol in January, and continuing students who re-enrol on time for a masters research degree, will normally receive a HECS exemption and pay no HECS for the year. HECS exemptions are awarded for one year at a time.

Disciplines

Masters degrees by research can be supervised in the following disciplines. Refer to individual discipline entries in this handbook to obtain details of the research interests for postgraduate supervision.

In addition to the disciplines listed above, supervision of 100 per cent research masters candidates can usually be offered in all disciplines listed under the Doctor of Philosophy.

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