Course code: 3521
A candidate for the degree of Master of Philosophy (MPhil) is required to
carry out a prescribed program of research for a specified period under the
direct supervision of a member of the academic staff. The candidate, together
with the supervisor, is responsible for developing the research program to be
followed. Both report at regular intervals on the progress of the project. The
MPhil is a research degree and candidates are required to submit a thesis, the
length of which would not normally exceed 50,000 words.
The Research Graduate School Committee is the body responsible for
administering the MPhil. It has final responsibility for approving admission to
the degree and for such matters as variations to candidature, questions of
supervision, progress, and submission and examination of theses.
An applicant for admission to candidature must have qualified in the university for:
The
faculty board, through the Committee on Graduate Matters, may on the
recommendation of the head of school concerned recommend to the Research
Graduate School Committee admission of applicants to part-time MPhil enrolment
who comply with the following guidelines.
1. Subject to the requirements of the regulations relating to the degree of
Master of Philosophy, the faculty has determined that applicants shall provide
written evidence that they can devote:
(a) at least two full working days per week or its equivalent to their studies
in a laboratory discipline, or
(b) at least one full working day per week or its equivalent in a
non-laboratory discipline.
2. Applicants in full-time employment shall provide written evidence from the
employer to the effect that sufficient time as defined above will be made
available for them to undertake their research.
In special circumstances and on the recommendation of the Research Degrees
Committee, exceptions to these provisions may be recommended by the faculty
board to the Research Graduate School Committee in support of approval of a
particular application.
Research may also be pursued by external mode, in accordance with the guidelines governing PhD external candidature (Appendix F available at http://www.monash.edu.au/phdschol/docprog/handbook/chap12f.html), except that the annual period of attendance/residency shall be reduced to 10 days.
This option allows doctoral candidates to submit for examination a thesis consisting of, or partially consisting of, conjointly published or unpublished work, linked by a clear theme. A detailed statement at the front of the thesis must indicate the nature and extent of the candidate's contribution to the work presented and the underlying research. Essentially, the initiation, key ideas, development and writing up of each of the works should be the primary responsibility of the candidate. An introductory chapter that places the specific work in the broader context of its relevant research area and a concluding chapter that draws together the research documented in the preceding chapters are required. Other linking material that converts the work into a coherent whole is also essential.
The normal period of candidature is 18 months full-time equivalent (or 72 credit points). The minimum and maximum period of candidature is 12 and 24 months full-time equivalent respectively.
A PhD candidate may transfer from PhD to MPhil candidature without undue regard. Doctoral candidates who wish to transfer to masters candidature must lodge an MPhil application form from the Monash Research Graduate School. This form may be downloaded from http://www.monash.edu.au/phdschol/.
Where appropriate, an MPhil candidate may discontinue the MPhil program and transfer to another appropriate masters-level program. A candidate may also upgrade from the MPhil program to a PhD degree. In such cases, the Research Graduate School Committee's existing upgrade procedures shall apply, with the start date of the doctoral candidature normally backdated to the start date of the MPhil program (see Chapter 2 - `Transfer from Masters to PhD', available at http://www.monash.edu.au/phdschol/docprog/handbook/chap2c.html).
For further information on the MPhil degree, refer to the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Guide, which can be found at http://www.monash.edu.au/phdschol/mphil/, or contact the Monash Research Graduate School by email at mrgs@adm.monash.edu.au or telephone on +61 3 9905 3009. Application forms are available at http://www.monash.edu.au/phdschol/ or from the Monash Research Graduate School office (building 3D, Clayton campus).
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