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Monash University: University handbooks: Postgraduate handbook: Units indexed by faculty
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Master of Philosophy

Course code: 3194 + Course abbreviation: MPhil + 100% research, or combination of research and coursework + 1.5 years minimum full-time, 3 years maximum full-time

Study mode and course location

On-campus (Berwick; Caulfield; Clayton; Gippsland; Malaysia; Peninsula)

Course description

The Master of Philosophy can be undertaken as either a 100% research program or through a combination of research and coursework. The research/coursework option has replaced the Master of Commerce (Honours) and Master of Economic (Honours). Successful completion of the program will signify that the candidate has successfully completed a course of research training and satisfied the examiners that they can carry out a research project and analyse critically the results. The MPhil, involving a combination of research and coursework, is designed to extend the disciplinary competence of students as well as provide them with research training.

While it is not necessary that an MPhil thesis would make a major contribution to the discipline by way of new knowledge (as a PhD would require), an MPhil thesis would be expected to make a contribution to an existing body of knowledge by applying, clarifying, critiquing or interpreting that knowledge.

No credit for work done previously is available in this masters degree.

Masters students may be able to upgrade to doctoral candidature after 12 months, provided that satisfactory progress has been made and certain conditions are met.

Entry requirements

Applicants need to have:

  • completed a first class or upper second class bachelors degree requiring at least four years of full-time study, including a research component in the fourth year, or
  • completed a course leading to a masters preliminary qualification at a level rated as equivalent to a first class or upper second class honours degree, or
  • qualifications, which in the opinion of the committee, are equivalent or a satisfactory substitute.

Duration (full-time equivalent)

The normal period of candidature is 18 months full-time equivalent (or 72 points). The minimum and maximum period of candidature is 12 and 24 months full-time equivalent respectively.

Enrolment mode

The degree may be undertaken by part-time or full-time enrolment. A period of three months of full-time attendance on-campus shall apply to on-campus MPhil students. Research may also be pursued by external mode, in accordance with the guidelines governing PhD external candidature, except that the annual period of attendance/residency shall be reduced to 10 days.

Fee structure

Australian students

Australian students and permanent residents who receive a Research Training Scheme place will be exempted from the payment of unit fees.

International students

International students will be required to pay full fees. However, students will be eligible to apply for a fee scholarship such as an International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) or a Monash International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (MIPRS).

Applicants for the degree of Master of Philosophy should refer to the website at www.research.buseco.edu.au for an application form.

Preliminary inquiries to discuss the area of specialisation should be directed to the higher degree by research coordinator of the appropriate department.

Course structure

The requirements for each of the departments of Accounting and Finance, Business Law and Taxation, Econometrics and Business Statistics, Economics Management and Marketing are set out below:

100% thesis option

Students are required to write a thesis of up to 50,000 words on a topic selected with their supervisor. The thesis constitutes 100% of the workload and the topic must be related to the department in which the student is specialising. A member of that department will be appointed as supervisor. In some instances, students may have more than one supervisor, and the second supervisor may be from another department.

Coursework and 67% thesis option

Students are required to select four units, as set out in the section on each of the departments. Students are required to include in the four units at least two 5000-level units from the department in which they are enrolled for the masters course. Normally, the coursework component is taken over the first two semesters before proceeding to the thesis component. Students are required to achieve an average grade of 70% or above. In addition, students are required to write a thesis on a topic selected in consultation with their supervisor. The thesis, of approximately 25,000 words, constitutes 67% of the course, and the topic must be related to the department in which the student is specialising. A member of that department will be appointed as supervisor. In some instances, students may have more than one supervisor, and the second supervisor may be from another department.

Coursework and 92% thesis option

Students are required to write a thesis on a topic selected with their supervisor. The thesis constitutes 92% of the workload, and the topic must be related to the department in which the student is specialising. A member of that department will be appointed as supervisor. In some instances, students may have more than one supervisor, and the second supervisor may be from another department. In addition, students will be required to complete one 5000-level unit from the department responsible for the supervision of their thesis. This unit should be related to the topic of their thesis.

Graduate seminar

All students are required to attend the graduate seminars organised by the department in which they are enrolled. They will also be expected to attend and participate regularly in the seminar series. Students are required to present one seminar. Although the graduate seminar is an unweighted unit, students enrol in the graduate seminar in each department in the same way as other units, although it does not count as one of the units towards the degree. Students must receive a pass in this seminar unit to satisfy the requirements for the degree.

Department of Accounting and Finance

67% thesis option

(a) Students must complete two units from the following list:

  • AFC5120 Advanced financial accounting theory
  • AFC5130 Analysis for management decisions
  • AFC5140 Advance corporate financial theory

(b) Students must complete two units from units listed in (a) above, special units taught by the department, and AFC5000 (Reading unit) or from level 4 graduate units taught by the department or from the graduate units taught by the Departments of Econometrics and Business Statistics (Clayton) and Economics.

(c) Students must complete AFC5110 (Accounting and finance graduate seminar).

(d) Students must complete the thesis component (details listed above).

92% thesis option

(a) Students must complete one unit from the 5000-level units taught by the department. The unit to be taken should be related to the thesis topic, and in special circumstances the head of department may approve as the 5000-level unit a special unit based on a 4000-level graduate unit or an AFC5000 (Reading unit) taught by the department.

(b) Students must complete AFC5110 Accounting and finance graduate seminar.

(c) Students must complete the thesis component (details listed above).

Department of Business Law and Taxation

67% thesis option

Coursework and 67% thesis option is not available.

92% thesis option

(a) Students must complete one unit from the 5000-level units taught by the department. The unit to be taken should be related to the thesis topic.

(b) Students may be required to participate in the departmental seminar program.

(c) Students must complete the thesis component (details listed above).

Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics

67% thesis option

(a) Students must complete two units from the following list:

(b) Students must complete two units from special units or special reading units taught by the department, or from level 4 graduate units taught by the department, or from the graduate units taught by the Department of Accounting and Finance and the Department of Economics.

(c) Students must complete ETC5470 or ETF5470 (Econometrics graduate seminar).

(d) Students must complete the thesis component (details listed above).

92% thesis option

(a) Students must complete one unit from the 5000-level units taught by the department. The unit to be taken should be related to the thesis topic, and in special circumstances the head of department may approve as the 5000-level unit a special unit based on a level 4 graduate unit or an ETC5000 or ETF5000 (Reading unit) taught by the department.

(b) Students must complete ETC5470 or ETF5470 (Econometrics graduate seminar).

(c) Students must complete the thesis component (details listed above).

Department of Economics

All students entering the graduate program within the Department of Economics are required to have passed the undergraduate unit ETC2410 or ETC3440 (Practical econometrics) or equivalent units, or an examination set by the department at an equivalent level in quantitative economic analysis. Students are not permitted to take ETC3440 (Practical econometrics) as a special unit. Students may select joint courses offered by the Department of Economics with the departments of Econometrics and Business Statistics (Clayton) and Accounting and Finance, respectively.

67% thesis option

(a) Students must complete the following two units:

(b) Students must complete two units from the 5000-level units taught by the department. The unit to be taken should be related to the thesis topic.

(c) Students must complete ECC5800 (Economics graduate seminar).

(d) Students must complete the thesis component (details listed above).

92% option

(a) Students must complete one unit from the 5000-level units taught by the department. The unit to be taken should be related to the thesis topic.

(b) Students must complete ECC5800 (Economics graduate seminar).

(c) Students must complete the thesis component (details listed above).

5000-level units

Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics and Department of Economics

67% thesis option

(a) Students must complete two units from the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics, including at least one of:

(b) Students must complete two units from the Department of Economics, including at least one of:

(c) Students must complete either ECC5800 (Economics graduate seminar) or ETC5470 or ETF5470 (Econometrics graduate seminar).

(d) Students must complete the thesis component (details listed above).

Department of Management

67% thesis option

Coursework and 67% thesis option is not available.

92% thesis option

(a) Students must complete one unit from the 5000-level units taught by the department. Unit to be taken should be related to thesis topic.

(b) Students may be required to participate in the departmental seminar program.

(c) Students must complete the thesis component (details listed above).

Department of Marketing

Students must undertake the 100% thesis option (the 67% and 92% thesis option is not available).

Contact details

Course director

To be advised

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