Postgraduate - Course3443 - Master of Surgery

The Master of Surgery is a research degree offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. Surgical research is assuming greater importance in the career development of surgeons of all specialties.

Candidates conduct a prescribed program of research for a specified period under the direct supervision of a member of the academic staff. The supervisor, in consultation with the candidate, is responsible for developing the research program to be followed by the candidate, and for reporting at regular intervals on the candidate's progress. Candidates submit a thesis. The work undertaken as part of this degree must constitute a significant contribution to the knowledge and understanding of the chosen research field, and must demonstrate the capacity of the candidate to carry out independent research. For information about research in the faculty visit http://www.med.monash.edu.au/research.

Students who have completed the course will demonstrate a thorough understanding of relevant research techniques in their field through a review of the relevant literature. They will demonstrate their ability, under supervision to apply relevant research techniques to their chosen field of study. Students will be able to present high-quality written work suitable for publication in appropriate scholarly journals, and be able to critically evaluate both their own and others' written work in their chosen field.

Students will also be able to:

• identify and define research questions
• identify the appropriate research methods to address the research questions
• demonstrate mastery of their chosen research methodology/methodologies
• demonstrate theoretical knowledge at master's level in their chosen field of surgery
• communicate their research findings in a format appropriate to their academic discipline
• write up their research into a high quality thesis
• contribute new information or new ways of understanding information in the field of surgical research.

100 per cent

Conditions of candidature

Duration of candidature

The total permissible period of candidature is 18 months full-time, or its equivalent in part-time candidature up to a maximum of three years part-time, after which the candidature will lapse. The minimum period of candidature is 9 months (18 months part-time). Candidates are encouraged to complete their thesis as quickly as possible.

Attendance

Throughout their candidature, all candidates must regularly attend their academic unit and participate fully in the intellectual and research activities of the unit. Full-time candidates must be able to devote the equivalent of a minimum of four days a week to the pursuit of their research project; all part-time candidates must devote at least two full days a week to their studies. In the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, part-time candidates in laboratory disciplines must undertake at least one and a half of their study days during normal working hours/week days. For those part-time students in non-laboratory disciplines, at least one of their study days must be a week day.

External candidature

External candidates must demonstrate personal maturity and research experience to pursue independent, sustained and structured research off-campus. In addition to the conditions above, external students must satisfy an annual five-day on-campus attendance requirement each year or equivalent over the period of candidature. A portion of this attendance may be off-campus, provided that the candidate is able to interact with the main or associate Monash supervisor during this time. Regular interactive communication should take place between candidate and supervisor at least once every two weeks, via telephone, video conference, email or other interactive communication. Daily communication should also be possible, as required.

Employment guidelines

Full-time candidates are permitted, with the approval of their main supervisor, to undertake a strictly limited amount of paid employment throughout the year, being no more than 15 hours of work per week on average. Up to a maximum of six hours only on average of this employment may be undertaken during normal working hours (9 am to 5 pm, Mondays to Fridays). However, this may be extended to a maximum of eight hours if the employment is limited to one weekday. The candidate's supervisors must be satisfied that any part-time work undertaken does not interfere with the candidate's study program and progress. International students need to be aware that the employment restrictions outlined above apply even if their visa permits themto work up to 15 hours a week. Part-time candidates may engage in full-time or substantially full-time employment provided their employer confirms that sufficient time is available to comply with conditions of part-time candidature, and they have the support of their supervisors.

Confirmation of candidature

All master's by research candidates are required to present their work in progress to a review panel and submit a confirmation of candidature report at the end of their 6 months (full-time) or 12 months (part-time) probationary period. The academic unit may lodge a request for deferral of the confirmation process where it is anticipated that a master's by research candidate will upgrade to doctoral candidature following 12 months full-time or 24-months part-time candidature.

Re-enrolment

All HDR candidates are required to re-enrol for the next year of candidature in their research program. Candidates must complete an annual questionnaire in order to re-enrol. The questionnaire provides an opportunity for a candidate to identify any issues that may be affecting their candidature as well as fulfilling legislative requirements.

Assessment is by thesis only. Students submit a thesis of approximately 50,000 words. The word length for a thesis does not include footnotes, references or appendices, nor does it include equations, tables, diagrams or other illustrations. The thesis may be in the form of a traditional monograph or as a thesis by publication.

The thesis should embody the results of the candidate's investigation, which demonstrates independence of thought and the candidate's ability to carry out research in that discipline.

The work presented for examination must be the original work of the candidate, except where due reference is made in the text. A candidate may include published work which is directly relevant to the argument of the thesis, provided such work has been written during the period of candidature. Candidates may not present in, or in support of, a thesis any work which the candidate has presented for any other degree or diploma at this University, or any other institution, except with the permission of the faculty's Research Degrees Committee.

Students may apply to upgrade to PhD candidature after 12 months candidature (full-time or equivalent), provided that satisfactory progress has been made and certain conditions are met.

Master of Surgery