Melbourne School of Graduate Research

Admission

Minimum standards for entry to the Masters by Research

There is some variation between Faculties in regard to their entry requirements for Masters by Research degrees.  Normally the minimum requirement is a four-year honours degree from an Australian university, or a qualification or combination of qualifications considered to be equivalent.  As admission to Masters by Research degrees can be competitive, some Faculties and Graduate Schools may, in practice, have additional requirements.  For example, they may require a result equivalent to H2A (75%) or documented professional experience, or a documented record of research activity in the area.  Please contact your Faculty or Graduate School for details of their specific entry requirements.

In assessing overseas qualifications the Research Higher Degrees Committee or Faculty Committee (as the case may be) will consult guidelines published by the National Office of Skills Recognition (if available) and other sources of information (e.g. the Graduate Research Scholarships Committee).

The primary basis for selection is academic merit; however, consideration will also be given to the quality of the thesis proposal, research potential, and the availability of an appropriate supervisor. Academic references may be required to assess the applicant's eligibility.

You should arrange an interview with the relevant course coordinator prior to submitting your application in order to discuss your suitability for candidature and your proposed course of study. This will clarify whether the department concerned is satisfied with your academic background, whether your research topic is deemed suitable, and whether adequate supervision for your topic is available. If a department cannot offer adequate supervision for your particular topic, your application cannot be accepted. Some departments have additional special application requirements; refer to the relevant website from the list at the end of this document for further information.

English language requirements

All applicants (internationally and locally qualified) must  meet the University's English language entry requirements in accordance with Regulation 11.1R3 Principles of Selection for entry to courses.  Further information is available from http://www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/int/apply/grad/english-req.html.

Course fees

International Students

The course fees for international students can be found on the University of Melbourne international student tuition fees page at http://www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/research/fees.html. International students are offered a range of scholarships, including full and part-fee remission of course fees. International research students without a fee remission scholarship are charged tuition fees on a daily pro-rata basis.

Australian and New Zealand citizens and Australian Permanent Residents

Research Higher Degree courses are offered on a Research Training Scheme (RTS) basis only. The RTS provides Commonwealth-funded Research Higher Degrees students with an entitlement to a fee exemption for the duration of an accredited Research Higher Degree course. Funding is provided for a maximum of two years full-time (four years part-time) for a Masters by Research. The University may elect to impose fees on students who wish to remain enrolled after exhausting their entitlement.
For more information, refer to the Australian Government's RTS website at http://www.innovation.gov.au/ScienceAndResearch/programs_funding/Pages/ResearchTrainingScheme.aspx

Research areas

All Faculties in the University offer Masters by Research programs, but there may be differences in the types of programs offered by different Faculties, or the requirements prescribed by different Faculties and Graduate Schools.  It is important to refer to the relevant Faculty and Graduate School websites, a list of which is supplied in Appendix C.

General requirements

Residency requirements

All Masters by Research candidates are required to be resident in Victoria for at least one-third of their candidature, during which time they must complete advanced study and research at the University (unless studying at an approved outside institution). Entirely distance supervision or entirely on-line supervision will not be approved for research higher degree students.

The residency requirement is deemed especially important during the first six months of candidature. During this time the student is expected to interact on a regular basis with the supervisor, the department (including staff and other research students) and the University,
so as:

Under certain circumstances permission will be given to fulfil the residency requirements by means of two or more short periods of residency totalling into six months full-time (or 12 months part-time). Time spent on approved fieldwork or other off-campus studies for a period of less than three months may be approved by the RHD Committee or relevant Graduate School or Faculty Committee as part of the minimum period of residency. Application for non-consecutive periods of residency must be made to the RHD Committee or relevant Graduate School or Committee. The application should include:

Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) and Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS) holders will usually live within reasonable commuting distance from campus for the duration of their award. APA and MRS holders are entitled to apply for periods of up to 12 months study away. Refer to APA/MRS condition booklet.

Applicants based at approved outside institutions

Candidates may be permitted to base their research entirely at certain approved research institutions. Candidates based at an outside institution must report on their progress to the RHD Committee through the department in which they are enrolled, and take part in graduate seminars and other activities, as required by the Department.

Departments should refer to Section F for the List of Approved Outside Institutions, Guidelines for Supervision of RHD candidates Based at Outside Institutions and for the Procedure to Add an Institution to the Approved List.

Part-time candidature

An applicant for admission as a part-time candidate must satisfy the Head of Department and supervisor that adequate time is available to devote to their Masters work and to maintain regular contact with the supervisor and department.

Part-time APA/MRS scholarships are available only to applicants who can demonstrate compelling social reasons for part-time study.
International candidates should be aware that student visas are for full-time study only.

Employment restrictions on full-time candidates

A Research Higher Degree program at the University of Melbourne is a demanding undertaking requiring performance to the full extent of the candidate’s ability. It is therefore expected to be a full-time commitment unless enrolment is part-time. In some instances, the candidate, in consultation with their supervisor and Head of Department might determine that additional coursework subjects will assist in their research program. Application should be made on the Application for Adding and Deleting Additional Subjects form in these cases.

Professional development is considered an integral part of the research training program, and might include tutoring or demonstrating. The University of Melbourne does not stipulate the maximum hours to be worked, but recommends, as a guide, that more than 6 hours per week across the year, during normal working hours would be undesirable. Where sessional teaching is undertaken, it should be understood that the initial tutorial will include two hours of preparation and marking. Repeat tutorials involve one additional hour.

No other commitments should impact on the time commitment to the research program. It is the responsibility of the supervisor, Head of Department and student to ensure that paid work will not jeopardise the completion of the course of study in the time allowed.

Research assistants

Full-time Research Assistants within the University of Melbourne may enrol in the Masters by Research degree part-time if their nominated supervisor(s) provide a statement with the application form covering the following points:

Masters candidates freed by employers for full-time research

Eligible applicants for Masters by Research candidature who are in full-time employment must satisfy the Head of Department and supervisor, by way of confirmation in writing from their employer, that the following conditions can be met:

Application procedures

Applicants for Masters by Research candidature should obtain information from the Head of Department (or Graduate Research Co-ordinator) about the Department’s research activities and potential supervisors who are qualified and available to accept Masters by Research candidates for supervision, prior to lodging a formal application.

Applications from Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and Australian Permanent Residents
Applicants should complete an application for admission through the relevant Faculty or Graduate School Office, or the Melbourne School of Graduate Research as appropriate.  Refer to Appendix C for Faculty and Graduate School websites.  The application must be approved by the supervisor/s, Head of Department, Faculty Dean or Head of the Graduate School and where relevant the Chair of the RHD Committee. Applicants are required to meet the English language requirements in accordance with Regulation 11.1R3 Principles of Selection for entry to courses.  Further information is available from http://www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/int/apply/grad/english-req.html. A separate application form for scholarship must be submitted and is available from the Graduate Research Scholarships Office website at http://www.postgradschols.unimelb.edu.au/

Applications from international students
New international students should complete an Application for Admission as an International Postgraduate Student and return the form to the International Office. The application for candidature also includes an application for scholarships. Applicants are required to meet the English language requirements (refer Minimum standards for entry to the Masters by Research).

Transfer of candidature from another institution
Research Higher Degree students at other institutions who wish to transfer their candidature to the University of Melbourne must satisfy all the requirements of this University's regulations. Normally, the residency requirement would still be imposed.
Under the provisions of the Research Training Scheme (RTS) Commonwealth-funded Higher Degree Research candidates transferring their candidature are required to have the time they were enrolled at their previous university included in the maximum time available, up to a maximum period of two years full-time or four years part-time equivalent study for Masters by Research degree.

Police check for clinical placements
Organisations which host clinical placements or field experience may require students to have obtained a police check regarding their suitability to undertake such placements. Enrolled and prospective students are advised that they may be required to obtain and pay for a police check prior to undertaking the clinical placements or field experience in their course. The fee is approximately $30.00.---

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