Admission : The MPhil Handbook : The University of Melbourne

Admission

Minimum standards for entry to the MPhil

MPhil applicants will be assessed using the criteria described below. The measures include an assessment of a candidate's knowledge of the discipline and evidence of their ability to complete a rigorous research project. Applicants are required to meet the minimum standards described for each of the six measures. In addition 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/grad/english-req.

In exceptional circumstances, the RHD Committee may consider for admission a person who does not have qualifications equivalent to a four-year honours degree, if it is satisfied that the person's experience in research and the results of that experience are so outstanding that the person is likely to have the ability to pursue the course successfully. In such cases, or where other minimum standards as specified below are not all met, the department may present an evidence-based case for admittance to the Chair, Research Higher Degrees Committee.

Normally, the evidence of research equivalence would take the form of a research publication record and/or additional significant research experience that would be equivalent to a fourth year. In the case of a three-year honours degree from the United Kingdom the sponsoring Department may also provide evidence about the quality of the institution and the quality of the degree, compared with a four-year honours degree.

Criteria for assessing applicants eligibility for MPhil candidature
Criteria	Description
Minimum qualifications	Applicants are normally required to have completed at least a four-year honours degree at H2A standard from an Australian university, or a qualification or combination of qualifications considered by the RHD Committee to be equivalent.
Minimum level of academic achievement	Applicants should have achieved an overall H1 (80-100%) or H2A (75-79%) grade in the relevant honours or Masters degree. Applicants who have completed certain professional degrees such as MBBS, BVetSci, LLB, JD, BPhysio, BProp&Const, BUrbPl, BArch and BLArch will be assessed individually.
Relevance of the Degree	The completed degree must be in an area that is relevant to the intended MPhil, including sufficient specialisation such that the applicant will have already developed an understanding and appreciation of a body of knowledge relevant to the intended MPhil. Professional experience in the area of the intended MPhil may be deemed equivalent.
Evidence of research ability	Applicants are normally required to have completed a research project/component that accounts for at least 25% of their year's work at fourth year or at Masters level. Graduates of certain professional degrees, including MBBS, BVetSci, LLB, JD, BPhysio, BEng, BProp&Const, BUrbPl, BArch and BLArch are deemed to have met this requirement. In the absence of the final year research component, other evidence may be provided as to a student's ability to undertake research.
Currency of applicant's knowledge of the discipline	The applicant's degree/s and/or professional experience must demonstrate that their knowledge of the discipline in which they plan to undertake their research higher degree is current. It is therefore expected that an applicant will have completed their tertiary studies and/or any relevant professional experience in the 10 years immediately prior to their intended entry to the MPhil.
Assessment of level of commitment	Based on interview or other communication, an assessment should be made of the level of understanding, motivation and time commitment of the student for the proposed program of study. For example, a full-time student would be expected to devote at least 40 hours a week and a part-time student about half of this.

General requirements

Residency requirements
All MPhil candidates are required to complete the equivalent of at least six months full-time (12 months part-time) advanced study and research at the University (unless studying at an approved outside institution). The Research Higher Degrees Committee will not approve entirely distance supervision or entirely on-line supervision 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:

to build the skills and knowledge necessary to carry out the proposed research program
to acquire an understanding of the standards and requirements for an MPhil awarded by the University
to make use of support programs and facilities provided by the Melbourne School of Graduate Research throughout candidature.

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 fulltime (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 as part of the minimum period of residency. Application for non-consecutive periods of residency must be made to the RHD Committee. The application should include:

a statement of reasons for the application
a detailed timetable stating how the residency requirement will be met by the combined short periods
a letter signed by the supervisor and Head of Department.

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.

In exceptional circumstances, and where an applicant already has a proven professional background in the area of research, application may be made to meet the equivalence of the residency requirement. A case may be made to the RHD Committee and must be supported by the nominated supervisors and head of department. The application should include:

capabilities of applicant, details of proven research skills and professional background
a statement of commitment to attend the University for face-to-face meetings with the supervisor and meet other expectations as identified at least at commencement, at 6 months, at 12 months and 18 months.
a plan detailing the commitment and agreed upon expectations.

The above face-to-face intervals are a minimum only and these meetings need to take place in the Department. Applications, where the applicants meet these requirements, will not be automatically approved.

At commencement the candidate and supervisor will clarify expectations and complete the Checklist for Research Students and their Supervisors – Research Integrity and the Responsible Conduct of Research.

Attendance must be monitored and signed off by supervisors for progress reporting. Documentation of visits must be maintained and as e-portfolios are developed recorded appropriately.

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 MPhil 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 MPhil 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 MPhil part-time if their nominated supervisor(s) provide a statement with the application form covering the following points:

that the candidate would have sufficient time to undertake independent research towards their MPhil;
the relationship of the proposed thesis research to the applicant's employment, bearing in mind the independent nature of MPhil research;
that the candidate would complete the program in the required time.

MPhil candidates freed by employers for full-time research

Eligible applicants for MPhil candidature who are in fulltime 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:

the complete freedom of the candidate from all duties other than research for the degree, including attendance at the candidate's normal place of employment;
the vesting in the University of power to regulate all aspects of the student’s candidature and to do so at the University’s discretion.

Application procedures

Applicants for MPhil 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 MPhil candidates for supervision, prior to lodging a formal application.

Applications from Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and Australian Permanent Residents
An Application for Acceptance as a Research Higher Degree Candidate must be lodged through the department Graduate Research Co-ordinator. The Notification of Lodgement slip, which is provided with the application form, should also be completed by the applicant and sent to the Melbourne School of Graduate Research when the application form is submitted. The lodgement slip enables the Melbourne School of Graduate Research to monitor the progress of applications. The application must be approved by the supervisor/s, Head of Department, Dean of Faculty and the Chair of the RHD Committee. Applicants are required to meet the English language requirements (refer to Minimum standards for entry to the MPhil). The official letter of offer is prepared by the Melbourne School of Graduate Research and contains advice on enrolment procedures (refer to Enrolment).

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 to Minimum standards for entry to the MPhil).

Joint department applicants
Cross-disciplinary research applicants may be offered a joint enrolment in more than one department. In such cases the application form provides for the nomination of the department which will take primary responsibility for administering the candidature.

Transfer of candidature from another institution
RHD 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. Candidates apply on the An Application for Acceptance as a Research Higher Degree Candidate form. Normally, the residency requirement of six months full-time 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 parttime equivalent study for an MPhil.

The University of Melbourne allows a maximum term of MPhil candidature of 18 months (for full-time candidates). If necessary, candidates may apply for a maximum of two extensions of three months. Part-time candidates have a maximum term of candidature of three years, and may apply for a maximum of two six-month (part-time) extensions. Further extensions beyond two years will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. The University may elect to impose fees on students who have exhausted their entitlement.

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.

MPhil submission of collection of papers

Eligibility
Candidates submitting a collection of papers must be either Bachelor (or equivalent) graduates of the University of Melbourne with a minimum of four years since graduating from their bachelor degree and/or applicants who have a substantial connection with the University of Melbourne and can provide documented evidence such as research publications while an employee of the University of Melbourne.

Structure
Candidates submitting a collection of papers (either published or unpublished), need to include a general introduction, a literature survey, a general discussion, and a summary.

Course fee
Candidates submitting a collection of papers are not covered by the research training scheme and must pay a course fee of $2,500.

Melbourne School of Graduate Research

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