Master of Science (Research) (MSCR) - MSCR

CRICOS code (International applicants): 070618G

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Program focus

This program provides opportunities for the students to undertake advanced study and to produce a research-based dissertation in a science based discipline. The emphasis of the program is to develop the appropriate knowledge and skills to undertake independent research and professional practice.

Program aims

This program provides opportunities for motivated and highly qualified students to undertake advanced study and to produce a research-based dissertation. Students will develop appropriate research skills and specialist area knowledge that will enhance their career prospects or allow them to proceed to further appropriate higher degree studies.

Program objectives

General Objectives

Successful completion of this program will enable graduates to:

• identify, interpret and evaluate major issues of contemporary theory and practice in their discipline area

• comprehend and evaluate developments in a chosen discipline area and critically examine the relationships between such developments and contemporary theory

• apply a knowledge of the principles and ethics of research within their chosen discipline area

• identify research topics and undertake research using appropriate methodology and current techniques

• report and publish research outcomes.

Major Objectives

Successful completion of the program will enable a graduate to:

• identify, interpret and evaluate major issues in contemporary theory and practice of scientific research in the disciplines within the Faculty of Sciences

• apply current research techniques and methodology to the pursuit of specific research goals.

Admission requirements

Application for Admission

The degree is centred on a research project, supervised by a principal and an associate supervisor. It is therefore essential that intending candidates clarify their topic for research and seek an academic staff member able to provide principal supervision. Application forms and advice on procedures for enrolment may be obtained from the Program Coordinator. Intending candidates are advised to allow several months for discussion with potential supervisors and for consideration of the application prior to the commencement of candidature.

Intending applicants must consult the Program Coordinator before they apply. Applicants must then submit a Direct Entry application form together with other information as specified by the Program Coordinator, to Student Administration. The applicants must receive approval from the Program Coordinator for the proposed study plan, and may also be required to attend an interview with the Dean, or the Dean's nominee, prior to confirmation of acceptance. A satisfactory level of English (IELTS of 6.5 or equivalent) is essential as per normal University research degree entry requirements.

Admission Criteria

To be eligible for admission to the Master of Science, applicants must have either:

• completed a four-year degree at an Australian university or equivalent, with a GPA of 4.5 or above, in a relevant discipline,

or

• completed a three-year degree at an Australian university or equivalent and have successfully completed a coursework masters, with a GPA of 4.5 or above, in a relevant discipline,

or

• completed a three-year degree at an Australian university or equivalent and either successfully completed a Postgraduate diploma in a relevant area or, have successfully completed a Postgraduate Certificate in a relevant area together with the equivalent of a minimum of two years work experience deemed to be appropriate by the Dean or, have very substantial equivalent industry experience deemed to be appropriate by the Dean

and

• Acceptance will be subject to the availability of, and endorsement by, a USQ supervisor.

Pre-requisite Knowledge

Eligible students who are not considered to have sufficient previous knowledge may be required to undertake a limited number of additional relevant courses. All students must discuss their enrolment pattern with the Program Coordinator prior to nominating courses on their enrolment form.

How to apply

International students

This program is offered to international students. An international student is a person who is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen and not an Australian permanent resident. Please refer to USQ International for information about entry requirements, visa arrangements and how to apply.

Domestic students

Applications for Research Master and Doctorate programs should be made directly to USQ.

Program fees

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.
Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who reside outside Australia pay full tuition fees.
Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called FEE-HELP.

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.

Research training scheme (RTS)

The Research Training Scheme (RTS) provides Commonwealth-funded higher degree by research (HDR) students with an ‘entitlement’ to an exemption from course fees for the equivalent of four years full-time study in an accredited HDR program. If a student's RTS entitlement expires before they have completed their program they will be required to pay full tuition fees. As there may be limited RTS places available, some students may be required to pay fees for all or part of their program. The USQ Office of Research and Higher Degrees will advise students of their eligibility for an RTS place.

Program structure

Candidates will be expected to conduct their studies in areas of science research that reflect the expertise of current staff in the Faculty of Sciences. Most research active staff are also members of a USQ Research Centre. Details of current research programs and potential supervisors can be found on the relevant Biological and Physical Sciences and Mathematics and Computing Departmental and Research Centre webpages.

The emphasis of the program will be on developing the appropriate knowledge and skills to undertake independent research and professional practice. Accordingly, a major component of the program will be a supervised research project.

There are 12 units in the program. There is one unit of coursework research training and an 11-unit research project. The first three research project courses (SCI9011 Master of Science Research Project A , SCI9012 Master of Science Research Project B and SCI9013 Master of Science Research Project C ) are evaluated by progress reports and a seminar, dissertation proposal and progress seminar respectively.

The student will prepare a dissertation based on independently conducted research. To successfully complete the dissertation, students will be required to select a research topic, carry out supervised research on the chosen topic using an appropriate research method and present and defend the results.

The research training course will consist of SCI4405 Research Practice and Ethics or HSC8050 Research Methodology for the Human Sciences or equivalent (as approved by the program co-ordinator).

Students who have previously completed SCI4405 Research Practice and Ethics or HSC8050 Research Methodology for the Human Sciences or an equivalent course elsewhere, will be granted an exemption for this course.

Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 4years to complete this program.

Exit points

Students enrolled in this Master's program, who wish to exit without completing the program, may on the basis of outstanding performance, seek articulation to a PhD program on the completion of at least eight units within the MSCR. To be eligible for articulation, students will have obtained an overall GPA of at least 6.0 averaged across SCI9011 Master of Science Research Project A, SCI9012 Master of Science Research Project B and SCI9013 Master of Science Research Project Cand may seek to articulate to a PhD from SCI9014 Master of Science Research Project D via evaluation of a full PhD dissertation proposal supported by their supervisor. This material will be assessed via the Faculty Research and Higher Degrees Committee and if in addition, the SCI9014 Master of Science Research Project Dprogress report is satisfactory, a recommendation will be made to the University with respect to articulation to the PhD program with credit being given for the 8 units successfully undertaken within the MSCR Students wishing to exit as above must discuss the procedures with the Program Coordinator.

In this section:

• Recommended enrolment pattern (full-time)
• Recommended enrolment pattern (part-time)

Recommended enrolment pattern (full-time)

Recommended enrolment pattern (part-time)