Master of Philosophy - Engineering

The Master of Philosophy is an internationally recognised masters (by research) degree. It is designed for students to develop advanced skills in carrying out independent and sustained research. The thesis should demonstrate a critical application of specialist knowledge and make an independent contribution to existing scholarship in the area of research.

The normal length of an Master of Philosophy thesis is 30,000-40,000 words, exclusive of words in tables, maps bibliographies, and appendices. Footnotes are included as part of the word limit.

A candidate will have appropriately experienced supervisor(s) and an Advisory Committee who in consultation with the candidate, arranges a course of supervised research designed to suit the individual requirements and interests of the candidate. A candidate may be required to supplement their research program by attendance at, or enrolment in, additional subjects if considered necessary by the supervisor(s). All students are required to attend departmental seminars over the period of their candidature.

Duration

Duration of Master of Philosophy candidature is 18 months (full-time equivalent). Extensions of up to a total of six months (full-time equivalent) may be allowed. The Research Training Scheme (RTS) is available for a maximum of two years (full-time equivalent). To be eligible to submit a thesis students must be enrolled in their course for the minimum period of 12 months full-time equivalent.

Intake

Students may commence a MR-PHILENG (Master of Philosophy-Engineering) at any time during the year subject to prior arrangement with their nominated supervisor.

Graduate research students in the School of Engineering are required to enrol in coursework components. Enrolment in these coursework subjects is dependent on commencement in the Master of Philosophy-Engineering prior to the first day of scheduled classes. Students are encouraged to enrol into their graduate research degree prior to Semester 1 or Semester 2 class commencement if they are intending on enrolling in coursework subjects in the corresponding semester.

Please check with the relevant department prior to making any arrangements for enrolment or travel.

On completion of the course students should be able to:

• demonstrate advanced learning in research skills and mastery of appropriate techniques, such as the use of archival or primary evidence, analysis of data, judgment of conflicting evidence etc;
• demonstrate specialist knowledge in the area of their research;
• present the results of their research in publishable quality or work towards incorporating their findings in further research;
• gain access to certain types of employment through this specialist qualification;
• demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, research ethics or code of practice.

Coursework Component

Students are required to successfully complete a minimum of two and a maximum of four coursework subjects throughout their Master of Philosophy-Engineering candidature.

Awarding of Final Mark & Grade

Students must successfully complete the required coursework component in order to be awarded the Master of Philosophy-Engineering. Where there is a coursework component the final mark and grade for the degree is the mark and grade awarded for the thesis.

Conversion

All students are required to successfully complete a minimum of two coursework subjects before they are eligible to apply to convert from MR-PHILENG Master of Philosophy-Engineering to 351AA PhD-Engineering.

All students are required to successfully complete a minimum of two subjects and a maximum of four chosen from the list below with the approval of the student's supervisor.

If a student does not have sufficient background in the subjects or their area of research, they may be required by the supervisory panel to take preliminary undergraduate subjects or complementary subjects such as ‘LING90002 Presenting Academic Discourse’ or ‘MAST90007: Statistics for Research Workers’. Preliminary undergraduate and complementary subjects will not count towards the postgraduate level coursework requirement for Master of Philosophy-Engineering.

Students in the following Departments may select subjects from the complete list below;
• Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
• Computing and Information Systems
• Infrastructure Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering.

Graduate/Postgraduate subjects NOT listed below may be selected in consultation with the student's supervisor and are subject to the endorsement of the subject coordinator and Head of Department.

Students in Electrical and Electronic Engineering must select from the Electrical and Electronic Engineering list.

Subjects Available:

Biomedical Engineering

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Computing and Information Systems Engineering

Infrastructure Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Graduate School of Science

School of Botany

School of Chemistry

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Students are permitted to undertake the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Masters level Mathematics and Statistics subjects listed below.

School of Physics

Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Electrical and Electronic Engineering students may select subjects from the list below;

Subjects Available:

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Electrical and Electronic Engineering students are permitted to undertake the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Masters level Mathematics and Statistics subjects.

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

• A four-year bachelor degree in a relevant discipline which includes a substantial research component equivalent to at least 25% of one year of full-time study and have achieved a minimum weighted average of 75% in the final year subjects or (University of Melbourne) equivalent
or
• A masters degree in a relevant discipline which includes a substantial research component equivalent to at least 25% of one year of full-time study and achieved a minimum weighted average of 75% or (University of Melbourne) equivalent
or
• A qualification and professional experience considered to be equivalent

and

• A research proposal
• Referee reports (except for applicants who have graduated from the University of Melbourne within the last 5 years)
• The endorsement of a prospective supervisor.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In selecting applicants, the selection committee will consider applicants’:

• Prior academic performance and, if relevant, professional qualifications
• Understanding of the research question to be explored
• Performance at an interview
• The applicant’s motivation and capacity to complete the course in a timely manner
• Relevant prior research and/or professional experience
• The referee reports.

3. The selection committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Selection and Admission into Graduate Research Courses Policy.

4. The minimum English language requirements for this course are: Band 6.5.

http://futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/admissions/entry-requirements/language-requirements

For more information on the application process see http://www.eng.unimelb.edu.au/study/research/.

All Master of Philosophy 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 outside institution approved by the Research Higher Degrees Committee (RHDC). The RHDC will not approve entirely distance supervision or entirely on-line supervision for research higher degree students.

Throughout their candidature candidates are expected to attend the University in order to benefit from planning, conducting and writing up their research within a University community and environment.

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.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting the requirements of this course are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit.

Research Masters degrees at the University of Melbourne seek to develop graduates who have a capacity for defining and managing a research project characterised by originality and independence. Their training equips them for more sustained and original work at the doctoral level or for applied research positions in a wide variety of contexts.

The University expects its research Masters graduates to have the following qualities and skills:

• an ability to initiate research projects and to formulate viable research questions;
• a demonstrated capacity to design, conduct and report independent and original research on a closely-defined project;
• an ability to manage time to maximise the quality of research;
• an understanding of the major contours of international research in the research area;
• a capacity for critical evaluation of relevant scholarly literature;
• well-developed and flexible problem-solving abilities appropriate to the discipline;
• the ability to analyse research data within a changing disciplinary environment;
• the capacity to communicate effectively the results of research and scholarship by oral and written communication;
• an understanding of and facility with scholarly conventions in the discipline area;
• a profound respect for truth and intellectual integrity, and for the ethics of research and scholarship;
• a capacity to cooperate with other researchers;
• an ability to manage information effectively, including the application of computer systems and software where appropriate to the student's field of study.

Application Procedure

Detailed information for prospective Master of Philosophy students regarding the application process, including the application form is available at http://www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/grad/research.

It is important to note that there is a separate application form for local and international students.

Master of Philosophy applicants should discuss their research interests with a potential supervisor at the department in which they would like to enrol prior to submitting an application.

The Find an Expert website may assist you to find an appropriate supervisor. Prospective Master of Philosophy candidates should also investigate department websites for information on current research and contact details. Department websites are easily accessed from faculty homepages.

Applications are accepted year-round.

Which scholarship can I apply for?

Students can find information about graduate research scholarships offered by the University of Melbourne at the Melbourne Scholarships Office.

Facilities and Supports:

The Melbourne School of Graduate Research makes available a broad range of Programs & Services available to graduate research students.