Master of Philosophy - Victorian College of the Arts
Course MR-PHILVCA (2016)
Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2016.
Year and Campus: | 2016 - Southbank |
---|---|
Fees Information: | Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date |
Level: | Research Higher Degree |
Duration & Credit Points: | Students are expected to complete this research in 2.00 years full time, or equivalent part time. |
Coordinator
-Contact
The Melbourne School of Graduate Research
Graduate Centre (1888 Building)
Grattan Street
The University of Melbourne 3010
Australia
Telephone: + 61 3 834 48599
Fax number: +61 3 9349 2103
Course Overview: |
The Master of Philosophy is administered at The University of Melbourne by the Melbourne School of Graduate Research. The MPhil 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 MPhil 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. |
---|---|
Learning Outcomes: |
On completion of the course students should be able to:
|
Course Structure & Available Subjects: |
All candidates for the MPhil will be examined on the basis of their thesis. 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). |
Entry Requirements: |
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 6 measures. 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 applicant's eligibility for MPhil candidature 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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 4 th year or at Masters level. Graduates of certain professional degrees, including MBBS, BVSc, LLB, JD, BPhysio, BEng, BProp&Const, BUrbPl, BArch and BLArch are deemed to have met this requirement. 5. 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. 6. 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. |
Core Participation 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 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:
|
Graduate Attributes: |
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:
|
Links to further information: | http://www.gradresearch.unimelb.edu.au |
Notes: |
Application Procedure Detailed information for prospective MPhil students regarding the application process, including the application form is available on the MSGR website 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. MPhil 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 MPhil 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: MSGR makes available a broad range of Programs & Services available to graduate research students. |
Download PDF version.