MQ Research Training

Pathway Program

Information Session

Professor Sakkie Pretorius Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research

World-Class HDR Students

Macquarie Community

Expert Supervision

Higher Degree

Research Office

Student Services

Quality Research Training

Stipends and Tuition

Scholarships

Australian School of Advanced Medicine

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Law and Legal Studies

Australian Hearing Hub

Earth Sciences

Macquarie Graduate School of

Management

Environmental Sciences

Faculty of Business and

Economics

Physical Sciences

Language Communication

and Culture

History and Archaeology

Electrical and Electronic

Engineering

Faculty of Arts

Faculty of Business

and Economics

Faculty of Human

Sciences

Faculty of Science

MRes

Enhanced research capabilities

Progression to PhD

Internationally recognised qualification

International-standard 2-year Research Training Pathway

at Macquarie University

(BPhil/MRes and MRes packages)

Professor Nick Mansfield Dean, Higher Degree Research

BPhil/MRes and MRes programs • BPhil/MRes and MRes are identical two-year programs • Purpose-designed for progression to PhD • Provide structured training in research & advanced study • Provide broader & deeper knowledge of disciplinary content • Demonstrate high achievement & advanced analytical skills to

potential employers • Engender a stronger sense of belonging – student cohort • Engender improved intellectual climate • Opportunity for students to pursue academic interests to higher

level – enhance career prospects in their discipline

• Align with (2+3yr) (Master+PhD) programs in Europe & 5yr Nth American PhD programs

• Improved overall completion rates & times for PhD candidates (compared with Hons/PhD or coursework Master/PhD pathways)

• Provides greater mobility for students wishing to study overseas, including through joint PhD programs

• MRes meets requirements as a research Master degree (for entry to PhD program)

BPhil/MRes and MRes programs (Continued)

Structure of 2yr Research Training Pathway Program

• Structure is confined by Aust. Govt. funding legislation

• Program is offered in 2 equivalent forms: – BPhil/MRes (for Domestic Students) – MRes (for International Students)

Structure of 2yr Research Training Pathway Program

• BPhil/MRes (for Domestic Students) – BPhil (yr1) is AQF level 8 (MQ 700-level units),

equivalent to Bachelor Honours – After completing yr1 (BPhil yr), domestic students will

progress to MRes yr2 (effectively with credit for yr1 BPhil)

– Will be awarded MRes after completing yr2 (students who pass yr1 and do not proceed to MRes yr2 will be awarded BPhil)

(Continued)

Structure of 2yr Research Training Pathway Program

• MRes (for International Students) – After completing yr1, international students will

progress to MRes yr2 – Will be awarded MRes after completing yr2 (students

who pass yr1 and do not proceed to MRes yr2 will be awarded BPhil)

(Continued)

Admission Requirements

• Admission into BPhil/MRes or MRes requires: – GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4 point scale overall, and at least

3.0 at 300-level (or equivalent to a credit average at highest level of study*).

– Some disciplines may have extra admission requirements e.g. a portfolio of work or a higher level of performance in previous study.

* A credit grade is usually taken to be 65% or higher.

- Direct Entry into Year 2

• Must meet Admission Requirements for Year 1 • Candidates who have completed relevant postgraduate

studies at Macquarie University or another university may receive up to 32 credit points towards MRes (subject to academic discretion)

• If awarded 32 credit points, the student will progress directly to Year 2

Admission Requirements

BPhil/MRes Fees & Scholarships – Domestic Students (Year 1)

• Year 1 (BPhil) is funded by Commonwealth Supported Places, so domestic students only pay contribution towards their fees (HECS-HELP available in most cases)

• Domestic students also pay Student Activities fees • Scholarship for Year 1:

– Session 1: $4,000 stipend scholarship awarded to all full-time domestic BPhil/MRes students

– Session 2: $4,000 stipend scholarship awarded to full-time domestic BPhil/MRes students who achieve average grade of 65 Standardised Numerical Grade (SNG) in Session 1

BPhil/MRes Fees & Scholarships – Domestic Students (Year 2)

• Year 2 (MRes) is funded by the Commonwealth Research Training Scheme, thus no fees are incurred by domestic students

• Scholarship for Year 2: – $16,000 stipend scholarship awarded to full-time domestic

students who achieve average grade of 75 Standardised Numerical Grade (SNG) in Yr1 of BPhil/MRes

– Payment made via fortnightly installments throughout year

MRes Fees & Scholarships – International Students

• International MRes students pay tuition fees • MQ will offer some stipend scholarships to International

students, based on merit – no application process • If awarded stipend, same as rate for Domestic students:

– Yr1 Session 1 = $4,000 – Yr1 Session 2 = $4,000 (if session 1 avg grade of 65 SNG) – Yr2 = $16,000 across year (if yr1 avg grade of 75 SNG)

• 4yr scholarship packages are available from China Scholarship Council, Vietnam International Education Department and equivalent agencies in SE Asia, sub-continent and Middle East

BPhil/MRes & MRes structure – Year 1

Guided study program of 8 Units, including:

• Research Communications; and • Research Frontiers; and • 6 units in advanced disciplinary content (with

minimum 25% research component)

BPhil/MRes & MRes structure – Year 2

Program based around five core activities: 1. Research Frontiers 2 2. Literature Review 3. Research Methods 4. Research Planning 5. Thesis (20,000 words) based on a small research project

• Since research varies in different fields, each department

has a program based on its own practices and style.

Progression to PhD

• Entry to 3yr PhD will require completed MRes, MPhil or equivalent research Master degree from another institution

• Students completing MRes with 75 SNG average performance for yr2 will gain automatic entry to PhD

• Domestic students completing MRes at minimum 85 SNG average performance will be awarded APA or MQRES scholarship (3yrs)

Progression to PhD

• A substantial number of iMQRES will be reserved for international students progressing from MRes to PhD with average grade of 85 SNG or more

• Direct-entry PhD enrolment for international students will be for 3 yrs

• Numerous scholarship arrangements with funding agencies will be available

• A range of cotutelle and joint PhD programs will be available to both domestic & international PhD students

(Continued)

Application Details

Application Deadline: Thursday 31st October 2013

For Application Form and details of How to Apply visit:

http://hdr.mq.edu.au/information_about/research_training_degrees/additional_info/mres_applications

(alternatively, you can go to: mq.edu.au/mres, click on “Program Information” and click on “Applications”)