Master of Philosophy

What is this course about?

The Master of Philosophy, offered through the Faculty of Science, enables applicants to research an area closely associated with their undergraduate or postgraduate specialisation.

The Master of Philosophy is designed to allow graduates to undertake specialised studies to support their technical and professional development and their career aspirations. The Faculty offers the Master of Philosophy to applicants who wish to research an area closely associated with their undergraduate or postgraduate specialisation.

General course objectives are to develop:

• a specialised body of knowledge appropriate to a research career
• skills of information gathering, processing and evaluation, and problem solving and communication skills

The Master of Philosophy is currently available through all Schools in the Faculty of Science.

Subject to regulation and approval, candidates may conduct their research at other places where adequate facilities and co-supervisors are available. The direction of the work remains under the control of the University supervisor.

Students admitted to the research and thesis program will be required to submit a thesis embodying the results of an approved research project. A student may be required to undertake further support subjects to assist in the completion of the research project.

Graduation requirements

To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete a thesis equivalent to 128 points.

School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences

Research Centres:

• E.H. Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation
• Cooperative Research Centre Weed Management Systems
• Cooperative Research Centre for Irrigation Futures
• Institute for Land, Water and Society
• National Wine and Grape Industry Centre
• Cooperative Research Centre for Viticulture  

Major research areas:

• agronomy (weed, water, nutrient management)
• crop and pasture production
• plant protection
• soil science/management
• animal science/production
• equine studies
• irrigation
• chemistry (food technology, environmental chemistry)
• environmental science (emphasis on river and floodplain ecology, rehabilitation of aquatic and terrestrial systems, image and spatial data analysis and modelling and environmental chemistry)
• food science
• fresh water ecology
• fresh water chemistry
• landscape ecology
• land system processes
• natural resources and communities
• sustainable business
• vertebrate distribution and abundance
• wine science
• viticulture

School of Environmental Sciences

Research Centre:

• Institute for Land, Water and Society

Research within the Centre tends to be multi-disciplinary, focusing on the management of Australia’s protected areas.

Major research areas:

• ecosystem conservation and management
• ornithology
• restoration ecology
• remnant vegetation ecology
• reintroduction biology
• conservation policy, planning and development
• recreation, leisure and tourism
• cultural and heritage studies
• environmental and resource information systems
• network publishing and multimedia
• complex systems
  

Campus

Multi campus

Duration

1-2 years full-time, 2-4 years part-time

CRICOS code

001257M

Graduation requirements

To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete a thesis equivalent to 128 points.

Course structure

Students will enrol in one of the following discipline based research subjects for the period of their candidature:

AGR601 Master Research (Agriculture) - part-time
AGR602 Master Research (Agriculture) - full-time
PRH601 Master Research (Environmental Science) - part-time
PRH602 Master Research (Environmental Science) - full-time
SCI601 Master Research (Applied Science) - part-time
SCI602 Master Research (Applied Science) - full-time

Additional subjects may be added following approval by the Sub Dean Graduate Studies

Enrolment pattern

No enrolment pattern is specified. Students are advised to contact the Sub-Dean (Graduate Studies) or Principal Supervisor for relevant information.

Admission requirements

To qualify for candidature, applicants must hold one of the following:

• a relevant Honours degree minimum Class 2 (Division 1)
  
• a relevant three-year degree plus other postgraduate studies
  
• a relevant three-year degree plus demonstrated research ability and other study.

Intending applicants should contact the Sub-Dean, Graduate Studies to discuss the proposal before submitting the prescribed application form. In addition, applicants must complete a form describing their area of interest, which should accompany their application. Please phone info.csu on 1800 334 733 or make an online enquiry for the contact details of the appropriate person.

Admission to candidature is subject to approval by the Board of Graduate Studies.

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

English proficiency

Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they

1. have undertaken an academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with an average score of 7.0, and with no score lower than 6.5, within the last 12 months;  or
2. undertaken a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 577 (or computerised TOEFL score of 233), with a Test for Written English Score (where reported) of at least 5.0 or an Internet-based score of 90 with a written score of 24 within the last 12 months; or
3. undertaken other equivalent examinations, as determined by the Board of Graduate Studies;  or
4. completed a university degree where the language of assessment is in English;

The Presiding Officer of the Board of Graduate Studies may, in special circumstances, on behalf of the Board waive the above proficiency requirements after consulting the relevant Dean, Sub-Dean and nominated Supervisor.

NOTE: A Faculty may require a higher standard of proficiency than that specified above for programs deemed to be linguistically demanding.

Apply now

This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2; Session 3