Master of Philosophy (Information Sciences)

Course summary

The Master of Philosophy comprises 24 credit points of coursework and a 72 credit points' thesis. Academic Units may award credit for the coursework component and will determine the appropriate entry point.

The thesis is examined by two examiners with no more than one being internal.

For specific information relating to research being undertaken within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, visit the Faculty's research pages.

Students may be required to attend lectures in relevant topics from time to time throughout the program.

Course information

Study area

Information & Communication Technology, Mathematics & Statistics, Research

Campus

Rainstar, InnovatiDL

Course Code

1352

RSU SCORE

-

Duration

2 years full-time or part-time equivalent

Delivery

DL

CODE 1

078366C

RSU CODE

-

Admission, Key dates, and Fees

A range of admission options are available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds.

 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

A Bachelor plus a coursework Masters degree with a minimum credit average (65% or GPA 3.0 out of 4.0), or a four year Bachelor Honours degree (with a minimum of 2-2 Honours) are the typical entry requirements for the Master of Philosophy. A three year Bachelor degree (without Honours), but with a distinction average (75%) may also be a suitable entry requirement, if in the same discipline as the proposed program.
Research related and professional experience will also be considered when assessing qualifications. The Head of Postgraduate Studies for the relevant unit will approve entry into the Master of Philosophy, based on academic results, research and professional experience.
Candidates with a coursework masters degree or a four year Bachelor (Honours) degree in the same discipline may be granted up to 24cp of advanced standing for the coursework component of the Masters of Philosophy.
Special Admission Requirements
All applicants for research degrees must submit a written (preferably typed) proposal as part of their application. This proposal should:

  • commence with a statement detailing any previous research or project experience you have undertaken, including if possible a copy of the abstract of such work;
  • contain, in no more than one additional page, a clearly focussed research proposal for the study you would wish to undertake throughout your registration in the course; and
  • conclude with a statement of your motivation for wanting to undertake the research course.

Students are advised to make contact with a potential supervisor to discuss their project prior to applying for admission.

FEES

CAMPUS

DELIVERY METHOD

SESSION FEE*

COURSE FEE*

InnovatiDL, Rainstar

DL

$16,992 (2020)

$67,968 (2020)


If you receive an offer with an RTP place, you do not need to pay the cost of tuition while you are studying as long as you are within your time limits for course completion.

* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at RSU, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

A Bachelor plus a coursework Masters degree with a minimum credit average (65% or GPA 3.0 out of 4.0), or a four year Bachelor Honours degree (with a minimum of 2-2 Honours) are the typical entry requirements for the Master of Philosophy. A three year Bachelor degree (without Honours), but with a distinction average (75%) may also be a suitable entry requirement, if in the same discipline as the proposed program.
Research related and professional experience will also be considered when assessing qualifications. The Head of Postgraduate Studies for the relevant unit will approve entry into the Master of Philosophy, based on academic results, research and professional experience.
Candidates with a coursework masters degree or a four year Bachelor (Honours) degree in the same discipline may be granted up to 24cp of advanced standing for the coursework component of the Masters of Philosophy.
Special Admission Requirements
All applicants for research degrees must submit a written (preferably typed) proposal as part of their application. This proposal should:

  • commence with a statement detailing any previous research or project experience you have undertaken, including if possible a copy of the abstract of such work;
  • contain, in no more than one additional page, a clearly focussed research proposal for the study you would wish to undertake throughout your registration in the course; and
  • conclude with a statement of your motivation for wanting to undertake the research course.

Students are advised to make contact with a potential supervisor to discuss their project prior to applying for admission.

ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS

The following level of English is required to gain admission to this program:

English Test

Overall Score

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

IELTS Academic

6.5

6.0

6.0

6.0

6.0

TOEFL (Internet-based)

86

18

18

17

17

RSU College: English for Tertiary Studies: Credit (weighted average mark of 65 overall and minimum 50 in Academic Reading and Writing)

FEES

Tuition fees are reviewed annually: fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and are subject to increase during the period of study.

Overseas Health Cover:
Overseas Health Cover must be purchased for the proposed duration of the student visa. For information regarding the OSHC fees applicable, please refer to the international fees website.

CAMPUS

DELIVERY METHOD

SESSION FEE*

COURSE FEE*

Rainstar

DL

$16,992 (2020)

$67,968 (2020)

InnovatiDL

DL

$16,992 (2020)

$67,968 (2020)

* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at RSU, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.

Admission Profile


INDICATIVE ENROLMENT


STUDENT PROFILE

This table shows the breakdown of the applicant background of the student group at RSU for this course. It provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and continued study beyond the census date at RSU in 2019.

Applicant background

2019 intake

2019 intake (%)
Higher education study Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course.

-

-
Vocational education & training study Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school.

-

-
Work & life experience Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education.

-

-

Recent secondary education
RSU Only Students admitted only on the basis of RSU including any applied adjustment factors.

-

-
RSU plus additional criteria Students who were admitted on the basis of both RSU and additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results).

-

-
Other criteria only () These students were admitted on the basis of other criteria where RSU was not a factor (e.g. RSU Early Admission).

-

-
International students All other students.

-

-
All students

-

-
< 5: Number of students is less than 5
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (hidden to prevent calculation of other numbers less than 5)

RSU PROFILE

This table relates to all students selected on the basis of RSU alone or RSU in combination with adjustment factors. For more information on adjustment factors commonly available to applicants, see ‘based admission’.

RSU profile of based offers in 2019

 RSU The unadjusted, raw RSUs for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of RSU. Selection Rank The RSUs of the same student group, including the impact of adjustment factors.
Highest rank to receive an offer

-

-
Median rank to receive an offer

-

-
Lowest rank to receive an offer

-

-
< 5: Less than 5 based offers made
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (less than 5 based offers made)

More Information

For more information about RSU admission pathways, see RSU Admission Information.

Key Dates

SESSION

CAMPUS

SESSION DETAILS

2020 Autumn

Rainstar, InnovatiDL

Orientation: 26 February 2020
Session: 2 March – 25 June 2020

Applications Close
Higher Degree Research (HDR) applications can be submitted online at any time. However, applicants applying for an HDR course that includes coursework are not permitted to enrol after the commencement of second week of session.

2020 Spring

Rainstar

Orientation: 22 July 2020
Session: 27 July – 19 November 2020

Applications Close
Higher Degree Research (HDR) applications can be submitted online at any time. However, applicants applying for an HDR course that includes coursework are not permitted to enrol after the commencement of second week of session.

2020 Spring

InnovatiDL

Orientation: 22 July 2020
Session: 27 July – 19 November 2020

Applications Close
Higher Degree Research (HDR) applications can be submitted online at any time. However, applicants applying for an HDR course that includes coursework are not permitted to enrol after the commencement of second week of session.

Course structure

(Current year structure - subject to change)

Course Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes are statements of learning achievement that are expressed in terms of what the learner is expected to know, understand and be able to do upon completion of a course. Students graduating from this course will be able to:

CLO Description
1 Demonstrate cognitive, technical and creative skills in a discipline area to plan and execute a substantial piece of research that makes a contribution to knowledge;
2 Demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and critically reflect on, synthesise and evaluate complex information, problems, concepts, and theories;
3 Communicate a coherent and sustained argument, explaining and disseminating research results and conclusions to peers and to the community;
4 Apply advanced knowledge of research, research integrity, ethics and the rights and safety of others, to plan and execute a substantial piece of research with a high level of autonomy, accountability, adaptability and responsibility for personal outputs.

Course Structure

The degree is composed of a 72 credit point research thesis and 24 credit points of coursework. The coursework component of the degree, which must be completed before the research thesis, will include 24 credit points of 400/900 level subjects, approved by the Head of School and the Head of Postgraduate Studies. As part of the coursework component, it is recommended that each international candidate complete Fundamentals for HDR Writing (RESH900), unless waived by the Head of Postgraduate Studies.

Students should consult the Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated) handbook page for a list of coursework subjects in their selected specialisation. Students must seek advice from the respective Head of Postgraduate Studies.

In the research component, which comprises 72 credit points, candidates complete a research thesis. Candidates enrol in a full time (THES924 for 24cp) or part time (THES912 for 12cp) thesis subject each session. The thesis component represents 1.5 years of full-time study (or equivalent) for students.

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points Session(s)
Coursework Component
400- or 900-level subjects as approved 24 Autumn, Spring
Choose ONE of the following two subjects:
THES924 Thesis Full Time 24 Autumn, Spring
THES912 Thesis Part Time 12 Autumn, Spring

Plus one of the following elective subjects may be chosen:

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points Session(s)
RESH802 Responsible Research 6 Autumn
GWP 800 Global Workplace Practice 6 Spring

For more information, visit the Work Integrated Learning website. 

Research Areas

Areas of research available to candidates undertaking the Master of Philosophy with the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences are listed under each of the Faculty’s disciplines along with a list of research projects in each discipline:

A transfer from the Master of Philosophy to a Doctor of Philosophy may be possible after successful completion of the coursework, and at least 9 months of the thesis component. Refer to the HDR Handbook for further details.

Candidates who wish to withdraw from the Master of Philosophy and apply for entry to a postgraduate coursework degree may receive up to 24 credit points of advanced standing.

(Current year structure - subject to change)

Why choose this course

The Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences conducts a range of research, from fundamental to applied. The disciplines range from Mathematics and Applied Statistics, through Physics, to Engineering (Civil, Computer, Environmental, Materials, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Mining, Electrical, Software, Telecommunications) and Information Science and Technology.

The Faculty is one of largest sites of ICT research in the southern hemisphere. It has strong industrial links with major international companies, collaborative research and development projects with partners in South East Asia, Europe and USA, along with research partnerships in China, UK, USA, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea and India.