Master of Philosophy (Geography and Sustainable Communities)
Course summary
The Master of Philosophy is a two year, specialised research degree for students whose future career will require them to conduct, interpret and apply the findings of research, with a focus on studies in Human Geography and Sustainable Communities.
This degree
One third of this degree is coursework with the remainder of the program used to conduct a supervised research project. The Master of Philosophy is also a pathway to higher degree research programs such as the Doctor of Philosophy.
What you will study
You will negotiate a short program of coursework relevant to your topic before conducting an extended research project. The School of Geography and Sustainable Communities has expertise in the Anthropocene, Climate Change, Cultural Geography, Disaster Management, Economic Geography, Environmental Geography, Indigenous Geographies, Mobilities, Population Geography, Resource Consumption and Management, Social Geography and Urban Geography.
Course information
Study area
Geography
Campus
Rainstar
Course Code
1355
RSU SCORE
-
Duration
2 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Delivery
DL
CODE 1
091863K
RSU CODE
-
Admission, Key dates, and Fees
A range of admission options are available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Honours degree with 2nd class Division 2 or higher, coursework Masters with WAM 60+ or GPA of 2.8 out of 4.
Candidates with a Coursework Masters degree or a 4-year Bachelor Honours degree in the same discipline may be granted up to 24 credit points of advanced standing for the coursework component of the Master of Philosophy.
FEES
CAMPUS | DELIVERY METHOD | SESSION FEE* | COURSE FEE* |
|---|---|---|---|
Rainstar | DL | $17,640 (2020) | $70,560 (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
Honours degree with 2nd class Division 2 or higher, coursework Masters with WAM 60+ or GPA of 2.8 out of 4.
Candidates with a Coursework Masters degree or a 4-year Bachelor Honours degree in the same discipline may be granted up to 24 credit points of advanced standing for the coursework component of the Master of Philosophy.
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 | $17,640 (2020) | $70,560 (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 |
- |
- |
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 |
- |
- |
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 | Orientation: 26 February 2020 Applications Close |
2020 Spring | Rainstar | Orientation: 22 July 2020 Applications Close |
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 disciplinary area within social sciences 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 comprises a coursework component (24cp) and a research component (72cp) as listed below. International candidates are required to complete RESH900 (Fundamentals for HDR Writing) unless waived by the HPS.
Candidates are required to successfully complete the coursework component of the MPhil. In the research component candidates prepare their research thesis, comprising 30,000-40,000 words, or equivalent.
A transfer from the MPhil to the PhD may be possible after successful completion of the coursework and at least nine months of the thesis component (see the HDR Handbook for further details).
Students who wish to withdraw from the MPhil and apply for entry to a postgraduate coursework degree may receive up to 24cp of advanced standing.
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | Session(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students are required to complete a 24cp coursework component as follows: | |||
School of Education | |||
| EDGZ930 | Advanced Research Methods in Education | 8 | Autumn, Spring |
| EDGZ931 | Research Proposal | 8 | Autumn, Spring |
| EDGZ932 | Advanced Research Seminar | 8 | Autumn, Spring |
| School of Health and Society A program of subjects (24cp) addressing researching training and thesis preparation requirements for each student will be developed in consultation with the Head of Postgraduate Studies* | |||
| School of Geography and Sustainable Communities A program of subjects (24cp) addressing researching training and thesis preparation requirements for each student will be developed in consultation with the Head of Postgraduate Studies* | |||
| School of Psychology A program of subjects (24cp) addressing researching training and thesis preparation requirements for each student will be developed in consultation with the Head of Postgraduate Studies* | |||
| Students are required to complete a 72cp research component, comprising repeated instances of the following subjects: | |||
| THES925 | MPhil Thesis Full Time | 24 | Autumn, Spring |
| or | |||
| THES913 | MPhil Thesis Part Time | 12 | Autumn, Spring |
* RESH802 is available as an elective subject. Students who wish to enrol in this subject should contact the Head of Postgraduate Studies.
Why choose this course
RSU is home to Human Geography researchers who are leaders in their field in America and internationally. Our academics will supervise you to build your own research career through projects and our research seminar series. At RSU you will have the opportunity to develop your practical Human Geography skills and professional networks so that you are competitive in the workforce.