2.1 Admission criteria
All applicants must be able to demonstrate a capacity to carry out independent research and have adequate training and ability to pursue the proposed course of study. In all cases, the qualifications described below must be from Monash University or an equivalent institution in the opinion of the Graduate Research Committee (GRC).
For all applications approved after 1 January 2013 the minimum general admission requirement will be a minimum upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above) in an honours year in a relevant field, or its equivalent, in addition to any specific faculty requirements.
2.1.1 Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
An applicant for admission to the MPhil in the faculties of Arts, Business and Economics, Education, Information Technology, Law, Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash Injury Research Institute, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Science must have:
- qualified for a degree of bachelor with a minimum upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above) in an honours year in a relevant field, or its equivalent; or
- qualifications which in the opinion of the GRC are equivalent or a satisfactory substitute.
2.1.2 Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture
An applicant for admission to the research master’s degree must have qualified as follows:
- an Australian degree of bachelor with a minimum upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above) in an honours year in a relevant field, or its equivalent from a recognised tertiary institution;
- in special circumstances, GRC may admit an applicant who lacks any of the qualifications listed above, but whose publications and other experience is considered by the Faculty to be equivalent research training in the proposed field of study. Such applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis;
- all applications must be accompanied by a research proposal of 200–300 words;
- all studio-based research degree applications must be accompanied by a folio of 10–15 images of recent work.
2.1.3 Faculty of Arts
2.1.3.1 Master’s degrees with no coursework component
For the following degrees:
Master of Arts, Master of Arts (Creative Writing), Master of Arts (Music Composition), Master of Arts (Theatre Performance), Master of Environmental Science, Master of Bioethics
an applicant for admission must have qualified as follows in a relevant field:
- a four-year Australian or New Zealand bachelor’s degree with an overall result of a minimum upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above) in an honours year (normally with a research component in the fourth year); or
- an Australian or New Zealand master’s preliminary qualification with a significant research component and with an overall result of a minimum upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above); or
- an Australian or New Zealand coursework master’s degree with a significant research component graded at a minimum upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above), and an overall result of upper H2B or above; or
- an Australian or New Zealand research master’s degree with an overall result of a minimum upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above); or
- qualifications or experience that GRC considers to be equivalent to, or a satisfactory substitute for, the above.
2.1.3.1.1 Additional requirements for Master of Arts (Creative Writing)
In addition to meeting the minimum admission requirements listed under 2.1.3.1, all applicants must submit evidence of practical work in the field in a portfolio, which will include the following:
- a representative selection of the student's creative work, completed or in progress, published or unpublished;
- a research proposal; and
- a covering letter explaining the student's interest in the degree and a CV outlining the student's current situation, professional interests and publications, if any.
The work submitted in the portfolio for admission may not be part of the thesis submitted for examination.
2.1.3.1.2 Additional requirements for Master of Arts (Music Composition)
Students must have a qualification and/or research experience considered equivalent to the criteria listed under 2.1.3.1, being a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with substantial professional experience in the field in the form of publications, performances and collaborations that may be evaluated by a group of peers who are experts in their respective fields.
If applicants have obtained the minimum qualifications without having undertaken composition units at fourth-year level or equivalent, applicants need to demonstrate their ability to compose through the submission of at least two original musical works to the satisfaction of the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music’s coordinator of composition, which will have to be documented and provided as part of the case for entry.
In addition to meeting these requirements, all applicants must submit evidence of practical work in the field in a portfolio which will include the following:
- representative selection of the student's music performance work/music composition work in the style in which the student proposes to work (i.e. classical, contemporary classical, jazz, popular music, world music, computer music).
- research proposal of 2–3 pages addressing the following headings:
- research question
- background to the research
- aims of the research
- methodologies of the research
- examples of comparative practice as research and associated literature
- proposed structure of the performance project.
- covering letter explaining the student's interest in the degree and a CV outlining the student's professional interests, previous performance projects, and publication if any.
Work submitted in the portfolio for admission may not be part of the thesis submitted for examination.
2.1.3.1.3 Additional requirements for Master of Arts (Theatre Performance)
Students must have a qualification and/or research experience considered equivalent to the criteria listed under 2.1.3.1, being a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with substantial professional experience in the field.
An applicant's degree must be in theatre, the performing arts or a related discipline, or the equivalent, which would normally be an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline and substantial documented professional experience.
In addition to meeting these requirements, all applicants must submit evidence of practical work in the field in a portfolio, which will include the following:
- representative selection of the student's performance work, in the practice genre in which the student proposes to work;
- research proposal of 2–3 pages addressing the following headings:
- research question
- background to the research
- aims of the research
- methodologies of the research
- examples of comparative practice as research and associated literature
- proposed structure of the performance project
- covering letter explaining the student's interest in the degree and a CV outlining the student's professional interests, previous performance projects, and publications if any.
Work submitted in the portfolio for admission may not be part of the thesis submitted for examination.
2.1.3.2 Master of Arts by Research and Coursework
For the Master of Arts by Research and Coursework, the Master of Arts (Music Performance), and the Master of Environmental Science by Research and Coursework an applicant for admission must have qualified as follows in a relevant field:
- a four-year Australian or New Zealand bachelor’s degree with an overall result of upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above) in an honours year (normally with a research component in the fourth year); or
- an Australian or New Zealand master’s preliminary qualification with a significant research component and with an overall result of a minimum upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above); or
- an Australian or New Zealand coursework master’s degree with a significant research component graded at upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above), and an overall result of upper H2B or above; or
- an Australian or New Zealand research master’s degree with an overall result of a minimum upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above); or
- qualifications or experience that GRC considers to be equivalent to, or a satisfactory substitute for, the above.
2.1.3.2.1 Additional requirements for Master of Arts including a coursework component
Students must enrol in one of the following areas of study:
- Anthropology
- Applied Japanese Linguistics
- Asian Studies
- Australian Art
- Australian Studies
- Communications
- Critical Theory
- English
- European Union/European studies
- French Studies
- Geography
- History
- International Development and Environmental Analysis
- Interpreting and Translation Studies
- Italian Studies
- Japanese Studies
- Linguistics
- Music
- Philosophy
- Publishing
- Religion and Theology
- Sociology
- Tourism
- Women’s Studies
2.1.3.2.2 Additional requirements for Master of Arts (Music Performance)
Students must have a qualification and/or research experience considered equivalent to the criteria listed under 2.1.3.2, being a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with substantial professional experience in the field in the form of publications, performance and collaborations that may be evaluated by a group of peers who are experts in their respective fields.
All applicants must submit evidence of practical work in the field which will include the following:
- A representative selection of the student's music performance work/music composition work (i.e. audio and/or audio-visual recordings and performance highlights) in the style in which the student proposes to work (e.g. classical, contemporary classical, jazz, popular music, world music, computer music).
- A research proposal of 2–3 pages addressing the following headings:
- Research question
- Background to the research
- Aims of the research
- Methodologies of the research
- Examples of comparative practice as research and associated literature
- Proposed structure of the performance project.
- A covering letter explaining the student's interest in the degree and a CV outlining the student's professional interests, previous performance projects, and publications, if any.
Two confidential professional references are required on the appropriate form, to be completed by people who have known the student for at least one year. All applicants must attend a performance audition or, in the case of overseas or interstate students, a video recording of a performance will be accepted for consideration of entry in lieu of an audition. The video must be recorded in one session, be uncut, and be accompanied by a statutory declaration.
2.1.4 Faculty of Engineering
An applicant for admission to the Master of Engineering Science (Research) must have qualified as follows:
- a degree in Bachelor of Engineering with upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above) in an honours year in a relevant field; or
- qualifications or experience that GRC considers to be equivalent to, or a satisfactory substitute for, the above.
2.1.5 Faculty of Law
An applicant for admission to the Master’s by Research in Law must have qualified as follows:
- a degree in Bachelor of Laws with upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above) in an honours year; or
- an equivalent legal qualification at a level considered appropriate by GRC.
2.1.6 Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
2.1.6.1 Master of Biomedical Science
An applicant for admission must have qualified as follows:
- a bachelor’s degree with upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above) in either an honours year in a relevant field or Master of Biomedical Science (Part 1); or
- other qualifications or experience deemed equivalent or a satisfactory substitute by GRC.
2.1.6.2 Master of Nursing (Research)
An applicant for admission must have qualified as follows:
- a Bachelor of Nursing with upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above) in an honours year; or
- qualifications deemed equivalent by GRC.
2.1.6.3 Master of Reproductive Sciences
An applicant for admission must have qualified as follows:
- a bachelor’s degree in science with upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above) in an honours year in a relevant field; or
- the Graduate Diploma in Reproductive Sciences with a minimum average grade of 65%; or
- qualifications or experience that GRC considers to be equivalent to, or a satisfactory substitute for, the above.
2.1.6.4 Master of Social Work (Research)
An applicant for admission must have qualified as follows:
- a bachelor’s degree with upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above) in an honours year in a relevant field; or
- a master’s degree in a relevant field with a significant research component; or
- qualifications or experience that GRC considers to be equivalent to, or a satisfactory substitute for, the above.
2.1.6.5 Master of Surgery
An applicant for admission must:
- have qualified not less than two years previously for the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) or equivalent at Monash University or another university approved by GRC;
- intend to pursue a career in surgery or have applied for or been accepted into the Surgical Education and Training program of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons or an equivalent surgical training program approved by GRC; or
- hold a Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons or equivalent higher surgical qualification as approved by GRC; and
- have been substantially engaged, since qualifying for the degree of Bachelor of Surgery or its equivalent, in the practice and study of surgery or scientific work relevant to the practice of surgery to the satisfaction of GRC.
2.1.7 Faculty of Science
An applicant for admission to the Master of Science (Research) must have qualified as follows:
- a bachelors degree requiring at least four years of full-time study, and which normally includes a research component in the fourth year with upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above) in an honours year in a relevant field; or
- a master’s degree in a relevant field that entails work, normally including a significant research component, at least equivalent to an honours degree (a ‘significant research component’ in a master’s degree will vary from discipline to discipline). It is normally expected that at a minimum, a grade of upper 2B (with an overall mark of at least 65 or above) has been obtained for the research thesis or project. Where ungraded, examiners' reports will be taken into account; or
- have qualifications which in the opinion of the GRC are deemed equivalent.