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Students should read through and understand the stages below before embarking on the application process that is required for LAW5082 -Masters research (6 credit points).
Assessment regime
Masters coursework students (non JD students) are required in their last (full-time) or penultimate semester (part-time), i.e. when four units have been completed, to undertake an independent research or scholarly project in a specialist area. Students enrolled in this unit, LAW5082 - Masters research paper, will be required to audit (i.e. attend without completing the set unit assessments) classes in a Masters elective "host unit" offered in the same teaching period of enrolment for the Masters research unit, and will undertake a research project in the subject area of the host unit. Students enrolled in a specialist masters will select a host unit in their specialist area.
Students should review the LLM timetable and units Handbook to determine a number of alternative units which they would like to undertake as their host unit for independent research in a specialist area. Not all the units are available for auditing as the host unit, and not all the units will have places available. Note: students cannot select any introductory or foundation units, such as 'Overview' units, as their host unit.
Once students have selected their three top preferences of host units, they are to email student services at ask.monash to request their enrolment in LAW5082 Masters research to be processed, providing a list of three host units including their teaching periods, in order of preference.
The maximum number of places in any host unit available for auditing by students enrolled in the Masters research unit is five places. Enrolment will be based on a first come, first served basis. Students will be assigned to the host unit in accordance with the availability of places in the host units, each of which has a quota. Once a place in one of the host units has been secured, students will be enrolled in LAW5082 Masters research unit. In order to ensure a copy of the unit reading materials will be available, this should be completed at least six weeks prior to the commencement of the host unit.
Once students have been enrolled in LAW5082 Master research and allocated to a host unit and they have identified an area(s) of research in which they are interested (unit guide and course materials are available four weeks prior to the beginning of the class), they are required to complete the Law Academic Research Skills Moodle unit modules (LARS) to develop advanced masters level research skills, including skills in developing a project plan. Students will have to complete modules 1 to 4 of the LARS Moodle unit before they submit their proposal, and modules 5 to 8 prior to submitting their research paper. The LARS Moodle unit is a hurdle requirement (i.e. you will not be able to proceed with the research or pass the unit until this has been completed). Student should begin the LARS Moodle unit at least two weeks prior to the host unit teaching start date.
Access the online Law Academic Research Skills Moodle unit
Students should approach the Chief Examiner (CE) for the host unit, by email or on the first day of class (at the latest) to discuss their draft proposal (or alternative draft proposals).
Further information of how to approach these steps is contained in the LARS Moodle unit
The completed proposal form must be submitted first to the host unit CE for approval, and then when it is signed by both the student and the CE, it must be submitted to the Postgraduate Student Services office prior to the host unit 'Withdrawn Early End" discontinuation date. For more information refer to Discontinuation dates.
NOTE: Students need to have a print screen of the LARS front page and include it electronically or a print out of it with the final submission of their research paper to the host elective Chief Examiner. That page would show that students have marked themselves as complete in the LARS unit.
As the unit is one taken in the last or penultimate semester of the course, students are expected to complete their project with a high degree of autonomy and independence.
The CE in the host unit will be involved at two stages of the project:
In addition, the Monash Law Library offers Learning skills consultations for the development of student's research project planning skills and writing techniques, where required. Students can also contact the law librarians for advice on research techniques and sources.
The students are required to submit the completed research project by the due date of the last assessment of the host unit, directly to the CE (via Moodle).
The final marks will be submitted to LAW5082 Masters research Chief Examiner for approval prior to submission to the PG Board or Examiners. The results will be available on WES on the results publication date of the host unit. For more information refer to Results publication dates.
