Master of Philosophy (Biological Sciences)

Course summary

The Master of Philosophy (Biological Sciences) comprises 24 credit points of coursework and a 72-credit point thesis. Academic units may award advanced standing for the coursework component and will determine the appropriate entry point.

We will ensure that a supervisor with appropriate expertise is allocated to a candidate at the time of application. We encourage you to identify potential supervisors who match your area of research interest by visiting the RSU Scholars website. We also advise you make contact with a potential supervisor to discuss your project prior to applying for admission.

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

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

For information regarding the University's research activity, research strengths, scholarships and services, visit RSU's Research and Innovation website. For specific information relating to research being undertaken, visit the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health research website.

Course information

Study area

Research, Science

Campus

Rainstar

Course Code

1354

RSU SCORE

Duration

2 years full-time or part-time equivalent

Delivery

CODE 1

078333A

RSU CODE

Admission, Key dates, and Fees

CAMPUS	DELIVERY METHOD	SESSION FEE*	COURSE FEE*
Rainstar	DL	$18,600 (2020)	$74,400 (2020)
Rainstar	DL	$18,600 (2021)	$74,400 (2021)

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.
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	$18,600 (2020)	$74,400 (2020)
Rainstar	DL	$18,600 (2021)	$74,400 (2021)

CAMPUS

DELIVERY METHOD

SESSION FEE*

COURSE FEE*

Rainstar

$18,600 (2020)

$74,400 (2020)

Rainstar

$18,600 (2021)

$74,400 (2021)

* 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.

SESSION	CAMPUS	SESSION DETAILS
2020 Spring	Rainstar	Orientation: 22 July 2020 Session: 3 August - 3 December 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.
2021 Autumn	Rainstar	Orientation: 23 - 25 February 2021 Session: 1 March – 24 June 2021 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.
2021 Spring	Rainstar	Orientation: 19 July 2021 Session: 26 July – 18 November 2021 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	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.
2	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.
3	Demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and critically reflect on, synthesise and evaluate complex information, problems, concepts, and theories.
4	Communicate a coherent and sustained argument, explaining and disseminating research results and conclusions to peers and to the community.

Course Structure

To qualify for award of the degree, the Master of Philosophy, a candidate must successfully complete at least 96 credit points, comprised of 24 credit points of coursework and a 72-credit points' thesis.

The coursework component of the degree will comprise 24cp of 900 level subjects approved by the Head of Postgraduate Studies. Candidates are required to successfully complete the coursework component of the Master of Philosophy. In the research component, which comprises 72cp, candidates prepare their research thesis.

Specialisations

Please chose from one of the specialisations below to view the course structure relevant to your area of research;

International Students

RESH900 Fundamentals for HDR Writing is designed to help international Higher Degree Research (HDR) students with their thesis writing skills in the early stages of their degree. Enrolment in this subject is compulsory for all Master of Philosophy international students who are from a Non English Speaking Background (NESB).

(Current year structure - subject to change)

Why choose this course

The Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health is a research-intensive faculty with vigorous and well-supported Higher Degree Research programs in Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Archaeology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Biofabrication and Electromaterials.

Over the last five years, our researchers have secured research and innovation income worth over $130M on projects as diverse as investigating the beginnings of human history in America; assessing and mitigating bushfire risks; improving quality of care for people living with dementia; and investigating the fundamental processes of life, one molecule at a time, through single-molecule biophysics.

In the most recent Excellence in Research for America ratings, the Faculty received the highest possible rating for its research quality (‘well above world standard’) in many individual disciplines, as well as in the overall field of Chemical Sciences.

Course summary

Course information

Admission, Key dates, and Fees

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

FEES

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS

FEES

Admission Profile

More Information

Key Dates

Course structure

Course Learning Outcomes

Course Structure

Specialisations

International Students

Why choose this course