Macquarie University has announced it will provide Australia’s first integrated advanced coursework and research training degree as a key pathway to entry to a PhD.

 

The degree will be essentially the same as those in most northern hemisphere universities and aligns to the Bologna model.

 

From 2013, students will be able to enrol in a new two-year advanced undergraduate/postgraduate program leading to a Master of Research (MRes) degree at Macquarie. Australian students will be eligible for Commonwealth support for undergraduate places under the HECS scheme in the first year. The second year will be supported by the Commonwealth Government Research Training Scheme, and so will not attract any fees.

 

Domestic students admitted to the program will also receive an $8000 stipend for the first year, doubling to $16,000 in the second year for students with average overall grades higher than 75%.

 

From 2014, the current one-year (add-on) Honours Bachelors degree will be discontinued across the University. Four-year Bachelors degrees awarded with Honours will continue to be offered where a four-year qualification is required for professional accreditation. Credit for Honours degrees completed either at Macquarie or other Australian universities, as well as completed professional coursework Masters programs, will enable students to enter directly to the second year of the MRes.

 

"The MRes will stand on its own as a high quality advanced degree for any student, and is expected to attract strong support from employers in all sectors", Professor Jim Piper, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) said.

 

"The MRes will also provide a much stronger preparation for students going on to a PhD, which they can then expect to finish in 3 years, keeping total time from Bachelors to Honours completion within 5 years. The new MRes will also provide for much better articulation for international students and Australian students wishing to pursue PhD studies overseas, including by way of joint-PhD programs."