Master of Business Research

The Master of Business Research is a two-year research degree for people who want to ask serious questions about how organisations work and then answer them with evidence. You'll study research design, quantitative and qualitative methods, and how to read and critique the business literature. The degree is built around a supervised research project, so most of your time goes into your own thesis rather than a packed timetable of lectures. You'll work with a supervisor who guides your reading, your method and your writing, and you'll present your work to other researchers as it develops.

How the degree is structured

Australian master's degrees usually run over one to two years of full-time study, and this one sits at the two-year end. That's deliberate: it gives you time to build research skills before you commit to a full thesis. You'll typically complete coursework units in your first year, research methods, theory, statistics or qualitative analysis, each worth a set number of credit points. Those units build toward the research component, which is the largest single piece of assessment. The final stage is a thesis or major research project, examined by academics with expertise in your area. Some students go on to a doctorate; this degree is a common pathway there.

What you actually study

Expect to learn how to frame a research question that matters, choose a method that fits it, collect and analyse data, and write up findings so other researchers can follow your reasoning. The subject area is business administration, so your project will likely sit somewhere in management, strategy, marketing, finance, organisational behaviour or a related field. You'll also learn the ethics approvals process, which is a real part of research in Australia, anything involving human participants goes through a review before you start. By the end, you should be able to design a study, defend your choices, and explain what your results do and don't show.

Who it suits

This degree suits people who've finished a bachelor degree and want to go deeper into research rather than straight into a coursework MBA. Maybe you're curious about a problem you saw at work and want the tools to investigate it properly. Maybe you're aiming at a PhD and want a supervised research experience first. Or you're in a role that depends on evidence, policy, consulting, market research, and you want to be the person who can generate it, not just consume it. It's also a fit for international students who want postgraduate research training in Australia.

Studying in Australia as an international student

If you're coming from overseas, you'll need to meet English requirements. For this level, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common standard for coursework postgraduate programs, though some fields like teaching, nursing, medicine, law and social work ask for 7.0–7.5. TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the university's own English programmes are accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs also sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself, so check both. While you study, your visa allows 48 hours of work per fortnight during term. After you graduate, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may let you stay and work in Australia, depending on your circumstances. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register, check the official page for the current figure. The course code is 119126J.

Graduates work in roles that reward careful thinking and evidence. Typical jobs include:

• Research officer or research analyst in universities, government departments and policy institutes
• Market research analyst or consumer insights specialist in consultancies and large firms
• Business analyst or strategy analyst in banking, insurance, retail and professional services
• Management consultant, particularly in firms that value primary research skills
• Policy analyst in state or federal public service
• Data analyst or evaluation officer in not-for-profits and international development organisations
• Academic pathway: many graduates continue to a PhD and then pursue academic or research-intensive careers

Australian industries that hire these skills include higher education, government, financial services, health administration, technology, and management consulting. The research training also transfers to any role where you need to design a study, interpret data, or write a convincing argument.