Master of Research

A Master of Research is a two-year postgraduate degree for people who want to learn how research actually works. You spend less time in lectures than a coursework master's and more time designing a study, collecting and analysing data, and writing it up. At CIHE Australia, the degree is built around a supervised research project. You work with a supervisor or a small supervisory panel who guide your reading, your methods and your writing. Alongside that, you take research training units, usually in research design, qualitative and quantitative methods, ethics, and academic writing, so you have the tools before you need them.

How the degree is structured

Australian master's degrees usually run over one to two years full time, and this one is two. The year is generally split into semesters or trimesters. You enrol in units of study, each worth a set number of credit points, and you need to pass enough of them to reach the total for the award. In a research master's, a large share of those credit points sits in the thesis or research project itself, with the rest in coursework units. The thesis is the centre of the degree. You propose a topic, get ethics approval if your work involves people or their data, carry out the research, and write a thesis that examiners assess. Some students also present their work at seminars or conferences.

Skills you build

You learn to find and judge research literature, frame a research question, choose methods that fit the question, manage a project over a long stretch, and write clearly for an academic audience. You also get practice at the less glamorous parts: keeping records, handling data responsibly, meeting ethics requirements, and taking feedback from a supervisor without losing the thread of your argument. These are the skills employers mean when they ask for someone who can work independently and solve problems.

Who it suits

This degree suits three groups. First, graduates who want a research career and are considering a doctorate, a research master's is a common pathway, and at some universities it can count towards PhD entry. Second, professionals in fields like health, education, business or social policy who need to understand evidence and run their own studies. Third, international students who want Australian research training and post-study work rights. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Check the current rules with the Department of Home Affairs, because they change.

Entry usually requires a bachelor's degree with a strong enough average, and often an honours year or a research component. International applicants need to meet English requirements. The published standard for many courses is IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall, but research degrees often ask for more, so confirm the exact score for this course. 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 its own English threshold for the Student visa. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 120855K. Check the official CIHE Australia page and the CRICOS entry for the current structure, entry requirements and fees.

• Research assistant or research officer in universities, medical research institutes, government agencies and consultancies.
• Policy analyst in federal and state public services, think tanks and non-profits, where you gather and assess evidence.
• Data or evaluation analyst in health, education, community services and business, running surveys, interviews and program evaluations.
• PhD candidate, a research master's is a common route into a doctorate, which leads to academic and senior research roles.
• Industry research roles in sectors such as health, agriculture, environmental management, technology and finance, where organisations run their own studies.
• Project or program officer in organisations that need someone who can manage a long project, report on findings and keep stakeholders informed.