Master of Research Practice

The Master of Research Practice at Edith Cowan University is a one-year degree for graduates who want to learn how research actually works before committing to a PhD or a research career. It sits at AQF level 9, the same level as a coursework master's, but the content is built around doing research rather than sitting through lectures. You study research design, methods and the ethical frameworks that govern research in Australia, then apply them to a project of your own in philosophy or a related area.

How the degree is structured

Australian master's degrees are measured in units of study and credit points, and a one-year degree is typically a full-time load across two semesters or trimesters. Your first part is coursework: research methods, qualitative and quantitative approaches, and the ethics and integrity requirements that any Australian university project must satisfy before it can begin. The second part is the research component itself — a supervised project or thesis on a philosophical question, carried out under the guidance of an academic supervisor. Because this is a research training degree, the thesis is the centrepiece, not an add-on. You will also complete the human research ethics process if your project involves people, which is a skill you keep for life.

What you actually learn

You learn to frame a research question that can be answered, choose a method that fits it, read the literature critically, and write up findings in a form that stands up to examination. Philosophy graduates bring argument analysis and conceptual clarity to that work; the degree adds the practical machinery — project management, data handling, academic writing, and the supervision relationship itself. By the end you should be able to run a small research project from start to finish and explain it to people outside your field.

Who it suits

This degree suits two groups. The first is honours graduates in philosophy or a related discipline who want a research qualification without the length of a doctorate, or who want to test whether research suits them. The second is professionals — teachers, policy staff, public sector researchers — who need formal research training for their work or for further study. Entry is competitive and usually requires a bachelor's degree with a research component or honours; check the official ECU page for the specific entry requirements, English level and application dates. International students should note that the Student visa allows 48 hours of work per fortnight while studying, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 085716E.

• PhD candidate or research higher degree student — the most direct path; this degree is designed to prepare you for doctoral study at an Australian university.
• Research officer or research assistant — universities, medical research institutes, policy think tanks and government agencies all hire people who can design studies and write them up.
• Policy analyst — state and federal public service, especially in areas where evidence and argument matter, such as health, education and social policy.
• Ethics or research governance officer — hospitals, universities and research organisations need staff who understand human research ethics frameworks.
• Academic or teaching roles — tutoring, sessional teaching and academic support work in philosophy and related fields.
• Writer, editor or communications specialist — publishing, higher education, and organisations that need clear thinking translated into clear prose.