Masters by Thesis

A Masters by Thesis at Southern Cross University is a research degree. You spend most of your enrolment working on one extended research project under supervision, then submit a thesis that makes an original contribution to your field. There are no long lists of coursework units to tick off. Instead, you might complete a small amount of research training — research methods, ethics, writing — and then get on with the thesis. The thesis is the centre of the degree. It's examined by people outside your supervision team.

This is a two-year degree. Australian master's degrees usually run one to two years, and a research master's sits at the longer end because the thesis takes time to design, conduct, write and examine. You'll be assigned a principal supervisor and often a co-supervisor. They guide the project, but the work is yours. You'll need to define a research question, get ethics approval if your project involves people or animals, collect and analyse data, and write up the findings in a form that stands up to scrutiny. Progress is reviewed at set points, so you won't disappear for two years and reappear with a document. Candidature is confirmed after an initial period, and you'll present your work along the way.

Southern Cross has research strengths in several areas, and the thesis topic needs to fit what the university can supervise. That's true of every research degree in Australia. Before you apply, you should look at what the university's researchers actually work on and make contact with a potential supervisor. The degree suits people who want to investigate a specific question in depth — not those who want a broad taught qualification. It also suits people who are considering a PhD later, because a research master's gives you a taste of independent research and a track record you can build on. If you're an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while you study, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. English requirements are set by the university and, separately, by the Department of Home Affairs for the Student visa. Check the official CRICOS entry for this course (code 111875C) and the university's own page for current details on fees, entry requirements and supervision availability.

• Researcher in universities, CSIRO, medical research institutes, environmental consultancies and government agencies
• Policy analyst in federal and state public service, industry bodies and NGOs
• Data analyst or research officer in health, education, agriculture, marine science and social research organisations
• PhD candidate — a research master's is a common pathway into doctoral study
• Consultant in environmental management, regional development or social impact assessment
• Academic or teaching roles in tertiary institutions, often combined with further study