Master of Education by Research

The Master of Education by Research at the University of the Sunshine Coast is a research degree for people who want to study education at a deeper level than coursework alone allows. You'll spend most of your time on a single supervised research project in curriculum and instruction, how subjects are planned, taught and assessed, and what actually helps students learn. That could mean looking at classroom practice, curriculum design, assessment approaches, or how schools respond to the students and communities they serve. Because it's a research master's, you'll read widely in your field, design a study, collect and analyse data, and write a thesis that makes an original contribution.

How the degree is structured

Australian research master's degrees are built around supervised study rather than a fixed timetable of lectures. You'll be matched with a supervisor (or a small supervisory panel) who guides your project from proposal to final thesis. Some candidates complete a small number of research methods or coursework units in the early stages, especially if they're moving into research from a teaching career, and these carry credit points like any other Australian postgraduate unit. The rest of your enrolment is research. Study is usually full-time over two years, and many universities let you apply to switch to part-time if your circumstances change. There's no standard semester-by-semester unit list for a research degree, your plan is worked out with your supervisors and confirmed in your candidature agreement.

Research training and support

Candidates are normally required to complete a probationary period, where your research proposal is reviewed before your enrolment is confirmed. From there you'll go through progress reviews, present your work to other researchers, and submit a thesis for examination by academics outside your supervision team. Most Australian universities, USC included, run research methods training and writing support for higher degree candidates, and there are usually opportunities to present at conferences or publish along the way. Education research often involves schools, teachers, students or community organisations, so ethics approval and working with those partners is part of the process. If your project involves fieldwork in a school or classroom, you'll negotiate access through the relevant education authority, which takes time and planning.

Who it suits

This degree suits teachers, school leaders, curriculum writers, education advisers and policy people who want to investigate a problem in their own field rather than simply complete more coursework. It's also a common pathway for people considering a doctorate later, since a research master's gives you the supervised research experience that a PhD application expects. You'll need to be comfortable working fairly independently, reading academic literature, and writing at length. If you're an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available after you finish, depending on your circumstances. English requirements for international applicants are set out by USC and by the Department of Home Affairs separately, check both. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 072639J, and you should confirm entry requirements, supervision availability and fees on the official USC page before applying.

• Curriculum leader or head of department in a school
• Education researcher at a university, institute or research centre
• Policy or program officer in a state or territory education department
• Learning designer or curriculum developer for schools, TAFE or online providers
• Education consultant advising schools, systems or not-for-profit organisations
• Assessment and evaluation specialist
• Professional development or teacher education role
• Pathway to a PhD and an academic career

Australian employers in these areas include school systems and individual schools, TAFE and vocational education providers, universities, education departments, independent research organisations, and not-for-profits working in education. Some graduates go on to doctoral study.