Regulation 5.1.5 - Degrees of Master by Research

Pursuant to Statute 5.1 Awards, the Council of Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology makes the following Regulation entitled – Regulation 5.1.5 Degrees of Master by Research.

1. This Regulation governs the degrees of Master by Research listed in the Schedule to this Regulation. The First Schedule lists degrees approved for study by research only while the Second Schedule lists degrees for study by both research and coursework, but containing not more than one third coursework.

2. The degree of Master by Research will be awarded for:

(a) a thesis; or

(b) a project;

based on original research together with any approved coursework.

3. (a) An applicant for admission to candidature will:

(i) have qualified for or graduated with a degree of the University and have attained such academic standard as the Research Committee (‘the Committee’) may prescribe; or

(ii) be a graduate of another recognised university or institution; or

(iii) have other approved qualifications or experience .

4. Notwithstanding sub-section 3(a) a person will not be admitted to candidature unless such candidature has been approved through the relevant portfolio process authorised by the Committee.

5. A candidate will be enrolled either as a full-time or part-time candidate and may, subject to the relevant portfolio process, transfer between full-time and part-time candidature.

6. A candidate will pursue their candidature and submit the thesis or project within the period of candidature which will be:

(a) for a full-time student two years; or

(b) for a part-time student four years.

(c) the minimum period of candidature will be one year for a full-time student and two years for a part-time student.

7. Notwithstanding section 6, the Committee may, for candidates who first enrolled in their higher degree by research program at RMIT before or on 31 August 2000 and in exceptional circumstances extend the period of candidature provided that the total period of candidature will not exceed three years in the case of a full-time student and six years in the case of a part-time student.

8. A candidate may be granted leave of absence during their period of candidature which period will not exceed a total period of twelve months except that in exceptional circumstances the Committee may grant such longer period as it may consider appropriate.

9. The period of candidature will begin on the date the candidate is enrolled.

10. No candidate enrolled under this Regulation will enrol in any other program at the University or at any other university or institution except with the written approval of the Committee.

11. The Committee may at any time terminate a candidature where:

(a) the candidate’s progress is considered by the Committee to be unsatisfactory; or

(b) the candidate fails to comply with this Regulation; or

(c) for any other reason the Committee considers it inappropriate that the candidature be allowed to continue.

12. (a) Any candidate who fails to re-enrol by 31 March in any year during the period of candidature will be deemed to have terminated his or her candidature.

(b) Any candidate whose candidature has been terminated under sub-section(a) may apply to be re-enrolled as a candidate and the Committee may approve such re-enrolment on such conditions as it considers appropriate.

13. A candidate may appeal against any decision of the Committee to the Academic Board.

14. A candidate will pursue his or her research wholly or in part either within the University or at such other location as may be approved by the Committee which location may, include but without limiting the same, an industrial, commercial, government, educational or research organisation.

15. (a) The Portfolio will appoint for any candidate a senior supervisor and at least one other supervisor.

(b) Where a candidate pursues his or her research at a location other than the University, the Portfolio will appoint a supervisor at that location.

(c) In the event of a supervisor being absent from the university or other location for a period exceeding three months or for any other reason being unable to supervise the candidate, the Portfolio shall appoint an acting supervisor.

16. The candidate and the senior supervisor, for each semester of candidature, will complete a progress report no later than the date prescribed.

17. When the degree contains approved coursework, that coursework must be completed satisfactorily prior to examination of the research component of the degree.

The Committee will appoint no fewer than two examiners to undertake the initial examination, at least one of whom must be external. Examiners must not have acted in a supervisory or consultative capacity, either wholly or partly, at any time during a student’s period of candidature. Where an internal examiner is used, an oral examination is required.

18. A candidate may be required to attend an oral examination.

19. (a) At the time a candidate submits their thesis or project, the Head of School (or appropriate academic authority) after consultation with the senior supervisor will submit to the Committee a statement certifying that, in his or her opinion, the thesis or project is worthy of examination.

(b) Where the Head of School, (or appropriate academic authority),does not certify that the thesis or project is worthy of examination, the candidate may appeal to the Committee which will determine whether the thesis or project is to be examined.

20. A thesis will be submitted in such style and form as the Committee may prescribe and will include:

(a) a summary not exceeding 1,000 words;

(b) a statement signed by the candidate certifying that the thesis:

(i) represents the work of the candidate alone, except where due acknowledgment has been made;

(ii) has not been submitted, either in whole or in part, for any other academic award; and

(iii) represents research undertaken during the period of candidature.

21. A project will be presented by the candidate to the examiners or to a panel together with;

(a)

(i) an appropriate durable record of the project; and

(ii) such documentation as may be appropriate.

(b) a statement signed by the candidate certifying that the project:

(i) represents the work of the candidate alone except where due acknowledgment has been made;

(ii) has not been submitted, either in whole or in part for any academic award; and

(iii) represents work undertaken during the period of candidature.

22. Each examiner will submit a separate report to the Committee on the merit of the thesis or project within eight weeks of receiving a copy of the thesis or the date of examining the project, as the case may be.

23. The Committee will:

(a) recommend to the Academic Board that the candidate be admitted to the degree; or

(b) permit the candidate to resubmit the thesis or project subject to such conditions and within such period as it may prescribe; or

(c) classify the thesis or project as “Failed”.

24. Except in exceptional circumstances a candidate may not:

(a) resubmit a thesis or project more than once;

(b) resubmit a thesis or project which has been failed for this degree.

25. Before being admitted to the degree a candidate will lodge with the Committee two copies of the thesis or appropriate durable record, as the case may be, bound as prescribed.

The first schedule to Regulation 5.1.5 - Degrees of Master by Research

Master of Applied Science

Master of Architecture

Master of Arts

Master of Business

Master of Design

Master of E-Business

Master of Education

Master of Engineering

Master of Landscape Architecture

Master of Nursing

Master of Social Science

Master of Social Work

Master of Technology

The second schedule to Regulation 5.1.5 - Degrees of Master by Research (with coursework component)

Master of Applied Science

Master of E-Business

Master of Social Science

Master of Social Work

Related Statute

Statute 5.1 - Awards

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