Master of Research (MRes) Scholarship

Description/Applicant information The Master of Research (MRes) course is a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) program which enables current Honours students to expand their Honours research project into a Masters level project. In doing so students can obtain a research Masters by Research qualification by completing one year of study in addition to their Honours year.

What is the Master of Research?

The Master of Research (MRes) course is a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) program which enables current Curtin Honours students to expand their Honours research project into a Masters level. In doing so students can obtain a research Masters qualification by completing one year of study in addition to their Honours year.

Who can apply for the Master of Research?

Applications are open to current Curtin Honours students enrolled in the final unit of their Honours program. For the purposes of the Masters of Research, Honours programs must be of the end-on type, and not an embedded Honours program. Those expecting to receive a final grade of first or second class Honours are eligible for entry into the Master of Research. Those who have already been awarded their Honours degree are not eligible to apply.

How is it different to the Master of Philosophy?

Both the Master of Research and the Master of Philosophy courses are Higher Degree by Research programs. This means the course content is composed of an extended research thesis rather than coursework. The Master of Research differs from the Master of Philosophy in that it is a direct expansion of an active Honours research project and therefore only requires one extra year of enrolment after the Honours year. A Master of Philosophy is a stand-alone research project and has a course duration of 2 years.

Do I keep my Honours Supervisor?

In most cases we expect students to retain the same supervisor for their Honours and Master of Research project. However, this may not always be possible. To supervise your Master of Research, a supervisor needs to be listed as a Level 1 Supervisor on the Register of Supervisors, and they need to agree to supervise your Masters project. If your Honours supervisor is not a Level 1 supervisor on the Register of Supervisors, they can enter a mentoring arrangement with a Level 1 colleague, allowing them to remain as your Masters supervisor.

What are the fees for a Master of Research?

Under the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP), Australian and New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents undertaking higher degrees by research are provided with a combination of a Curtin and Australian Government (RTP Fee Offset Scholarship) subsidy to offset the tuition fees which would otherwise have been payable by the student. For a Master of Research student, the period of support equates to one and a half years full-time equivalent study. Students with enrolments exceeding this duration may be charged tuition fees. International students who are successful for a Masters of Research Scholarship will also receive tuition fee offset assistance towards the cost of undertaking this degree.

Are there any scholarships available for the Master of Research?

Each year, a limited number of scholarships are available from Curtin’s Research Office to support Master of Research students with living costs. MRes applications that meet eligibility requirements for entry into the program will automatically be considered for this scholarship. There is no separate scholarship application process to complete.

What happens to my Honours degree?

By applying for the Master of Research you are agreeing to forgo conferral of your Honours degree. As soon as your Expression of Interest is received, the Graduate Research School (GRS) will apply a hold on your Honours course in the student database to temporarily prevent you from graduating in your Honours degree. This will allow the Graduate Research School to convert your Honours enrolment into an MRes enrolment should your application be successful. If at any time during the application process you wish to withdraw your application for the MRes, the sanction can be lifted and you can proceed to graduate with your Honours degree. If you enrol in the Master of Research course and change your mind within the first 6 months, you can elect to exit the Masters of Research and be awarded your Honours degree as an intermediate award.

Can I apply for a PhD as well as the Master of Research?

Yes. You are welcome to apply for both. Applying for a Master of Research will not have an impact on any other applications for admission or scholarship which you may also be submitting. However, you can only enrol in one degree.

Student type

• Current Students

Faculty

• Centre for Aboriginal Studies
• Faculty of Business and Law
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Humanities
• Faculty of Science & Engineering
• Science courses
• Engineering courses
• Western Australian School of Mines (WASM)

-Course type

• Higher Degree by Research

Citizenship

• Australian Citizen
• Australian Permanent Resident
• New Zealand Citizen
• Permanent Humanitarian Visa
• International Student

Scholarship base

• Merit Based

Value Successful applicants for admission will receive a 100% tuition fee offset, along with an 8 month living stipend scholarship, valued at approx $19,000.

For detailed information, visit the website.

Maximum number awarded

20

Eligible courses

Masters of Research programs only.

Eligibility criteria

Scholarship applications are open to students currently enrolled in the final unit of their Curtin Honours program. For the purposes of the Masters of Research, Honours programs must be of the end-on type, and not an embedded Honours programs. Those expecting to receive a final grade of first or second class Honours are eligible for entry into the Master of Research. Those who have already been awarded their Honours degree are ineligible to apply. Interested students enrolled in an embedded honours must first contact ROC.GRS@curtin.edu.au