Excelling research degrees offered at Macquarie

A research degree is a postgraduate degree completed by research alone and leads to either a Master or Doctoral degree award.

The work involved in a research degree is largely undertaken independently and the study is supervised by at least two supervisors.

By undertaking a research degree at Macquarie, you’ll have the opportunity to:

  • make an important contribution to the development of new knowledge
  • work alongside world-leading researchers
  • utilise some of the region’s most outstanding facilities.

Find out about the degrees offered by Macquarie below.

Master of Research

The Master of Research is a two-year program that provides you with intensive research preparation before you begin your doctoral study.

This program is available in all of Macquarie’s research areas and prepares you to complete a PhD in three years.

Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Philosophy

Having acquired a passion for research while undertaking masters-level study, you are primed to progress your research pathway by commencing a Doctor of Philosophy or Master of Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) enables you to undertake extensive, independent research that forms a distinct contribution to the knowledge of your chosen subject. Your work should afford evidence of coherence and originality shown by the discovery of new facts.

Master of Philosophy

The Master of Philosophy is awarded for research that contributes to knowledge in a particular field of study by:

  • presenting new facts, or
  • demonstrating an independent critical ability to evaluate existing material in a new light.

You may be eligible to upgrade from the Master of Philosophy to a PhD, with time spent on the Master of Philosophy counting towards the total candidature of the PhD.

For either program, your research will be supervised by at least two academics and will normally be carried out on campus. However, it may be possible for you to carry out some of your program offsite with academic approval.

Cotutelle and joint PhD

Macquarie participates in two modes of international co-enrolment – cotutelles and joint degrees – with universities whose research activity strongly aligns with ours.

Under both joint supervision models, you are enrolled at two universities with a principal supervisor at each. You will spend around 50 per cent of your candidature at each university.