Take the next step in your research journey
Are you in your final session of study in the Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil) or the Graduate Diploma of Research (Grad Dip) at Macquarie University? Have you completed your BPhil or Grad Dip in the last 12 months? Would you like to progress to the Master of Research (MRes)?
The information below is specifically for Macquarie BPhil or Grad Dip students who would like to progress to the MRes. If you are not a current BPhil or Grad Dip student, please go to the How to Apply page.
What is the Master of Research (MRes)?
The MRes is a one-year research program for people who want to start a career in a research-related industry, want to formalise the research skills they’ve developed in the workplace, or are curious about research!
In the MRes you get to research what you are interested in. You’ll specialise in research preparation, focus on a specific research topic and submit a 20,000-word thesis on your area of expertise. For more information, see the Master of Research page.
To be eligible, students must have:
- completed the relevant 80 credit points (cp) of their BPhil or Grad Dip, as outlined in the Course Handbook (inclusive of any RPL or advanced standing); and
- achieved a WAM (weighted average mark) as outlined in Schedule 2.3 of the Graduate Research Admissions Policy
Approval for admission will also depend on:
- the quality of your research proposal; and
- the availability of supervision and appropriate resources.
Students who are in the final session of the BPhil or Grad Dip will be contacted in May or November with instructions on how to submit a Request to Progress to the Master of Research eForm via eStudent in the following session. This is accessible via the Forms icon on your eStudent home page.
When submitting this eForm, you will need to provide:
- the name of your proposed Principal and Associate Supervisor
- a current copy of your unofficial transcript (which can be generated in eStudent)
- a completed Request for Offsite Enrolment form (see details below)
Students progressing from the BPhil/Grad Dip to MRes will be considered for a scholarship through a competitive ranking process based on academic merit, and this is completed as a part of your eForm. A separate scholarship application is not required.
Scholarships are for full time, onsite study and they typically include one year of tuition fee offset, and a one-year stipend (2025 stipend rate is $38,500 p.a.). If you have a supervisor that would like to offer you a project specific scholarship or alternative scholarship type, please attach confirmation of this to your eForm.
- Your eForm will be sent to the proposed Principal Supervisor, Department/School and Faculty indicated on your eForm.
- They will review your request and check whether appropriate resources are available (supervision, research facilities, general infrastructure, support services etc).
- The Faculty will make a recommendation to the Graduate Research Academy (GRA) on your suitability for the MRes program.
- Once your final results are released, the GRA will review the Faculty’s recommendation.
- If successful in securing a place in the MRes, the GRA will issue an offer for admission and, if applicable, scholarship.
- The University recognises that some of your research may be undertaken away from the University. However, if you wish to undertake your program while residing offsite (for example, interstate or overseas), you must first seek approval from your Department and Faculty, and complete the Request for Offsite Enrolment form. The Department and Faculty must be satisfied that students are adequately supervised and have access to resources and facilities to complete their program within the required time frame. The Department and Faculty will consider the circumstances and make a determination on a case by case basis.
- Onsite students wishing to conduct research for a short period of time offsite (for example to visit a library/archive, attend a conference, conduct fieldwork or visit a lab) are required to follow their department/faculty processes for recording this. This does not need to be completed now, but when travel preparations are being made after successful admission and enrolment. Note the maximum period of this type of combined offsite research (often referred to as OSR) is 12 months.
- Definitions for onsite and offsite enrolment can be found in the Offsite Research Enrolment Policy.
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