Master of Philosophy

The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) is a complete, stand-alone degree that is an internationally recognised masters (by research) degree. It is designed for students to develop advanced skills in carrying out independent and sustained research. The thesis should demonstrate a critical application of specialist knowledge and make an independent contribution to existing scholarship in the area of research.
The course is unique in that it is delivered within Avondale’s Christian education framework. Students of the MPhil degree will develop critical thinking skills, ethical scholarship, and attitudes that are conducive to personal and collective involvement. These values are applied in the context of Avondale’s values of Excellence, Spirituality, Nurture, Service and Balance. Avondale will ensure that the students gain the necessary introduction to research and provide an opportunity to support the development of their research skills.

The MPhil provides students with the opportunity to develop a systematic and critical understanding of a complex field of learning and specialised research skills for the advancement of learning and/or for professional practice. 

Research specialisations can be in the areas of Education, Arts, Nursing, Ministry and Theology. 

The aim of the MPhil degree is to enable students to develop their capacities to a level for pursuing PhD studies, and to mentor their independent learning ability for continuing professional development through acquiring the necessary skills including transferable skills, research techniques and their application. These will be developed through activities which:

• enable appropriate evidence of advanced knowledge about a specialist body of theoretical and/or applied topics;
• encourage a high order of skill in analysis, and critical evaluation through the planning and execution of a piece of scholarship or research; and
• assist creativity and flexibility in the application of knowledge and skills to new situations, to solve complex problems and to think rigorously and independently.

PERSONALISED SUPPORT

You will be guided by your supervisor/s and will benefit from online support for specific methodological approaches. In addition, the development unit provides research support for students for specific issues such as writing or statistics. 

Graduates from this program are eligible to apply for entry to the PhD provided they meet the entry requirements. Please note also that graduates of an undergraduate Honours degree may already be eligible for doctoral studies, subject to the same entry and achievement requirements. A student may also be able to upgrade to a PhD course pending evaluation by a confirmation panel that the quality of the student’s work is of high enough standard and the research project has the capacity to be developed into a PhD study.

DIRECT ENTRY

The MPhil requires the student to have attained from a university or accredited higher education provider at least an AQF Level 7 (Bachelor degree) course completion with a WAM of 65 or GPA of 5.0, for the same disciplinary field as the undergraduate degree.

Where applicants have not attained at least a prior AQF Level 7 qualification, they may be required to complete appropriate Masters by Coursework units prior to enrolment in the MPhil degree. The units required to meet the entry requirements would be determined at time of application and appropriate to the student’s prior qualifications and proposed research specialisation.

A formal interview conducted by the Assistant Dean (Research), and in consultation with the relevant Head of Discipline if needed, prior to acceptance for the purposes of establishing areas of interest for the proposed study and identifying a suitable supervisory team.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

No compulsory security or health clearances are required for admission purposes; however a student may need to obtain clearances in industries where they are conducting research further into their candidature for example:

• Students are required to obtain a Criminal Record Check and Working with Children Check if they are to be researching and/or working with children and have not previously obtained this.
• NSW Health Department vaccinations where the area the student will be researching, and/or working requires vaccinations.

Prospective students must make application to study in the MPhil through the Research Office - email: researchdegrees@avondale.edu.au. The application is to include:

1. Completed application form
2. Copy of transcripts from relevant previous qualifications
3. A brief outline (1,000 words) of the research topic the applicant is interested in pursuing for the degree.

The application is received and reviewed by the Research Services Office for completeness. The relevant Faculty Research Committee review all applications and accept or reject applications based on the applicant’s ability to meet the admission criteria stated above and the capacity of the faculty to supervise the student. Associate supervisors or co-supervisors may be appointed to supplement expertise, see the Selection of Supervisors Policy [AR.02].The Faculty Research Committee makes a recommendation to the Avondale Research Committee to accept the application and endorse the supervisors appointed.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Overseas applicants will have their qualifications assessed by Avondale Admissions. Overseas applicants are required to satisfy Australian Government visa requirements http://www.avondale.edu.au/about/policies/display/?s=Mzg3

AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH DEGREES HIGHLY REGARDED

Australia is one of the leading tertiary education providers for international students by virtue of the quality of research degrees.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Courses at Avondale are delivered in the English language. In order to complete the MPhil successfully students from a country where English is not the first language must provide documentary evidence that an IELTS score of 7.0 has been achieved, with no band score less than 7. If the applicant has completed a degree of at least 2 years full time equivalent (AQF level 7 equivalent or higher) where English was the language of instruction and assessment, English language proficiency evidence is not required.

Course Duration: One to two years full time

Study Mode: On Campus and Off campus

Maximum time to complete: Full time - 3 years, Part time - 4 years

FULL TIME ENROLMENT COURSE GRID

1 year - following admission with a Bachelor degree with honours (AQF Level 8 qualification) where the research area is from the same discipline as the previous Level 8 qualification.

Year of Course	Teaching Period	Units	Comments
1	R1	RESD61000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Full-time 24cp
1	R2	RESD61000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Full-time 24cp

1.5 years - following admission with a Bachelor degree (AQF Level 7 qualification), where the research area is from the same discipline as the previous Level 7 qualification.

Year of Course	Teaching Period	Units	Comments
1	R1	RESD61000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Full-time 24cp
1	R2	RESD61000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Full-time 24cp
2	R1	RESD61000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Full-time 24cp

1.5 years - following admission with a Bachelor degree with honours (AQF Level 8 qualification) where the research area is different from previous Level 8 qualification discipline.

Year of Course	Teaching Period	Units	Comments
1	R1	RESD61000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Full-time 24cp
1	R2	RESD61000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Full-time 24cp
2	R1	RESD61000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Full-time 24cp

2 years - following admission with a Bachelor degree (AQF Level 7 qualification), where the research area is different from the previous Level 7 qualification discipline.

Year of Course	Teaching Period	Units	Comments
1	R1	RESD61000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Full-time 24cp
1	R2	RESD61000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Full-time 24cp
2	R1	RESD61000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Full-time 24cp
2	R2	RESD61000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Full-time 24cp

 

PART TIME ENROLMENT COURSE GRID

Part-time students are normally enrolled at 50% the normal full-time load and undertake the following sequence.

2 years part-time - following admission with a Bachelor degree with honours (AQF Level 8 qualification) where the research area is from the same discipline as the previous Level 8 qualification.

Year of Course	Teaching Period	Units	Comments
1	R1	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
1	R2	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
2	R1	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
2	R2	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp

3 years part-time - following admission with a Bachelor degree (AQF Level 7 qualification), where the research area is from the same discipline as the previous Level 7 qualification.

Year of Course	Teaching Period	Units	Comments
1	R1	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
1	R2	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
2	R1	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
2	R2	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
3	R1	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
3	R2	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp

3 years part time - following admission with a Bachelor degree with honours (AQF Level 8 qualification) where the research area is different from previous Level 8 qualification discipline.

Year of Course	Teaching Period	Units	Comments
1	R1	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
1	R2	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
2	R1	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
2	R2	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
3	R1	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
3	R2	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp

4 years part time - following admission with a Bachelor degree (AQF Level 7 qualification), where the research area is different from the previous Level 7 qualification discipline.

Year of Course	Teaching Period	Units	Comments
1	R1	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
1	R2	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
2	R1	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
2	R2	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
3	R1	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
3	R2	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
4	R1	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp
4	R2	RESD62000 - Master of Philosophy Thesis	Part-time 12cp

To find out more about any of the units listed here, copy the unit code and then search for that unit here.

The Master of Philosophy degree course is self-accredited by Avondale College of Higher Education within the terms of level 9 in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The course is nationally registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).

Course Enquiries

Admissions

Phone: +61 2 4980 2377
Email: study@avondale.edu.au
Monday-Thursday, 9.00am-5pm
Friday, 9.00am-12.00noon

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Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching

Approved Supervisors for MPhil Study and their Research Interests.