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Master of Research

The Master of Research (MRes) is an internationally recognised postgraduate research training degree that will make you competitive in achieving your future academic and career aspirations in the exciting world of research. This degree provides you with the experience and expert knowledge you need to confidently approach PhD studies and a research career.

Course Details

The Master of Research is based at Parramatta South campus, with electives available across Western campuses.

The degree is offered 2 years full time (or 4 years part time).

Course Structure

Stage 1 of the program involves intensive coursework where you will engage with your peers and academics in an interdisciplinary environment. The coursework is designed to help you build your skills as a researcher, master the art of knowledge translation and develop a strong research proposal. You will undertake core units and electives within your discipline of choice to develop deep knowledge of both theory and research methods. The coursework structure is outlined in our handbook.

Stage 2 of the program involves completing your own research project under the supervision of an academic expert in your area of research. Your project will focus on the development of a 25,000-word thesis that will be externally examined.

ICS MRes Electives

Rethinking Culture and Society

Offered 1H

Unit Coordinator: Professor Greg Noble

This unit explores key ideas in social and cultural analysis – such as culture, society, experience, power and nature – as a way of helping students think through the ‘keywords’ in their own research projects. It draws on an approach to cultural and social research, developed at the Institute for Culture and Society, which addresses the contradictions of a world that is increasingly globalised, culturally diverse and technologically mediated. A key aspect of this approach is to revisit the central concepts of social and cultural theory, linked to an overview of existing approaches, developing skills of critical analysis and reflecting on the challenges of interdisciplinarity, methodological pluralism, cultural complexity and engaged research. Note that this unit will include both Master of Research students and first year PhD students: only the Masters students will be required to complete the assessment tasks.

Environmental Humanities

Offered 2021

Unit Coordinator: Dr Josh Wodak 

This unit provides an overview of the emerging interdisciplinary field of Environmental Humanities. It provides a space of dialogue for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students to work collaboratively in developing novel ways of thinking about the relationships between culture and nature. The Unit centres on emerging conceptual trends interrogating notions such as: Anthropocene, extinction, planetary boundaries, critical zones, socio-ecological change dynamics, as a way of engaging with fundamental questions of meaning, justice, value, responsibility and purpose in a time of rapid and escalating change. The unit also focuses on methodological issues and tackles questions of co-construction between HASS and STEM disciplines. Note that this unit will include both Master of Research students and may also be audited by PhD students: only the Masters students will be required to complete the assessment tasks.

Find out more about the MRes