COURSE CURRICULUM

The Higher Degree by Research (HDR), including a Master by Research, requires candidates to undertake original and independent research that is formally written up as a scholarly thesis, or in some cases a thesis with an exegesis. The program is fully supervised and is designed to develop advanced research capability while contributing new knowledge to a specific academic or professional field. During the Master by Research candidature, students must complete a series of structured milestones that are integrated into the research training process. These milestones are mandatory program requirements and serve as periodic assessments of progress, ensuring continuous monitoring, feedback, and academic support throughout the research journey. They are distributed across the candidature to provide a clear framework for evaluating both research development and attainment of the University’s Research Graduate Attributes. In addition to these HDR milestones, some candidates may also need to complete additional requirements such as project-specific milestones, including external progress reports for funding bodies or industry partners, as well as compliance with scholarship conditions outlined in official award documents. In certain cases, candidates may also be required to undertake coursework, which should be discussed with the proposed supervisor prior to application. Overall, the HDR structure ensures systematic progress, academic rigor, and successful completion of high-quality research outcomes.