COURSE CURRICULUM

A Higher Degree by Research (HDR), such as a Master by Research, is a supervised academic program that requires candidates to undertake original and independent research leading to the completion of a scholarly thesis, or in some cases a thesis accompanied by an exegesis. The program is structured to develop advanced research skills and contribute new knowledge to a chosen discipline. Throughout the Master by Research candidature, students must complete a series of formal milestones that are built into the research training process. These milestones are mandatory program requirements and serve as periodic assessments of progress, ensuring continuous academic supervision, structured feedback, and steady development toward research completion. They are distributed across the duration of the candidature to provide clear checkpoints for evaluating both the research project and the achievement of the University’s Research Graduate Attributes. In addition to these HDR milestones, some candidates may also be required to meet additional obligations such as project-specific reporting to external funding bodies or sponsors, as well as compliance with scholarship conditions outlined in official documentation. In certain cases, candidates may also be required to undertake coursework components, which should be discussed with a proposed supervisor before application. Overall, the HDR framework ensures systematic progress, academic rigor, and successful completion of high-quality research outcomes through structured supervision and assessment.