Masters of Research – MRes
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Information Night: May 13th 2015
Overview of EPS
Head of Department: Prof. Martin Kennedy
EPS is ranked as one of the most successful departments at MQU
•  Exceptional analytical facilities
•  Numerical computing support
•  Large portfolio of external funding to support research
48th in
1st in
Biggest department in
Australia
NSW
ARC Centre of
Excellence
QS World
rankings rated
us in the top
50 for Earth &
Marine Sci.
ERA rated 5 in
Geology
Geochemistry
Geophysics
23 academics
•  inc. 5 Prof.,
8 A/Prof. & 1 new
staff member
to come
Core to Crust
Fluid Systems
(CCFS)
World
DEPARTMENT OF EARTH & PLANETARY SCIENCES
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Program Structure
2-Year Masters of Research
OVERVIEW
•  2-year program
Ø  Y1: Coursework-focused (32 credit points;
range of university offered units).
Ø  Y2: Research-focused (32 credit points).
•  Part-time possible for domestic students
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
•  Undergraduate or postgraduate degree from a
recognised institution.
•  GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4 point scale overall,
and at least 3.0 at 300-level (or equivalent to a
credit average at highest level of study).
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Program Structure
Year 1
YEAR 1 STRUCTURE
Advanced undergraduate coursework including study of research frontiers
in the discipline.
•  6 x 4 credit point units of advanced disciplinary content
•  1 x 4 credit point Research Communications unit
•  1 x 4 credit point Research Frontiers unit (survey of key ground-breaking
and innovative research issues in their field)
q  Meet one-to-one with MRes Coordinator to tailor course selection.
q  Staff mentor/supervisor in Y1 is assigned.
q  Candidates leaving after completion of Y1 awarded a Bachelor of
Philosophy (BPhil).
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Program Structure
Unit menu
Advanced Disciplinary Units (choose 6 units):
GEOS 701 Geophysics: Special Topics 1
GEOS 702 Geophysics: Special Topics 2
GEOS 704 Readings in Geoscience
GEOS 705 Advanced Field Techniques 1
GEOS 705 Advanced Field Techniques 2
GEOS 707 From Microstructures to Plate Tectonics
GEOS 708 Scientific Visualization and Scripting
GEOS 710 The Organic Geochemistry of Sedimentary Rocks, Oils and Gases
GEOS 711 Ages and Processes: Advanced Geochemistry
GEOS 776 Advances Geochemical Applications and Techniques
GEOS 791 Advanced Potential Field Methods
GEOS 792 Experimental Methods Under Deep Earth Conditions
+ 1 Unit Research Communications + 1 Unit Research Frontiers
OFFICE I FACULTY I DEPARTMENT
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Program Structure
Year 2
YEAR 2 STRUCTURE
•  Runs Jan-Oct
Five core activities:
•  Thesis (20,000 words) based on a research
project
•  Research Frontiers 2
•  Literature Review
•  Research Methods
•  Research Planning
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Pathway to PhD
Research training pathway to PhD
•  Need to complete the MRes (or an MPhil) or equivalent.
•  If completed Bachelor Honours degree, or coursework Master degree, may
be eligible for entry into Year 2 of the MRes program.
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Application and Scholarships
APPLICATION
(http://www.hdr.mq.edu.au/information_about/how_to_apply)
•  Applications open from ~ April for admission in the following year
•  Deadline Domestic: 30th Sept 2015
•  Deadline International: 31st August 2015
FEES (2015)
•  Domestic students: Y1: defer via HECS; Y2 supported under the
Government's Research Training Scheme (RTS)No fees paid in RTS
programs. Required to pay Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF).
•  International students pay fees.
STIPEND (2015)
•  Domestic: Y1 S1: $4,000. (Candidates need weighted average of 65 or
above at the end of Session 1 to receive stipend in S2).
•  $16,000 in Year 2: competitively based on merit
•  Part-time candidates not eligible for stipend
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Further Information
Find the research group in EPS to fit your interests
EPS DEPARTMENT
•  Next info session: July/August à which project could you do?
•  Lab tours: come and see the tools you can play with!
FACULTY AND UNIVERSITY
•  MRes University info sessions:
Tuesday 26th May and Monday 24th August – Macquarie campus
Thursday 28th May: evening webinar
•  Videos on the MRes program by the DVCR, Dean of HDR and a student:
http://www.hdr.mq.edu.au/information_about/research_training_degrees/
additional_info/mres_information_sessions
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Why MRes?
• 
Shape your own degree through supervised independent
research
• 
Test your research skills, while improving industry
employability
• 
Use the financial advantage provided by scholarships
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