Masters of Science (Research Training) in 2011
Page Contents
Include: Course structure | Discipline subjects | Assessment: Research project | Applications - closing date 26th November
Department Co-coordinator for Masters of Science
Dr Helen Billman-Jacobe
Email: hbj@unimelb.edu.au
Course structure
The model we recommend for MSc-RT students enrolled in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology is that they do a 125 point research project and complete 25 points of discipline coursework in Microbiology and Immunology. The other coursework can be chosen from subjects offered by other departments and from the Professional Tools subject list.
| Course components | Points |
| Research project | 125 |
| M&I discipline subjects | 25 |
| Other discipline subjects | 25 |
| Professional tools | 25 |
Discipline Subjects
The coursework for MSc-RT in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology is comprised of two 12.5 pt subjects. These subjects cover the design and execution of experiments, documentation of experimental plans and results, analysis, appropriate analysis and interpretation of data and presentation and communication of data. They require critical review, interpretation and presentation of data, the formulation and communication of hypotheses and design and reporting of appropriate experimental approaches. One unit will cover the recent advances in immunology and the other will be themed on microbiology. The MSc-RT students could do one unit in their first year and the other in the second but we expect they will complete both.
Assessment: Research project
The research project will usually be conducted over four semesters, with a least 25 points of research work per semester. Students undertaking a research project in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology will be required to submit a detailed research proposal after the first semester. They will submit a literature review after the second semester and make an oral presentation at the conclusion of semester three and four. A thesis will be submitted for assessment at the conclusion of semester four.
| Assessment tasks | |
| Semester 1 | Research proposal |
| Semester 2 | Literature review |
| Semester 3 | Oral presentation |
| Semester 4 | Oral presentation and thesis. |
Applications
Students need to find a supervisor for their research project before they make an application. The supervisor has to agree to take the student and a project must be identified. This needs to be approved by the Departmental Co-ordinator. Applications are made through the Melbourne Graduate School of Science ( http://graduate.science.unimelb.edu.au/apply.php). The MSc is a different degree to BSc Honours and applications are handled independently. There are no fixed number of Honours or MSc places in the department. Places depend on availability of supervisors and laboratory space. The webpage for Honours Projects gives prospective students an idea of the breadth of research available in the department.
Applications to the Melbourne Graduate School of Science will close on 26th November.