The Masters of Philosophy in Higher Education (MPhil HE) is a research degree with a coursework component designed to develop the research capability and scholarly practice of those who teach, work or lead in higher education. This program will provide an opportunity for candidates who have completed post graduate study in higher education (which includes, but is not limited to, studies in university learning and teaching or educational leadership), or who have extensive work experience in higher education to extend their development beyond scholarly understanding and practice to include the capacity to conduct research within an area of interest in higher education. These areas might include teaching and learning in higher education, technology enabled learning and teaching, educational innovation, assessment, curriculum, evaluation, language and literacy or student diversity, as well as academic leadership, management and policy.

The program is intended for academic or professional staff (or graduate students) who may be teaching/working in higher education and/or who are engaged in, or moving towards, leadership roles within the higher education sector.

The program aims to support candidates to develop capability to conduct research into higher education and to disseminate outcomes of this research.

At the end of the program of study candidates will be able to:

1. Frame a research question and devise an appropriately designed research project;


2. Critically review literature related to a higher education research project;


3. Select appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative approaches to gather, analyse and interpret evidence;


4. Investigate and interpret the outcomes of research;


5. Present and disseminate cogent, research-based arguments, supported by valid evidence, that outline the implications of the research to higher education;


6. Write in a scholarly way that is appropriate to publication in refereed higher education journals.

The minimum requirement is a Bachelor degree in relevant discipline usually at honours level or equivalent. In addition, applicants would normally be required to be teaching and/or working in higher education and have either:

1. An appropriate Postgraduate qualifications in education such as a Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching or a Masters of Education; or


2. Significant experience (at least 3 years) as an academic or professional staff member in higher education in teaching, management and/or leadership roles, and evidence of scholarly development of their practice as shown through a teaching portfolio or through a significant record of scholarly work and publication in HE.

The program structure is defined in the Conditions for the Award of the Degree of Master of Philosophy. The Master of Philosophy in Higher Education is a research degree with a coursework component. The thesis embodies the result of an original investigation into an area of higher education. A program of advanced study, comprising 24 Units of Credit of coursework, makes up the remainder of the program.

The minimum and maximum enrolment times are specified in the Conditions for the Award of the Degree. The normal period is three semesters (full time) and six semesters (part time) from the date of enrolment.

The thesis component will comprise an original piece of research of typically up to 40,000 words.

The coursework component will comprise four courses selected from postgraduate coursework offerings in higher education and research methodology courses from within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Subject to the approval of the Faculty Higher Degree Committee, candidates may undertake interdisciplinary studies or be given permission to enrol in approved postgraduate courses from other tertiary institutions.

The structure is flexible but will typically comprise:

 

 

 

 

Electives
Select two elective courses from research methodology courses or higher education courses.

Note: Students must complete one course in Research Methodology and one other course in Research Methodology or Higher Education.

Please refer to the Condition for award of degrees - Master of Philosophy (MPhil).

Conversion from an MPhil to a PhD program is possible conditional on:
(i) satisfactory annual progress review and confirmation of candidature in accordance with UNSW Procedures for Review of Higher Degree Research Candidatures; and
(ii) satisfactory completion of the coursework component.

Please refer to the fees for UNSW research higher degree programs, click here.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html