Glossary

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Higher Education - 2359

Program Summary

Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Contact: mphilhe@unsw.edu.au

Campus: Sydney

Career: Research

Typical Duration: 1.5 Years

Typical UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC Per Semester: 12

Max UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC For Award: 72

Award(s):

Master of Philosophy (Research)

Information valid for students commencing 2013.
Students who commenced prior to 2013 should go to the Handbook's Previous Editions

Program Description

The Master 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 work in higher education. The program is suitable for those who have completed postgraduate study in higher education, or who have extensive work experience in higher education. The program provides the opportunity for candidates to extend their development beyond scholarly understanding and practice of learning and teaching concepts and issues in higher education to include the capacity to conduct research within an area of interest. Research areas may include: an aspect of teaching and learning in higher education such as assessment, curriculum, evaluation, language and literacy or student diversity; technology enabled learning and teaching in higher education, academic leadership; or management and policy in higher education.

The program is intended for those working in higher education (including academic staff, casual lecturers and tutors and professional staff) who may be engaged in, or moving towards, leadership roles within the higher education sector.

Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes

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:

Frame a research question and devise an appropriately designed research project;
Critically review literature related to a higher education research project;
Select appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative approaches to gather, analyse and interpret evidence;
Investigate and interpret the outcomes of research;
Present and disseminate cogent, research-based arguments, supported by valid evidence, that outline the implications of the research to higher education;
Write in a scholarly way that is appropriate to publication in refereed higher education journals.

Entry Requirements

Applicants are required to:

hold a Bachelor degree in a relevant discipline typically at Honours level or equivalent; and
be working in higher education with research experience; and
either:

(a) hold an appropriate postgraduate qualification in education such as a Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching or a Master of Education; or
(b) have significant experience (at least 3 years) as an academic or professional staff member in higher education in academic, management and/or leadership roles, and evidence of scholarly development of their practice related to learning and/or teaching in higher education and research experience as shown through an academic portfolio or through a significant record of scholarly work and publication in Higher Education.

Program Structure

The Master of Philosophy in Higher Education is a research degree with a coursework component. The thesis will embody 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 typical period of enrolment is three semesters (full time) and six semesters (part time) from the date of enrolment. For more information on the program structure please see the Conditions for the Award of the Degree webpage.

The thesis component will typically comprise an original piece of research of up to 40,000 words, which will be submitted as a thesis, or in the form of a series of publications (or manuscripts submitted to journals for publication), together with an Introduction and Summary/Concluding Remarks chapter.

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:

Scenario 1: Part-time

Semester 1	*Core course 1:* EDST5458 Researching Higher Education Plus Research Thesis	6
Semester 2	*Elective 1:* selected from Research Methodology Courses Plus Research Thesis	6
Semester 3	Core course2: EDST5463 Engaging the Educational Research Literature Plus Research Thesis	6
Semester 4	*Elective 2:* selected from Research Methodology or other nominated courses within the post-graduate schedule of the School of Education or other Faculties as approved by the Program Authority Plus Research Thesis	6
Semester 5 Semester 6	Research Thesis Research Thesis	48

Scenario 2: Full-time

Semester 1	Core course 1: EDST5458 Researching Higher Education *Elective 1:* selected from Research Methodology Courses Plus Research Thesis	24
Semester 2	Core course 2: EDST5463 Engaging the Educational Research Literature *Elective 2:* selected from Research Methodology or other nominated courses within the post-graduate schedule of the School of Education or other Faculties as approved by the Program Authority Plus Research Thesis	24
Semester 3	Research Thesis	24

Core courses

EDST5458 Researching HE (Researching Higher Education UOC)
EDST5463 Engaging Ed Research Lit (Engaging the Educational Research Literature UOC)

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

Note: Students must complete one course in Research Methodology (EDST5120 is highly recommended) and one other course in Research Methodology or Higher Education.

Academic Rules

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

Articulation Entry

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.

Fees Information for Postgraduate Research Students

Local students undertaking PhDs or Masters by Research at UNSW are not liable for course tuition fees. International postgraduate students should contact the Graduate Research School for information about fees: click here.