Law and Management

Graduate School of Management

Post Graduate Research

Masters and Doctorates (PhD)

The Graduate School of Management welcomes enquiries and applications from qualified individuals for both masters by research programs and doctorate of philosophy degrees. As can be seen from the staff profiles, we have a wide range of research interests and expertise.

Master of Arts, Master of Business, Master of Commerce and Master of Economics

These masters degrees are designed to achieve two ends. As stand-alone degrees they provide the opportunity for well qualified graduates to deepen their knowledge of their discipline area in the process of exploring a substantial research question. The masters degrees may also serve as an entry point into the PhD program. These research degree programs require the submssion of a thesis of approximately 25,000 to 50,000 words and the period of research is generally 1 1/2 to 2 years which may be completed on either a full-time or equivalent part-time basis.

Minimum entry requirements

For admission to a research Masters degree, applicants must have completed a Bachelor degree with honours from La Trobe University or another recognised university or educational institution. The honours degree should normally have been completed at the level of H1 or H2A or equivalent. Candidates with honours at H2B may be considered in some instances.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy is taken by thesis only. The program enables candidates to engage in independent research which should make an original contribution to knowledge.The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is based on a program of research undertaken by the candidate, under the supervision of a member of the academic staff. It is expected the scope of the project be such that it can be completed in 3 years of full-time study or equivalent part-time study. It is recommended that the thesis not exceed 75,000 words.

• a substantial and original contribution to knowledge;
• the candidate's ability to provide a critical appraisal of relevant literature and available research, to appreciate and understand the relationship of the investigations undertaken by the candidate to the wider field of knowledge in which these investigations are located, and to draw out the contribution to knowledge made by these investigations;
• the candidate's knowledge and understanding of the methodological techniques used in the research and any shortcomings associated with these techniques;
• a satisfactory level of literary presentation reflecting an ability to communicate in a clear, concise and authoritative manner appropriate to the discipline and to the professional arena to which it is addressed.

Admission requirements

Students should have:

1. graduated with or qualified for the degree of master with a dissertation demonstrating an ability to undertake research at doctoral level; or
2. graduated with or qualified for an honours degree at first-class or upper second-class division with a dissertation demonstrating the ability to undertake research at doctoral level; or
3. hold qualifications and/or have demonstrated skills, experience, research or publications which in the opinion of the Higher Degrees Committee are considered to be at least equivalent to, or are a satisfactory substitute for, any of the qualifications described in (a) and (b) above.
4. International students must have proficient english (see below).

A candidate for the degree of master is also eligible to apply for PhD candidature if he or she holds one of the qualifications described above and has completed a substantial proportion of the masters research (e.g. two thesis chapters) which has been assessed by an independent person as demonstrating the capacity to undertake research at the PhD level, and has been enrolled for the degree of master for not less than eight months or, if part-time, not less than 12 months.

[Further information regarding candidature regulations may be obtained from the Research and Graduate Studies Office (Level 2, David Myers Building, e-mail: rgso@latrobe.edu.au or phone: +61 3 9479 3892).]

English Requirements for International Students

International students must provide evidence of their English language proficiency as follows:

• IELTS - A minimum overall band score of 6.5 with no individual band score less than 6.0.
• TOEFL - Paper-Based Test: A minimum score of 575 with a score of 5 or better in the test of Written English.
• Computer-Based Test: A minimum score of 233 with a score of 5 in essay writing.
• Internet-Based Test (IBT) - A minimum score of 88 with no individual score less than 22.
• English as the language of instruction in tertiary studies may be accepted.
• Satisfactory mark or score in another examination or test acceptable to the University.
• Completion of the English for Further Studies Advanced Stage 5B certificate at PG1 level (EFS5 70%) available from the La Trobe University Language Centre.

English results must be no more than 2 years old.

For further information about post graduate research provided by the Graduate School of Management, please contact Dr Richard Pech, Director of Research,
Tel: +61 3 94793119.