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School of Psychological Science
FAQs
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Research Degrees
MBSc,
MSc & PhD
What
is the duration of a Masters by research degree?
Full-time: Master of Behavioural Science (MBSc) and Master of Science
(MSc) degrees are usually 2 years. Part-time: MBSc and MSc degrees
are usually a maximum of 4 years. No part time candidature is available
for international candidates.
What
is the duration of PhD candidature?
Full-time:
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidature is usually 3 to 3.5 years with
a maximum of 4 years.
Part-time:
PhD is between 4 and 8 years of enrolment.
No part time candidature is available for international candidates.
Are there
any fees for research degrees?
For local applicants places are offered under the Research
Training Scheme (RTS) which provides entitlement to a HECS exemption
up to a maximum of 4 years full-time equivalent study for PhD candidates,
and 2 years full-time equivalent study for MBSc/MSc candidates.
International applicants are liable for tuition fees.
What
are the closing dates for applications?
For local applicants applying for scholarship the closing date is
31st October. For international applicants the closing date is 30th
September. Local applicants applying for candidature ONLY can apply
at any time.
How do I
get a supervisor? Do I need a supervisor before I apply?
Check this site for information about academic staff and their research
interests or request a hard copy from the administrative officer. Applicants
may make direct approaches to staff to discuss possible supervision after
discussing their application in the first instance with the Postgraduate
Research Coordinator (Associate Professor Glynda Kinsella). Higher degree
candidature is contingent on availability of resources and supervision
for research projects.
Can I
have more than one supervisor?
All candidates must have a principal supervisor who is a member of staff
in the School of Psychological Science. The staff member must occupy a
tenured (or tenurable) appointment. Candidates must also have a co-supervisor
who may be a member of the School of Psychological Science or any other
School within La Trobe University (any campus).
Can I
have a supervisor from outside the University?
Yes. The Postgraduate Coordinator can recommend that the Higher Degrees
Committee (Research) extend an invitation to someone from an outside
institution or organization to become an "associate supervisor",
but you must still have a Principal supervisor.
Can I
apply for a research Masters and a PhD degree on the same form?
Yes. There is no need to complete more than one application.
What
are the undergraduate pre-requisites for higher degree research candidature?
For Master of Behavioural Science (MBSc):
Applicants must have completed a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (BBSc)
as well as a fourth year of study (either honours, postgraduate diploma
or equivalent). Your fourth year result must be at least upper second
class honours or equivalent.
For Master of Science:
Applicants must have completed a Bachelor’s degree in psychology
or related discipline as well as a fourth year of study (either honours,
postgraduate diploma or equivalent). Your fourth year result must be at
least upper second class honours or equivalent.
For PhD:
Applicants must have completed: (1) a Bachelor’s degree in psychology
(or a related discipline) as well as a fourth year of study (with
first class honours) or (2) a Masters degree (coursework or research).
Your fourth year or Masters degree must have included a research dissertation.
Is a
Postgraduate Diploma equivalent to Honours?
If the fourth year is not an honours course, the case must be argued
for its honours equivalence. The fourth year course content will be
evaluated and its research project must be deemed equivalent to an
honours empirical research project. The candidate may be required
to provide a copy of the written research project for evaluation by
members of the School.
Can I
study part-time?
Yes - for non-scholarship holders. Other than in exceptional circumstances,
scholarship recipients are full-time candidates. Part-time candidates
would usually devote about 20 hours per week to research including
at least half a day per week in the School (for supervision and to
attend research colloquia and postgraduate seminars).
Do I
need referees’ reports?
Applicants must obtain 2 confidential academic referees’ reports
on the requisite form.
If I
study full-time, can I still work?
A full-time candidate is expected to devote the whole of a normal working
week (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) to completing the research but may be granted permission
to undertake academic employment (tutoring or research assistant work)
for an annual maximum of 240 hours. (Not more than 8 hours per week).
Will
there be tutorships in the department? How do I find about them?
The School appoints casual tutors on a yearly basis. Applications
should be made to the Chair of the Teaching Committee.
Upgrades
from Masters to Doctorate
Masters research candidates may apply to upgrade to PhD enrolment
by submitting a PhD level proposal six months from the beginning of
candidature. If it is judged to be satisfactory by the review panel,
the student will be allowed to submit a PhD level literature review.
The change in status will only be effective if the literature review
is judged to be satisfactory. An assessment of the candidate’s
performance to date will be integral to the decision. If permitted
to upgrade, a set of hurdle requirements must be met by the candidate.
Guidelines for transferring to the PhD program are set out in the
Postgraduate (Research) Degrees handbook issued to candidates in the
School.
Can I
change supervisors and/or topics after commencement?
Such changes are possible during candidature with approval from the
Postgraduate Coordinator and by using the appropriate form, available
from the Research and Graduate Studies Office.
Can I
apply for both scholarship and candidature on the one form?
Yes. Just tick the relevant boxes on the "Higher Degree by Research"
application form.
What
is the scope of the Masters thesis?
MBSc
or MSc
The thesis must not exceed 60,000 words with a recommended word limit
of 40,000 words.
PhD
The thesis not exceed 100,000 words, with a recommended maximum of 50,000
words.
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