Course to help you prepare for science research
Want to do a Masters by research in science but don't have the prerequisite qualifications? The Postgraduate Certificate in Research Preparation may be the answer.
In 2006, all Masters by research programs in the sciences at Macquarie University were streamlined under the new Master of Philosophy degree. To enrol in this degree, students must have already successfully completed an Honours degree (Class 2) or have equivalent qualifications, such as demonstrated research experience or a satisfactorily completed Masters or postgraduate diploma including a research component worth 25 per cent of the program load and directly related to the acquisition of research skills.
An alternative pathway to a Masters
However if you don't already have these prerequisites, but do have a Bachelor degree in a related discipline, then the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Preparation can offer an alternative pathway to a Masters by research.
Enrolled students who complete the two units Research Preparation (eight credit points) and Selected Coursework (four credit points) with a minimum of credit grades can then enter the Masters program. Students proceeding to the Masters program are not required to complete the Certificate.
However students who do not qualify can complete the Research Preparation Certificate with an additional four postgraduate credit point unit taken from any of the 800 level unit offerings in the Division of Environmental and Life Sciences.
From 2007 onwards students will only need to complete the two units Research Preparation and Selected Coursework (12 credit points in total) to be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Research preparation.
Because the Certificate aims to prepare candidates for research within a specific area of scientific study, the Research Preparation and Selected Coursework units are provided in seven disciplines - Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Graduate School of the Environment, Health and Chiropractic, Human Geography and Physical Geography.
Admission information
Students can enrol in the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Preparation in either the first or second half of the year. Those wishing to start their degree in mid-2006 need to submit their application forms to Macquarie University by 30 June at the latest.
The Certificate takes one year of full-time, on-campus study to complete. Commonwealth Supported Places are available. For more information, contact Dr Julia Raftos at julia.raftos@mq.edu.au or on (02) 9850 6275 or Jane Yang at jane.yang@mq.edu.au