Master of Philosophy
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
Course overview and code: EC003
The MPhil is a research degree and is aimed at those who intend to pursue research careers in oral health or a related field. It may also be used as a foundation to commencing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Full-time MPhil students have a minimum of 2 years and maximum of 3 years to submit a thesis for examination. Part-time students have a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 6 years to submit. The word limit for a thesis submitted to the Faculty of Dentistry is 80,000 words. MPhil students may be required to attend classes or undertake coursework units of study, and the thesis is the only or major examinable assessment requirement for the degree.
Admission requirements
A bachelor's degree, preferably with honours, in a related area from the University of Sydney or equivalent.
Resolutions
Resolutions of the Senate
1 Requirements for the Master of Philosophy
(a)
complete a 6 credit point unit of study on research methods plus such courses or units of study, if any, as may be prescribed by the head of the discipline concerned;
(b)
carry out supervised research on a topic approved by the Faculty on the recommendation of the head of the discipline concerned;
(d)
satisfy the requirements of all other relevant By-Laws, Rules and Resolutions of the University.
Resolutions of the Faculty
1 Course codes
|
Code |
Course title |
|---|---|
|
EC081 |
Master of Philosophy |
2 Admission
(1)
Except as provided in Part 9, section 47 of the University of Sydney (Amendment Act) Rule 1999, the Faculty of Dentistry may admit to candidature for the degree of Master of Philosophy
(b)
an applicant who holds the degree of bachelor of the University of Sydney or other approved institution without first or second class honours after the applicant has passed a qualifying examination at a standard equivalent to the bachelor's degree with first or second class honours, provided that a faculty may exempt an applicant from the qualifying examination if the applicant has obtained at least a credit in the highest course available in the subject or subjects relevant to the proposed course of advanced study and research.
0.0.0.0.
The qualifying exam may include completion of a period of relevant full-time or part-time advanced study and/or research towards a postgraduate award course in the University of Sydney, at such a standard as would demonstrate to the satisfaction of the faculty that the candidate is suitably prepared in the particular field of study to undertake candidature for the degree of Master of Philosophy.
(2)
The faculty may admit as a candidate for the degree an applicant holding qualifications which, in the opinion of the faculty concerned, are equivalent to those prescribed in (1) above and such candidate shall proceed to the degree under such conditions as the Faculty may prescribe.
(3)
The faculty may require a candidate, as part of the evidence of the candidate's training and ability to pursue the proposed course, to pass a special examination or assessment.
(4)
An applicant, for admission to candidature, shall submit to the Faculty a research proposal as part of the application. This proposal will detail a course of advanced study and research, in which the work is to be carried out to be undertaken by the applicant in a discipline of the Faculty of Dentistry.
(5)
Admission to candidature will be conditional upon the appointment of an appropriate supervisor and associate supervisor as stipulated in the Academic Board Policy entitled "Postgraduate Research Higher Degree Training Supervision at the University of Sydney".
3 Method of Progression
(1)
A candidate for the Master of Philosophy shall proceed by completing a 6 credit point unit of study on research methods and by research and thesis.
(2)
A full-time candidate shall not keep the normal academic year but shall pursue candidature for the degree continuously throughout the year except for a period of 4 weeks recreation leave and shall dedicate a minimum of 35 hours per week to their candidature.
4 Requirements
(b)
complete such other courses or units of study, if any, as may be prescribed by the head of the discipline concerned;
(c)
carry out supervised research on a topic approved by the Faculty on the recommendation of the head of the discipline concerned;
(2)
The candidate shall state in the thesis the sources from which the information was derived, the extent to which the work of others has been used and the portion of the work claimed as original.
(3)
The candidate may include in the thesis published papers of which the candidate is sole or joint author, provided that:
(c)
the papers are compatible with the overall coherence and organisation of the text of the thesis; and
(d)
the candidate provides evidence to identify satisfactorily the sections of work for which the candidate is responsible, such as a signed, written statement from all authors attesting to the contribution of the candidate.
(4)
Any other papers of which the candidate is sole or joint author may be lodged in support of the thesis.
(7)
The thesis is a satisfactory literary presentation and the material in the thesis is suitable for publication.
(8)
The thesis shall be accompanied by a statement from the supervisor stating whether, in the supervisor's opinion, the form of presentation of the thesis is satisfactory.
(9)
A candidate may not present as the thesis a work which has been presented for a degree in this or another university, but will not be precluded from incorporating such in the thesis provided that in presenting the thesis the candidate indicates the part of the work which has been so incorporated.
(10)
Satisfy the requirements of all other relevant By-Laws, Rules and Resolutions of the University.
5 Probation
(1)
A candidate will normally be accepted by the Faculty on a probationary basis for a period not exceeding twelve months.
(2)
The provision to waive probationary acceptance would only be exercised in exceptional circumstances. All requests to waive probation will need to be approved by the Chair of the Board of Postgraduate Studies.
(3)
A Probation Review Report must be completed by the candidate's supervisor in consultation with the Postgraduate Coordinator and submitted to the Faculty at least four weeks before the end of probation.
(4)
The Faculty will write to the candidate to advise of the outcome of the probation review, either confirming the candidate's status, extending the probationary period or terminating the candidature.
(5)
In the case of a candidate accepted on a probationary basis under section 5(1), the candidature shall be deemed to have commenced from the date of such acceptance.
6 Enrolment
(1)
A student must be enrolled in each semester in which he or she is actively pursuing the requirements for the award course.
(2)
The candidature of a student who has not re-enrolled and who has not obtained approval from the Faculty for a suspension of candidature for the relevant semester will be deemed to have lapsed.
7 Restrictions on enrolment
(1)
Admission to candidature may be limited by a quota. In determining the quota the Faculty will take into account:
(2)
In considering an application for admission the Dean will take into account the quota. Entry will be based on applicants who are most meritorious in terms of section 2 above.
8 Discontinuation of enrolment
(1)
A candidate who wishes to discontinue enrolment from the Master of Philosophy must notify the Faculty in writing and will be presumed to have discontinued enrolment from the date of that notification, unless evidence is produced showing:
9 Suspension of candidature
(a)
The application must be received by the Faculty prior to the commencement of the relevant semester.
(b)
A candidate may only apply for a period of suspension for one semester at any one time. Should a candidate wish to suspend their candidature for more than one semester another application must be made to the Faculty for each subsequent semester, prior to the commencement of the relevant semester.
(2)
Where the candidate has previously had two semesters of suspension the application will be considered by the Board of Postgraduate Studies for the Faculty.
10 Re-enrolment after an absence
(2)
A student whose candidature has lapsed must apply for re-admission in accordance with procedures determined by the Faculty.
11 Satisfactory progress
(1)
At the end of each year each candidate shall complete an Annual Progress Report providing evidence of progress to the satisfaction of the supervisor, head of discipline concerned, any postgraduate review committee and the Board of Postgraduate Studies.
(2)
On the basis of evidence provided, the head of discipline or the Chair of the Board of Postgraduate Studies shall recommend the conditions of candidature to apply for the following year and may require the candidate to provide further evidence of progress at the end of one semester or such other period as the head of discipline or the Chair of the Board of Postgraduate Studies considers appropriate.
(3)
If a candidate fails to submit evidence of progress or if the head of discipline concerned considers that the evidence submitted does not indicate satisfactory progress, the Board of Postgraduate Studies may, on the head of discipline's recommendation, call upon that candidate to show cause why that candidature should not be terminated by reason of unsatisfactory progress towards completion of the degree and where, in the opinion of the Board of Postgraduate Studies, the candidate does not show good cause, the Board of Postgraduate Studies may terminate that candidature or may impose conditions on the continuation of that candidature.
12 Credit
0.
A candidate who, before admission to candidature, has spent time in advanced study in the University of Sydney, or in another university, or in another institution whose courses are deemed by the Faculty to be equivalent, may be deemed by the Faculty to have spent such time after admission to candidature.
13 Time limits
(1)
Except with the permission of the Faculty on the recommendation of the head of discipline concerned, a full-time research candidate shall complete the requirements for the degree not earlier than the end of the second semester of candidature and not later than the end of the fourth semester of candidature.
(2)
Except with the permission of the Faculty on the recommendation of the head of discipline concerned, a part-time research candidate shall complete the requirements for either degree not earlier than the end of the fourth semester of candidature and not later than the end of the eighth semester of candidature.
14 Location
(1)
Subject to approval of the supervisor, head of discipline and Board of Postgraduate Studies, the candidate may request a period of time away to pursue the course of advanced study and research within industrial laboratories or research institutions or other institutions considered by the Board of Postgraduate Studies on the recommendation of the head of discipline to provide adequate facilities and appropriate supervision for that candidature.
(2)
A candidate pursuing candidature outside Australia must also complete a minimum of one semester of candidature within the University before submission (but not necessarily immediately before submission) of the thesis.
15 Examination of thesis
(1)
The examination of a thesis for the degree of Master of Philosophy shall follow closely the examination process as stipulated by the Resolutions of the Academic Board for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (with any reference to the PhD Award Sub-Committee being substituted by the Board of Postgraduate Studies) except for the following variations:
(a)
The head of discipline shall recommend the appointment of two examiners of the thesis of whom at least one shall be an external to the Faculty, not being a member of staff or a clinical academic title holder of the Faculty. Approval of the examiners is the responsibility of the Board of Postgraduate Studies.