Master of Philosophy
(MPhil) KC083
| Course | Duration full-time | Duration part-time |
|---|---|---|
| MPhil | 1 year | 1.5 to 4 years |
Overview
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) is aimed at those who intend to pursue careers in medical or health research or who wish to upgrade their qualifications to give them a competitive edge in their employment by demonstrating superior ability and some research experience. It may also be used as a stepping stone to commencing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
The MPhil is a research degree in which students undertake supervised research leading to the production of a thesis.
MPhil students are required to complete one six credit point unit of study, MEDF5005 Research Methods and Ethics, early in their candidature to provide them with guidance on areas relating to research such as writing papers and theses, reading and critiquing technical papers and writing literature reviews. Otherwise, MPhil students are not normally required to attend classes or undertake coursework units of study, with the thesis being the major examinable assessment requirement for the degree.
Major research areas include: anaesthesia, anatomy and histology, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology and hepatology, general practice, geriatric medicine, haematology, infection and immunity, medical education, medical genetics, neurology, nuclear medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, oncology, clinical ophthalmology and eye health, paediatrics and child health, pathology, pharmacology, physiology, psychological medicine, public health, rehabilitation medicine, renal medicine, respiratory medicine, rheumatology and surgery.
Degree Resolutions
Sydney Medical School resolutions and the printed handbook are the official statement of Faculty policy. The resolutions contained in the printed handbook are accurate as at November 2010. If a conflict is perceived between the content of the printed handbook and information available elsewhere, Sydney Medical School resolutions and the information available in the handbook online shall always take precedence. See the handbook online website:
sydney.edu.au/handbooks/handbooks_admin/medicine.shtml.
See the Policy Online website: sydney.edu.au/policy, for copies of University policies.
Master of Philosophy
These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to), the University of Sydney (Student Appeals against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006 (as amended) and the Academic Board policies on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.
Course resolutions
1 Course codes
|
Code |
Course title |
|---|---|
|
KC083 |
Master of Philosophy |
2 Attendance pattern
3 Admission to candidature
(1)
Available places will be offered to qualified applicants according to the following admissions criteria. In exceptional circumstances the Dean may admit applicants without the following qualifications but whose evidence of experience and achievement is deemed to be equivalent.
(a)
a bachelor's degree with first or second class honours from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification;
(c)
a bachelor's degree from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification. Applicants normally must have completed work equivalent to a first or second class honours bachelor's degree or pass a preliminary examination(s) as prescribed by the Faculty; this requirement may be waived if the applicant has obtained at least a credit in the highest course available in the subject(s) relevant to the proposed course of advanced study and research.
(b)
submission of a research proposal which will detail a course of advanced study and research, in which the work to be carried out is in a discipline of the Faculty of Medicine.
(3)
Admission to candidature will be conditional upon the appointment of an appropriate supervisor and associate supervisor.
4 Requirements for award
(b)
successfully complete such units of study, if any, as may be prescribed by the head of the discipline;
(c)
carry out supervised research on a topic approved by the Faculty on the recommendation of the head of the discipline;
(d)
write a thesis, that passes examination, embodying the results of the approved research which shall contain original contribution to the knowledge and understanding of the subject concerned.
5 Attendance
(1)
Candidates, with Faculty approval, may pursue research or related study within industrial laboratories or research institutions or other institutions considered by the Faculty to provide adequate facilities and appropriate supervision for that candidature.
(2)
Candidates must complete a minimum of one semester of candidature within the university before submission of the thesis.
6 Probation
(1)
A candidate of the Master of Philosophy will be accepted by the Faculty on a probationary basis for a period one year and, prior to completion of this probationary period, the Faculty shall review the candidate's work and shall either confirm the candidate's status or terminate the candidature.
(2)
In the case of a candidate accepted on a probationary basis, the candidature shall be deemed to have commenced from the date of such acceptance.
7 Satisfactory progress
(1)
Subject to approval of the supervisor, head of discipline or Faculty 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 Faculty to provide adequate facilities and appropriate supervision for that candidature.
(2)
A candidate pursuing candidature outside of Australia must also complete a minimum of one semester of candidature within the University before submission of the thesis.
(3)
At the end of each year the candidate shall provide evidence of progress and attend a progress review interview to the satisfaction of the supervisor, head of discipline concerned, the postgraduate review committee and the Faculty.
(4)
On the basis of evidence provided, the head of discipline or the Faculty 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 Faculty considers appropriate.
(5)
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 Faculty may request the candidate to show cause why that candidature should not be terminated by reason of unsatisfactory progress towards completion of the degree.
(6)
At any time the Faculty may, on the recommendation of the head of the discipline, call upon the candidate to show cause why that candidature should not be terminated by reason of unsatisfactory progress towards completion of the degree.
(7)
Where a candidate has been asked to show cause and in the opinion of the Faculty, the candidate does not show good cause, the Faculty may terminate the candidature.
8 Preparation and submission of thesis
(a)
shall be an original contribution and include evidence of originality by the exercising of independent critical ability;
(2)
The thesis or any component(s) of the thesis shall not already have been presented for any degree, however such component(s) may be included within the thesis where details of the previous presentation are provided.
(3)
A candidate may include in the thesis any publication of which the candidate is the sole or joint author provided that the papers:
(d)
that the candidate provides evidence to identify satisfactorily the sections of the work for which the candidate is responsible, such as a signed written statement from all authors attesting to the contribution of the candidate.
(4)
A candidate may also submit in support of the candidature any publication of which the candidate is the sole or joint author. In such a case the candidate must produce evidence to identify satisfactorily the sections of the work for which the candidate is responsible.
(5)
The thesis shall be a record of original research undertaken by the candidate, who shall state the sources from which the information was derived, the extent to which use has been made of the work of others and the portion of the work claimed as original.
(6)
The thesis shall state the sources from which the information was derived, the extent to which use has been made of the work of others and the portion of the work claimed as original.
(7)
The thesis shall be accompanied by a declaration signed by the candidate that the thesis is composed by the candidate.
(9)
Prepare three copies of the thesis and lodge with the Faculty typewritten and bound according to the Academic Board resolutions for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Form of the Thesis, points 1 - 4.
(10)
The candidate must submit to the Faculty, with the thesis, a certificate from the supervisor stating whether, in the supervisor's opinion, the form of presentation of the thesis is satisfactory.
9 Examination of thesis
0.
The examination of a thesis for the degree of Master of Philosophy, by research, shall follow closely the examination process as stipulated by the Academic Board resolutions for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, the Examination Process, (with any reference to the PhD Award Subcommittee being substituted by the Faculty), except that the head of the discipline shall appoint two examiners for the thesis, of whom at least one shall be external to the Faculty.
10 Time limits
(1)
A full time student must submit a thesis for examination not earlier than 1 calendar year from first enrolment and not later than 2 calendar years from first enrolment.
(2)
A part time student must submit a thesis for examination not earlier than 2 calendar years from first enrolment and not later than 4 calendar years from first enrolment.
11 Transitional provisions
Table of Units of Study: Master of Philosophy
| Unit of study | Credit points | A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition | Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEDF5005 Health Research Methods and Ethics |
6 | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
Units of Study Descriptions 2011
MEDF5005 Health Research Methods and Ethics
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Patrick Kelly Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: Face to face interactive lectures and tutorials, plus online lectures and discussions Assessment: 1x study design assignment (30%), 1x statistics assignment (40%), 1x online self-study tasks (10%), 1x reflective diary or critical appraisal (20%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Distance Education/Intensive on Campus
This unit of study introduces students to the fundamental skills that are required for postgraduate research in medicine and health. Students will learn how to conduct research that is scientifically and ethically sound, be able to critically appraise and review literature, and will develop simple but important statistical analysis skills. In particular, students will learn how to present and interpret data, basic data management skills, and how to determine the required sample size for a study.
Obtaining ethics approval is necessary for any study involving the collection or analysis of data involving humans, animals or their tissues. Hence, this unit will also cover when and how to apply for ethics approval.
Obtaining ethics approval is necessary for any study involving the collection or analysis of data involving humans, animals or their tissues. Hence, this unit will also cover when and how to apply for ethics approval.