Students

EDST8990 – Master of Research - Educational Studies

2020 – Session 2, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Hye Eun Chu
Credit points Credit points
80
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

The second year of our Master of Research is designed around the writing of an original research dissertation of 15,000 to 20,000 words. This thesis is externally examined and worth 90% of your overall result. The remaining 10% comes from a critical essay in Research Frontiers, a component of this unit where you explore some aspect of your research through reading, research seminars, or other mechanisms, and you write a critical essay on your chosen research question. Each Department offers training in research methods and techniques associated with the data and research approaches relevant to the discipline. To successfully complete this second year of the MRes, you will, in addition to the dissertation and Research Frontiers essays, be required to develop a plan for the research for your dissertation, write a literature review, and prepare and revise a PhD research proposal.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Extend candidates’ knowledge of research innovations in their discipline, and inthe sub-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary fields relevant to their research topic
  • ULO2: Demonstrate ability to present and justify the need to study research problems and to present the practical ways in which the proposed study should be conducted
  • ULO3: Develop an individual research project in the context of the latest research development in the field relevant to candidate's research topic.
  • ULO4: Review the key theories and methods in the field of relevant to the research topic
  • ULO5: Report key findings relevant to the research topic, the research questions and position your own research related to the topic.
  • ULO6: Demonstrate effective scientific communication skills in both written and oral form

General Assessment Information

Research Proposal 

All MRes Year 2 candidates are required to submit a research proposal. A satisfactory result is required in order to confirm candidature. Candidates will work with their supervisor/s to produce a research proposal as described in this task.

All candidates are required to prepare a written research proposal (2,500-3000 words). The proposal may be submitted any time but by the due date. The School of Education requires you to deliver a 15- minute oral proposal presentation to the public. The MRes program director, in consultation with two assessors, will assess the written proposal and decide whether a student will be ‘confirmed’ to continue with their candidature or will be deemed  'confirmation pending’ and required to resubmit the research proposal.  (see the full task description in EDST899 iLearn site).

Research Frontiers 2 

The aim of RF2 is to extend candidates’ knowledge of research innovations in their discipline and in the sub-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary fields relevant to their research. This reflects the standards in the Australian Qualifications Framework (see: www.aqf.edu.au): “Graduates of a Master’s Degree (Research) will have a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in one or more disciplines.”

The RF2 report is assessed by a marking panel in each department and grades are further reviewed and moderated across the Faculty by the MRes Director using the criteria listed below. RF2 results will not be released to candidates ahead of the final weighted MRes outcome (including thesis result) and are not final until they are approved by the university-level Thesis and Examinations Sub-Committee (TESC) of the Research and Research Training Committee (RRTC).

MRes Thesis

Please follow the official guidelines for submitting your thesis to the correct locations by the due date.

In addition to submitting your thesis, your thesis should also be submitted to Turnitin via the EDST899 iLearn page. Please ensure that your submission to Turnitin is completed at least two days prior to your thesis due date to allow time to make changes if needed. Please note Turnitin can take more than a day to process and report on your thesis.

 PhD Proposal

The PhD proposal is submitted approximately one month after your MRes thesis submission and must be submitted in order to complete the requirements of your MRes program. The proposal will also be used to evaluate your application to continue to PhD studies if you wish to continue. You must upload this document to the Turnitin link below. This project proposal should reflect the integration of feedback and further development following the draft that appeared in your initial MRes proposal submission and the ongoing advice of your supervisor. Please follow the same task criteria as offered for your MRES proposal to develop your PhD proposal. For information about progressing to a PhD after your MRes please refer to your 2019 Project Guide and Appendix D.

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
MRes Plan (Proposal) 0% No Within 3month from MRes year 2 starting date, Full time
Research Frontiers 2 10% No Two month before thesis submission, Full time
MRes thesis 90% No By the end of Year 2 Program

MRes Plan (Proposal)

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 75 hours
Due: Within 3month from MRes year 2 starting date, Full time
Weighting: 0%

 

15 minutes presentation and submission of the proposal (revised based on feedback received), 2500-3000 words

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate ability to present and justify the need to study research problems and to present the practical ways in which the proposed study should be conducted
  • Develop an individual research project in the context of the latest research development in the field relevant to candidate's research topic.

Research Frontiers 2

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 100 hours
Due: Two month before thesis submission, Full time
Weighting: 10%

 

Critical examination of an issues at the frontier of the chosen research field, 3000-3500 words

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Extend candidates’ knowledge of research innovations in their discipline, and inthe sub-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary fields relevant to their research topic
  • Demonstrate ability to present and justify the need to study research problems and to present the practical ways in which the proposed study should be conducted

MRes thesis

Assessment Type 1: Thesis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 1000 hours
Due: By the end of Year 2 Program
Weighting: 90%

 

Significant individual research project of their own design

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Extend candidates’ knowledge of research innovations in their discipline, and inthe sub-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary fields relevant to their research topic
  • Demonstrate ability to present and justify the need to study research problems and to present the practical ways in which the proposed study should be conducted
  • Develop an individual research project in the context of the latest research development in the field relevant to candidate's research topic.
  • Review the key theories and methods in the field of relevant to the research topic
  • Report key findings relevant to the research topic, the research questions and position your own research related to the topic.
  • Demonstrate effective scientific communication skills in both written and oral form

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Thesis Preparation

Link to thesis preparation guidelines 

This is a link to the official University webpage for thesis preparation and submission guidelines. Please notify us immediately if you find the link has changed or is not available. 

Electronic Communication

It is the student's responsibility to check all electronic communication on a regular basis. Communication may occur via:

• Official MQ student email address

• The Dialogue function on iLearn

• Other iLearn communication functions

Access and technical assistance

This unit uses an iLearn web site. You may access this site from https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/in dex.php

An iLearn quick guide for students is available from https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/tool s-and-resources/ilearn/ilearn-quick-guides-for-students

For help with iLearn email ilearn.help@mq.edu.au

Please do NOT contact the Unit Convenor regarding iLearn technical help. No extensions will be given for any technical issues. Allow enough time for your submissions.

Assistance is available from IT Helpdesk ph: 1800 67 4357, or log a request at help.mq.edu.au. OneHelp is the online IT support service for both students and staff.  

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.