Students

FOAR8040 – Research in Practice

2025 – Session 2, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Abbie Hartman
abbie.hartman@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
Room 709, Level 7, 25B Wally's Walk (Arts Precinct)
Contact Abbie for advice re FOAR8040, internships and assessments. By appointment.
Director: Graduate Diploma of Research and Master of Research
Kirstin Mills
kirstin.mills@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
Room 752, Level 7, 25B Wally's Walk (Arts Precinct)
Contact Kirstin for advice regarding the GradDipRes or MRes programs. By appointment.
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to GradCertRes or GradDipRes or BPhil.
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit provides students with the opportunity to put their developing research skills and knowledge into practise by contributing to an existing research project within an academic or industry setting. This opportunity will allow students to collaborate and communicate with team members, including the project supervisor, as they work to produce research-based outputs. The project will be aligned with the host’s strategic priorities and will equip students with valuable insight into research-related careers, including knowledge and lived experience of research processes, practices and projects in academic and/or industry work environments, as well as the self-management, organisation and communication skills required to work as part of a research team. This unit will prepare students both to undertake independent research projects and for research-related careers.

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: Apply existing skills and knowledge to solving real-world problems.
  • ULO2: Participate in and contribute effectively to independent and/or team-based research in a professional academic or industry context.
  • ULO3: Evaluate ethics and integrity frameworks relevant to a research project.
  • ULO4: Demonstrate judgement, adaptability and accountability in your professional practise as a researcher.
  • ULO5: Communicate relevant research concepts and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

University Assessment Policy is as follows:

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of‚ 0 (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Research Placement Plan 40% No 24/08/2025
Research Placement Report 60% No 16/11/2025

Research Placement Plan

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: 24/08/2025
Weighting: 40%

 

Students will write a brief report of their goals and plans at the outset of their research placement, taking into account any ethical considerations for the project and any planned outputs or results.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate ethics and integrity frameworks relevant to a research project.
  • Demonstrate judgement, adaptability and accountability in your professional practise as a researcher.
  • Communicate relevant research concepts and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Research Placement Report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 16/11/2025
Weighting: 60%

 

Students will write a report documenting their experience, learning and skill development during their research placement, noting any research outcomes that resulted from this work.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply existing skills and knowledge to solving real-world problems.
  • Participate in and contribute effectively to independent and/or team-based research in a professional academic or industry context.
  • Evaluate ethics and integrity frameworks relevant to a research project.
  • Demonstrate judgement, adaptability and accountability in your professional practise as a researcher.
  • Communicate relevant research concepts and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

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

Research Internships

  • Students in FOAR8040 must complete an internship of 100 hours working on a research project for either a member of staff in the Faculty of Arts or an external host researcher.
  • Internships are advertised and students apply for them in advance of semester (to ensure you receive information about this, please ensure you are enrolled in the unit at your earliest convenience). Enrolled students will be notified when internship applications open.
  • Everything you do in relation to your internship project can contribute to your hours - i.e., in addition to research tasks, any time spent in meetings with your host, speaking to them on the phone or emailing them all relate to your project and so these can be counted towards your 100 hours.
  • Important: If any issues or concerns arise during your internship, please contact the convenor (abbie.hartman@mq.edu.au) immediately. No concern is too trivial!

Seminar

  • A one-hour seminar will take place in Week 1 ONLY to introduce students to the unit and exectations. There are NO SEMINARS FOR THIS UNIT AFTER WEEK 1. The rest of the semester's learning activities are devoted to undertaking your research internship and related assessments. 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

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.

Unit information based on version 2025.03 of the Handbook