Admission to Postgraduate Research Programs

Prospective higher degree research students should note that admission to a higher degree by research in IHERD is dependent upon the presentation of an acceptable research proposal to the Institute's Research Committee.

Prospective research students should complete the "Expression of Interest in Postgraduate Research in IHERD" form (available on the downloads page) and submit it to the Director of the Institute, Professor Stephen Marshall. This form requires students to:

• describe their broad area of research interest
• specify the particular question(s) that they wish to research;
• provide a rationale for the proposed research;
• describe and provide a rationale for the method(s) by which they propose to collect and analyse data;
• summarise their previous experience in conducting research;
• outline their proposed arrangements for supervision of the proposed research within IHERD (see IHERD Staff Research Interests).

Expressions of Interest will be assessed by IHERD's Research Committee against the following criteria:

• whether the proposed research is consistent with the broad areas of strategic focus for research within the Institute as outlined in the Institute's Strategic Plan (see http://www.aces.mq.edu.au/iherd)
• the quality and significance of the proposed research in addressing one or more of the broad areas of strategic focus for research within the Institute
• whether the applicant has the necessary background and/or experience to successfully complete the proposed research
• whether the Institute has the capacity to offer the supervision requested.

Where an applicant's proposed research falls within the strategic priorities of the Institute, and where the Institute has a capacity to offer the supervision sought:

1. applicants deemed to have the necessary research background and/or experience to undertake the proposed research will be invited to prepare and present a formal research proposal, of no more than 2500 words, at a Research Seminar of the Institute. If the proposal is deemed to be of a suitable standard, the applicant will be invited to submit to the University a formal application for admission to their chosen research degree; or
   
   
2. applicants deemed to have insufficient research background and/or experience to undertake the proposed research will be invited to enrol in the Division's postgraduate research preparation program, where they will have opportunities and support to further develop their knowledge of the research process and of the research designs and methods associated with higher education. Satisfactory completion of this program will provide participants with the knowledge necessary to prepare the Research Proposal for the Institute's Research Committee.