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Research

Master of Research

Domestic students International students
Master of Research (MRES)
Entry requirements
View full details
Study mode
  • On-campus
  • Online
Campus
  • Ipswich
  • Springfield
  • Toowoomba
Duration
  • 2 year(s) (or part-time equivalent)
Start
  • Jan, May, Aug
Intakes
Note: The Psychology research specialisation is offered at UniSQ Ipswich or online.

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Master of Research Overview

  • Have you completed a bachelor degree and wish to enhance your research skills in a specialised area? The Master of Research (MRes) at UniSQ allows you to develop your research skills, specialist knowledge and produce original contributions in your chosen field, supported by expert professionals and renowned academics.
  • Expand your critical thinking, applied research and evaluation skills, developing rigorous research design capabilities, and the ability to report and share your research outcomes.
  • A Master of Research degree not only gives you an opportunity to make real and lasting impact in your chosen area, but also indicates to prospective employers that you possess strong competencies in time-management, problem-solving and commitment. 
  • As well as enhancing your career prospects, this Higher Degree by Research provides thorough research training if you seek to pursue further doctoral study.  
  • Explore research across a variety of UniSQ areas, including (but not limited to):
    • Astronomy
    • Agricultural Science
    • Computer Science
    • Creative Arts
    • Business
    • Education
    • Engineering
    • Health and Wellbeing
    • Humanities
    • Law and Justice
    • Mathematics
    • Nursing and Midwifery
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Sport and Exercise
    • Statistics, and more!

Further study

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) provides a further study pathway (providing you meet the entry requirements).

Professional accreditation

The Psychology specialisation will seek accreditation by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). You will be required to undertake the compulsory courses within this specialisation in order to meet this accreditation.

Career outcomes

As a graduate of the Master of Research, you will develop fundamental research skills and specialist area knowledge that will enhance your career prospects or enable you to proceed to further higher degree by research studies.

Entry requirements

Find the entry requirements most relevant to you.

  • Completed a 3-year degree at an Australian university or equivalent, with a GPA of 5.0/7.0 or above, or equivalent score, in a relevant discipline

or

  • Completed a 3-year degree at an Australian university or equivalent, and have successfully completed a coursework masters, with a GPA of 5.0/7.0 or above, or equivalent score, in a relevant discipline

plus

  • acceptance will be subject to the availability of, and endorsement by, a UniSQ supervisor.

  • In addition to the above, students in the Psychology research specialisation will need to have completed an APAC-accredited 3-year sequence undergraduate program in psychology and to be current in the area of psychology. This means students need to have commenced their studies in an APAC-accredited program no earlier than 8 years previous to the year of application and have satisfied requirements for the award of the degree no more than 3 years previously. The rationale for this is to ensure students can still demonstrate a breadth/depth of knowledge, skills, and application in psychology and meet APAC competencies.

 

English language requirements

You are required to meet the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires a minimum of IELTS 6.5 with a minimum 6.0 in each subscore. UniSQ also accepts other English language proficiency tests.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can apply to study with our English language partner, the Union Institute of Language (UIL).

Pathways

UniSQ offers a number of bachelor degrees for you to study to help you meet the entry requirements for your chosen degree.   

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete 16 units.

Courses to be studied Units
Core research courses and electives 16
Total 16

Refer to the UniSQ Handbook for courses to be studied and recommended enrolment patterns.

Professional experience

You have the opportunity to participate in an optional industry internship placement relevant to your research area.

Internships provide HDR students with the opportunity to establish professional networks, enhance employability outcomes, demonstrate and strengthen professional and research skills and gain experience professional experience.   

Internships require approval from your Primary Supervisor and the Graduate Research School.

Internships can be self-sourced or facilitated by a third-party provider. The Graduate Research School can provide guidance on navigating potential internship opportunities.  

Fees and scholarships

Your actual fees may vary depending on the courses you select. We review our fees annually so these may be subject to change.

Approximate annual costs1 for your first year of study (8 units) in this degree are:

Study Mode Cost
Domestic full fee paying

You are responsible for the full cost of your course and are charged a tuition fee.

AUD 35440

1 These are indicative annual fees for 2025. 

Professional experience costs

This degree includes a professional experience component that may involve travel, accommodation and meal expenses.

Grant to help you pay your fees

All Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, and New Zealand citizens commencing a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) degree will have their tuition fees paid by the Australian Commonwealth Government under the Research Training Program (RTP) Fees Offset scheme. The RTP Fees Offset scheme covers program fees for an HDR student up to a maximum period of four years for full-time study or up to eight years part-time study for a Doctoral degree, and up to a maximum period of two years for full-time or four years part-time for a Masters by Research degree.

As part of the enrolment process, students are required to submit proof of citizenship or permanent residency status and transcripts of all previous academic study. This documentation enables the University of Southern Queensland to determine eligibility for an RTP Fees Offset place.

Students eligible for an RTP Fees Offset place are those who:

  • have not used RTP Fees Offset funding in the previous three years; or
  • have already used RTP Fees Offset funding and have successfully completed an HDR degree. Once a student completes an HDR degree, full entitlements of RTP Fees Offset are restored.

If a student's RTP Fees Offset entitlement expires before completion of the degree, the student will be required to pay full tuition fees, or if meeting the eligibility criteria be able to apply for a FEE-Help loan. 

Scholarships

At UniSQ, we offer a range of scholarships to support your success at university. Find a scholarship that works for you.

How to apply

Complete your online application directly to UniSQ.

Prior to applying, you will need to clarify your research topic and find a research supervisor. You will then also need to submit a Direct Entry application form together with other information as specified by the Graduate Research School. You must receive approval from your research supervisor for the proposed study plan and thesis topic prior to confirmation of acceptance.

To learn more about the application process and how to find and connect with a research supervisor please visit the Higher Degrees by Research website.

Applications may be submitted at any time, but it is ideal to allow a minimum of 25 working days between when you submit your application and the start of your requested study period.

Apply direct to UniSQ

Intakes

You can select to start in one of the following intakes:

Study periods Study period start date
Research 1  Monday 13 January 2025
Research 4 Monday 19 May 2025
Research 6 Monday 11 August 2025

Further information

Discover further information on applying to study at UniSQ that is relevant to you.

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Got questions?

 

Begin your study journey today with the university rated 5/5 stars for graduates starting salaries* and start the degree that’s right for you.

*Good Universities Guide 2025

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What is a Master of Research degree?
A masters degree is an academic degree awarded by universities. It is at the postgraduate level, meaning to enter a masters you either need to have a degree, or a certain amount of work-experience to get started.

A Master of Research (MRes) is an internationally recognised qualification that will allow you to enhance your research skills in your chosen MRes degree area of expertise, supported by professionals and renowned academics at UniSQ.
How long does a Master of Research take?
The duration of a Master of Research degree may vary depending on the education provider you choose to study with. At UniSQ, a Master of Research degree usually takes two years to finish. Some students choose to study a Master of research online and/or part-time which increases the time it takes to complete the MRes degree.
What is involved in a Master of Research degree?

A Master of Research at UniSQ will include a substantial thesis or research project, often externally assessed. It is a good option if you want to contribute to the development of new knowledge through the completion of industry-relevant, independent research projects.

During your Master of Research degree, you will also enhance your transferable skills, such as:

  • critical thinking
  • research and evaluation skills
  • research design capabilities
  • report and share research outcomes.
Why study a Master of Research?
  • A Master of Research qualification will not only allow you to research what you are passionate about but help you expand your career prospects or launch into the job change you’ve been considering.
  • Increase your pay packet – there is a possibility of a higher pay bracket when you have a Master of Research degree.
  • Benefit from industry connections with like-minded peers, renowned academics and professionals committed to your learning journey.
  • Continue your studies and use your MRes degree as a stepping-stone to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Is it right for me?

The answer to this question depends on your interests, where you see your career headed, and if you want to add to your existing capabilities or take a completely different direction.

At UniSQ we have a variety of research areas you can explore, including:

  • Astronomy
  • Agricultural Science
  • Computer Science
  • Creative Arts
  • Business
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Humanities
  • Mathematics
  • Nursing & Midwifery
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Sport & Exercise
  • Statistics, and more.

Would you like to talk through your research options? Get in touch and we can provide you with the personalised support and advice you need.

What are the requirements for studying a Master of Research?

To enter a Master of Research you will need:

  • A Bachelor degree in a relevant discipline with the minimum GPA of 5.0 honours
    or
  • Other postgraduate qualifications
    (Relevant professional work experience may also be required)

Acceptance will be subject to the availability of, and endorsement by a UniSQ supervisor. For further information, please view the entry requirements section of this page.

Why study a Master of Research with UniSQ?

Get a strong start to your research career and apply to study a Master of Research with UniSQ.

  • Learn from world class researchers – according to the latest ERA results, UniSQ is rated at world standard or better in 30 areas of research.
  • Study for you masters while balancing your life, work and family commitments with flexible online or on-campus study.
  • Benefit from our leading research expertise, extending across three research institutes and nine research centres.
  • We are proud to partner with industry leaders to drive impactful change, giving our students opportunities to experience research in real-world environments.