Program information - 2010

UniSA home

Directory

Email

myUniSA

Library

• Program information search
  • Course information search
  • Majors, minors/sub-majors
  • Undergraduate elective courses
  • Academic year calendar
  • Application & admission information
  • Scholarships at UniSA
  • Change program information

Master of Arts (Communication and Information Studies)

2008 | 2009 | 2010

Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences | School of Communication, International Studies and Languages

Program Code: MMRC Program Level: Postgraduate — Masters by Research Home Campus: Magill Program Length (in EFTSL): 2

Program director/s

• Dr Jackie Cook (MMRC - Communication and Information Studies)

Applications can be made online at Research Degree Apply Online.
See further information at Research degrees.

Aim

Masters by Research programs have the objective of training higher degree by research (HDR) students in:

• analysing the literature, relevant artefacts and debate in the substantive area of the thesis topic at an advanced level
• research methodology and techniques and in their critical evaluation, appropriate to the field of study, and
• the application of such methodology, by conducting a specified program of research under appropriate supervision.

Academic areas

The Division accepts students in Masters degrees by research in a range of communication and information studies related discipline areas including:
Gender studies
Human communication
Professional communication

Entry requirements

An applicant for a place in a Masters by research program must satisfy the Research Degrees Committee of competence to undertake a higher degree by research by:
a.  holding or being eligible to hold from an approved higher education institution an award in an
     appropriate discipline which is assessed by this University as being equivalent to:
       i.  an Honours degree or a Bachelors degree with honours; or
      ii.  a Bachelors degree and a preliminary course of study of honours standard; or
     iii.  an appropriate Masters degree; or 
b.  holding such other qualifications as are acceptable to the Research Degrees Committee - in such
     cases the applicant must satisfy the Committee of fitness to undertake advanced work on the basis
     of the standard of achievement in, and the relevance of, previous higher education studies, and
     professional experience or published research work.

English language entry requirements for International students:

All international applicants are expected to be proficient in English comprehension and expression. Generally, for entry to a research program at UniSA, international students who speak English as a foreign language must have obtained one of the following standards:

• English Language Test (see Note 1)
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
• Reading, writing, listening and speaking - 6.0
• Overall band score - 6.5
• CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) (University of Cambridge ESOL examination)
• Grade of C
• CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) (University of Cambridge ESOL examination)
• Grade of B
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
• TOEFL iBT (internet based test) - 90 with no band less than 21
• TOEFL PBT (paper based test) - 577 with TWE (test of written English) of 4.5
• English Language Programs
• Successful completion of the CELUSA Academic English Program - Level 5
• Other qualifications
• Successful completion of a tertiary qualification at bachelor level or above completed in Australia within the last two years; or
• Successful completion of at least two years of tertiary study at bachelor level or above conducted and completed in English within the last five years in a country in which English is commonly used, as determined by the University (see Note 2). Where the study in English was more than five years ago, this requirement may be satisfied by subsequent and recent work experience of at least two years duration in a setting where English is the language of business subject to satisfactory evidence as determined by the University; or
• Having taught in the English language for at least two years at an overseas academic institution prior to the date of application. Such applications must be supported by the proposed supervisor and Dean of Research (or equivalent); or
• Having written in English and been published in scholarly books or internationally recognised journals - normally at least two articles in the last five years prior to the date of application. Such applications must be accompanied by an authorship statement or evidence of the contribution of the applicant and supported by the proposed supervisor and Dean of Research (or equivalent).

Note 1:  Results from IELTS, University of Cambridge ESOL examinations and TOEFL are valid for two years..
Note 2:  The University, through UniSA International, maintains a list of countries where English is commonly used and which would satisfy this criterion. This may include particular educational institutions within a given non-English speaking country where English is the language of instruction.
Note 3: Where previous study/work experience was conducted in English, the application must be accompanied by certified documentation from the educational institution/employer certifying that the language of instruction/employment was English.

The program of study and research

1. An applicant who accepts an offer of admission to a place in a Higher Degree by Research program shall commence within the time specified in the letter of offer unless a written request for a deferment of enrolment is upheld by the Dean Research and approved by the Research Degrees Committee.
2. Masters students are enrolled provisionally until the requirements for confirmation of candidature are met. That is, within the equivalent of a maximum of six months of commencement in a higher degree by research program Masters students are required to have their research proposal approved by the relevant Dean, Research (or equivalent), including Head of School (or equivalent) approval for resource allocation to the project.
3. Following confirmation of enrolment, a Masters student shall be re-enrolled in each calendar year following initial enrolment until all components of the degree program have been completed and the thesis is submitted for examination, or the maximum period of allocated candidature is reached, or until suspension or termination of the enrolment by the Research Degrees Committee, whichever comes first.
4. The normal maximum length of the Masters program will be 2 years full-time equivalent from the initial enrolment date.
5. A Masters student shall undertake a program of research under supervision in order to complete a thesis for examination. Unless co- or panel supervision is required, each Masters student shall have at least two supervisors appointed, one of whom shall be nominated as a Principal Supervisor and one as an Associate Supervisor. Supervisors are appointed on the basis that their research expertise is appropriate to the research outline indicated in the application.
6. The primary role of each full-time Masters student is to work on their thesis and, for all Masters students, to complete the degree within the maximum allocated time of enrolment.
7. An HDR student will enter into a formal Statement of Agreement with the supervisors regarding the completion of the research. This Agreement will document the expectations of the Masters student and supervisors for their responsibilities in the relationship, and outline the Research Support Activities to be undertaken for the individual research project.
8. The research and study shall be carried out either within the University or within an industrial, commercial, government, educational, research or other organisation approved by the Dean Research (or equivalent). The University will not require a Masters student to undertake employment at the institution.
9. The Research Degrees Committee recommends that full-time Masters students do not undertake paid employment for more than eight hours per week or for a total of the equivalent of eight hours per week over a twelve month period.

Progress of candidature

1. A Masters student must make satisfactory progress in the research to obtain approval for annual re-enrolment in the program.
2. A Masters student shall have the right to discuss any matter pertaining to the progress of the candidature with the Principal/Co Supervisor, the Research Degree Coordinator or the relevant Dean, Research (or equivalent), as appropriate, to resolve any impediment to that progress.
3. Each Masters student, Principal/Co Supervisor and Research Degree Coordinator must undertake at least two documented planning and review sessions each year. These will be known as the minor review and major review respectively. These reviews are the basis on which re-enrolment or otherwise is recommended.
4. The Statement of Agreement shall inform the review of progress. For continuing HDR students, the previous planning and review documents will be the basis of the review.
5. Failure by an HDR student to undertake the minor and major reviews may result in suspension or termination of the candidature
6. For HDR students commencing after 1 January 2004, in their final year, the HDR student shall document evidence of achievement and experience in the seven areas of the Research Degree Graduate Qualities in their final review of progress.

Eligibility for the degree

If the Research Degrees Committee is of the opinion that a Masters student has satisfied the requirements for the award of the degree, it shall certify to Council that the Masters student is eligible to be admitted to the degree.

Fee information

Fees for Domestic students: RTS
Fees for Research students that have exceeded their RTS entitlement are calculated at the course level. Click on the above link to determine your fee.

top^