Master of Philosophy

Part 1: Preliminary

1 Course codes

Part 2: Admission requirements

2 Eligibility for admission to candidature

(1) Subject to sub-clause (2) and (3), to be eligible for admission by a Dean or Associate Dean to candidature for the Master of Philosophy, an applicant must hold or have completed all the academic requirements, in a subject area related to the proposed course of advanced study and research, for a University of Sydney:

(a) Master’s degree; or

(b) Bachelor’s degree with honours; or

(c) Bachelor’s degree with a result of at least a Credit grade in the senior level unit(s) of study relevant to the proposed area of research.

(2) The Dean or Associate Dean may admit to candidature an applicant who does not meet the requirements of sub-clause (1), provided that the applicant holds a qualification or qualifications that, in the opinion of The Postgraduate Research Education Committee (PREC) are equivalent to those prescribed in sub-clause (1).

(3) The Dean or Associate Dean may impose on a student admitted to candidature pursuant to sub-clause (2) such conditions as the Dean or Associate Dean considers appropriate.

3 Application for admission to candidature

(1) An applicant for admission to candidature for a Master’s degree must submit to the Faculty:

(a) a proposed course of advanced study and research approved by the Associate Dean (Research Education), in which the work is to be undertaken;

(b) satisfactory evidence of the applicant’s eligibility for admission; and

(c) a statement certifying the applicant's understanding that, subject to the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2026; and Academic Board policies and procedures for Higher Degrees by Research, if the candidature is successful, their thesis will be lodged with the University Library and made available for immediate public use.

4 Credit transfer

The HDR Rule and the Higher Degree by Research Policy specifies the conditions for the granting of credit for previous studies, including the effect on completion times.

Part 3: Candidature

5 Control of candidature

The HDR Rule specifies the conditions for the control of candidature by the University.

6 Appointment of supervisor

The Associate Dean (Research Education) will appoint supervisors for each candidate in accordance with the Higher Degree by Research Supervision Policy.

7 Other studies during candidature

(1) Complete units of study and any other activities described in the milestones document for the degree.

(2) The Head of School may from time to time require a student to attend, undertake or complete assessment for lectures, seminars, courses or practical work during the course of the candidature, in accordance with the Higher Degree by Research Policy. This may include enrolment in units of study.

8 Location of candidature and attendance

The Higher Degree by Research Policy specifies the conditions for the location of candidature and attendance by candidates at the University.

Part 4: Enrolment and progression

9 Probation

A candidate is normally accepted for candidature on a probationary basis for a period not exceeding one year according to the provisions of the Higher Degree by Research Policy.

10 Time limits, earliest and latest submission dates

(1) A full time student may not submit a thesis for examination earlier than the end of four research periods (Higher Degree by Research Policy and the Higher Degree by Research Thesis and Examinations Procedures) of enrolled candidature and a student who has undertaken all of their candidature on a part-time basis must not submit their thesis for examination earlier than the end of twelve research periods of enrolled candidature.

(2) Where a student has undertaken their candidature as a mixture of part-time candidature and full-time candidature, a part-time research period will be counted as the equivalent of one half of a full-time research period, and the student must not submit their thesis for examination earlier than the end of four equivalent full-time research periods of enrolled candidature.

(3) The Higher Degree by Research Policy and Higher Degree by Research Thesis and Examinations Procedures specifies the latest completion times and submission dates for full- and part-time candidates in this course.

11 Mode of attendance

The attendance pattern for this course is full-time or part-time as approved by the Associate Dean.

12 Discontinuation of candidature

A candidate may discontinue enrolment in the degree subject to the conditions specified by the Higher Degree by Research Policy.

13 Suspension of candidature

A candidate may suspend enrolment from the degree subject to the conditions specified by the Higher Degree by Research Policy.

14 Leave of absence

A candidate may take leave of absence from the degree subject to the conditions specified by the Higher Degree by Research Policy.

15 Progress

A candidate is required to maintain and demonstrate satisfactory progress towards the timely completion of the degree. Progress will be reviewed at intervals no longer than one year according to the provisions of the Higher Degree by Research Policy and the Higher Degree by Research Candidature and Progress Procedures.

Part 5: Requirements

16 Degree requirements

(1) To satisfy the requirements of the degree candidates must:

(a) Satisfactorily complete any specified requirements of admission or probation;

(b) Where applicable, if commencing during or after 2021, complete any prescribed unit/s of study as determined in the relevant Faculty milestones statement, and/or any other studies as required by the progress evaluation panel of the research project;

(c) conduct research on an approved topic; and

(d) submit a document embodying the results of the research as a thesis that passes the examination.

17 The thesis

(1) A candidate shall produce a thesis that meets the requirements specified in the Higher Degree by Research Policy and Higher Degree by Research Thesis and Examinations Procedures.

(2) The required length of the thesis is a total upper limit of 50,000 words, as described in the Higher Degree by Research Policy 2026 and Higher Degree by Research Thesis and Examinations Procedures.

Part 6: Examination

18 Examination of the thesis

Examination of the thesis will be conducted in general accordance with relevant standards prescribed by Academic Board policies and procedures for Higher Degrees by Research thesis examinations for the Master's by research, which are set out in the Higher Degree by Research Policy and the Higher Degree by research Thesis and Examinations Procedures.

19 Award of the degree

The degree is awarded at the Pass level only.

Part 7: Other

20 Transitional provisions

(1) These course resolutions apply to commencing and continuing students after 1 January 2024.