Overview
ENS5902 (12 credit points) is a continuation of ENS5901. ENS5902, in combination with ENS5901, enables you to undertake research over two semesters during the advanced practice component of the course. ENS5902 provides an opportunity for you to pursue a major academically-oriented piece of research in your chosen discipline. This advanced and authentic experience will develop transferable research skills for professional practice across sectors and provides a pathway to a PhD. Over the course of ENS5901 and ENS5902, you will be assessed based on a research thesis (90%) and a conceptual development/reflection task (10%). The format and requirements of the research thesis will vary according to the requirements of the specialisation. In addition to independent research, the unit includes some scheduled activities to enhance and develop transferable research skills in study design, analysis and academic writing. Students from any specialisation can undertake the unit if they fulfil the academic requirements and gain approval from an appropriate supervisor. ENS5901 with ENS5902 provide the same experience as ENS5900, but enables you to undertake research over two semesters.
Offerings
Rules
COREQUISITE: You must enrol in both ENS5901 and ENS5902 in consecutive semesters. ENS5902 can only be undertaken after successful completion of ENS5901.
Contacts
Chief Examiner(s)
- Applies to all offerings
Unit Coordinator(s)
- Applies to all offerings
Teaching approach
This unit uses the experience of conducting research activity to provide an opportunity for students to apply theoretical knowledge gained during the Masters course and to develop skills in experimental or other study design, project planning and management, and analysis and interpretation of results.
This experience is highly academic.
The academic communication of your findings is crucial, following the expectations and conventions of the disciplinary area. This is an important aspect of research. The unit will provide the opportunity to further develop expertise in the professional oral and written analysis and presentation of academic research.
Your primary guide during the research experience is the academic supervisor or supervisors. You are however expected to lead the research.
There are also primer workshops included in the unit. These aim to primarily create a sense of community and support among the unit cohort and to provide some background information as a springboard into important conversations between the student and supervisor.
Each week, you will, with guidance from your supervisor, will be expected to lead, manage and generate your independent research.
The expected workload is 288 hours per semester. This workload may include identifying a research objective, undertaking training, reading and building a literature review, question structuring, study design, ethics applications, risk assessments, pilot studies, project management, experimental set up, laboratory or field work, data collection and handling, data analysis and interpretation, as well as thesis formulation and construction.
Your thesis will involve many stages, and not all will go smoothly, so it’s important to plan carefully. This includes being disciplined and managing your time well but also looking after you.
Please consult with your supervisor at least every two weeks and proactively enrol in appropriate School, Faculty, Library and myDevelopment training to suit your specific project and skills set.
You are expected to complete two modules/workshops/sessions relevant to your project and as agreed upon by your supervisor. These may be from myDevelopment, your School, Department, Institute or Faculty, the Library, or beyond. This is expected, and checked at the point of thesis submission. Your supervisor may recommend or require you to undertake training in areas such as statistical analysis, survey design, OHSE, professional writing, or human or animal ethics.
Please view the modules available via the Library, your School/Institute and Faculty, or myDevelopment and identify appropriate options with your supervisor.
In myDevelopment, graduate research students will be able to: - browse for professional development activities as part of their program - register, deregister or join a waitlist for an activity - view activities they are registered for and those completed - generate a training record of completed activities to present to their unit coordinator, supervisors or future employers
Assessment
Scheduled and non-scheduled teaching activities
- Applies to all offerings
Workload requirements
The minimum expected workload for independent research combined with scheduled activities is 288 hours over the course of one semester.