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Higher Degrees by Research

The Higher Degrees by Research program in Social Work has approximately 36 students enrolled in the Masters by Research and the PhD programs.    Our students are both locally based in Victoria and are also from interstate.    Postgraduate students are obliged to attend the University for specific study periods, which are set out in the MGS web site.   Postgraduate students are encouraged to attend the two one day Social Work Postgraduate conferences held each year in February and June / July.   These conferences provide students with an opportunity to hear about research activity in the Department and to hear guest presentations about the research process.

The degrees provide health and welfare professionals with the opportunity to explore original ideas and research questions. Students will undertake independent research on a topic of interest and develop their critical, conceptual and analytical skills. They are required to complete to submit a major thesis for examination which will communicate the results of research carried out by the candidate under supervision. The thesis will demonstrate the candidate's ability to complete independent research of high quality. Specialist areas of research include casework, child abuse and protection, community health and services, corrections, ethnic welfare, family and children's courts, family intervention, family violence, policy development, poverty, residential care, women and social work, the welfare lobby, drug law reform, child abuse and the media, and aged care.

Higher Degree by Research Application

  1. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the Postgraduate (Research Degrees) Co-ordinator to, advise Social Work of their interest, and to discuss their proposed research area.
  2. Potential applicants may also wish to speak to Social Work Academic Staff who undertake research in the applicant's area of interest. Applicants are encouraged to view staff research interests at this site:  www.med.monash.edu.au/social.work/staff
  3. Potential applicants are advised to look first at the following web site: www.monash.edu.au/phdschol/
  4. Potential applicants are asked to provide a 1,000 to 1,500 word study proposal to accompany their application, in order to notify the Postgraduate Committee about their area of study, and to assist decisions about supervision arrangements.
  5. Once the postgraduate (research degree) application is completed, please forward it to the Administrative Officer for postgraduate (research degree) matters.
  6. Applications for Ph.D and Master of Social Work by Research are at www.monash.edu.au/phdschol/forms/doctoral

Application Forms

  1. Please complete the correct form, which indicates whether the application is for a local candidate or for an external candidate. Please ensure the form completed is current.
  2. Please provide a 1,000-1,500 word study summary attached to the application. The study summary that describes the intent of the study, and the proposed method.
  3. Please attach a current curriculum vitae to the application that indicates the applicant's level of social work experience/research exposure.
  4. Please ensure that you give clear details about how you will comply with the arrangements for study. Give expected dates for the study blocks you are required to maintain, to fulfill the attendance requirements. Check the requirements, as these will vary according to whether or not you are part-time or full-time, local or external.
  5. Please attach a letter from your employers (where applicable) to demonstrate how they will assist you to achieve your study arrangements.
  6. Ensure that certified copies of academic transcripts are included.
  7. If you have a research/publication record, give details where asked and attach copies of abstracts, or the first page of a published article, to demonstrate this.
  8. Ensure your proposed supervisor has completed the section which asks about the candidate's proposed methodology.
  9. Please ensure your proposed supervisor has indicated arrangements for access to resources.
  10. Please ensure your supervision arrangements are explained.
  11. Social work candidates who are seeking PhD candidature from MSW, must complete an H2A Equivalency form.

Master of Social Work (Research)

The Master of Social Work (Research) is a 100 per cent research degree for which candidates are required to submit a major thesis for examination. The thesis is approximately 30,000 to 40,000 words  and communicates the results of research carried out by the candidate under supervision. The thesis will demonstrate the candidate's ability to complete independent research of high quality. The program may be completed in two years full-time or four years part-time.

Students who have completed the course will demonstrate a thorough understanding of relevant research techniques in their field through a review of the relevant literature. They will demonstrate their ability, under supervision, to apply relevant research techniques to their chosen field of study. Students will be able to present high-quality written work suitable for publication in appropriate scholarly journals. Students will be able to critically evaluate both their own and others' written work in their chosen field.

Full-time candidates must be able to devote the equivalent of a minimum of four days a week to the pursuit of their research project; all part-time candidates must devote at least two full days a week to their studies. For part-time students at least one of their study days must be a week day.

Progression to PhD

Students may apply to upgrade to doctoral candidature after 12 months candidature (full-time or equivalent), provided that satisfactory progress has been made and certain conditions are met.
PhD in Social Work

The Doctor of Philosophy is a 100 per cent research degree for which candidates are required to submit a major thesis for examination. The thesis communicates the results of research carried out by the candidate under supervision. The thesis demonstrates the candidate's ability to complete independent research of high quality. The degree may be completed in three years full-time or four years part-time. The maximum time allowed for part-time study is eight years.

The doctoral study must demonstrate a thorough understanding of relevant research techniques in the field of study through a review of the relevant literature and the application of relevant research techniques to their chosen field of study. Students must maintain regular contact with their supervisors. Students are expected to present aspects of their work at the Social Work bi-annual postgraduate conferences. They are encouraged to develop high-quality written work suitable for publication in appropriate scholarly journals.

COURSE STRUCTURE

The thesis is expected to be at least 100,000 words. The degree may be completed in three years full-time or six years part-time, although this may be extended to eight years part-time.

INQUIRIES

Inquiries should be directed to:

Associate Professor Rosemary Sheehan
Rosemary.Sheehan@med.monash.edu.au

You can also contact:

Dr Karen McConalogue
Manager, Research Degrees
Research and Graduate Programs Office
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Monash University, Victoria 3800
Australia

Telephone: +61 3 9905 2909
Email: research.degrees@med.monash.edu.au