精东传媒app

Skip to main content

Master of Professional Studies (Research) (MPSR) - MProfStud

CRICOS code (International applicants): 096798G

 On-campusOnline
Start:Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Semester 3 (November)
Campus:Toowoomba -
Fees:Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Research Training Program (RTP) - Fees Offset scheme
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Research Training Program (RTP) - Fees Offset scheme
Standard duration:1.5 years full-time, with the expectation that the degree will be completed in no more than 3 years part-time 
Program articulation:

From: Graduate Certificate of Professional Studies

To: Doctor of Professional Studies; Doctor of Philosophy

Back to top

Contact us

Future Australian and New Zealand students  Future International students  Current students 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 269 500
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 5315
Email: study@usq.edu.au  

Phone: +61 7 4631 5543
Email: international@usq.edu.au 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 007 252
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 2285
Email usq.support@usq.edu.au 

Back to top

Program objectives

On successful completion of the program students should be able to:

  • apply analytical, critical and creative thinking to professional practice and profession-based applications;

  • coherently integrate, examine and apply a complex, contemporary body of knowledge across relevant disciplines to address capacity building, professional practice and promote innovation;

  • assess and manage complex ethical concerns in professional studies research and related professional practice;

  • develop a professional studies research project plan and outcomes that integrate contemporary theory and professional practice, while illustrating advance knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to the field of work and learning skills;

  • coherently evaluate, analyse and report the results of the implemented research project that contributes to professional practice and scholarship.


Back to top

Program aims

The aim of this program is to provide experienced professionals with the opportunities to demonstrate, autonomously and creatively the application of knowledge and skills in research, their professional practice and further learning. Creativity and initiative are encouraged in engaging issues that are relevant and meaningful to their professional practice and workplace challenges, helping to build the capacity and resilience of the student鈥檚 organisations/communities and contribute to their self-directed learning and career development.

Back to top

Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a single national, comprehensive system of qualifications offered by higher education institutions (including universities), vocational education and training institutions and secondary schools. Each AQF qualification has a set of descriptors which define the type and complexity of knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills that a graduate who has been awarded that qualification has attained, and the typical volume of learning associated with that qualification type.

This program is at AQF Qualification Level 09. Graduates at this level will have specialised knowledge and skills for research, and/or professional practice and/or further learning.

The full set of levels criteria and qualification type descriptors can be found by visiting .

Back to top

Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

  • Completion of an Australian university Bachelor degree or equivalent, and

  • A minimum of five years' work experience in the chosen field of professional practice.

  • English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 3.


Admission to the Master of Professional Studies (Research) is by completed online application and interview.
Anyone wishing to gain entry to the program on the basis of equivalent qualifications and/or experience should contact the 精东传媒app for consideration for admission on this basis.

All students are required to satisfy the applicable .

If students do not meet the English language requirements they may apply to study a 精东传媒app-approved . On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program.

Back to top

Program fees

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the

Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.

Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for .

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

Research Training Program (RTP) - Fees Offset scheme

All Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens commencing a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) program 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 program, and up to a maximum period of two years for full-time or four years part-time for a Masters by Research program.
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 精东传媒app of Southern Queensland to determine eligibility for an RTP Fees Offset place.

If a student's RTP Fees Offset entitlement expires before completion of the program, the student will be required to pay full tuition fees.

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 program. Once a student completes an HDR program, full entitlements of RTP Fees Offset are restored.


The Australian Commonwealth Government鈥檚 contribution to program fees must be acknowledged on all published material relating to a research project via a statement identifying the support received through the RTP Fees Offset scheme.

Back to top

Program structure

The Master of Professional Studies (Research) is a 12-unit program. The core courses are made up of i) a foundational course, ii) recurring enrolment research project courses and a iii) publishable paper course.

Students must successfully complete the following courses:

Course  Semester of offer Online  Semester of offer Toowoomba campus 
(2 units)^  1, 2  1, 2 
(2 units)*  1, 2, 3  1, 2 
(4 units)*  1, 2, 3  1, 2 
(2 units)#  1, 2  1, 2 

Footnotes
^Students enrol in in their first semester where they will develop their research proposal.
*Students will be required to re-enrol in and/or , or a combination thereof depending on whether they are part-time or full-time students to satisfy the normal program requirements totalling 12 units. See recommended enrolment patterns below.
# is ordinarily completed in the last semester of study, after completion of the professional studies research project and is assessed by double-blind peer review. Students wishing to complete a thesis by publication are required to take the course after confirmation of candidature at the start of the implementation of their approved research.

Back to top

Program completion requirements

To graduate from the Master of Professional Studies (Research), a candidate must complete a minimum of twelve course units comprising no less than the completion of the core course . Students are required to compile a final master鈥檚 dissertation (minimum of 15,000 words including artefacts developed in the course and generated from the work-based project) or equivalent body of work for final examination by independent examiners. Students electing to complete a further work-based project, , are required to compile a final master鈥檚 dissertation (minimum 25,000 words including relevant artefacts developed in the course and generated from the work-based projects) or equivalent body of work for final examination by independent examiners.

Back to top

Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 3 years to complete this program.

Back to top

IT requirements

Computer literacy is now expected as part of professional life, and as an integral element in the studying and learning process. Many courses make use of the Internet through online discussion groups and course web pages. Students must have reliable and ready access to e-mail and the internet. Broadband access would be a significant advantage.

Please refer to

Twenty-four hour computer access is available at USQ.

Back to top

Exit points

The exit point for students who do not complete the requirements of the Master of Professional Studies (Research) is the Graduate Certificate of Professional Studies. Students will be eligible for this award if, whilst enrolled in the Master of Professional Studies (Research) they have enrolled and successfully completed at least 4 units at USQ.

A student enrolled in the Master of Professional Studies (Research) who wishes to exit without completing the program may, on the basis of outstanding performance, seek to transfer to the Doctor of Professional Studies program. To be eligible students will have:

  • Completed at least 8 units


  • completion of Confirmation of Candidature as applicable to the Doctor of Professional Studies program and as per the process applicable to USQ Higher Degree Research (HDR) students (see )


A transfer will involve an extension of the scope of the existing approved Master of Professional Studies (Research) project. As a result, a recommendation may be made to the 精东传媒app with respect to articulation to the Doctor of Professional Studies program with credit being given for the 8 units successfully undertaken within the Master of Professional Studies (Research).

Back to top

Credit

Credit will not normally be granted for the and courses. Claims for credit from previous study should be submitted prior to or at the time of enrolment in a program. Each claim will be assessed on individual merit in line with USQ policy. Credit approved in this program will not automatically apply to other programs offered by USQ.

A maximum of six units of credit exemption can be given based on an assessment of advanced standing or other qualifying previous study. The balance of units required to complete the Master of Professional Studies (Research) (12 units) must include the compulsory completion of , and courses.

Recommended enrolment patterns

In this section:

Back to top

Recommended enrolment pattern

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Students may be admitted to the program at the beginning of Semester 1 or Semester 2.

Students should undertake the course at the commencement of their program and prior to their enrolment in the course unless agreed otherwise with their supervisor.

Back to top

Recommended enrolment pattern (part-time study)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirementsComments
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
11, 211, 2two units
*11, 211, 2, 3two units
*21, 221, 2 or 3two units
*21, 221, 2 or 3two units
*31, 231, 2 or 3two units
^31, 231, 2two units

Footnotes
*Students are required to re-enrol into thus accumulating units of professional studies research project toward the completion of their project thesis or equivalent body of work.
^Students who are undertaking a thesis by publication undertake after the completion of as per their proposal and in consultation with their supervisor.

Back to top

Recommended enrolment pattern (full-time study)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirementsComments
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
*11 or 211 or 2two units
*11, 211, 2 or 3two units
^1 or 21, 21 or 21, 2, or 3four units
^1 or 21, 21 or 21, 2, or 3two units
#1 or 21, 21, 2 or 31, 2two units

Footnotes
*Full time students are required to enrol in and in their first semester of study.
^Students are required to re-enrol into and / or thus accumulating units of professional studies research project toward the completion of their project thesis or equivalent body of work.
#Students who are undertaking a thesis by publication undertake after the completion of as per their proposal and in consultation with their supervisor.