1.Admission to Candidature
1.1. An applicant for admission to candidature for the degree of Master of Scientific Studies shall:

(a) have fulfilled all of the requirements for admission to the degree of Bachelor of Science in the University; or

(b) have fulfilled all of the requirements for admission to a degree or other qualification acceptable to the school as sufficient qualification for admission to candidature.

1.2. Admission to candidature and the date of commencement of candidature shall be determined by the school on the recommendation of the relevant postgraduate course coordinator.

2. Requirements for the Degree of Master of Scientific Studies
2.1. Each candidate shall complete a course of study approved by the school and pass such examinations as shall be prescribed.

2.2. (a) The course of study shall comprise the completion of units with a total value of at least 72 credit points including graduate-level units in the faculty with a value of at least 48 credit points and for this purpose graduate-level units are defined as those at 500 level or higher; or

(b) The course of study shall comprise the completion of units with a total value of at least 72 credit points including graduate-level units with a value of at least 48 credit points from those listed in one of the approved course work programs listed in Rule 2.6.

(c) Approval may be granted for a candidate to include a thesis, SCI 695, in the course of study.

(d) All units for the degree must be at 300 level or higher.

(e) The units SCI 501 and 502 may be included in the program of study and, if included, shall be additional to the graduate-level units prescribed in Rules 2.2.(a) and 2.2.(b).

2.3. In special circumstances and with the approval of the Postgraduate Course Coordinator other units available from subjects offered within the university may be substituted for one or more of the units approved for the Master subject to Rule 2.2.

2.4. The unit SCI 695 involves a research project and thesis. The project topic must be approved in advance by the Postgraduate Course Coordinator on the recommendation of the head of the supervising school, who will also appoint a supervisor for the project. The project may take the form of a design or a field or laboratory investigation or other research.

2.5. Depending upon the candidate’s academic and professional background and the nature of the research project, the school may permit the candidate to undertake part or all of the project away from the University.

2.6. Approved Course Work Programs
The school may prescribe programs by which the degree shall be named on the testamur and transcript. A candidate shall complete a course of study approved by the Postgraduate Course Coordinator subject to Rule 2.2. and including units chosen from one of the following programs:

Biotechnology

Biomedical Science

Botany

Chemistry

Ecology

Health

Mathematics and Statistics

Physics

Zoology

3. Period of Candidature
The requirements for the degree shall be completed over a period of not more than two years in the case of full-time candidates or over a period of not more than five years in the case of part-time candidates except that in exceptional circumstances and on the recommendation of the candidate’s supervisor, the period of candidature may be extended.

4. Advanced Standing
The maximum advanced standing shall be for units counting 24 credit points which are deemed to be equivalent to units offered by the University and approved for the course comprising:

• 24 credit points for units completed towards an awarded Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in a relevant area offered by the University; or
• 24 credit points for units completed from another institution and not counted towards an awarded qualification; or
• 12 credit points for units completed towards an awarded qualification from another University; and
• 6 credit points on the basis of considerable professional experience
• Advanced standing shall not be granted for unit SCI 695

5. Supervisor’s Reports
The supervisor shall report to the school on the progress of the candidate’s work after two semesters from the date of enrolment and at any other time considered expedient.

6. Presentation of Thesis
6.1. The thesis shall be written concisely in English and, except with the special permission of the school in exceptional circumstances, shall not exceed 20 000 words, exclusive of tables, plates, figures and appendices. A successful thesis shall show capacity on the part of the candidate for independence of thought and critical evaluation of the candidate’s own and published work in his or her field of study. The candidate shall state generally in the preface and specifically throughout the thesis the source of his or her information and the extent to which he or she has used the work of others. The candidate may not present as the thesis any work that has been the basis of the award of a degree of this University or other institution but is not precluded from incorporating such work in the thesis provided that, in presenting the thesis, the candidate indicates the part of the work that has been so incorporated.

6.2. The candidate shall submit to the Student Centre two copies of the thesis bound in a form approved by the school. The candidate shall submit with the thesis a statement from his or her supervisor certifying that the thesis is in a form suitable for examination.

7. Examination of the Thesis
Rules for Examination of Theses can be found here.

8. Exit Pathways
Exit with the Graduate Certificate in Science on completion of 24 credit points or the Graduate Diploma in Science on completion of 48 credit points.