Seminar 3:  Can I really become a postgraduate student?  How?

Summary:- The aim of this seminar is to continue the pathway from honours to postgraduate opportunities. The various pathways from BSc to MSc and PhD are discussed with distinction made between research degrees and coursework degrees. Postgraduate students talk about their pathways to postgraduate study and about their research projects.

Possible pathways from your undergraduate degree

• BSc(Hons) ---> MSc ---> PhD
  
  
• BSc ---> Grad.Cert. ---> Grad.Dip. ---> MSc
  
  
• BSc ---> Grad.Dip. ---> MSc

Postgraduate degrees by Research

Master of Science (MSc):

• Two years full-time or > 2 years part-time
• Original research presented as a thesis
• Entry requirements: Honours degree or Graduate Diploma in Science

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD):

• Usually three years full-time, can be done part-time
• Original research presented as a thesis
• Entry requirements: Honours degree or Masters

Applied Science Postgraduate Degrees

Applied Science Postgraduate Degrees by coursework can be taken in areas such as:

• Quantitative Marine Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Wildlife Health & Population Management
• Entry Requirements: Bachelor degree in science and/or equivalent qualifications & experience (varies among degrees)(Fee-paying degrees)

Graduate Certificate in Applied Science:

• One semester full-time course (or more part time)

Graduate Diploma in Applied Science:

• Two semesters full-time course (or more part time)

Master of Applied Science:

• Usually two semesters full-time of coursework
• May include a supervised research project

Examples of Research Projects

• Philopatry and contrasting ecological traits of sea snakes (Laticauda colubrina) from adjacent islands in Fiji
  
  
• The rate of division and final morphology of tracheid cells in Pinus radiata
  
  
• The effects of grazing and associated burning on the biodiversity of northern NSW forests
  
  
• Does embryonic thermal experience affect later responses to sublethal pesticide exposure in tadpoles?
  
  
• Proteomics as a tool for investigating plasmodesmatal proteins
  
  
• Invertebrate diversity and decomposition: implications for sustainable management
  
  
• Neuronal and glial cell trafficking of Apolipoprotein-E isoforms in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
  
  
• Benthic dinoflagellates of south-eastern Australia: biodiversity and toxicity
  
  
• Rodent population dynamics in the Simpson Desert

Other Pathways?

• Master of Higher Education
• Master of Teaching (MTeach)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Current postgraduate students discuss their experiences

In order to listen to these sound files, the Macromedia Flash Player must be installed on your computer. To download the latest Flash player please go to: http://www.macromedia.com/downloads/. Some of these sound files were recorded at low volume, so please ensure that the volume level is set at medium to high.

Related Links

More information on Postgraduate studies in the School of Biological Sciences

More information on Postgraduate studies in the Faculty of Science