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The University of Sydney (UniSyd)

Camperdown , New South Wales ,Australia

Master of Arts (Research)

In the Master of Arts (Research) degree you will complete a substantial independent research project with one-on-one supervision from leading academics in your field.

Pursue your passion for research in a range of subject areas offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences—consistently ranked among the top 20 faculties in the world for arts and humanities research. Develop advanced skills including critical thinking, data interpretation and analysis, project management, as well as communication and problem solving.

The MA (Research) comprises a combination of a thesis and coursework, including:

A thesis of 20,000 to 40,000 words; and
A minimum of one postgraduate unit of study (six credit points).
If you choose to continue with further research, the MA (Research) offers an internationally recognised pathway to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). If you don’t, your invaluable research experience will give you a competitive edge and enhanced employment opportunities, both in Australia and overseas.

Research areas
Master of Arts (Research) candidates may undertake research in one of the faculty's six schools or the United States Study Centre. The six schools are the Schools of Economics; Languages and Cultures; Literature, Art and Media; Philosophical and Historical Inquiry;  Social and Political Sciences; and the Sydney School of Education and Social Work.

Campus Information

Camperdown/Darlington

Our biggest campus is 72 hectares of state-of-the-art teaching and learning technology, including six libraries, art galleries, historical museums, perfectly manicured lawns, and the following faculties and schools:

Intakes

  • May
  • July

Application Processing Time in Days: 30

Application Process

COE Process
5 Days

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Level Description IELTS (1.0 -9.0) TOEFL IBT (0-120) TOEFL CBT (0-300) PTE (10-90)
Expert 9 120 297-300 86-90
Very Good 8.5 115-119 280-293 83-86
Very Good 8 110-114 270-280 79-83
Good 7.5 102-109 253-267 73-79
Good 7 94-101 240-253 65-73
Competent 6.5 79-93 213-233 58-65
Competent 6 60-78 170-210 50-58
Modest 5.5 46-59 133-210 43-50
Modest 5 35-45 107-133 36-43
Limited 4 32-34 97-103 30-36
Extremely Limited < 4 < 31 < 93 < 30

Job Opportunity Potential

Our Careers and Employability Office, dedicated to business students, offers a range of opportunities to explore your career options, plan your career, develop your skills, and network with recruiters and employers.

Our Careers and Employability Office offers a specialised career service to students across all of our degree programs. We are committed to helping you achieve your career aspirations and equipping you with the skills to thrive in your career.

Our career services will help you:

  • plan your career
  • develop your career decision making skills
  • tailor your resume and job applications
  • engage in experiential recruitment activities such as mock interviews and assessment centres
  • connect with top graduate recruiters and corporate partners through our programs.

We also offer the award-winning free Job Smart program, which enables international students to gain the skills and professional experience to gain employment when they graduate.

Business School students who engage early with career exploration, professional skill development and industry connections are best equipped to make their mark in today's complex and changing professional world.

Getting career ready with the Careers and Employability Office
Students explain how the Careers and Employability Office can help you get career ready throughout your studies.

Start planning your career now
We recommend that you begin your career-planning journey before you enrol and start your degree. Visit the below resources to discover your career options and help you choose the right subjects. 

Graduate Careers Australia provide detailed careers information and profiles across most areas including accounting, consultancy, government, human resources, IT, marketing, and international relations.
MyFuture assists school leavers with exploring career opportunities and different industries. Visit MyFuture to help you narrow down which majors you wish to study at the Business School.
Visit the Careers and Employabilty Office once you enrol. We’re located in the Careers and Student Experience Lounge, Basement Level, Abercrombie Building.

PSW Opportunity

  • 2 year Post Study Work Visa Opportunity

Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for admission to the Master of Arts (Research) you must have completed the equivalent of a bachelor's degree in a subject area related to your proposed research area.

These constitute the minimum requirements for eligibility and do not guarantee admission. This remains at the discretion of the relevant supervisors and departments. The University must certify that there are sufficient supervisory and other resources and facilities available to enable your candidature to be completed successfully.

TOEFL - IBT score - A minimum result of 85 overall including a minimum result of 17 in Reading, Listening and Speaking and 19 in Writing

IELTS score - A minimum result of 6.5 overall and a minimum result of 6.0 in each band

TOEFL - PBT score -  A minimum result of 565 overall including a minimum result of 4.5 in Writing

Pearsons Test of English -  A minimum result of 61 overall and a minimum result of 54 in each band