Master of Research (Business)

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2026 course information
Award granted	Master of Research (Business)
Deakin course code	M820
Course Credit Points	16
Course version	1
Faculty	Faculty of Business and Law
Course Information	For students who commenced from 2022 onwards
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne)
Online	No
Duration	2 years full-time
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2026 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
CRICOS code	109089C Burwood (Melbourne)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9
Supplementary Information	Closing dates for International students: Offshore students: 15 December 2025 Onshore students: 15 January 2026

Course sub-headings

Course overview

The Master of Research (Business) is a two-year degree designed to develop your research capabilities, immerse you in a major research project, and expose you to the latest thinking in your chosen discipline.

This course offers a pathway to a research-focused career in industry and serves as a gateway to the PhD in Business and Law for those who want to pursue an academic career.

Ready to hone the research skills that will underpin career success in both academia and industry?

In the first year of your Master of Research (Business) you will complete research training coursework units, covering the research thought process, research methods and the current state of theory in your chosen discipline.

The second year is devoted to a major research project on a question of interest to you (subject to supervisory team approval) and includes your Research Proposal and Research Dissertation/Thesis.

Career opportunities

The Master of Research (Business) prepares you for a research-focused career in both academia and industry. Whether you are planning to pursue a PhD or want to apply advanced research skills to contemporary business challenges, this course equips you with the tools to succeed in a variety of professional settings.

You will gain deep expertise in research design, data analysis, and problem-solving, with units tailored to help you translate rigorous academic methods into practical impact. This makes the course an ideal foundation for academic pathways or research-intensive roles in the private sector, government or NGOs.

Graduates may go on to roles such as:

PhD candidate
academic researcher
research analyst
policy advisor
government researcher
market research consultant
business intelligence officer
data insights officer
evaluation specialist
research and development coordinator.

Alternative exits

Graduate Diploma of Business Research (M620)

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcome
Discipline Specific knowledge and capabilities	Demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge in a discipline area by applying appropriate research principles and methods to make a substantial contribution to an existing body of research
Communication	Communicate the findings of research outputs to academic and non-academic audiences using highly developed communication skills and working productively within a team of experts in the field
Digital literacy	Apply digital technologies in the process of conducting empirical analysis to address research problems
Critical thinking	Apply and synthesise theory and existing literature to formulate research questions and hypotheses
Problem solving	Apply and use appropriate technical skills to evaluate complex information and concepts in a way that helps solve problems and issues in a given field
Self-management	Demonstrate a high degree of autonomy, independence and creativity by applying research skills to solve problems in academia and practice
Teamwork	Work collaboratively with peers when addressing and solving research problems
Global citizenship	Apply mastery of the scientific process by addressing research problems in an objective and ethical manner

Course rules

To complete the Master of Research (Business), you must complete 16 credit points.^^ This includes:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
First year

4 credit points of core units
2 credit points of course research methods elective units
2 credit points of course discipline elective units

Second year*

Graduate Researchers are required to complete a major thesis dissertation, MPR802 Master Research. Graduate Researchers will be required to independently execute the proposed research project with the guidance of an expert supervisory team. The length of the research dissertation will be a maximum of 20,000 words.

^^ Graduate Researchers may be eligible to receive credit as recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous qualifications for first year units only.

RPL will be assessed case-by-case with consideration of WAM/progression requirements
the amount of RPL granted may affect eligibility for the Graduate Diploma if a student exits early
RPL is not available for second year studies (major thesis dissertation).

* Eligibility
Progression from the first year to the second year of the Master of Research (Business) is not automatic. Graduate Researchers obtain admission into the program for the first year. Progression into the second year is conditional on achieving a 75% average in the first-year coursework. Graduate Researchers who have completed the first year, but do not meet the requirements to progress to the second year will be eligible to exit the program with a Graduate Diploma of Business Research.

To be eligible to apply for the PhD program in the Faculty of Business and Law, graduate researchers will need to have attained 80% or higher in their second-year research thesis.

As a full-time graduate researcher you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.

All graduate researchers are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

Course structure

Core units

MPP821

Fundamentals of Research

MPP822

Research in Practice

MPP823

Research Project ^{^}

^{^}This unit is worth 2 credit points

Course Research Methods Electives

With the guidance of their supervisory team, graduate researchers must select two credit points of units (one in T1 and one in T2)

Trimester 1:

MMM907

Quantitative Research Methods

MAE900

Applied Econometrics

Trimester 2:

MAF900

Advanced Data Methods

MMM906

Qualitative Research Methods

MMM909

Meta-Analysis Research Methods

Course Discipline Electives

Graduate researchers must complete two credit points of units (one in T1 and one in T2). The T2 unit will generally be in the same discipline stream (unless otherwise approved by the Course Director) as the T1 unit as listed below:

Accounting

Trimester 1:

MAA906

Contemporary Issues in Accounting

Trimester 2:

MAA907

Advanced Auditing

MAA908

Advanced Management Accounting

Economics

Trimester 1:

MAE905

Macroeconomic Theory and Policy

Trimester 2:

MAE908

Game Theory and Its Applications

Finance

Trimester 1:

MAF905

Advanced Finance

Trimester 2:

MAF907

Empirical Corporate Finance

MAF908

Empirical Asset Pricing

Information Systems and Business Analytics

Trimester 1:

MIS901

Theory in Information Systems Research

Trimester 2:

MIS776

Design Thinking for Innovation *

* To enrol in Level 7 units please contact Student Central

Management

Trimester 1:

MRM908

Advanced Management Theory

Trimester 2:

MPM712

Managing Innovation *

MPM722

Human Resource Management *

MMM710

Emerging Issues in International Operations *

* To enrol in Level 7 units please contact Student Central

Marketing

Trimester 1:

MMK900

Advanced Marketing Theory

Trimester 2:

MMK739

Strategic Brand Management *

MMK733

Applied Strategic Marketing *

MMK713

Consumer Behaviour *

* To enrol in Level 7 units please contact Student Central

Sport Management

Trimester 1:

MRM908

Advanced Management Theory

Trimester 2:

MMS712

Sport Marketing *

MMS714

The Sport Workplace *

* To enrol in Level 7 units please contact Student Central

Research Dissertation

Graduate researchers will be required to independently execute the proposed research project (MPR802 Masters Research). The length of the research dissertation will be a maximum of 20,000 words. Students will be required to have their research proposal confirmed in February/March before they can embark on developing their research thesis.

Consistent with other higher degrees by research (HDR), graduate researchers the MRes(Bus) will be supervised by two supervisors (a principal and associate supervisor). Although graduate researchers will mostly work with their supervisory team in Year 2, when completing their thesis, opportunities for them to interact with their supervisors will be incorporated throughout Year 1 of the MRes(Bus).

Examination:

The research dissertation will be examined by one internal and two external examiner.

Course duration

You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as failing of units.

Fees and charges

Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.

Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.

Estimate your fees

Domestic Students

The Year 1 course fee is A$18,720 for 2026. Please note, fees are subject to annual increases.

Eligible students who progress to Year 2 will be invited to apply for a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) scholarship. Scholarships may include a full tuition fee waiver and a stipend to support living costs.

International Students

International Students -Estimate your fees

Further information

Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.

Contact Student Central