Master of Research (Business)

2024 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2024 course information
Award granted	Master of Research (Business)
Deakin course code	M820
Faculty	Faculty of Business and Law
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne)
Duration	2 years full-time
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2024 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
CRICOS course code	109089C Burwood (Melbourne)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9
Closing dates: Offshore students: 31 October 2024 Onshore students: 30 November 2024

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Do you want to research pressing issues in business? The Master of Research (Business) degree is a two-year course that will develop your research capabilities, expose you to the latest thinking in your chosen field or discipline, and immerse you in a research project of your own.

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

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

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 field or discipline.

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

Career opportunities

The MRes(Bus) has a hybrid focus on careers in both academia and industry. As such, the MRes(Bus) is designed to offer a high-quality pathway into a PhD program. This pathway will be most relevant for students interested in pursuing an academic career or who wish to undertake additional advanced research training. The research fundamentals, research methods, and discipline specific units are all designed to offer students the best preparation for further conduct of high-end research.

The MRes(Bus) is also designed to prepare graduates for a research-focused career in industry, including in the private sector, government, or NGOs. Towards this goal, the MRes(Bus) incorporates several units that are explicitly focused on transferring the rigorous research units incorporated into the MRes(Bus) into problem-solving skills in a real-world context.

Alternative exits

Graduate Diploma of Business Research (M620)

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
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 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 qualify for the award, students must complete eight (8) credit points in the first year and successfully complete a research thesis in the second year.

First Year
The coursework units in the first year comprise:
• 3 core units (4 credit points)
• 2 course research methods electives (2 credit points)
• 2 course discipline electives (2 credit points)

Second Year
Students are required to complete a major thesis dissertation, MPR802 Master Research. Students 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.

Progression from Year 1 to Year 2:
Progression from the first year to the second year of the Master of Research (Business) is not automatic. Students 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. Students 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, students will need to have attained 80% or higher in their second-year research thesis.

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, students 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

Students 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

Students 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 March before they can embark on developing their research thesis.

Consistent with other HDR degrees, students in the MRes(Bus) will be supervised by two supervisors (a principal and associate supervisor). Although students will mostly work with their supervisory team in Year 2, when completing their thesis, opportunities for students 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 one external examiner.

Other course information

Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central