Eighteen months into her Masters of Research (MRes) in the Faculty of Medicine Health and Human Science she has a much better idea. Ms Hicks is also on track to achieve a double degree and to complete her PhD in less time than if she’d commenced it straight off the bat.

“I was able to do multiple research placements in different fields during my first year, I now feel better prepared for my PhD,” she says.

“Units such as Research Communications and Research Project Management allowed me to enhance valuable skills.”

In 2013, Macquarie introduced the first Masters of Research (MRES) in Australia, replacing honours as the pathway to a PhD. So far 1894 students have graduated with around 50% of those choosing to progress to a PhD. For others, completing the MRES has enabled them to pursue exciting careers.

PhD student and sessional teacher Annie Young BChirSc, MChiro, completed her MRes in 2018, and found the collaborative nature was beneficial in presenting opportunities to undertake a PhD in the Chiropractic discipline.

“Researchers never work in silos, consider it a foot in the door to network, learn about other types of projects and collaborate with likeminded academics,” she says.

Macquarie’s MRes is a two-year degree where students can explore and define their research passion, build knowledge, and develop a broad range of research skills which will support them with PhD study or future employment.

Recent data from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment shows just one in five PhD students in Australia complete their Doctorate in four years. At Macquarie 62% of our candidates complete in four years. The significant difference is due to the excellent research training that our candidates get in the MRes. The final MRes thesis at Macquarie is marked by two external examiners and 90% of our MRes candidates achieve a mark of 75 or higher qualifying them for entry into a PhD. In addition to likely completing a PhD faster, students graduate with two degrees.

Effective from 1st January 2023 Macquarie’s scholarship stipend rate will increase by 10% to $32,000pa (fixed) for all continuing and newly commencing candidates on Research Training Program and MQRES scholarships. In 2023 Macquarie is also changing the MRes Year 2/PhD bundled scholarship offer so that successful candidates will secure a scholarship for both the MRes Year 2 and PhD and will not need to compete again for their PhD scholarship.

If you have students interested in the Masters of Research, invite them to attend the Masters of Research information session to find out more.

If you’re looking to advance (or even change) your career, one of the best ways to do it is with further study.  But for many, the idea of adding more commitments to an already full plate tips postgraduate study into the ‘too hard’ basket.

Lilia Draganov, Senior Manager Student Life, recently completed  her Master of Commerce, despite the intense challenges of the COVID-19 and remote learning. We spoke to her to see how she managed it – and how it’s changed her career outlook.

While Lilia Draganov’s bachelor degree in education has served her well, she felt it wasn’t sufficient to advance her career. She saw further education as both the logical next step, and an exciting challenge. 

“I like adventure, so I decided to give it a go and enrolled in just one unit,” says Lilia. “I chose to start with accounting because I thought ‘If I survive accounting, I can survive the rest of it!’”

Finding the right balance between her new study commitments and her other responsibilities took some trial and error.

“I had a lot of doubt in my mind about whether I’d be able to juggle family, work and study,” she recalls. “I had to be super organised. When I did one unit a semester, it was manageable. With two or three units, things got a bit intense.”

Lilia says that home-schooling her children, combined with recent workplace change at Macquarie did make things more challenging for her. But found she was able to use her studies as a mechanism to cope with everything else going on around her. She also had a great deal of support from the academics delivering the course.

“The teaching staff are approachable and always happy to give guidance,” says Lilia. “Their passion and dedication were inspiring.”

For staff who are nervous about taking on further study, Lilia’s advice it to start slow. “I started with just one unit a semester, then increased the load to two and finished the last session with three units,” she says.

“My advice is to just give it a go – there is a lot of flexibility and although it’s not always easy, it is possible,” says Lilia.

Now with achievement complete, Lilia feels that her postgraduate degree has provided her with tools to advance her career, be confident and have a greater understanding of her passions and interests.

“Education is such a great gift, and study is a worthwhile investment in your future,” says Lilia.

Macquarie’s online postgraduate expo is on until Thursday and features live career spotlight sessions, over 30 on-demand sessions and bookable personal consultations. 

Round 2 of the Macquarie University postgraduate scholarship scheme for staff opens on 27 September. The scheme provides high performing professional staff financial assistance for part-time post-graduate level study at Macquarie.

Missed others in our podcast series? Find out how this series came about and listen to the first two episodes featuring Distinguished Professor David Christian and Associate Professor Malcolm Choat.