School of Marine and Tropical Biology > International Students

Postgraduate Programs

Postgraduate Coursework programs

Research Option Coursework Programs

Research Programs

Graduate Certificate of Science (GCertSc)

Objective: To provide relevant background and training in biology through one teaching period (formerly called semester) of undergraduate and advanced coursework.

Admission: Admission to the Graduate Certificate of Science normally requires either a three-year BSc or appropriate degree. This program is designed for students with degrees in related disciplines who require background and training in biology.

4 subjects, 12 units, 0.5 year

Graduate Diploma of Science (GDipSc)

Objective: To provide relevant background and training in training in biology through two teaching periods (formerly "semesters") advanced coursework.

Admission: Admission to the Graduate Diploma of Science normally requires either a three-year BSc or appropriate degree. This program is designed for students with degrees in related disciplines who require background and training in biology.

8 subjects, 24 units, 1 year

Master of Applied Science (MAppSc)

Objective: To provide training in undergraduate and advanced coursework in biology through three teaching periods (formerly "semesters") advanced coursework.

Admission: Admission to the Master of Applied Science normally requires either a three-year BSc or appropriate degree. This program is appropriate for students with degrees in related disciplines who require background and training in biology.

12 subjects, 36 units, 1.5 years

Research Option Programs

Graduate Certificate of Research Methods (GCertResMeth)

Objectives:

To determine whether a student has the capacity for independent research.
To provide training in research methods appropriate to the research aspirations of the student.

Admission: Admission to the Graduate Certificate of Research Methods program normally requires a four-year BSc in a relevant discipline with a fourth year GPA credit. On recommendation by the Head of School and with approval of the Faculty, students who have successfully completed all relevant coursework (including recognised prior learning in Biometrics, Sampling and Experimental Design and specialist subjects relevant to the project) within a three-year BSc with a third year GPA credit may also be permitted entry.

Total of 12 units.

Literature review , Minor project and proposal.

Graduate Diploma of Research Methods (GDipResMeth)

Objectives:

To determine whether a student has the capacity for independent research.
To provide training in research methods appropriate to the research aspirations of the student.
To provide training in advanced coursework as required.

Admission: Admission to the Graduate Diploma of Research Methods program normally requires a three-year BSc in a relevant discipline with a third year GPA credit.

4 subjects, 12 units.

plus Literature Review, Minor Project (12 units)

Master of Applied Science (MAppSc)

Research Option: To provide training in research methods appropriate to the research aspirations of the student.

Admission: Entry to the research option normally requires successful completion of the first teaching period (formerly "semester") of study and is contingent upon:

GPA > 5.5
Distinction or greater in subject(s) relevant to minor project
Project identified and Supervisor available

8 Subjects, 24 units

plus Literature Review, Minor Project/proposal (12 units)

Master of Science by Research (MSc)

Objective: To provide training in scientific research in biology as appropriate to the research aspirations of the student and culminating in the MSc thesis.

Admission: Admission to a Masters by Research program is normally granted on the basis of a Bachelors degree with Honours Class I or II or a Graduate Diploma of Research Methods (graduates with a three year Bachelors degree) or Graduate Certificate of Research Methods (graduates with a four year Bachelors degree).

An appropriate BSc Honours degree with a grade of 2A or higher, or
Graduate Diploma of Research Methods with a GPA > 5.5 and a project grade > Distinction, or
Graduate Certificate of Research Methods with a GPA > 5.5 and a project grade > Distinction
Master of Applied Science (Research Option including a proposal) with a GPA > 5.5 and a project grade > Distinction

There are a number of paths leading to the MSc by Research. Selection of the appropriate path depends on your academic background and research experience. Postgraduate programs provide training in quantitative skills and specialist subject areas and are designed to prepare students for thesis research. Programs are designed to be flexible and students may transfer between them if the specified criteria are fulfilled. Entry to all programs that include research subjects is dependent on a supervisor being available.

English Proficiency

All applicants for admission as Doctoral or Research Masters candidates are expected to have reached an appropriate level of proficiency in English. Unless English is the first language, students must demonstrate English proficiency either through a TOEFL test with a computer-based score of at least 230 and an essay rating of 4.5, or an IELTS score of at least 6.5 with no component lower than 6.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

To enrol in the James Cook University PhD program you must have qualified at this or another university for the award of a Bachelor's degree in an appropriate discipline with First or Second Class Division A Honours, or a Masters degree with at least 50% research component. The Head of School has discretion in determining the status of Honours qualifications from other universities. Students from universities which award a four year Honours degree with a research component are usually eligible. Note that the emphasis is on prior research experience. For this reason it is essential for the Head of School to have access to your academic transcripts, letters of recommendation from 2 academic referees and evidence of prior research experience at the time of your application.

NOTE: Students may also upgrade to the PhD program from the MSc (Research) candidature after a minimum of one year full-time work, provided the Head of School certifies that the candidate's work is of an appropriate standard.

The rules state that admission to the PhD degree is provisional. Each full-time student has 12 months to have their enrolment confirmed.

The pre-requisites to confirmation of enrolment are:

Submit a substantive piece of writing related to your project (usually a literature review)
Submit a 2000-word project proposal
Present the project proposal in a 30-40 minute seminar attended by your supervisor, Head of Discipline, Head of School and Research Student Monitor
Confirmation of your PhD enrolment is based on the satisfactory assessment of both your written submissions and seminar presentation by the University's Board of Postgraduate Studies.

The PhD thesis should show:

Originality in the research findings and their analysis or evaluation
A capacity for coherent argument and presentation
A capacity to set your results in a proper context
Competence in the analysis of data and/or the important concepts.
At present most theses are between 140-170 pages in length and are submitted within 3-4 years. Examination is by three independent reviewers who are specialists in the field of study. Usually one or two of those will be overseas scientists. The results of the thesis should be written up for publication in externally reviewed journals as soon as possible.