Master of Science - Earth Sciences
The School of Earth Sciences is home to a large and diverse range of research programs. Interests include
the solid Earth, the fluid Earth (including our atmosphere and oceans) and processes that operate at the
interface between these regions.
The Master of Science - Earth Sciences offers two streams; one in Atmospheric Science and the other in Geology.
In both streams students undertake core and elective coursework subjects, at least one Professional Tools ubject of
choice, and a research project.
Course structure: Atmospheric Science
The Atmospheric Science stream comprises four core discipline subjects, selection of at least one subject from
the list of Professional Tools offerings and one further elective that may be taken from the Geology offerings,
Professional Tools subjects or an appropriate third year subject, and a substantial research project.
Core discipline subjects
(50 points)
Students must undertake all of the following subjects:
Elective discipline subjects
(12.5 points)
Students must choose a subject (12.5 points) from either the Geology subjects list, Professional tools
subjects or an appropriate third year Science subject. One elective from another stream within the Master
of Science or the Master of Environments may also be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Professional Tools
(12.5 or 25 points)
Students must take at least one Professional tools subjects from the following list:
Research project
(125 points)
Students will gain research experience in Earth Sciences by completing an original research project in their main
field of interest. The amount of work completed in this project should be comparable to that undertaken for a
published journal article, and students will be encouraged to submit their work for publication. Although the assessment
weighting for the literature review may be viewed as low given the word limit, particularly when compared with the final
thesis, the former is largely a 'reading topic', from which the student is expected to place their research project into
a broader context. In contrast, and as noted above, the final thesis is expected to be a far more rigorous scientific
document, showing an appropriate level of insight and scientific interpretation of results, and be of publishable quality.
The assessment for the Research Project is:
- A project-related oral presentation (5%)
- A literature review (5%, with a word limit of 4,000 words)
- A thesis (90%, with a word limit of 25,000 words)
Course structure: Geology
The Geology stream includes core and elective subjects in Hydrogeology, Geophysics, Ore Deposit Geology and Mineral Exploration, Energy,
Structural Geology and Geodynamics, and many more. This stream also requires students to complete a Professional tools subject as well as
a research project.
Core discipline subjects
(50 points)
Students must undertake four of the following, two of which are required to correspond to their thesis
topic:
Elective discipline subjects
(12.5 points)
Students must choose a further subject (12.5 points) selected either
from core discipline subjects, professional tools subjects, or from 3rd-year geology subjects. Electives
from another stream within the Master of Science or the Master of Environments may also be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Professional tools
(12.5 or 25 points)
Students must select at least one subject from the Professional tools list under Atmospheric Science.
Research project
(125 points)
Students will gain research experience in Earth Sciences by completing an original research project
in their main field of interest. The amount of work completed in this project should be comparable to
that undertaken for a published journal article, and students will be encouraged to submit their work
for publication. Although the assessment weighting for the literature review may be viewed as low
given the word limit, particularly when compared with the final thesis, the former is largely a 'reading
topic', from which the student is expected to place their research project into a broader context. In
contrast, and as noted above, the final thesis is expected to be a far more rigorous scientific
document, showing an appropriate level of insight and scientific interpretation of results, and be of
publishable quality. The assessment for the Research Project is therefore:
- A project-related oral presentation (5%)
- A literature review (5%, with a word limit of 4,000 words)
- A thesis (90%, with a word limit of 25,000 words)
Delivery mode and duration
This is a 2 year full-time course, and is available part-time (assessed on a case by case basis). All program
subjects are delivered on-campus (Parkville).
Entry requirements
A bachelor degree with a major in an appropriate discipline and a grade of at least an H3 (65%) in the major, or equivalent.
How to apply
How to apply for Science graduate course programs.
Contact details
The Melbourne Graduate School of Science
The University of Melbourne
Tel: +61 3 8344 6404
Fax: +61 3 8344 5804
CRICOS Code 062189B