Postgraduate Studies

A Master’s degree is an advanced postgraduate qualification that you can complete after your undergraduate degree, and typically include a blend of coursework, research and, in some cases, practical elements.

The coursework framework involves classes, assignments and exams, with some elements of research throughout. 

You will study a specific set of units. This pathway is focused on advancing your knowledge and skills relevant to your area of study.

Some minor research requirements may be part of your coursework, depending on the institution.

The research framework focuses on your own original research under the guidance of a supervisor, with less class time than the coursework framework. 

You will be producing new knowledge in your field of study. At the end of your research, you will submit your completed thesis. 

The research pathway is best suited for those looking for a career in academia.

The decision is largely dependent on your academic and career interests - what do you hope to achieve with this qualification?

If you’re hoping to be the ideal candidate for a certain role or elevate your qualifications, coursework may be the best option.

If you’re looking to complete further research, perhaps in the form of a PhD or in your niche area, the research pathway may be best. 

Many people associate PhDs with:

• • Endless thesis writing

  • Becoming a lecturer

  • Staying in academia forever

But current research shows that PhD training and the pathways it creates is becoming much broader. PhD students are constantly expanding into new industries and niches, carving pathways previously unknown, and contributing significantly to their fields.

PhD students do so much more than just simply writing their manuscript - they are actively cultivating their skillset and developing versatility in their thinking. This includes:

• • Advanced problem solving skills

  • Data analysis capabilities

  • Independent research capabilities 

  • Critical thinking skills

  • Systems thinking capabilities

These skills can be transferred way beyond university, and way beyond their area of research, too.

Research shows that Australian businesses increasingly seek postgraduate researchers because of:

• • Skill shortages

  • Fast technological change

  • Innovation demands

PhD students and PhD holders, therefore, are researchers that are increasingly valued outside academia. They bring:

• • Advanced research skills formed through their own research 

  • Problem-solving abilities that link to real-world issues

  • Data analysis expertise that helps them identify trends, anomalies and change

  • Innovation and critical thinking skills developed through creating their own research design

A PhD, therefore, does not simply equate to a lifetime in academia - there is so much more to it!

Commercialisation can create funding, impact and career opportunities, but students must understand:

• • Whether participation is genuinely optional

  • Who owns the resulting IP

  • Whether commercial work affects publication

  • Whether their time and contribution will be recognised

Australia has invested $450 million through the Medical Research Commercialisation Initiative and $2.2 billion through the University Research Commercialisation Action Plan.

However, access to this funding is unequal. Researchers in commercially attractive disciplines and those with established industry connections may receive more opportunities than early-career researchers or students without those networks.

There is no universal answer. Ownership can depend on:

• • University IP policy

  • Student or employee status

  • Scholarship and funding conditions

  • Industry agreements

  • Supervisor or team contributions

  • Use of university facilities

  • Written IP-assignment contracts

A student may initially own an invention in some circumstances but can be required to assign ownership through an agreement.

Australian students should check their own university’s policies and obtain advice before signing. In particular, students should understand publication rights, patent ownership, revenue sharing, and whether independent work is covered.

Australian sector evidence shows inconsistent support:

• • Industry partners provided stipends for full-time internships at 77% of universities

  • Nevertheless, 54% of universities permitted unfunded full-time internships

  • Only approximately 12% automatically provided candidature extensions

  • More than 40% provided no extension for full-time internships

Of 1595 internships completed in 2024, only 51% qualified for formal government recognition. Universities also estimated that approximately 5661 students participated in meaningful industry engagement, more than three times the recorded internship total.

Students may therefore contribute substantial time and knowledge without receiving consistent payment, candidature protection or formal recognition.

Universities should provide:

• • Transparent and accessible IP policies

  • Early disclosure of industry and funding conditions

  • Fair payment and revenue-sharing arrangements

  • Candidature extensions for commercial placements

  • Protection for publication and thesis completion

  • Recognition of entrepreneurial and industry contributions

Students should request written clarification about IP ownership, inventorship, authorship, confidentiality, payment and candidature time before beginning the project.

Commercialisation should remain an informed opportunity, not an unstated expectation that transfers risks and responsibilities to PhD researchers without equivalent protection or benefits.

Social capital means the information, guidance and influence available through relationships with lecturers, supervisors, postgraduate researchers, advisers and peers.

A US study of 21 science students from 17 universities found that these connections helped students:

• Discover research opportunities

• Improve applications and introductory emails

• Obtain references and personal introductions

• Manage rejection and develop confidence

Even four of the 21 students whose degrees required research experience still needed personal guidance and connections. Academic performance alone may therefore be insufficient when access to research depends on informal networks.

Research and development (R&D) can help companies build expertise, develop new technologies and attract investor interest. But these benefits take time.

A study of smaller Australian mining companies found that higher R&D investment was linked to higher company value, with investors generally recognising its value after two to four years. Yet only 3.3% of the company-year records reported R&D spending, showing how uncommon it was in the study.

A promising idea needs more than research. Companies also need sufficient funding, effective leadership and international connections to turn discoveries into commercial opportunities.

Publishing and openly sharing research can:

• • Build academic reputation

  • Attract collaborators and employers

  • Reduce duplicated research

  • Connect researchers with external knowledge

However, early disclosure may weaken patent protection or allow others to use valuable knowledge.

A study of 1,223 companies operating across multiple countries found that sharing research openly mainly improved productivity among companies that invested heavily in R&D, more than roughly 85–90% of those studied. This suggests that companies need strong research capabilities to benefit from open research.

Openness was therefore most valuable when organisations possessed the capability to absorb and commercialise shared knowledge.

Before publicly sharing potentially valuable findings, students should ask whether confidentiality, patent or licensing advice is required.

Before beginning an industry-funded or commercially promising project, students should ask:

• • Who owns existing and newly created IP?

  • Will I be recognised as an inventor or contributor?

  • Can I publish the results in my thesis or journals?

  • Are confidentiality restrictions involved?

  • Will I receive revenue sharing, equity or other benefits?

  • Who controls commercialisation decisions?

Research becomes more investable when it has clear ownership, credible leadership, market validation and strong institutional and industry networks. These conditions should be established without removing students’ academic recognition or control without informed agreement.