The Master of Arts by Thesis is a one year course for graduates with a relevant Bachelor of Arts degree with first or upper second class Honours.  It is entirely research and is devoted to the preparation of a thesis.  Candidates are accepted in the fields of Applied Linguistics, English, Geography, History, Politics and Government, Sociology/Anthropology and Writing.

A relevant Bachelor of Arts degree with first or upper second class Honours.  Special consideration will be given to applicants with equivalent research backgrounds.

A good Honours pass in a relevant Bachelor degree or a Master of Arts by Coursework and Project(s) with a course average of 65% or equivalent research experience.

Students enrol (re-enrol) in ICS6200 each semester, at 50 or 100% of full time equivalent, until the thesis is submitted for examination.

All theses, except in Writing, follow ECU Thesis Guidelines.

The thesis for a Writing student comprises a major creative project and a related theoretical/critical essay, or a set of essays. Writing students complete a manuscript which will normally consist of ONE of the following: a novel, a book of poems, a full-length play script, a collection of short fiction, biographical/historical work, or other work of non-fiction. The manuscript will display a degree of originality, an understanding of form and a high degree of professional preparation (approximately 80% of marks).

The essay (approximately 20% of marks) takes the form of a theoretical/critical essay (8,000-10,000 words), or set of essays, which may involve one or more of the following in relation to the writing project: relevant theoretical issues; its conceptual and/or cultural context; its aims and methods; its relation to other writers or writing within the genre; and any other matter agreed upon with the Candidate's Supervisor and appropriately approved.