Studying online
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
This unit comprises the first 12 points of at least 24 points of research preparation in medical science to facilitate enrolment in a Higher Degree by Research, and represents the equivalent of half of one semester of full-time study. It is expected the preparation be undertaken in one of the health or medicine disciplines within the Faculty. The research preparation must be completed over subsequent adjacent semesters.
This unit involves original research by the student under supervision. The unit requires students to be able to define a project and develop research questions or hypotheses, set objectives and aims, plan and execute the research, interpret the results and present those results in oral and written forms. The final output of the research project will be a research dissertation similar in content and context to a peer reviewed research article in an academic journal, or other academic writing, in the discipline of the research.
In all cases, the topic of the dissertation, the research plan and its points value (24, 36 or 48), must be approved by the Head of the School, Head of Division or Graduate Research Coordinator of the supervising academic before commencement.
- Credit
- 12 points
- Offering
Availability Location Mode Not available in 2025 UWA (Perth) Face to face - Outcomes
Students are able to (1) apply research skills to gather background information relevant to a predefined field of enquiry; (2) critically assess the relevant literature; (3) plan and prepare a literature review and research proposal outlining the project; (4) conduct research to collect relevant data involving primary and secondary sources as appropriate; (5) explore the data utilising appropriate means of qualitative and/or quantitative analysis; (6) report the provisional results of their research in a short oral presentation; (7) report the results in a professional academic manner in the format of an academic journal paper, or formal dissertation; and (8) apply their understanding of how research ethics inform practical research work, to their research project.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) research proposal; (2) research seminar; and (3) research dissertation. Further information is available in the unit outline.
To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the research proposal component.
Supplementary assessment is not available in this unit.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Dr Julie Saunders
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- Enrolment inHDR Preliminary Research HMS 90440 and and written agreement by two suitable academics on the UWA Supervisor Register to supervise the project, and their Head/s of School/s
or Division/s.
- Contact hours
- Self directed learning and regular contact with project supervisor/s to total approximately 300 hours, about 18 hours each week across the semester.
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.