05.3.18 Research Project Guidelines

1. A Research Project comprises of a sustained piece of research of 15,000 words under the direction of a faculty consultant appointed by the College.

2. It is normally undertaken by students seeking to demonstrate independent research skills, often with a view to pursuing a higher research degree in the future.

3. One Research Project may be chosen within the eight required units of the MA(Theology). The Research Project is open to MA(Theology) candidates who have completed at least 6 units with an average of 72.5% or greater.

4. A Research Project will normally take one semester full-time or two semesters part-time to complete.

5. Admission to the Research Project requires, as a pre-requisite, completion of a research methods module, unless that module was completed in the last five years as part of CT499.

6. Review by the College’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) may be required if the Research Project involves:

• The collection of data from or about identifiable individuals or groups; or

• The observation of identifiable individuals or groups.

7. A Research Project is to be 15,000 words in length (including footnotes). It should contain a 300–word abstract and must not incorporate any substantial amount of material previously submitted by the candidate for any other degree or similar award. Bibliographic material in footnotes, bibliography and abstract are not included in word length. However, commentary and analysis in footnotes must be counted.

8. A Research Project need not be an original contribution to knowledge. However, it should be a focused piece of academic writing commensurate with a master’s level of study. It must engage with a range of key scholarly references. It must develop an argument on the basis of clear evidence that is carefully analysed and evaluated. It should avoid speculation, unsubstantiated assertions, caricature, generalisations, and conclusions based solely on the power of suggestion. Conclusions should be commensurate with the evidence and analysis. Where the Research Project is in the area of biblical studies, evidence of master’s level engagement with relevant biblical texts in the original language will be expected.

9. A Research Project must involve accurate acknowledgement of the sources of data, ideas, and lines of argument, whether published or unpublished. As such, it must make proper and systematic use of an academic apparatus (referencing, bibliography, etc.).

10. The entire Research Project should follow the guidelines outlined in Section 5.8 Guidelines for Writing Postgraduate Essays and Theses and Section 8 Style Guide in this Handbook.

11. In addition to the range of skills appropriate to undergraduate candidates at level III, a candidate must:

• demonstrate evidence of reading across a range of viewpoints and report them empathetically;

• take a point of view and sustain it with evidence; and

• show evidence of analytical skill and ability to assess critically existing scholarly literature.

12. Successful completion of a Research Project at a high level may demonstrate a student’s aptitude for extended research and thereby act as a suitable benchmark from which the student may seek candidacy for a higher research degree (e.g., PhD) in the future.

13. A proposal for a Research Project should be submitted through the Registrar and contain the following:

• Title;

• Ten to twelve lines describing the proposed approach; and

• Proposed bibliography containing at least twelve titles amounting to at least 4,000 pages of core reading.

14.   Research Project topics may be from any of the three streams of Biblical Studies, Christian Thought or Christian Ministry. The topic may complement or extend the work undertaken in another MA unit, but may not cover the same ground if that unit has been taken by the student. Topics may cover a part of another MA unit not taken by the student.

15. A proposal should normally be submitted at least two months prior to the intended time of commencement of research.

16. The Director of Research in consultation with relevant Head of Department will identify an appropriate faculty consultant and suggested examiner and seek endorsement of the proposal by the Research Committee.

17. The Director of Research in conjunction with the Registrar will respond in one of the following ways:

• Approved;

• Approved, subject to finalisation of topic and approach with consultant.

• Not approved because topic is not suitable.

• Not approved because not convinced that the student will be able to execute the work at a sufficiently high level; or

• Not approved due to lack of resources to supervise.

18. Students can expect four hours of consultation, in total, with a faculty consultant during the time of the research project. The hours will be used focusing on shaping the proposal (reading resources and structure). Plus reading the penultimate draft of the project prior to submission.

19. At the midway point of the normal duration of a Research Project (after one term full-time, or after two terms part-time), the faculty consultant will make a recommendation to the Director of Research as to whether the student should be permitted to continue the Research Project to completion, based on current progress. If the student is deemed not to have made sufficient progress, they will be unenrolled from the Research Project and be required instead to follow the other designated avenues for completion of the degree (e.g. two coursework units, or two projects).

20. While it is not the faculty consultant’s responsibility to correct the student’s grammar, syntax, punctuation and English expression, he/she is responsible to inform the student if it is not of a standard sufficient for presentation of the Project.

21. A Research Project must not exceed 15,000 words.

22. The faculty consultant will review the completed Research Project and approve it (or otherwise) as being of a standard suitable for submission to an examiner approved by the Research Committee.

23. When the Research Project is ready for submission, it is submitted on the Learning Support System in the same format as for an essay (as specified in the College’s Student Handbook) along with the following signed certification:

24. Candidates who achieve a mark of 40–49% in a Research Project may be allowed to re-submit after taking into account the examiner’s comments. The Research Project is to be submitted to the same examiner for a second result. A Research Project may be re-submitted only once.