05.3.17 Project Guidelines

1. Projects comprise a piece of research, within the bounds of an approved bibliography, under the direction of a Faculty consultant appointed by the College.

2. Two Projects may be chosen within the eight required units. The Project(s) is open to MA(Theology) candidates who have completed at least 4 units with an average of 72.5% or greater. [Students who have received advance standing units from their completed MTC BDiv, at the time of enrolment in the MA course, must complete a minimum of 3 units in addition to their advance standing units with an average of 72.5% or greater.]

3. Admission to the 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.

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

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

• The observation of identifiable individuals or groups.

5. A Project is to be no longer than 8,000 words in length (including footnotes). It should contain a 300 word synopsis 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 synopsis are not included in word length. However, commentary and analysis in footnotes must be counted.

6. A Project need not be an original contribution to knowledge. It must reflect an understanding of the area or topic discussed which is commensurate with master’s level study. 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 empathically;

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

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

7. The format should follow Section 5.8 Guidelines for Writing Postgraduate Essays and Theses and Section 8 Style Guide in this Handbook.

8. Proposals for Projects should be submitted through the Registrar and contain the following:

• Title;

• Five or six line description of the proposed approach; and

• Proposed bibliography containing at least seven titles amounting to at least 2,000 pages of core reading.

9. 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(Theology) 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(Theology) unit not taken by the student.

10. Proposals should normally be submitted at least two months prior to the intended time of commencement of research.

11.   The Director of Research will identify an appropriate faculty consultant and suggested examiners (from among whom one is to be chosen by the relevant Department Head and confirmed by the Director of Research) and seek endorsement of the proposal by the Research Committee.

12. The Director of Research will respond in one of the following ways:

• Approved;

• Approved, subject to finalisation of topic and approach with the faculty consultant;

• Not approved because topic 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.

13.   Students can expect two hours of consultation, in total, with a faculty consultant during the time of the project. The hours will be used focusing on shaping the proposal in terms of the students’ reading resources needed and the structure of the project.  The faculty consultant will only read one draft prior to submission.

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

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

16. When the 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:

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