Prospective research students

Graduate Program in Atmospheric Science

Program Overview

The Graduate Program in Atmospheric Science is an interdisciplinary program that provides an educational and research environment to examine the dynamical, physical, chemical and biological processes that occur in the earth system. A major theme is the establishment of a physical basis for understanding, observing, and modelling climate and global change. Graduate Program in Atmospheric Science is coordinated with the Climate Program of the Monash Sustainability Institute, and includes involvement of the School of Mathematics in the Faculty of Science and the School of Geography and Environmental Science in the Faculty of Arts. Affiliates include the Schools of Biology (Science) and Civil Engineering (Engineering).

Graduate students, research staff, and faculty work together on a wide range of research topics: synoptic and mesoscale meteorology; tropical meteorology, including tropical cyclones, and climate; cloud microphysics; terrestrial carbon cycle; bushfires; climate and weather simulation; hydrological processes; clouds and moist convection; urban climate; environmental health impacts; palaeoclimate of Australia; polar climate processes; linear and nonlinear waves in the atmosphere and ocean; climate change policy; surface atmosphere interactions; and boundary layer measurement and modelling.

Entry Requirements

Graduate studies may be conducted through one of several schools involved in the program, collaboratively across schools, or with involvement from external research centres. Entry requirements are:

• Completion of a bachelors degree : a four-year bachelor degree (which normally includes a research component in the fourth year) with honours 1 or 2A in a relevant field, or
• Completion of a masters degree : for entrance into the Ph.D. program, a masters degree with a significant research component in a relevant field from Monash University or any other recognised tertiary institution; or
• Completion of a masters preliminary course : a masters preliminary qualification with a research component and an overall grade of 2A or above is deemed to be equivalent to the above requirements.

In addition, the Ph.D. regulations make provision for research masters degree candidates to transfer their candidature after a minimum period of nine months full-time (or part-time equivalent) of satisfactory performance.

• Local applicants : apply via the Monash Research Graduate School (MRGS)
• International applicants : apply via Monash University International Student Admissions office

Applicants for whom English is not their first language must satisfy the university's English language requirements. These requirements may be met by performing satisfactorily in such English language tests as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Applications are accepted at any time. Students usually commence their studies in late February but they may enrol at any time. Students who do a degree that includes coursework must start at the beginning of a semester.

Graduate Degree Requirements

Only research degrees are offered through Graduate Program in Atmospheric Science.

What is a Research Degree?

A Masters degree counts as a research degree when at least 66% of the assessment is based on a thesis. Doctoral degrees require that 100% of the assessment is based on a thesis.

Once you have been accepted into a research degree, you will be allocated a supervisor from the academic staff of the appropriate Faculty. You may be offered joint supervision with a supervisor from the School of Mathematical Sciences, the School of Geography and Environmental Science, the Bureau of Meteorology or CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, as appropriate for your area of interest.

Over the period of your research enrolment, you will research a relevant topic under the guidance of your supervisor(s), put your hypotheses, evidence and conclusions into a thesis, and present the thesis for examination. The thesis will demonstrate a high level of independent thought and critical evaluation and make a substantial contribution to the understanding of the subject matter with which it deals.

Masters by Research Degree

Masters degree (67% by research, Science faculty): You will complete a major thesis which normally will have a word length of 25,000 words.

Coursework consists of a minimum of four topics, each comprising about 20 lectures given over one semester (half an academic year). Topics will normally include a selection of 4th and 5th year units. In addition, all students are required to take M4500 Synoptic Meteorology Laboratory. An average distinction grade (³ 70%) will be required to pass the coursework component.

The thesis project will be allocated early in the year and will provide the basis for a project talk late in the year.

Full-time students are required to complete the coursework in one academic year (March to November); part-time students normally in two years. The degree will normally be completed within 18 months (full-time) or three years (part-time). If desired, the course may be commenced in the second semester at about mid July.

Masters degree (66% by research, Arts faculty): You will complete a thesis of normally around 20,000 to 25,000 words. Coursework consists of 5th year level units to the value of 24 points. All students are required to take M4500 Synoptic Meteorology Laboratory.

The thesis project will be allocated early in the year and will provide the basis for a project talk late in the year.

Maximum candidature for both the Master of Arts and the Master of Environmental Science 66% research degrees is 18 months full-time, or three years part-time. Minimum candidature for all Masters research candidates is one year full-time or two years part-time.

Masters degree (100% by research, Arts or Science faculty): Candidates who wish to complete a 100% research degree can enroll in the Master of Environmental Science, the Master of Arts in Environmental Science or the Master of Science.You will complete a thesis of 30-40,000 words.

The thesis project will provide the basis for a project talk late in the year.

The maximum period of Masters candidature is two years full-time or four years part-time. Minimum candidature for all Masters 100% research candidates is one year full-time or two years part-time. Research candidates, whether full-time or part-time, need to attend the university regularly.

Doctoral Degree

The Ph.D. is a University degree therefore the regulations and procedures pertaining to it are controlled not by Faculties but by a central University body called the Research Graduate School Committee (RGSC).

The Ph.D. at Monash is a degree that requires research candidates to submit a thesis of approximately 80,000 words in length, and no more than 100,000 words. Candidates may include published work of which they are sole or joint author that is directly relevant to the argument of the thesis, provided such work has been written during the period of candidature. Candidates may not present in, or in support of, a thesis any work that the candidate has presented for any degree or diploma at Monash University or any other institution.

The maximum period of Ph.D. candidature is four years of full-time or eight years of part-time study. Part-time candidature is allowed for local applicants only.

Confirmation : All Ph.D. candidates are admitted on a probationary basis. Confirmation of candidature is subject to a confirmation process, which will normally take place between 6 and 12 months of full-time study or after 12 to 24 months of part-time study. In the case where a candidate has made exceptional progress, confirmation of candidature can take place after 3 months of full-time or 6 months of part-time candidature.

Candidature will be confirmed subject to the satisfactory reporting to a review panel by:

• an oral presentation of at least 20 minutes as a Graduate Program in Atmospheric Science seminar. Members of the review panel (see following page for composition of panel) must be in attendance for the oral presentation. The oral presentation should explore the research undertaken to date and the anticipated future directions of the research program.
• a progress report (minimum 1000 words in Science Faculty, 7000 words in the Arts Faculty) including title of thesis, statement of problem, review of relevant literature, research design, timetable and bibliography.

It is a requirement that the review panel comprises at least the following three members:

• the Graduate Program in Atmospheric Science graduate coordinator;
• the candidate's supervisor(s); and
• an independent panel member conversant with the general area of research.

Annual reports : Each year the Monash Research Graduate School requires that all doctoral candidates submit an Annual Progress Report, to provide the candidate, the supervisor, and the head of the academic unit (or nominated representative) an opportunity to review the progress of the candidate.

Additional requirements for degree : An induction seminar, documented attendance at a minimum of 60% of Climate Program seminars, and a synoptic laboratory.

Additional requirements for degree (Science faculty) : two graduate-level lecture courses if deemed necessary by the supervisor.

Additional requirements for degree (Arts faculty) : at least three 'Tricks of the Trade' seminars.

Scholarships and Opportunities

Monash Graduate Scholarships and Australian Postgraduate Awards are open to competition by all residents of Australia and New Zealand citizens who have completed or are about to complete a first degree in a relevant discipline.

Overseas student (except those from New Zealand) are normally required to pay full tuition fees, but can apply for Monash International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (MIRPS) meets the full cost of international tuition fees, amenities fees and health insurance. Applicants awarded an MIPRS are eligible to be awarded an MGS to cover their living expenses.

One application kit covers all available scholarships. Information regarding these scholarships is available at  the scholarships website but applicants MUST contact the Graduate Program in Atmospheric Science Graduate Coordinator to request a scholarship application form. Scholarships close on 31 October each year for students starting in the following year.

For some overseas applicants, financial support is available through the AusAid program, applications for which must be made through the nearest Australian Embassy. Awardees have their academic fees, health insurance and travel to and from Australia paid, receive a relocation allowance and fortnightly stipend, and are entitled to tutorial assistance. More information can be found at the AusAID website.

Ethics Approval

Any research project conducted at Monash University involving human participants, animals or biohazards must be approved by the appropriate Ethics Committee, either the Standing Committee on Ethics in Research Involving Humans (SCERH), or the Standing Committee on Bio-safety. Typically, if a Graduate Program in Atmospheric Science candidate requires ethics approval it will be through SCERH. The SCERH provides a one-stop ethics review facility to receive ethics consideration for all research involving humans, by a properly constituted panel. The Committee meets fortnightly and requires one original and two copies of the application four weeks before each meeting. The application form, guidelines, meeting dates etc. are available online at the ethics website.

Clubs and Professional Societies

Graduate Program in Atmospheric Science candidates are encouraged to join the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (AMOS).

In addition, candidates may wish to join the Institute of Australian Geographers (IAG) and the Monash Weather and Climate Society (MWACS).