#3 university in Australia for interdisciplinary science research
Workplace-based research for practising surgeons
Joint academic and clinical supervision
Why choose Deakin
This course of study leads to a Masters by Research degree, with the students drawn from qualified medical practitioners, surgeons in training and fellowship-trained surgeons. The program has a primary function in providing doctors with a structured training and experience in independent research, specifically in the surgical speciality. It also fulfils a secondary function in providing discipline-specific training for doctors with aspirations in surgery, and provides an option for students to gain some skills in clinical leadership, for future leadership roles in surgery and broader medicine.
Research training and clinical leadership training will be carried out at the Waurn Ponds campus, with heavy utilisation of online resources to support the teaching. Research activity, although coordinated from the Waurn Ponds campus, will mainly be carried out at the student’s place of work, although the School of Medicine’s Anatomy Laboratory will also be utilised where the Clinical Anatomy Investigation project involves cadaveric inspection or dissection. Primary supervision will be shared by academics within the School and other experts local to the workplace.
Through completion of the Master of Surgical Research it is expected that medical graduates, surgeons in training and qualified surgeons will:
- gain an understanding of research techniques relevant to surgery;
- produce high quality written work, suitable for publication in scientific journals, and present this orally to a high standard;
- gain the skills needed to critically evaluate their own, and therefore other’s, work;
- demonstrate their ability to apply research techniques in surgery and to lead research work; and
- develop, or consolidate, an advanced knowledge of human anatomy, as relevant to their discipline
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Workplace-based surgical research
Benefit from joint supervision by Deakin academics and experienced surgical experts from your workplace, combining academic rigour with clinical expertise.
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Clinical anatomy investigation
Advance your surgical anatomy knowledge through clinical anatomy investigation and access to Deakin's School of Medicine Anatomy Laboratory at the #1 Victorian university for facilities and resources.
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Flexible research delivery
Complete your research across online learning, Waurn Ponds campus intensives and partner health services while continuing your clinical practice.
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Healthcare research partnerships
Connect your research with healthcare through our partnerships with University Hospital (Barwon Health), Epworth and St John of God.
Connected to industry
Engaging with industry during your PhD or masters by research ensures your research is relevant, future‑focused and positioned to create impact. Develop the skills your future employers need with industry-embedded projects, co‑supervision arrangements, access to partner facilities and opportunities to translate research into practice.
FAQs
Deakin is ranked #1 in Victoria for student support, with resources designed to take you from orientation through to thesis submission. You'll have a personalised online candidature profile to track milestones and manage your progress, backed by dedicated supervision. The Researcher Development Academy runs workshops covering research practice, writing, milestones and research communication. You can also build experience beyond your thesis through study trips, research fieldwork, fellowships, industry mentorship and programs like the National Industry PhD Program. Deakin's Three Minute Thesis (3MT) and Reel Research program gives you the chance to develop your research communication skills throughout your degree.
As a Deakin graduate researcher, you'll have access to world-class facilities across our campuses. Deakin is ranked #1 among Victorian universities for facilities, with advanced labs, specialised equipment and collaborative spaces available to researchers. Highlights include the Genesis Simulator, the only university-based system of its kind worldwide, Australia's first high-G CYCLONE Centrifuge, the AquaFI Lab and the Deakin Volume Screen. Our research precincts, including the Geelong Future Economy Precinct with its Hydrogen Hub and ManuFutures facility and the ITSH Precinct, put you alongside industry partners and cutting-edge infrastructure.
Applying for a research degree at Deakin involves a few key steps. First, review the entry requirements section on the course page. Next, find a supervisor in your field and review key dates and scholarship deadlines. You'll then need to prepare your supporting documents, including a research proposal. When you're ready, create a ResearchPoint profile and apply online through the Deakin Application Portal.
Finding the right supervisor is one of the most important steps in starting a research degree. Deakin's Find a Research Supervisor tool lets you search by research area, faculty or keyword to identify academics whose expertise aligns with your proposed project. Browse their profiles to learn about current projects and research interests, then reach out to introduce yourself and discuss your ideas. You'll need to confirm a supervisor's availability and willingness to support you before submitting your application.
If you're an Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent visa holder, you won't pay tuition fees for a research degree at Deakin. Domestic candidates are automatically covered by the RTP Fee Offset scholarship, which covers your tuition in full. You may also be eligible for an RTP or DUPR scholarship, which can include a tax-exempt stipend, relocation allowances and other support.
A research proposal is a required part of your application for a research degree at Deakin. It helps us assess whether we have the supervisory expertise to support your project. Your proposal should cover your research direction, aims and objectives, your approach and scope, and how your work will contribute to knowledge in the field. The expected length varies from 300 to 2,000 words depending on the faculty. Find out how to prepare a compelling research proposal.
Yes, part-time study is available for many research degrees at Deakin, making it possible to balance your candidacy with work or other commitments. For example, a masters by research that takes two years full-time can be completed part-time over four years. Check the duration details on the course page to confirm.
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
Course structure
To complete the Master of Surgical Research, you must pass 16 credit points.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
Research Training and Preparation Units (5 credit points)
PLUS (Total 11 credit points)
#Rolling enrolment
Students' course plans will be designed to ensure the students use a combination of the above units to achieve 11 credit points of Research Project in Surgery across the 4 quarters of enrolment per year. HDR Faculty Research advisers will undertake this task with students.
What to expect while studying
Students will usually be required to provide evidence that they have the relevant Police Checks, Working With Children Checks, and immunisations to allow them to work with patients in a given health service. As students will be registered medical practitioners, these mandatory checks are usually a requirement of their professional registering body (e.g. AHPRA), thus these should already be in place.
The course will be delivered online and at Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus and at hospitals and other health centre sites of Deakin’s partner organisations, and of other healthcare organisations.
Approximately 2400 hours for the full 16 credit points of the course.
There are no compulsory learning experiences, beyond the requirement to complete the standard research and research training activities in the core units of the course as specified. Students have the opportunity of choice in the selection of their project and work/study environment and can therefore tailor their study to any specific needs they may have.
Students will usually carry out their mandatory research project work in their own work environment and sometimes through the process of carrying out their actual work duties.
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge in surgical anatomy and the surgical discipline. Plan and execute a substantial research project in the surgical discipline that demonstrates complex knowledge and application of clinical and medical research principles, cognitive and technical skills, and methods. |
| Interpret and transmit knowledge, skills, ideas and data to specialist and non-specialist audiences using highly developed written and oral communication skills. Apply listening and effective communication skills to accommodate, encourage and answer questions from an audience and to defend research findings and propositions. |
| Use digital technologies to locate, curate, interpret and disseminate relevant evidence-based literature to formulate research hypotheses, concepts and theories. |
| Critically analyse literature, research data and other information relevant to surgical anatomy and the surgical discipline to produce a substantial research project. |
| Critically analyse, reflect upon and synthesise complex information, concepts and theories in surgery and surgical anatomy. Contribute to advancements in knowledge of the discipline through mastering the use of instruments and techniques, to collect, interpret, analyse, synthesise and disseminate research data and findings. |
| Demonstrate a high level of personal autonomy, professionalism and responsibility in the acquisition of knowledge and in the planning and execution of research projects and interpretation of data and findings. |
| Demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively and effectively with research peers and non-specialist stakeholders to address complex real-world problems in surgery. |
| Demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills in conducting best-practice research of the highest ethical standards and in managing, sharing data and disseminating research findings across wider medical, research and cultural communities. |
- Award granted
- Master of Surgical Research
- Year
2027 course information
- Deakin code
- H801
- Level
- Higher Degree Research
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9
Scholarships
We want to help you excel at Deakin. Our scholarships recognise your dedication and achievements, providing financial support that can ease the cost of living and studying. With less pressure, you'll have more freedom to focus on what matters most – your education and future success.
Apply now
Apply directly to Deakin
Get all the information you need to successfully apply for a Deakin research degree or PhD, including key dates, entry requirements, supporting documents and finding a research supervisor. We’re here to support you through the process.
Recognition of prior learning
As this is a research degree there will be no nested courses, and there are no guaranteed pathways and no recognition of prior learning for the research component of the degree. However, the course is designed to offer articulation through a credit structure, as follows: Students entering with an MBBS, or equivalent, will be expected to complete all 16 core credit points of the course. Students entering with an MBBS, or equivalent, and an Honours degree will be expected to complete 14 credit points of study, including 1 credit point of ‘Clinical Anatomy Investigation’, 2 credit points of ‘Research Communication’ and at least 11 credit points of ‘Research Project in Surgery’. Students entering with an MBBS, or equivalent, and a postgraduate anatomy qualification will be expected to complete 15 credit points of study, including the 4 credit points of research training units and 11 credit points of ‘Research Project in Surgery’. Students entering with an MBBS, or equivalent, and a higher degree by research, will be expected to complete 12 credit points of study, including 1 credit point of ‘Clinical Anatomy Investigation’ and 11 credit points of ‘Research Project in Surgery’. Students entering with an MBBS, or equivalent, a postgraduate anatomy qualification and an Honours degree will be expected to complete 13 credit points of study, including 2 credit points of ‘Research Communication’ and 11 credit points of ‘Research Project in Surgery’. However students entering with an MBBS or equivalent PLUS an honours degree, post grad anatomy qualification or another form of research by higher degree, maybe eligible for credit for the research training or anatomy components of the course and should contact the HDR research office for further information.
Pathways
The Master of Surgical Research is a pathway to PhD enrolment.