Master of Science (Research)

Duration

2 years (full-time) or 4 years (part-time)

Type

Research

Intakes

15 January, 1 May, 15 July, and 15 October (subject to availability of supervision). Flexibility may apply for students whose enrolment is supported by external funding.

Fees

In 2026, the annual tuition fees for this course are:

• RM48,480 for Malaysian students
• RM54,720 for international students.

General fees

• Application (once only) - RM100
• Registration (once only) - RM200
• General amenities (per semester) - RM100
• International student pass application - Click here.

You must complete a 50-70,000-word thesis as part of the Master of Science program in any of the areas below:

• Biodiversity and conservation
• Biotechnology
• Chemistry
• Environmental science
• Food science and technology
• Genetics, genomics and bioinformatics
• Infectious disease
• Medical bioscience
• Microbiology
• Natural products and drug discovery
• Tropical biology

Graduates holding a Master of Science degree will find employment opportunities in various fields, including:

• genetic engineering
• agricultural management
• pharmaceutical science
• banking and finance
• environmental consulting
• medical research
• healthcare sectors
• food industries

Top 100 in the world

Your degree will be recognised wherever you want to work or study worldwide. Monash University is ranked (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026):

• No. 26 for Life Sciences and Medicine
• No. 41 for Anatomy and Physiology
• No. 47 in the world for Chemistry
• No. 52 in the world for Environmental Sciences
• No. 56 for Biological Sciences
• No. 58 for Natural Sciences.

Option to upgrade to a PhD

If you’re unsure whether a PhD program is right for you, this course can give you the experience of what studying for a doctorate might be like, while developing your skills and earning a degree that will enhance your employment prospects. If you decide that you’re passionate about your research, the option of upgrading to a PhD after your first year is possible.

Research excellence

Our interdisciplinary teams of researchers collaboratively work on critical problems at the intersection of biology, chemistry and medicine to deliver solutions for food, water, environmental and health. If you’re open-minded, practical, curious, and able to question why, you have what it takes to make scientific discoveries that will change the world we live in.

Finest infrastructure

Our research is supported by specialised facilities and comprehensive resources that can meet the demands of academic research and industrial collaborations. You’ll have access to innovative and high-performance infrastructure providing quality research services.

Advanced genomics facility

The first laboratory and research platform at Monash University Malaysia to achieve the ISO 9001:2015 standard, our genomics facility provides moderate to high throughput nucleic acid sequencing services to support researchers from the Malaysian and Australian campuses. It has produced over 150 publications and generated more than 1.7 terabytes of sequencing data.

Delivering impact

Significant developments in biology over the past 50 years are enhancing our ability to understand and shape the biosphere. Researchers on our Tropical Medicine and Biology platform are driving transformation in Southeast Asia and the tropics in key focus areas such as food security and biodiversity, telemedicine, immunity and infection, clinical research, human genetics, systems biology, and genomics.

Be supported

We're committed to supporting young scholars who want to change the world for the better. Click here to view our range of prestigious scholarships.

Entry requirements

To enter Monash University, you must satisfy particular academic, English language and age requirements.

To apply for the Master of Science (Research), you must have completed at least one of the following:

• Bachelor’s degree requiring at least four years of full-time study, and which normally includes a research component in the fourth year with upper H2B (a mark of 65 or above) in an honours year in a relevant field.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field that entails work, normally including a significant research component, at least equivalent to an honours degree (a ‘significant research component’ in a master’s degree will vary from discipline to discipline). It is normally expected that at a minimum, a grade of upper 2B (with an overall mark of at least 65 or above) has been obtained for the research thesis or project. Where ungraded, examiners’ reports will be taken into account.
• Qualifications which in the opinion of the Graduate Research Committee are deemed equivalent.

Please refer to the Admission criteria for more details.

Application process