MSW Thesis pre-enrolment process

If you are considering undertaking an MSW Thesis, you need to consider the steps in the process before you enrol.

Expression of Interest: As soon as you know that you intend to undertake the thesis, and preferably at least 3 months before you actually enrol, you should complete the Expression of Interest form. The EOI asks you to briefly describe your research interest and your current ideas regarding key elements of research design. This is not to lock you into particular decisions (these may change and develop over the course of your research, in consultation with supervisors), but rather to signal to the MSW Programme Leader and the CHSSWK Graduate Committee the number of students who are on the pathway towards the thesis, and the supervision expertise likely to be needed. The EOI form asks you to identify potential supervisors, if you know of a CHSSWK academic staff member who has expertise in your field. You are not advised to begin approaching supervisors at this point.

Once the MSW Programme Leader has received your EOI, and confirmed your eligibility to proceed to the thesis, your EOI will be sent to the CHSSWK Graduate Committee for allocation to a supervisor. At that point, you will work with the supervisor(s) to complete your formal Research Proposal.

Research Proposal: A research proposal is a clear, concise statement (about 2 pages) outlining your topic, your research question/s and the methods you will use to collect and analyse data. The Faculty of Education requires Masters Thesis students to submit a formal proposal (according to a prescribed template) and Research Approval Form, which must be approved by the Faculty Postgraduate Committee before you can enrol in the thesis. You will receive specific direction from your supervisor(s) in developing your proposal, which is submitted to [Programme Leader? Chair of Graduate Committee? Supervisor? School Manager?], and must be signed off by your supervisor(s) and the CHSSWK Head of School before it is submitted by the School to the Faculty Postgraduate Committee.

Enrolment: Once you have been advised that your Proposal has been received and approved, you may enrol formally in the thesis.

MSW Thesis Expression of Interest

Name	AUID
Contact details (mailing address, email, phone numbers)
Postal address
Email:
Phone numbers:
Fulltime or Part-time	Anticipated completion	(month/year)

Are you currently enrolled in (or have completed) SOCWORK718, or some other Postgraduate research course (30 points or more)?

Yes, I am enrolled in (have completed) SOCWORK718
Yes, I have completed a Postgraduate research course (CODE)
No

Statement of Intended Research Topic
In no more than 500 words, describe the topic of your intended research. Include your current thinking on: Research topic / question Research strategy Methods Participant selection/sampling Any specific access issues (e.g., clients of particular agencies, patients in DHB, etc.)

Have you identified CHSSWK staff members that may be potential supervisors? [note: this commits neither you nor any staff member to a supervision relationship at this point]

Please complete and submit to Associate Professor Liz Beddoe, Programme Leader MSW (e.beddoe@auckland.ac.nz) as soon as you know that you intend to enrol in the thesis.