该课程的主要目的是作为高级学习和研究课程的培训。候选人学习研究的基础知识并掌握新技术。该计划可能包括正式的课程作业，通常旨在为候选人准备论文工作。候选人必须进行原始调查，但是与博士学位相比，原始调查的范围和创新程度通常受到更大的限制。尽管将尽力鼓励原创性，但是在早期问题提出阶段以及每当使用新技术时，都会对工作进行严格监督。大多数硕士研究课程要求至少六个学术学期（即1.5年）的全日制学习和论文准备。硕士学位论文的长度通常不超过6万字。按研究计划提供的工程学硕士课程主要是针对高级研究和研究课程的培训而设计的。
The Master of Engineering by research program is designed primarily as training in a program of advanced study and research. The candidate learns the fundamentals of research and acquires new techniques. The program may include formal coursework which is normally intended to prepare the candidate for work on the thesis. The candidate must undertake an original investigation but this would normally be more limited in scope and degree of originality than is required for a doctorate. Although originality is to be encouraged as much as possible, the work will be closely supervised in the early problem formulation stages and whenever a new technique is being used.