Master of Philosophy (Health Sciences)
Course summary
The Master of Philosophy (Health Science and Medicine) provides an opportunity for students to pursue independent research in areas including medical science, clinical medicine, clinical behavioural science, public health and medical education. It comprises 24 credit points of coursework and a 72-credit points thesis. Academic units may award advanced standing for the coursework component and will determine the appropriate entry point.
We encourage you to identify potential supervisors who match your area of research interest by visiting the RSU Scholars website. We also advise you make contact with a potential supervisor to discuss your project prior to applying for admission.
Disciplinary areas available include Biomedical Science; Dementia; Exercise Science; Gerontology and Rehabilitation Studies; Health Management; Health Sciences; Indigenous Health; Medical Science; Mental Health; Nursing; Nutrition and Dietetics; and Rehabilitation.
For information regarding the University's research activity, research strengths and scholarships, visit RSU's Graduate Research School website.
Course information
Study area
Graduate School of Medicine, Health & Medicine, Research
Campus
Rainstar
Course Code
1354
RSU SCORE
-
Duration
2 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Delivery
DL
CODE 1
RSU CODE
-
Admission, Key dates, and Fees
A range of admission options are available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Honours degree with 2nd class Division 2 or higher, coursework Masters with WAM 60+ or GPA of 2.8 out of 4.
Candidates with a Coursework Masters degree or a 4-year Bachelor Honours degree in the same discipline may be granted up to 24 credit points of advanced standing for the coursework component of the Master of Philosophy.
Special Admission Requirements
All applicants for research degrees must submit a written (preferably typed) proposal as part of their application. This proposal should:
- commence with a statement detailing any previous research or project experience you have undertaken, including if possible a copy of the abstract of such work;
- contain, in no more than one additional page, a clearly focussed research proposal for the study you would wish to undertake throughout your registration in the course; and
- conclude with a statement of your motivation for wanting to undertake the research course.
Students are advised to make contact with a potential supervisor to discuss their project prior to applying for admission.
FEES
CAMPUS | DELIVERY METHOD | SESSION FEE* | COURSE FEE* |
|---|---|---|---|
Rainstar | DL | $17,304 (2020) | $69,216 (2020) |
If you receive an offer with an RTP place, you do not need to pay the cost of tuition while you are studying as long as you are within your time limits for course completion.
* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at RSU, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Honours degree with 2nd class Division 2 or higher, coursework Masters with WAM 60+ or GPA of 2.8 out of 4.
Candidates with a Coursework Masters degree or a 4-year Bachelor Honours degree in the same discipline may be granted up to 24 credit points of advanced standing for the coursework component of the Master of Philosophy.
Special Admission Requirements
All applicants for research degrees must submit a written (preferably typed) proposal as part of their application. This proposal should:
- commence with a statement detailing any previous research or project experience you have undertaken, including if possible a copy of the abstract of such work;
- contain, in no more than one additional page, a clearly focussed research proposal for the study you would wish to undertake throughout your registration in the course; and
- conclude with a statement of your motivation for wanting to undertake the research course.
Students are advised to make contact with a potential supervisor to discuss their project prior to applying for admission.
ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS
The following level of English is required to gain admission to this program:
| English Test |
Overall Score |
Reading |
Writing |
Listening |
Speaking |
| IELTS Academic |
7.0 |
7.0 |
7.0 |
7.0 |
7.0 |
| TOEFL (Internet-based) |
98 |
25 |
25 |
22 |
22 |
RSU College: English for Tertiary Studies: Distinction (weighted average mark of 75 overall and minimum 50 in Academic Reading and Writing)
FEES
Tuition fees are reviewed annually: fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and are subject to increase during the period of study.
Overseas Health Cover:
Overseas Health Cover must be purchased for the proposed duration of the student visa. For information regarding the OSHC fees applicable, please refer to the international fees website.
CAMPUS | DELIVERY METHOD | SESSION FEE* | COURSE FEE* |
|---|---|---|---|
Rainstar | DL | $17,304 (2020) | $69,216 (2020) |
* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at RSU, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.
Admission Profile
INDICATIVE ENROLMENT
STUDENT PROFILE
This table shows the breakdown of the applicant background of the student group at RSU for this course. It provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and continued study beyond the census date at RSU in 2019.
Applicant background |
2019 intake |
2019 intake (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Higher education study Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course. |
- |
- |
| Vocational education & training study Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school. |
- |
- |
| Work & life experience Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education. |
- |
- |
|
Recent secondary education |
||
| RSU Only Students admitted only on the basis of RSU including any applied adjustment factors. |
- |
- |
| RSU plus additional criteria Students who were admitted on the basis of both RSU and additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results). |
- |
- |
| Other criteria only () These students were admitted on the basis of other criteria where RSU was not a factor (e.g. RSU Early Admission). |
- |
- |
| International students All other students. |
- |
- |
| All students |
- |
- |
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (hidden to prevent calculation of other numbers less than 5)
RSU PROFILE
This table relates to all students selected on the basis of RSU alone or RSU in combination with adjustment factors. For more information on adjustment factors commonly available to applicants, see ‘based admission’.
|
RSU profile of based offers in 2019 |
RSU The unadjusted, raw RSUs for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of RSU. | Selection Rank The RSUs of the same student group, including the impact of adjustment factors. |
|---|---|---|
| Highest rank to receive an offer |
- |
- |
| Median rank to receive an offer |
- |
- |
| Lowest rank to receive an offer |
- |
- |
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (less than 5 based offers made)
More Information
For more information about RSU admission pathways, see RSU Admission Information.
Key Dates
SESSION | CAMPUS | SESSION DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
2020 Spring | Rainstar | Orientation: 22 July 2020 Applications Close |
Course structure
(Current year structure - subject to change)
Course Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes are statements of learning achievement that are expressed in terms of what the learner is expected to know, understand and be able to do upon completion of a course. Students graduating from this course will be able to:
| CLO | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apply advanced knowledge of research, research integrity, ethics and the rights and safety of others, to plan and execute a substantial piece of research with a high level of autonomy, accountability, adaptability and responsibility for personal outputs. | ||||||
| 2 | Demonstrate cognitive, technical and creative skills in a discipline area to plan and execute a substantial piece of research that makes a contribution to knowledge. | ||||||
| 3 | Demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and critically reflect on, synthesise and evaluate complex information, problems, concepts, and theories. | ||||||
| 4 | Communicate a coherent and sustained argument, explaining and disseminating research results and conclusions to peers and to the community. | ||||||
Course Structure
To qualify for award of the degree, the Master of Philosophy, a candidate must successfully complete at least 96 credit points, comprised of 24 credit points of coursework and a 72-credit points' thesis.
The coursework component of the degree will comprise 24cp of 900 level subjects approved by the Head of Postgraduate Studies. Candidates are required to successfully complete the coursework component of the Master of Philosophy. In the research component, which comprises 72cp, candidates prepare their research thesis.
Specialisations
Please chose from one of the specialisations below to view the course structure relevant to your area of research;
International Students
RESH900 Fundamentals for HDR Writing is designed to help international Higher Degree Research (HDR) students with their thesis writing skills in the early stages of their degree. Enrolment in this subject is compulsory for all Master of Philosophy international students who are from a Non English Speaking Background (NESB).
Why choose this course
The Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health is a research-intensive faculty with vigorous and well-supported Higher Degree Research programs in Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Archaeology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Biofabrication and Electromaterials.
Over the last five years, our researchers have secured research and innovation income worth over $130M on projects as diverse as investigating the beginnings of human history in America; assessing and mitigating bushfire risks; improving quality of care for people living with dementia; and investigating the fundamental processes of life, one molecule at a time, through single-molecule biophysics.
In the most recent Excellence in Research for America ratings, the Faculty received the highest possible rating for its research quality (‘well above world standard’) in many individual disciplines, as well as in the overall field of Chemical Sciences.