Master of Philosophy (Health Sciences)

The University of Notre Dame Australia

A Master of Philosophy (Health Sciences) is a research degree that combines coursework in research training with the writing a major research thesis. It is possible for students from other disciplines to undertake a Master of Philosophy in Health Sciences, but additional coursework may be required to support the study process.

Why study this degree?

The Master of Philosophy (Health Sciences) is a postgraduate research degree comprising both coursework and a substantial research component culminating in the submission of a thesis or equivalent for independent examination. Each candidate is required to have a minimum of two supervisors who will provide support and academic guidance throughout the degree. Supervisors will help candidates to prepare their research proposal and continue to mentor and direct their work until the thesis is put forward for examination.

Candidates can undertake the program in either a full-time or a part-time capacity. The standard time for completion (not including periods of approved leave of absence) will normally be one and a half years for a full-time student and three years for a part-time student. The minimum time for completion will normally be one year and is usually only applicable for students with prior research experience or qualifications.

Program summary

The coursework component comprises four compulsory research training courses to be completed as a prerequisite to the student's individual research project. The coursework courses will provide opportunities for candidates to formulate substantial elements of their planned research (e.g. topic refinement, identification and justification of the preferred research method(s), preparation of a draft proposal) and to develop personal competencies in critical analysis and scholarly writing relevant to their profession.

The completion of the coursework is facilitated by a course delivery schedule which takes into consideration that candidates may be in full-time employment during their candidature. A Credit average must be achieved in the coursework as a prerequisite for proceeding to the research component. Within some Schools, a compulsory sequence of courses exists. The structure of the degree in these cases is as follows:

Coursework component (1/3 of degree; 0.5 year full-time study)

• Quantitative Research Methods
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Scholarly Reading and Writing
• Developing a Research Proposal