Master of Science (Biomedical and Health Sciences)

The Master of Science (Biomedical and Health Sciences) is a coursework masters degree incorporating a substantial research project.
The Master of Science gives students the opportunity to undertake a substantive research project in a field of choice as well as a broad range of coursework subjects including a professional skills component, as a pathway to PhD study or to the workforce.

The objectives of this course are to provide students with skills in:

• conducting research in biomedical and health sciences;
• designing experiments;
• taking responsibility for managing a research project;
• preparing and giving an oral and written presentation of the results;
• expressing intellectual, scientific arguments; and
• assimilating and critically evaluating existing knowledge within a scientific paradigm.

All students must complete 200 points including:

• Discipline Core subjects (50 points);
• Professional Skills subjects (25 points);
• A 125 point research project.

Discipline Core subjects

Students must complete 50 points of discipline subjects including the core subject listed below.

Students may select approved subjects relevant to the proposed research project from those within the Master of Science programs, in particiular the Master of Science (Genetics), Master of Science (Zoology). They may also take subjects from the Master of Biotechnology and Masters by coursework programs offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.

A maximum of two discipline subjects may be taken at 3rd year level.

Professional Skills subjects

Students must complete 25 points from the following subjects:

Research Project

Students must complete a research project under the supervision of a staff member in an academic unit (a Department or an affiliated Institute) of the Melbourne Medical School within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. Depending on supervisor and project availability, research is undertaken in a range of locations/discipline areas including: Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Biol21), Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital/Western Hospital and St Vincent's Hospital), Microbiology and Immunology, Neurosciences, Nursing, Oral Biology (Dental Science), Otolaryngology (Hearing Sciences), Opthalmology (Eye Research), Paediatrics, Pharmacology, Physiology, Psychiatry, Radiology and Surgery (Austin Hospital, Royal Melboure Hospital/Western Hospital and St Vincent's Hospital).

The project will be taken over four consecutive semesters beginning in mid-February contemporaneous with BIOM40001 Introduction To Biomedical Research and continue for up to 84 weeks until the end of the fourth semester, minus recreation leave of between 4 and 8 weeks. For mid-year entry, the research project will begin in the first week of semester 2.

For how long and at what time within the enrolment the actual period of leave is to be taken needs to be negotiated with the student’s supervisor.

The Research Project will be due for submission by the end of the formal examination period of the fourth semester of enrolment if an earlier date is not specified.

Students may enrol in a combination of research project subjects and coursework subjects as long as once the Research Project is commenced, the consecutive enrolment requirement is met and to ensure they have completed a total of 125 points for the research project by the end of their course.

Some enrolment examples are available on the Melbourne Graduate School website - http://graduate.science.unimelb.edu.au/programs/msc/biomed.php. Students are encouraged to review these examples to inform their ISIS enrolment.

An undergraduate degree with a major in biology or biomedicine, with at least an H3 (65%) in the major, or equivalent.

Quotas may be applied and preference may be given to applicants with evidence of appropriate preparation or potential to undertake research. Entry is subject to the capacity of a participating department to provide adequate supervision in a research project appropriate to the interests and preparation of the individual student and may be subject to the agreement of a member of academic staff to supervise the project module. Selection is not automatic and, in particular, is subject to competition.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable steps will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the University’s programs. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their active and safe participation in a subject are encouraged to discuss this with the relevant subject coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

The Master of Science offers a pathway to a PhD.

Graduates will:

• have the ability to demonstrate advanced independent critical enquiry, analysis and reflection;
• have a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship;
• have in-depth knowledge of their specialist discipline(s);
• reach a high level of achievement in writing, research or project activities, problem-solving and communication;
• be critical and creative thinkers, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning;
• be able to examine critically, synthesise and evaluate knowledge across a broad range of disciplines;
• have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment; and
• be able to initiate and implement constructive change in their communities, including professions and workplaces.