Postgraduate Diploma in Science

The Faculty of Science offers the Postgraduate Diploma in Science program through a number of departments.

When a program includes a research project students who successfully complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Science with an H2A (75%) average are eligible to apply for Master of Philosophy or Doctor of Philosophy candidature. Where a coursework only option is chosen students are not eligible to apply for Master of Philosophy or Doctor of Philosophy candidature.

Areas of Study: Botany, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Genetics, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics and Zoology.

Postgraduate Diploma programs are designed to:

• enable the acquisition of research skills (for example, laboratory techniques and data collection and analysis);
• engage students in research, under supervision;
• increase students' knowledge and understanding of the relevant discipline and awareness of current developments and issues relating to the discipline;
• develop independent and critical thinking; and
• improve oral and written communication skills.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Science course requires the completion of 100 points (100 points = one year of full-time study).

Coursework and Research

The 100 points comprises two components:

• a coursework component (sometimes requiring the completion of up to 25 points of later-year, normally third-year, undergraduate subjects); and
• a minor thesis research project component (normally 10 000 - 12 000 words).

The weight of each component varies between departments.

To be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Science, students must successfully complete both the research and the coursework components of the course.

Coursework

Students have the option to complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Science by coursework alone (100 point coursework option) in areas of study: Botany, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics.

Students also have the option to use the Postgraduate Diploma in Science by coursework in Botany, Mathematics and Statistics or Physics as an early exit point from the relevant Master of Science stream– i.e. Master of Science in Botany, Mathematics and Statistics, or Physics – where appropriate and subject to the approval of the stream Coordinator.

Areas of Study

Students may select from the following areas of study:

• An undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline with results in appropriate prerequisite studies for the discipline into which entry is sought.
• Entry is also subject to the availability of an appropriate research topic and supervisor.

The discipline-specific requirements in the undergraduate degree or major within the undergraduate degree, and any discipline- specific subject prerequisites are summarised below are are also set out in the indivdual study area entry.

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Botany: Appropriate disciplines – any science discipline

Chemistry: Appropriate discipline – Chemistry or equivalent

Computer Science: Appropriate discipline – Computer Science or equivalent; weighted average mark in an appropriate discipline or final year average mark – 65%; Subject prerequisites – at least 25 points of university-level Mathematics or Statistics subjects; in addition, some knowledge of formal logic and discrete mathematics, and second-year University-level Mathematics/Statistics are recommended.

Earth Science: Appropriate disciplines – Agricultural Science, Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences, Biochemistry, Botany, Chemistry, Engineering, Environmental Science, Food Science, Genetics, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Microbiology, Physics, Plant Science or Zoology.

Genetics: Appropriate disciplines – biological sciences; weighted average mark in appropriate discipline – 65%

Mathematics and Statistics: Appropriate discipline – Mathematics and Statistics or equivalent; subject prerequisites – at least two level 1 or above and three level 2 or above Mathematics or Statistics subjects; weighted average mark in appropriate discipline – at least a 65% (or equivalent) mark for each of the two best second or higher level subjects. If students have completed accelerated subjects then one fewer subject can be deemed appropriate.

Physics: Appropriate disciplines - Physics, Mathematical Physics, Chemical Physics, Mathematics, Statistics, or Engineering; or equivalent; subject prerequisites – at least 50 points of level 2 or above Physics and MAST20009 Vector Calculus and MAST200026 Real Analysis with Applications or equivalents

Zoology: Appropriate disciplines – Zoology, Biomedicine, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Environmental Science, Genetics, Physiology, Veterinary Science

The Postgraduate Diploma in Science welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and degree policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the degree.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Science requires all students to enrol in subjects where they will require:
(1) the ability to comprehend complex science and technology related information;
(2) the ability to clearly and independently communicate a knowledge and application of science, and technology principles and practices during assessment tasks;
(3) the ability to actively and safely contribute in clinical, laboratory, and fieldwork/excursion activities.

Students must possess behavioural and social attributes that enable them to participate in a complex learning environment. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning. They also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments, demonstrating interpersonal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students.

There may be additional inherent academic requirements for some subjects, and these requirements are listed within the description of the requirements for each of these subjects.

Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the relevant Subject Coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Students who successfully complete the coursework and research Postgraduate Diploma in Science courses with an H2A (75%) average are eligible to apply for M.Phil - Science and PhD-Science candidature.

Students who successfully complete the coursework (100%) Postgraduate Diploma in Science courses are not eligible to apply for M.Phil - Science and PhD-Science candidature.