Master of Medical Science overview
Master degrees take two years of full time study to complete, or up to four years part time. They have very different focuses depending on institution and topic; most are focussed on research, but there are some unique, practical courses too.
Coursework master
The University of Newcastle and similar institutions offer courses like the Master of Bioinnovation and Design, which are focussed entirely on the application of medical science. In this case, students can expect to undertake a mixture of business and medical units, including:
- Design for innovation
- Organisational behaviour and design
- Financial management and accounting
- Leadership in contemporary organisations
This makes them a highly unusual contrast with traditional medical science degrees, but nevertheless a valid option for those with an entrepreneurial bent.
Research master
James Cook University and many other institutions provide medical science programs dedicated to undergoing a lengthy thesis rather than completing coursework. The topic of this thesis can vary according to the institution, with James Cook offering the following as an example:
- Biochemistry
- Cell biology
- Chemistry
- General medical science
- Immunology and epidemiology
- Microbiology
- Parasitology
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
This particular program is done in three stages.
- Planning the research. This is about determining whether or not the topic in question falls within the scope of a master’s degree or whether it’s too broad. It’s also designed to help students gauge whether their proposed research can be completed within a reasonable time frame.
- Situating the research. This stage tests if the student has sufficient knowledge of the field, reasoning ability and communication skills to study the topic in question. This is to ensure their research can be held at a high academic standard.
- Research thesis. This is where the 10,000 or so word thesis begins.
Employment options
The employment options specified here make for great opportunities. The James Cook course in particular facilitates excellent entrepreneurship opportunities, giving graduates the skills needed to run an innovative business using medical science. Medical researchers never go astray at Research Australia, or when employed as forensic scientists for the AFP. It’s a qualification that allows for a diverse range of careers depending on the type of course chosen.
Scholarships and funding
There are some great funding opportunities available to students from master level medical science programs. An exemplary medical science specific one is the Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Intercepting Hepcidin, the Hormone of Iron Metabolism. This is a fantastic incentive to those willing to undergo research into the scholarship’s namesake. It’s worth $27,082 pa.
There are also a number of scholarships that aren’t specific to any particular discipline, yet are valued quite highly and are therefore worth applying to. Some of these include:
- Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships valued at $69,500 pa. These are ideal for research-heavy programs like medical science, as this is their focus.
- General Sir John Monash Scholarships valued at $65,000 pa. They are for students willing to argue the merits of their course. Students of medical science shouldn’t have any trouble with this requirement, as their field is filled with extraordinary achievements that society as a whole.
- The Indigenous Australian Graduate Scholarship is valued at $27,082 pa. ANU students who are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent are automatically considered for this, so don’t need to submit a formal application.
To view the full range of scholarship opportunities available, click here.
Prerequisites and selection process
There are two common methods of admission available for these courses.
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Completion of a bachelor’s degree in a cognate discipline, such as science or engineering. This method of entry will sometimes require applicants to have attained a credit GPA (5/7, or 65%). This can be circumvented by...
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Completion of a relevant postgraduate qualification, such as a graduate certificate or diploma in medical science.