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.
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:
This makes them a highly unusual contrast with traditional medical science degrees, but nevertheless a valid option for those with an entrepreneurial bent.
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:
This particular program is done in three stages.
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.
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:
To view the full range of scholarship opportunities available, click here.
There are two common methods of admission available for these courses.
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...
Completion of a relevant postgraduate qualification, such as a graduate certificate or diploma in medical science.