Master of Paediatrics

Master degrees from the likes of the University of Sydney are an excellent way to gain comprehensive knowledge of the field. They offer a huge array of units depending on the specialisations taken, as institutions like the University of Western Australia allow students to study neonatology, paediatric sleep science or paediatric respiratory science. This gives them a great deal of choice in where to take a career in paediatric medicine.

Employment options

Employment options specified here are a great way to get into the field from these qualifications. Contacting the Paediatrics & Child Health Division of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians is a way to find networking opportunities, employment options and learn more about what working in this field entails. For those who want to use their skills in an important but seldom utilised way, the Australian Paediatric Society dedicated themselves to helping children in remote communities who otherwise couldn’t make it to a hospital.

Scholarships and funding

There are several funding opportunities available to students of paediatrics. Some of these include:

• The Howard E Williams Prize in Paediatrics, awarding $500 to the top student in one of the University of Melbourne’s core paediatrics subjects.
• The Bob and Nancy Edwards Scholarship, worth $30,000pa. These are research scholarships provided to students specialising in either cancer research or paediatrics.

General opportunities are also available, including:

• The Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship. This is worth $120,000, awarded to students with a distinction GPA (75%) from any discipline. Applicants must explain to the benefactors how they have an interest in strengthening Australia’s ties to Asia for eligibility, in addition to two references both professional and personal.
• Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships, offered by Australian National University and valued at $69,500pa. Merit is the deciding factor for these, so the higher the GPA the better. Available across disciplines.
• Fulbright Scholarships, allowing Australian students to study in the USA. These tend to be worth around $40,000, but it varies case by case.
• The Indigenous Australian Graduate Scholarship offered by Australian National University. This provides an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student with $26,682 so long as they successfully acquired second class honours in their bachelor degree beforehand.

Prerequisites and selection process

A Bachelor of Medicine is the only requirement for these courses, but it is both steep and understandable all the same. Prior knowledge is built off heavily in all units.