Coursework

Master of Biostatistics

  • CRICOS code: 088478A

The experience

Overview

As a Master of Biostatistics student, you will be stepping into an exciting and rapidly growing field. Learn how to measure, understand and predict health trends in order to improve the quality of people’s lives.

Whether you’re a graduate from the Bachelor of Science or Biomedicine, or looking to upskill in your current industry, graduates from this degree have a chance to address complex biomedical research problems that have tangible impacts in people’s lives.

The day-to-day experience

The Master of Biostatistics can be studied full time over 18 months or part time over three years. This course offers you flexibility, with study delivered through a combination of on-campus and online subjects for both domestic and international students.

Your learning experience will be uniquely tailored to meet your interests, with 14 different electives available, which are taught collaboratively with other universities involved in the Biostatistics Collaboration of Australia. Including:

  • The University of Queensland
  • Monash University
  • The University of Sydney
  • The University of Adelaide.

You will also be able to complete a detailed research project at the esteemed Melbourne Biomedical Precinct. The Precinct is a world-leading hub that delivers outstanding patient care, cutting-edge research and world-class education, providing the perfect environment for success.

Opportunities

During your Master’s study, you will be taught by leading industry professionals, who can connect you to prospective employment networks and other institutions, not only in Australia but around the world.

Graduates have gone on to work on exciting projects, such as evaluating vaccines in Fiji and improving the treatment of malaria in Myanmar, highlighting the growing global need for experts in biostatistics.

Upon graduating from the Master of Biostatistics, you will be able to join the data revolution spreading across Australia and the world, and be well equipped to utilise big data and statistics to find solutions to complex health problems.

Profile

Lizzie Korevaar

After studying microbiology at undergraduate level I was attracted to this course because I was looking for a way to apply my love of maths.

It went over and above my expectations and I enjoyed it a lot. I knew it was going to teach me how to analyse data but I wasn’t expecting the methods to go down to so fine a detail – that was a pleasant surprise.

The group of people you get to work with are very encouraging. They love what they do, and it shows. All the teachers were really passionate, whether that be about the specific application or the actual methods we were trying to figure out.

The students were all highly motivated, too. Because we were a small cohort, we ended up really tight, which was nice – particularly coming from a large undergraduate course.

The course is a mixture of face-to-face and online learning, which worked well for me. We got lots of support from our lecturers and the opportunity to ask questions, but also the convenience of online learning. And even when I was studying online there was still lots of contact with other students via the discussion boards.

The assignments were focused on real problems, which was very rewarding because I felt like I was making a useful contribution. And I particularly enjoyed the research project, where I worked on a big clinical trial looking at breast cancer. I’m still working on that project, so it has turned into a part-time job, which is great! I’m enjoying seeing it through until the end.

Next, I’m considering a PhD. The masters confirmed for me that research is what I’m interested in, and it’s very rewarding to make a useful contribution to big problems in health.