Master of Biostatistics

• Overview
• Course content
• Course Structure
• Am I eligible for admission?
• How to Apply
• Application procedures
• Enrolment information
• Course costs
• Units of study

The Master of Biostatistics degree is designed to provide you with advanced biostatistical training, enabling you to attain the required skills for employment as a biostatistician. For graduates with a health sciences background, completing a Masters degree in Biostatistics will enable you to gain more sophisticated statistical skills. While for those from a mathematical background, undertaking a Master of Biostatistics will further your understanding of health issues and the application of statistics in the field.

**The biostatistics program is available to residents of Australia and New Zealand. The Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate are also available to off-shore international students. You may then upgrade to the Masters when eligible if suitable arrangements can be made for supervision of the workplace project(s). As an off-shore international student, you will be studying for your degree in your own country. It is not possible to complete these courses as an international student in Australia.

The Master of Biostatistics course covers a range of units of study which are undertaken via distance learning through collaborative teaching by a group of senior academic biostatisticians from a range of Australian Universities - the Biostatistics Collaboration of Australia.

These units will enable you to learn about a wide variety of biostatistical techniques. The course also includes workplace projects which will expose you to one or more real-life biostatistical problems, so that you can practice what you have learned under the supervision of an experienced biostatistician.

Please note: Because the course is predominantly delivered via distance learning, you will need to be a highly motivated adult learner.

The Masters is a three-year part-time degree of 72 credit points. It is currently only available for residents of Australia and New Zealand. To qualify for the degree, students must complete a compulsory core comprising:

• 9 units of study (6 credit points each), and
• a workplace project portfolio of either one or two projects (6 credit points each).

The remainder of the 72 credit points is made up of electives. If you have exemptions from core units based on previous study, you can choose extra electives to make up the 72 credit points required.

The table below summarises the course structure and requirements for the Master of Biostatistics program.

* one or more of these units may be waived, depending on your previous studies, leaving room for more electives (listed below)
# it is compulsory for Masters students to take either Parts A and B (12CP) or Part C (6CP)

Electives:

Although the core subjects are compulsory, many students will NOT need to complete either:

• Epidemiology (if you have a health research background including study of epidemiology or equivalent experience), or
• one or more of BSTA5001 Mathematical Background for Biostatistics, BSTA5023 Probability and Distribution Theory, and BSTA5002 Principles of Statistical Inference (if you have a mathematical and/or statistical background).

The table below lists the elective units of study:

* this unit is only offered in even years

How to apply - entry requirements:

In addition to the standard application procedures (including submission of the application form and required documentation and attachments), all applications for Biostatistics coursework programs must also include:

• a completed choice of biostatistics units of study form;
• a completed student contact details form;
• evidence of your aptitude for advanced mathematical work; and
• evidence of having passed an introductory statistics course.

• application procedures
• enrolment information
• course costs
• units of study