Become a medical detective, tackling cases that impact global health.

In the Master of Science (Epidemiology), use your powers of deduction, and some maths and data wizardry, to solve puzzles about who gets disease, what causes these diseases and how they can be prevented.

This course, which includes a major research project, will take your expertise in epidemiology to an advanced level, and prepare you for a career in research.

Learn with and from the best

You’ll study in the highly respected School of Population and Global Health, with unique access to a huge range of resources and research areas of importance for public health in Australia and globally.

Develop your skills with real-world problems

You’ll leave the course with a major research project to feature in your CV. Through the research project, with supervision from one of our highly regarded experts, you’ll be able to contribute your own knowledge to this broad field.

More than just technical skills

You’ll get plenty of practice working with numbers and other data, but you’ll also build an understanding of clinical research and practice, and develop your critical thinking, business and communication skills.

We know that soft skills are important too, which is why we include a subject on scientific communication, to ensure you can speak and write effectively about your research.

The Master of Science (Epidemiology) is a 200-point course, made up of:

• Discipline core subjects (75 points)
• Discipline elective subjects (25–37.5 points)
• Professional skills subjects (25–50 points)
• A research project (50 points).

All students undertake a research project over two consecutive semesters.

You can select approved subjects from within the Master of Public Health, including subjects on ageing, gender and women’s health, global health, health economics and economic evaluation, health program evaluation, health social sciences, indigenous health and sexual health.

Students without a background in biology may select up to two approved relevant biology subjects.

Epidemiologists are in high demand because of a national shortage.

Our graduates go on to work as epidemiologists, medical and health advisors, medical researchers, policy advisors, public health professionals.

Employers in this field include:

• Medical research institutes such as the Burnet Institute and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
• Government departments and international bodies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), along with non-profit organisations
• Biotechnology companies
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Research and general hospitals such as the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Alfred Health, Austin Health and the Epworth.
• Universities and public research institutions the CSIRO

Further study

At the end of the Master of Science (Epidemiology), you’ll be well-placed to undertake a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy).

To be considered for entry into this course, you must have an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in any science discipline with a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 65% (or equivalent)

IELTS (academic English Only): 6.5 (no band less than 6.0)
TOEFL Internet-based test: 79 + ; Writing 21; Speaking 18; Reading 13; Listening 13;
Pearson Test of English Academic: 58 + no communicative skill below 50
Cambridge English: Advanced/ Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): 176 + no skill below 169.