Master of Health Science

Degree Level Postgraduate

Years

Australian students

Start Date
February

Campus
City East

Duration
1.5 year(s) full-time

Program Code
IMHP

Study as
Full-time or part-time

Fees
Commonwealth Supported

Entry requirements

Applicants are required to have:
- a completed Bachelor degree in a health science area from a recognised higher education institution or equivalent qualification; and
- a minimum of one year full-time, or equivalent, work/professional/clinical experience in a health science related area, following completion of the undergraduate degree.
View full entry requirements Hide full entry requirements

Continuing students only. Program not offered in 2013

Aim

The program is designed to provide graduates with the knowledge and skills to operate as consumers and producers of entry level research, and to provide the opportunity to pursue professional development interests in a variety of areas.

Content & Structure

The program consists of 54 units of study offered over 1.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent study. Students will undertake 27 units of core courses with a significant research component and 27 units of elective courses in health sciences. Core courses are designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to undertake a systematic review of literature, understand research methodologies, prepare a research proposal and write a minor thesis. Elective courses provide an opportunity for students to pursue professional development interests in a variety of areas including critical thinking and reasoning, facilitating practice-based learning, leadership and management, health economics, health and ageing and mental health.

Study at the new Adelaide University in 2026

The University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia are combining their strengths to create a new university for the future, Adelaide University, opening in January 2026.

From 4 August 2025, the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia will no longer be accepting applications for new students.

Apply now to study with Adelaide University in 2026.

What courses you'll study

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units
CORE COURSES (18 units)
Literature Review	HLTH 5128	4.5
Health Science Research Preparation	HLTH 5175	4.5	Rule(s): 6
Health Science Masters Thesis	HLTH 5176	9	Rule(s): 6
PLUS a minimum of 9 units selected from the following courses:
Qualitative Methods	HLTH 5124	4.5
Introductory Epidemiology	HLTH 5131	4.5
Introductory Statistics	HLTH 5129	4.5
Evidence-Based Practice	HLTH 5122	4.5
PLUS Electives as required to meet program requirements chosen from the electives course list			Rule(s): 1,2,5

Electives

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units
Choose elective courses from the following courses to meet program unit requirements:
Health Ethics	HLTH 5002	4.5
Health Economics	BUSS 5185	4.5
Leadership and Management in Health 1	NURS 5111	4.5
Facilitating Practice-Based Learning in the Health Environment	HLTH 5137	4.5
Leadership and Management in Health 2	NURS 5119	9
Critical Thinking and Reasoning in Health	HLTH 5141	4.5
Healthy Ageing	NURS 5130	4.5
Ageing with Chronic and Complex Conditions	NURS 5131	4.5
Leadership and Management Practices in the Aged Care Sector	NURS 5132	4.5
Consolidation of Mental Health Practice	HLTH 5148	9
Perspectives in Mental Health	HLTH 5149	9
Theoretical Approaches to Mental Health Practice	HLTH 5150	9
Therapeutic Encounters in Mental Health	HLTH 5151	9
Complex Health Problems in Rural Settings	HLTH 5152	4.5
Pharmacology for Health Professionals	PHAR 5041	4.5
Allied Health Evidence Based Theory and Practice	REHB 5102	9

Rules & notes

Rules

1. The maximum credit allowed in a coursework Masters degree is one-third of the total units of the program.

2. Applicants who have completed a four-year degree (or a 3-year degree plus 1 year honours or Graduate Diploma) will be eligible for up to 18 units of credit.

3. No course which is substantially equivalent to a course taken in gaining another award may be included in the program of study.

4. Students who have a background, or previous studies in a particular course, may substitute a course of equal value and standing, with the approval of the Program Director.

5. Applicants may complete 18 of the 27 units of Electives by enrolling in a Graduate Certificate in Health Science with the School of Health Sciences.

6. A minimum of 18 units, including at least 13.5 of core courses, must be completed before commencing HLTH 5175 Health Science Research Preparation and HLTH 5176 Health Science Masters Thesis.

Notes

1. The program is normally completed in one and a half years full-time or the part-time equivalent (international students can only study full-time). All courses are offered subject to achieving viable enrolment numbers and therefore may not be offered every year.

2. International students must enrol in internal courses only to complete the 27 units of Electives.

3. For domestic students, health science electives may include courses available cross-institutionally at Flinders University, the University of Adelaide or any other Australian university, subject to approval by the Program Director.