Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences

Postgraduate Diploma in Science

The Postgraduate Diploma in Science is a fourth-year study program which is equivalent to Honours in providing a pathway to a research higher degree (RHD) in science for students who may not have completed a Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours).

Postgraduate Diploma programs are offered in a number of departments in the Faculty of Science.

Graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma in Science are eligible to apply for RHD candidature in science and RHD scholarships. In consideration of these applications the same academic merit and research potential criteria are applied to Postgraduate Diploma in Science and Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours) graduates.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Science particularly suits the needs of students who have completed:

  • the equivalent of a major study in science within a non-science degree, e.g. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce;
  • a Bachelor of Science but do not meet the discipline-specific entry requirements for an Honours program - up to 25 points of higher year undergraduate study is permitted within the Diploma;
  • a Bachelor of Science but do not meet the Faculty of Science entry requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours) course;
  • a Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours) in one science discipline and seek to complete a fourth-year program in another discipline.

Objectives

Postgraduate Diploma programs are designed to:

  • enable the acquisition of research skills (for example, laboratory techniques and data collection and analysis);
  • engage students in research, under supervision;
  • increase students' knowledge and understanding of the relevant discipline and awareness of current developments and issues relating to the discipline;
  • develop independent and critical thinking; and
  • improve oral and written communication skills.

Areas of study

  • Anatomy & Cell Biology
  • Microbiology & Immunology
  • Pathology
  • Pharmacology
  • Physiology

 


Additional PGDipSc programs in biological and biomedical sciences are offered in the following teaching departments of the University:

  • Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences (Barwon Health)
  • School of Dental Science
  • Department of Medicine (Austin Health/Northern Health)
  • Department of Medicine (St Vincent's Hospital)
  • Department of Otolaryngology
  • Department of Surgery (Austin Health/Northern Health)

Entry requirements

Admission to a postgraduate diploma normally requires the completion of an undergraduate degree course with a major or sequence in the same, or a closely related, discipline. Acceptance into a course requires the approval of the Head of Department.

Course structure

The Postgraduate Diploma in Science course requires the completion of 100 points (100 points = one year of full-time study). The 100 points comprises two components:

  • a coursework component (sometimes requiring the completion of up to 25 points of later-year, normally third-year, undergraduate subjects); and
  • a minor thesis research project component
    (normally 10 000 - 12 000 words).

The weight of each component varies between departments.

Candidature

The course is normally one year full-time. Some departments also allow part-time enrolment.

Commencement

Courses commence at the beginning of the calendar year. Some departments also allow mid-year entry.

Further information

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