CourseMaster's Degree (Coursework)MClinRes

M6028 Master of Clinical Research

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Master of Clinical Research (M6028) is a 2 years full-time, 96-credit-point, master's degree (coursework) course from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, taught at Alfred Hospital. Map your units semester by semester with the MonMap planner.

Credit points
96
Duration
2 years full time
4 years part time
Campus
Alfred Hospital
Multi-modal, On campus

This is the 2022 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.

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Requisite map

Overview

The Master of Clinical Research is offered by Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. The first of its kind in Victoria, it facilitates the development of a range of analytical and communication skills necessary to work in the broad domain of clinical research and practice.

The course enables you to specialise in clinical research or translational medicine.  The clinical research specialisation will allow you to develop a detailed understanding of biostatistics, epidemiology, data management, clinical trials, clinical measurement, ethical practice, systematic reviews and meta-analysis, and critical appraisal of the scientific literature for application in research and clinical practice.

To ensure depth of understanding, as well as providing a valuable opportunity to innovate within their particular fields, you have the option to develop your own research protocol and undertake a clinical epidemiological project.

The translational medicine specialisation will provide you with understanding of biostatistics, epidemiology, clinical trials and ethics. It will provide you with the opportunity to develop competency across a range of translational medicine fields including blood diseases, metabolic disorders, neuroscience and bioinformatics.

The overall course structure and flexibility assists students to extend, integrate and apply their core knowledge and skills with depth across the broad domain of clinical practice and research, something that you want in a highly competitive industry and employers have identified as important.

Taught by some of Australia’s leading clinical academics, the curriculum is designed for students seeking to balance the demands of a busy workflow with the need to engage in further professional development. Structured around a mixture of online educational delivery and face-to-face block days, the course provides a level of detailed engagement that is also flexible. Block days are delivered at The Alfred Hospital, a major teaching hospital in inner-city Melbourne.

The course is offered full-time or part-time. Assessment is based on written assignments, examinations, class participation, web-based tasks and the optional supervised research project.

IMPORTANT: This course is only available to international students in ‘on-campus’ mode. Please note that ‘on-campus’ mode comprises a mix of online learning and on-site teaching.

For most units, the majority of contact hours are facilitated through the University’s online learning platform, with additional face-to-face contact during designated study days at Public Health & Preventive Medicine at the Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct (AMREP) in Melbourne.

Specialisations:

  • Clinical Research
  • Translational Medicine

Course structure

Part A. Clinical research studies42 credit points
You must complete the following units and 24 credit points from one of the specialisations below

Clinical research specialisation

24 credit points
You must complete the following units.

NOTE: You must achieve a minimum mark of 70% in MPH5040, MPH5041 and MPH5213 to progress into Part B. If you do not achieve the required minimum marks you will be allowed to complete Part A and exit with a Graduate Diploma of Clinical Research, provided you have satisfied the requirements for that award.

Translational medicine specialisation

24 credit points
You must complete 24 credit points as follows: TRM5002, and one of (APG5079 or MPH5213), and one of (TRM5001 or MPH5236), and 6 credit points from the elective list below.

NOTE: You must achieve a minimum mark of 70% in MPH5040, MPH5041 and MPH5213/APG5079 to progress into Part B. If you do not achieve the required minimum marks you will be allowed to complete Part A and exit with a Graduate Diploma of Clinical Research, provided you have satisfied the requirements for that award.
Part B. Advanced application studies54 credit points
You must complete one of the following specialisations
The handbook's description of this structure

The course is structured in two parts: Part A. Clinical research studies and Part B. Advanced application studies.

Part A. Clinical research studies

In these studies, you will gain knowledge and skills in biostatistics, epidemiology, data management, clinical trials, clinical measurement, ethical practice, systematic reviews and meta-analysis, and critical appraisal of quantitative scientific literature for application in research and clinical practice.

Part B. Advanced application studies

The focus of these studies is professional or scholarly work that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development. You will complete a 12 credit point research project (7000-8000 words) and 18 credit points of electives.

Master's entry points

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry to the course:

  • If you are admitted at Entry level 1 you complete 96 credit points, comprising Part A and Part B
  • If you are admitted at Entry level 2 you complete 72 credit points, as follows:
    • for the Clinical Research specialisation - Part A, MAP5010 and 18 credit points of electives from Part B.
    • for the Translational Medicine specialisation - MPH5040, MPH5041, MPH5213 (or APG5079), TRM5002, TRM5003 and TRM5010.
  • If you are admitted at Entry level 3 you complete 48 credit points as follows:
    • for the Clinical Research specialisation - Part A and 6 credit points of electives from Part B.
    • for the Translational Medicine specialisation - MPH5040, MPH5041, MPH5213 (or APG5079), TRM5002 and 24 credit points of TRM elective units from Part B.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

The course comprises 96 points structured into two parts: Part A. Clinical research studies (42 points) and Part B. Advanced application expertise (54 points).

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Clinical research studies (42 points)

You must complete:

  • MPH5040 Introductory epidemiology
  • MPH5213 Research methods (or APG5079 Ethics*)
  • MPH5236 Clinical trials (or TRM5001 Introduction to clinical trials*)
  • MPH5041 Introductory biostatistics
  • MPH5239 Systematic reviews and meta-analysis

* Translational Medicine specialisation only

Clinical research specialisation

  • MPH5283 Ethics, good research practice and practical research skills
  • MPH5277 Practical data management

You must achieve a minimum mark of 70% in MPH5040, MPH5041 and MPH5213 to progress into Part B. If you do not achieve the required minimum marks you will be allowed to complete Part A and exit with a Graduate Diploma of Clinical Research, provided you have satisfied the requirements for that award.

Translational medicine specialisation

  • TRM5002 Translational research pathways to the clinic
  • and 6 points from the elective list below

Elective units

  • TRM5004 Clinical and translational immunology
  • TRM5005 Clinical and translational neuroscience
  • TRM5006 Clinical and translational bioinformatics
  • TRM5007 Translational research and medicine for metabolic disorders

You must achieve a minimum mark of 70% in MPH5040, MPH5041 and MPH5213/APG5079 to progress into Part B. If you do not achieve the required minimum marks you will be allowed to complete Part A and exit with a Graduate Diploma of Clinical Research, provided you have satisfied the requirements for that award.


Part B. Advanced application studies (54  points)

Clinical research specialisation

You must complete:

  • MPH5200 Regression methods for epidemiology
  • MPH5207 Chronic diseases: epidemiology and prevention
  • MAP5010 Advanced health practice research project (12 points)
  • and 30 points from the elective list below

Elective units

  • MPH5214 Demographic methods
  • MPH5218 Infectious diseases: epidemiology and prevention
  • MPH5256 Injury epidemiology and prevention
  • MPH5270 Advanced statistical methods for clinical research
  • MAP4200 Improving indigenous equity in professional practice
  • HEC5970 Introduction to health economics
  • HEC5973 Economic evaluation in health care

Translational medicine specialisation

You must complete:

  • TRM5003 Research methods in clinical and translational medicine (24 points)
  • TRM5010 Project in clinical and translational research (24 points)
  • and 6 points from the elective list below

Elective units

  • TRM5004 Clinical and translational immunology
  • TRM5005 Clinical and translational neuroscience
  • TRM5006 Clinical and translational bioinformatics
  • TRM5007 Translational research and medicine for metabolic disorders

Learning outcomes

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework and Monash Graduate Attributes.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will be able to:

  1. 1

    competently search the scientific literature using verified methods to address questions regarding diagnosis, treatment, prognosis or harm

  2. 2

    critically appraise and interpret the scientific literature to inform clinical practice, or further research, within both an Australian and international context

  3. 3

    independently design and execute small clinical studies, analyse data using statistical software packages, and communicate findings in the research and the clinical setting

  4. 4

    communicate theoretical and practical knowledge regarding the safe and ethical conduct of clinical and epidemiological studies to research and clinical professionals

  5. 5

    apply clinical research-related knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, expert judgment, adaptability, and responsibility to address a range of clinical and research problems relevant at a community, national, international or global level.

Entry requirements

English language

Monash minimum: Level A, that is:  IELTS (Academic): 6.5 overall (no band lower than 6.0); or Pearson Test of English (Academic): score of 58 overall with no band lower than 50; or TOEFL Internet-based test: score of 79 overall with minimum scores: Writing: 21, Listening: 12, Reading: 13 and Speaking: 18; or Equivalent approved English test

More information

Progression to further studies

Successful completion of this course may provide a pathway to a graduate research degree for students completing a research project (12 credit points) and achieving a distinction (70%) or above. 

Notes for students

IMPORTANT: This course is only available to international students in 'on-campus' mode. Please note that 'on-campus' mode comprises a mix of online learning and on-site teaching.

For most units, the majority of contact hours are facilitated through the University's online learning platform, with additional face-to-face contact during designated study days at Public Health & Preventive Medicine at the Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct (AMREP) in Melbourne.

Other information

The Master of Clinical Research is offered by Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. The first of its kind in Victoria, it facilitates the development of a range of analytical and communication skills necessary to work in the broad domain of clinical research and practice.

The course enables you to specialise in clinical research or translational medicine.  The clinical research specialisation will allow you to develop a detailed understanding of biostatistics, epidemiology, data management, clinical trials, clinical measurement, ethical practice, systematic reviews and meta-analysis, and critical appraisal of the scientific literature for application in research and clinical practice.

To ensure depth of understanding, as well as providing a valuable opportunity to innovate within their particular fields, you have the option to develop your own research protocol and undertake a clinical epidemiological project.

The translational medicine specialisation will provide you with understanding of biostatistics, epidemiology, clinical trials and ethics. It will provide you with the opportunity to develop competency across a range of translational medicine fields including blood diseases, metabolic disorders, neuroscience and bioinformatics.

The overall course structure and flexibility assists students to extend, integrate and apply their core knowledge and skills with depth across the broad domain of clinical practice and research, something that you want in a highly competitive industry and employers have identified as important.

Taught by some of Australia’s leading clinical academics, the curriculum is designed for students seeking to balance the demands of a busy workflow with the need to engage in further professional development. Structured around a mixture of online educational delivery and face-to-face block days, the course provides a level of detailed engagement that is also flexible. Block days are delivered at The Alfred Hospital, a major teaching hospital in inner-city Melbourne.

The course is offered full-time or part-time. Assessment is based on written assignments, examinations, class participation, web-based tasks and the optional supervised research project.

IMPORTANT: This course is only available to international students in ‘on-campus’ mode. Please note that ‘on-campus’ mode comprises a mix of online learning and on-site teaching.

For most units, the majority of contact hours are facilitated through the University’s online learning platform, with additional face-to-face contact during designated study days at Public Health & Preventive Medicine at the Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct (AMREP) in Melbourne.

Specialisations:

  • Clinical Research
  • Translational Medicine

Contacts

Academic Coordinator
Professor Dragan Ilic

Common questions

How long is Master of Clinical Research?

2 years full time, 96 credit points. At 24 credit points a semester, that is 4 semesters of full-time study.

Where can I study Master of Clinical Research?

At Alfred Hospital.

How do I plan my Master of Clinical Research units?

Open the course in the MonMap planner. It lays out your semesters, checks prerequisites as you drag units in, and tracks the credit points each requirement still needs.

Course details

Qualification
Master's Degree (Coursework)
AQF level
Level 9
Credit points
96
Full time
2 Years
Part time
4 Years
Maximum time
6 years
Faculty
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
CRICOS code
102718B
Abbreviation
MClinRes
Award titles
Master of Clinical ResearchMaster of Clinical Research (Translational Medicine)