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 2026 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 domains of clinical research and translational medicine research.

To ensure depth of understanding, as well as providing a valuable opportunity to innovate within your particular field, you also have the option to develop your own research project within a clinical research or translational research specialisation.

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, meta-analysis, and critical appraisal of the scientific literature for application in research and clinical practice.

The translational research specialisation will allow you to develop a detailed understanding of the ways in which innovative research findings can be translated into clinical applications and undertake translational research in areas including central nervous system disorders, metabolic disorders, blood disorders and immunology.

The overall course structure and flexibility will assist you to extend, integrate and apply your core knowledge and skills with depth across the broad domains of clinical practice and biomedical research. As part of your chosen specialisation, you will undertake a Project in Advanced Clinical Practice (Clinical Research specialisation) or the Project in Clinical and Translational Research (Translational Medicine specialisation). This will provide you with training for careers in Clinical Research and may be a pathway to doctoral studies.

Taught by some of Australia’s leading clinical and research academics, the curriculum is designed for students seeking to engage in further professional research development. Structured around a mixture of online, face-to-face and hands on educational delivery, the course provides a level of detailed engagement that is also flexible. On campus teaching is delivered at The Alfred Hospital, a major teaching hospital in inner-city Melbourne.

Specialisations:

  • Clinical Research
  • Translational Medicine

Course structure

Course requirements96 credit points
You must complete one of the following specialisations, either Clinical Research or Translational Medicine
Part A . Specialist core studies42 credit points
Part B. Advanced application studies54 credit points
You must continue the specialisation chosen in Part A.

Clinical research specialisation

54 credit points
You must complete 54 credit points comprising:
- the following four units (36 credit points);
AND
- 18 credit points of elective units chosen from approved postgraduate units offered by the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine from the Master of Public Health Electives list (except units MPH5020; MPH5301-MPH5320; EPM5001-EPM5028; EPM5031-EPM5032). https://www.monash.edu/medicine/sphpm/study/postgraduate/pgrad/master-of-public-health-electives

Note: You must successfully complete MAP5000 in order to complete MAP5010 for the Master of Clinical Research. If you do not achieve the required prerequisite, you will be allowed to complete the requirements for the Graduate Diploma of Clinical Research (M5020) and exit with that award.
The handbook's description of this structure

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

Part A. Specialist core 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. 

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, MAP5000, and 6 credit points of electives from Part B.
  • for the Translational Medicine specialisation - MPH5040, TRM5001, TRM5002, TRM5003, TRM5008, and TRM5010.

If you are admitted at Entry level 3 you complete 48 credit points as follows:

  • for the Clinical Research specialisation - Part A units MPH5040, MPH5041, MPH5213, MPH5239, and Part B units MAP5000 and MAP5010.
  • for the Translational Medicine specialisation - TRM5003 and TRM5010.

Course progression map

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

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Specialist core studies (42 points)

You must complete one of the following specialisations, either Clinical Research or Translational Medicine

Clinical research specialisation

You must complete the following units:

Note: MPH5040 and MPH5041 must be taken during the same semester.

  • MPH5040 Introductory epidemiology
  • MPH5041 Introductory biostatistics
  • MPH5213 Research methods
  • MPH5236 Clinical trials
  • MPH5239 Systematic reviews and meta-analysis
  • MPH5277 Practical data management
  • MPH5283 Ethics, good research practice and practical research methods

OR

Translational medicine specialisation

You must complete the following units:

Note: MPH5040 and MPH5041 must be taken during the same semester.

  • MPH5040 Introductory epidemiology
  • MPH5041 Introductory biostatistics
  • MPH5239 Systematic reviews and meta-analysis
  • TRM5001 Introduction to clinical trials
  • TRM5002 Translational research pathways to the clinic
  • TRM5006 Clinical and translational bioinformatics
  • TRM5008 Translational medicine

AND

Part B. Advanced application studies (54 points)

You must continue the specialisation chosen in Part A.

Clinical research specialisation

You must complete 54 credit points comprising:
- the following four units (36 credit points); AND
- 18 credit points of elective units chosen from approved postgraduate units offered by the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine from the Master of Public Health Electives list (except units MPH5020; MPH5301-MPH5320; EPM5001-EPM5028; EPM5031-EPM5032). https://www.monash.edu/medicine/sphpm/study/postgraduate/pgrad/master-of-public-health-electives

Note: You must successfully complete MAP5000 in order to complete MAP5010 for the Master of Clinical Research. If you do not achieve the required prerequisite, you will be allowed to complete the requirements for the Graduate Diploma of Clinical Research (M5020) and exit with that award.

  • MPH5200 Regression methods for epidemiology
  • MPH5220 Introductory health economics
  • MAP5000 Research in advanced health professional practice (12 points)
  • MAP5010 Advanced health practice research project (12 points)

OR

Translational medicine specialisation

You must complete 54 credit points comprising:
- TRM5003 and TRM5010 (48 credit points); AND
- a further 6 credit points from the other units listed below.

  • TRM5003 Research methods in clinical and translational medicine (12 points)
  • TRM5010 Research project in clinical and translational medicine (36 points)
  • EPM5029 Introduction to health data analytics
  • MPH5220 Introductory health economics
  • MPH5269 Foundations of health policy
  • MPH5277 Practical data management

 

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, technologies, 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 clinically related research 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 clinically related research 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 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. Students are advised to check the graduate research degree entry requirements.

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 The School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine or the Alfred Research Alliance in Melbourne.

The second year is predominantly designated for a research project where students are required to be full time on campus.

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 domains of clinical research and translational medicine research.

To ensure depth of understanding, as well as providing a valuable opportunity to innovate within your particular field, you also have the option to develop your own research project within a clinical research or translational research specialisation.

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, meta-analysis, and critical appraisal of the scientific literature for application in research and clinical practice.

The translational research specialisation will allow you to develop a detailed understanding of the ways in which innovative research findings can be translated into clinical applications and undertake translational research in areas including central nervous system disorders, metabolic disorders, blood disorders and immunology.

The overall course structure and flexibility will assist you to extend, integrate and apply your core knowledge and skills with depth across the broad domains of clinical practice and biomedical research. As part of your chosen specialisation, you will undertake a Project in Advanced Clinical Practice (Clinical Research specialisation) or the Project in Clinical and Translational Research (Translational Medicine specialisation). This will provide you with training for careers in Clinical Research and may be a pathway to doctoral studies.

Taught by some of Australia’s leading clinical and research academics, the curriculum is designed for students seeking to engage in further professional research development. Structured around a mixture of online, face-to-face and hands on educational delivery, the course provides a level of detailed engagement that is also flexible. On campus teaching is delivered at The Alfred Hospital, a major teaching hospital in inner-city Melbourne.

Specialisations:

  • Clinical Research
  • Translational Medicine

Contacts

Academic Coordinator
Dr Stella Talic

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 Research (Translational Medicine)Master of Clinical Research