Course Structure

Units are required to conform to one of a number of streams, based on the number of points taken as coursework and research. The streams are designed to integrate with the University of Melbourne subject points system, which assigns 100 points to a full time year.

The possible streams are:

100 points of research

87.5 points of research; 12.5 points of coursework

75 points of research; 25 points of coursework

62.5 points of research; 37.5 points of coursework

50 points of research; 50 points of coursework

Coursework with a value of 12.5 points would typically contain 30-40 contact hours of lectures/tutorials/seminars.
Students are not permitted to undertake more than 50 points of coursework.

Research

At least half each unit must be research / investigative work. Unit descriptions provide examples of possible research projects which students might undertake. The actual research topic/project undertaken by individual students will be negotiated between the student and the host department / institution, and will not necessarily be one of the examples provided in the unit description.

Find out more detailed information regarding research report format and submission.

Coursework

Many units offer coursework. Often these are existing subjects at an institution, and may form part of the medical curriculum, but at a more advanced level than is normally covered . Please note students will not be formally enrolled in coursework subjects, but will attend usually by arrangement between the unit coordinator and the Faculty or Department offering the coursework subject.

Research Methods Training

In order to ensure that all students are adequately equipped to analyse their research data, all students must undertake some form of research methods training .