Note: This course is not available in 2023.
Course overview
- Description
This course is not an award course. It provides students with an opportunity to meet the adequate research preparation admission requirements for Higher Degrees by Research if their research output is assessed as at least 70% for PhD or 65% for MPhil or Masters by Research degrees. Graduates are not guaranteed admission to an HDR degree, and must meet all the usual admission requirements.
This one year course comprises between 24 and 48 points of research preparation in health and medical sciences, which represents the equivalent of one semester or one year of full-time study respectively. When the research preparation is less than 48 points, up to 24 points of relevant coursework completes the course.
In the research preparation component students undertake an original research project under supervision. In consultation with their project supervisor students define a project and develop research questions or hypotheses, set objectives and aims, plan and execute the research, interpret the results and present those results in oral and written forms. The final output of the research project will be a research dissertation similar in content and context to a peer reviewed research article in an academic journal, or other academic writing, in the discipline of the research.
In all cases, and prior to application, students must have written agreement by two supervisors and written approval by their relevant Head/s of School/s or Head/s of Division, as defined in the rules.
- Course title
- Higher Degree by Research Preliminary (Health and Medical Sciences)
- Course code
- 90440
- Course type
- Higher degree preliminary
- Status
- Not available in 2023
- Administered by
- Graduate Research School
- CRICOS code
- 102452A
Course details
- Intake periods
- Beginning of year and mid-year
- Attendance type
- Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
- Standard course duration
- 1 year
- Time limit
- 2 years
- Delivery mode
- Internal
- Locations offered
- UWA (Perth)
- Domestic fee type
- Postgraduate fee-paying/FEE-HELP
- Available to international students
- Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
- Course Coordinator(s)
- Dr Julie Saunders
- Fees
- Visit the fees calculator.
Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.
No study plans found for this course. See study plans for more information.
Specialisations
Course structure
Key to availability of units:
- S1
- Semester 1
- S2
- Semester 2
- SS
- summer teaching period
- N/A
- not available in 2023 – may be available in 2024 or 2025
- *
- to be advised
Students need to undertake 48 points in total.
In addition to the Dissertation, students can:
(a) take up to 24 points of the Extended Dissertation, but they should discuss this with the Course Coordinator and their supervisor at commencement,
and/or
(b) take up to 24 points from Research Skills
and/or
(c) take up to 24 points of coursework units, relevant to the research project, and chosen in conjunction with the Course Coordinator and their supervisors.
Take all units (24 points):
Dissertation
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | HLTH5512 | HDR Prelim Dissertation in Health Science Part 1 (12 points) |
| Self directed learning and regular contact with project supervisor/s to total approximately 300 hours, about 18 hours each week across the semester. |
| S1, S2 | HLTH5524 | HDR Prelim Dissertation in Health Science Part 2 (12 points) |
| Self directed learning and regular contact with project supervisor/s to total approximately 300 hours, about 18 hours each week across the semester. |
Take up to 24 points:
Extended Dissertation
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | HLTH5536 | HDR Prelim Dissertation in Health Science Part 3 (12 points) |
| Self directed learning and regular contact with project supervisor/s to total approximately 300 hours, about 18 hours each week across the semester. |
| S1, S2 | HLTH5548 | HDR Prelim Dissertation in Health Science Part 4 (12 points) |
| Self directed learning and regular contact with project supervisor/s to total approximately 300 hours, about 18 hours each week across the semester. |
Take up to 24 points:
Research Skills
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | PAED4401 | Research Conduct and Ethics |
| online modules only |
| S1, S2 | PUBH4401 | Biostatistics I |
| lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 1.5 hours per week |
| S1, S2 | PUBH4403 | Epidemiology I | None | lectures: 60-70 minutes recorded lectures per week; online tutorial worksheets: ~ 2-3 hours per week |
| S2 | PUBH5769 | Biostatistics II |
| lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 1.5 hours per week |
| NS | PUBH5785 | Analysis of Linked Health Data | None | offered intensively (1 week full-time) |
| S2 | PUBH5805 | Qualitative Research Methods in Health | None | seminar: 3 hours per week |
See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.
Rules
Note: This course is not available in 2023.
Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures
1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.
(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
Academic Conduct Essentials module
2.(1) Except as stated in (2), a student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module).
(2) A student who has previously achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the ACE module is not required to repeat the module.
English Language competency requirements
3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.
Admission requirements
4. To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
(a) a relevant bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent or equivalent as recognised by the faculty.
OR
(c) a relevant postgraduate degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(d) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent or equivalent as recognised by the faculty.'
AND
(e) written agreement by a suitable academic on the UWA Supervisor Register as Principal Supervisor to supervise the project, and written approval from their Head of School, Head of Division, and
(f) written agreement by a suitable academic on the UWA Supervisor Register as Coordinating Supervisor to supervise the project, and written approval from their Head of School or Head of Division, and
(g) if (e) and (f) are the same person, written agreement by a suitable academic on the UWA Supervisor Register to co-supervise the project, and written agreement by their Head of School, Head of Division.
Admission ranking and selection
5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.
Course structure
6.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 48 points.
(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.
Satisfactory progress
7.(1) To make satisfactory progress in a calendar year a student must pass units to a value of at least half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.
(2) A student who fails the Research Proposal component will be deemed to have not made satisfactory progress.
(3) For the dissertation component of the higher degree by research preliminary course the relevant board determines whether satisfactory progress has been made, having regard to the report of the student's Coordinating supervisor.
8. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 7.
9.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.
(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances a student who does not make satisfactory progress is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'.
10. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 8 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 7.
Progression to HDR
11. For progression from a HDR Preliminary course into a HDR course administered by the Graduate Research School, a student must have
(a) successfully produced a research output with a mark of at least —
(i) 70 per cent to undertake a research doctorate; or
(ii) 65 per cent to undertake a research master's,
and
(b) meet all other admission requirements.
Additional rules
Advanced Standing
12.(1) The Faculty may grant advanced standing of up to 24 points credit for the successful completion, within the last 10 years, of
(a) relevant postgraduate units from a course recognised by the Faculty
OR
(b) relevant undergraduate units from MBBS, BDS, or other relevant health professional course recognised by the Faculty.
(2) Students granted advanced standing under (1) must still complete a dissertation of at least 24 points.
Supervision
13.(1) Students must have least two suitable academic supervisors who are UWA staff, listed on the UWA Supervisor Register and approved by the relevant Head/s of School/s or Heads of Division.
(a) Principal Supervisor who must have at least adjunct status, provides primary academic leadership in the supervision of the research project of a higher degree by research student; and
(b)Coordinating Supervisor who is primarily responsible for the academic management of the student's program of candidature and ensuring that all administrative and reporting requirements of the supervision are met,
and if (a) and (b) are the same person - Principal and Coordinating Supervisor —
(c) Co-supervisor who is a member of UWA staff and is neither the Principal nor the Coordinating Supervisor.
(2) In addition to (1), an external supervisor who will add specific expertise to the project, and who does not meet the criteria of a Co-supervisor, may be appointed.
(3) It is expected that the supervision arrangements for the HDR Preliminary Course, will form the basis of the supervision of the subsequent HDR degree should the student progress.
Coursework units
14. Coursework units should be chosen according to the sequence rules. Relevant units at levels 1 to 3 may be included, chosen in consultation with the Course Coordinator and the supervisors, if relevant postgraduate units are unavailable.