Master of Philosophy (Medical Science)

The Master of Philosophy (Medical Science) is a research degree. You spend most of your two years on a single project, working under supervision, and you finish with a thesis. It suits people who want to answer a question properly rather than sit through another round of coursework. If you have an honours degree or a strong bachelor degree in a health or science field and you are not ready to commit to a doctorate, this sits in between.

What you actually do

Your project is the degree. In medical science that usually means laboratory work, clinical data, or a mix of both, depending on your supervisor and topic. You read the literature, design the study, collect and analyse data, and write it up. Alongside that you complete research training, research methods, ethics and integrity, statistics, and writing for publication, and you present your work to your school as it develops. The thesis is examined by people outside your supervision team.

Australian research master's degrees are built around units of study and credit points, but the thesis carries most of the weight. At Adelaide, the academic year runs across semesters, with a mid-year entry point in many cases. You and your supervisor agree a milestone plan at the start: confirmation of candidature, progress reviews, and a final submission. Full-time is the normal pace; part-time exists but stretches the timeline.

Where it leads

Graduates go into research assistant and research officer roles in universities, medical research institutes, hospitals and health services. Some continue to a PhD. Others move into clinical trials coordination, health policy, medical writing, or industry roles in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. In Australia, medical research institutes and the hospital sector are the biggest employers of this kind of graduate, and the degree is recognised for the research training it provides.

Practical things to know

International students study on a Student visa, which normally allows 48 hours of work per fortnight during term. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream lets you stay and work. English requirements for international applicants are set by the university and by the Department of Home Affairs for the visa; check the official course page for the exact scores and any updates. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 116003M. Entry is competitive and depends on finding a supervisor and a project that fits, so make contact early.

• Research Assistant / Research Officer, universities, medical research institutes, hospitals
• Clinical Trials Coordinator, hospital trials units, contract research organisations
• PhD candidate, continue to doctoral study in medical science or a related field
• Medical Writer, pharmaceutical companies, medical communications agencies
• Health Policy or Program Officer, government health departments, NGOs
• Laboratory Scientist, pathology, diagnostics, biotechnology companies