Medical Statistics

The University of Newcastle’s Master of Medical Statistics will enhance your understanding of statistical theory and methods and how to apply it to problem solving in professional practice.

In partnership with the Biostatistics Collaboration of Australia national biostatistics training program, this postgraduate qualification offers an advanced and well regarded program providing in-depth knowledge in applying statistical methods to the analysis of health related data.

With qualified biostatistic experts in high demand, as a graduate of this program you will be qualified to pursue positions as a biostatistician in areas such as medical and epidemiological research, the pharmaceutical industry and government departments and agencies.

Our advanced online learning system provides you with the flexibility and support to study anytime, anywhere to balance work, life and study. You can achieve your fully accredited Master of Medical Statistics at a time that suits you.

Description

Statistics is one of the essential requirements for high quality medical research, and is vital to public health research. This program is designed to provide in depth knowledge in the application of statistical methods to the analysis of health related data. Graduates will develop a strong capacity to work effectively as integral members of a collaborative team to investigate problems in health and medicine.

The Graduate Diploma and Master of Medical Statistics are part of the Biostatistics Collaboration of Australia (BCA), a national training program in biostatistics. This is a program in biostatistics delivered by a consortium of universities around Australia.

The University of Newcastle's Master of Medical Statistics offers a highly advanced theoretical and practical education effectively preparing you for a career as a qualified biostatistician.

Throughout the program you will be required to complete 12 courses. Due to the complex and advanced nature of the program, you will need to discuss your course combinations with your program convenor as there will be some combinations which are not possible.

You will be required to complete nine compulsory courses (and three electives) as part of the program. The compulsory courses include:

• Data management and statistical computing – considering the influence of computers and the corresponding availability of data sets on the way we think about data and proceed to analyse and report on it.
• Categorical data and generalised linear models - exploring biostatistical applications of generalised linear models with an emphasis on underlying theoretical issues; and practical interpretation of the results of these models.
• Survival analysis - exploring biostatistical applications of survival analysis with an emphasis on underlying theoretical and computational issues, practical interpretation and communication of results.
• Mathematical background for biostatistics – studying the necessary mathematical background to understand the key techniques in biostatistics.
• Principles of statistical inference - introducing the core concepts of statistical inference, including estimators, confidence intervals, Type I & II errors and p-values.
• Design of randomised controlled trials – introducing randomised comparisons as a major tool used in medical research and the basis of providing evidence for improving clinical practice.
• Linear models – exploring biostatistical applications of linear models with an emphasis on underlying theoretical and computational issues, practical interpretation and communication of results.
• Probability and distribution theory - studying basic probability and calculus-based methods underpinning probability distributions and parameter estimation.
• Epidemiology: basic methods – an introduction to the basic concepts of epidemiology, studying the distribution and determinants of disease in specific populations.

The program, offered via GradSchool’s online learning platform, has been developed as part of the Biostatistics Collaboration of Australia (BCA) national biostatistics training program. The BCA is a consortium of biostatistical experts from around Australia with representatives from universities, government and the pharmaceutical industry who have combined to offer a program of postgraduate courses, one of which is this Master of Medical Statistics.

Completion of a Bachelors degree in Mathematics or Statistics Science, Psychology, Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Economics, Health Sciences or other appropriate discipline from an approved university (or equivalent qualification); a proven aptitude for advanced mathematical work, indicated for example by a high level of achievement in high school or undergraduate mathematics; already passed an introductory course in statistics, covering at least the estimation of means and proportions with confidence intervals, and the comparison of means and proportions between two groups using hypothesis tests (i.e. t-tests and chi-squared tests for 2x2 tables. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5