Graduate Certificate of Health and Medical Research
Course summary for international students
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Certificate of Health and Medical Research |
| Campus | Offered at Waurn Ponds (Geelong) |
| Online | No |
| Length | 0.5 years full-time |
| Fee paying annual fee - commencing 2026 | $18,900 AUD |
| CRICOS code | 110775D Waurn Ponds (Geelong) |
| Level | Postgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma) |
| Deakin course code | H523 |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Professional recognition
- Fees and charges
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Admission criteria
- Academic requirements
- English language proficiency requirements
- Admissions information
- Pathways
- Workload
- Work experience
- Participation requirements
Course overview
Help improve the lives and communities we serve by driving evidence-based solutions that have a real-world impact across Australia and around the globe. Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Health and Medical Research provides the opportunity to advance your career in clinical research; offering a unique and fast-tracked pathway to PhD study for graduates of undergraduate and postgraduate courses where the requirements for PhD entry have not been fulfilled.
Are you ready to participate in cutting-edge research and drive change in your field?
Under the guidance of some of the Australia’s leading researchers and benefiting from access to world-class facilities, you will graduate with skills highly sought after for academia, research institutes, hospitals, medical bodies, as well as government health and science agencies.
Additionally, the unique structure of this course allows the minimum requirements for PhD entry at Deakin University, which is a 2 credit point research thesis, to be met as well as providing experiential training around project planning, execution, presentation, and thesis writing.
Upon completing this course students will have utilised and improved on a range of skills such as critical thinking, complex problem solving, communication, and technical skills due to the composition of assessment tasks in research training, including ethics, and experiential research to demonstrate discipline specific knowledge and capabilities.
Professional recognition
Not applicable
Fees and charges
The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students completing this course within the same year in which they started. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.
The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together four credit points of study. Four credit points is used as it represents a typical enrolment load for a Graduate Certificate.
Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook.
Learn more about tuition fees.
Course learning outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Apply advanced discipline-specific knowledge and understanding of health and medical research methodologies to plan and execute a research project as well as disseminate research findings. |
| Communication | Effectively use written, visual, and verbal communication of health and medical research concepts and research findings to both specialist and non-specialist audiences. |
| Digital literacy | Utilise digital technologies to locate, collect, curate, and interpret literature and data to disseminate health and medical research concepts and relevant information. |
| Critical thinking | Critically evaluate health and medical research literature, methodologies, and research data in a creative and constructive manner to contribute to health and medical research. |
| Problem solving | Define a health or medical research question and design a methodology to address the research question, in the given timeframe, that is appropriate and ethical. Reflect upon the research project in the context of health or medical literature to contribute advancement of knowledge by disseminating research data and findings. |
| Self-management | Demonstrate self-management to source, curate, and interpret health and medical research literature and data with a high degree of autonomy. |
| Teamwork | N/A |
| Global citizenship | Engage in professional and ethical research practices. |
Course rules
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Health and Medical Research, you must pass 4 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 4 credit points of core units
Most units are equal to one credit point.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Core units - Domestic and Part time students only
Semester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| HMH711 | Research Interpretation and Integrity |
| HMH701 | Health and Medical Research Project Proposal |
Semester 2
| HMH702 | Health and Medical Research Project Thesis |
Core units - International students only
Semester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| HMH711 | Research Interpretation and Integrity |
| HMH701 | Health and Medical Research Project Proposal |
| HMH702 | Health and Medical Research Project Thesis |
Admission criteria
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements or higher to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
A combination of qualifications and experience may be deemed equivalent to minimum academic requirements.
Academic requirements
To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet at least one of the following criteria:
- a bachelor degree or higher in a discipline related to the proposed research project with a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) greater than 65 in all final year units
- successful completion of a minimum of 8 credit points from the Doctor of Medicine (H911)
Please note: selection will be determined by the availability of supervisors and resources.
Examples of related disciplines include, but not limited to: Biomedical science, nursing, allied health, and medical professionals
English language proficiency requirements
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- bachelor degree from a recognised English-speaking country
- IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent
- other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)
Admissions information
Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.
Not sure if you can get into Deakin postgraduate study? Postgraduate study doesn’t have to be a balancing act; we provide flexible course entry and exit options based on your desired career outcomes and the time you are able to commit to your study.
Pathways
The proposed Graduate Certificate of Health and Medical Research will provide research training and a research experience that will be assessed by a 2 credit point thesis. Successful completion of this course does not automatically guarantee pathway. Students who complete the research project for the Graduate Certificate of Health and Medical Research with a grade of 70% or higher will be eligible for entry for a PhD candidature at Deakin University.
Course duration
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
Workload
You should be able to commit 35 hours a week to your degree.
Work experience
Not applicable
Participation requirements
This course requires you to undertake your own research. A year of specialised study will allow you to draw together the theory and practical skills gained in previous undergraduate studies and to develop an in-depth knowledge of your particular discipline through research and additional coursework. Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.