Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc)
Overview
The Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc) degree allows study at a postgraduate level across a range of health disciplines, and research experience (thesis or dissertation) in the student's area of specialisation.
Regulations for the Degree of Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc)
1 Admission to the Programme
(a) Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences).
(b) Every applicant shall
(i) be a graduate or possess an appropriate health professional qualification requiring at least three years' full-time tertiary study;
(ii) present evidence of ability for advanced level academic study.
Note: Candidates will normally be expected to have completed the requirements for the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences, or equivalent, and to have achieved grades averaging B or better.
2 Structure of the Programme
(a) The programme of study shall consist of either
(i) approved papers at 400-level or higher worth at least 120 points, and a thesis (120 points) embodying the results of one year of full-time or equivalent part-time supervised research; or
(ii) approved papers and other course components at 400-level or higher worth at least 240 points, including a research method paper or papers to the value of 30 points, and either a research project (30 points) or a dissertation (60 points).
The papers shall constitute a coherent and integrated programme, shall prepare the candidate for the research study, and shall normally include an approved research method paper or papers to the value of 30 points. With approval, papers worth up to a maximum total of 120 points which have been completed at a tertiary education institution other than the University of Otago may be credited to the programme and/or used as the basis for exemptions in terms of regulation 2(c) below.
(b) Where the degree is to be awarded with an endorsed option in an area of specialisation the programme of study must conform to the requirements specified for that option.
(c) A candidate whose qualification for entry to the programme is an Honours degree or postgraduate diploma or equivalent may be exempted from some of the required papers, provided that this previous study is directly relevant to the candidate's proposed and approved programme of study, to a maximum of 120 points.
(d) A candidate may not present a thesis which has previously been accepted for another degree.
(e) The programme of study and the topic and supervisors of the thesis shall be approved by the Board of the Graduate Studies in Health Sciences.
3 Duration of the Programme
(a) A candidate for the degree shall usually follow a programme of two years of full-time study or the equivalent in part-time study.
(b) A candidate who was admitted after completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (or equivalent) shall usually follow a programme of one year of full-time study or the equivalent in part-time study.
(c) A candidate for the degree will be expected to satisfy the requirements for the degree within four years of admission to the programme.
4 Examination of The Thesis
(a) Every thesis shall be assessed by at least two examiners, at least one of whom shall be external to the University.
(b) The candidate's supervisors shall not be examiners but may make a report on the work of the candidate to the Convener of the Board of Graduate Studies in Health Sciences.
(c) Each examiner shall supply a written report on the thesis and recommend a mark and grade on the basis of the work as submitted, and an overall result selected from the options specified in clause (d) below.
(d) The examiners may recommend that a thesis:
(i) be accepted without amendments;
(ii) be accepted subject to amendments made at the discretion and to the satisfaction of the Convener of the Board of Graduate Studies in Health Sciences;
(iii) does not meet the criteria for the award of the degree, but may be revised and resubmitted for examination;
(iv)does not meet the criteria for the award of the degree, and should be rejected without right of resubmission.
(e) Any amendments or revisions required shall be completed by a specified date to be determined by the Convener of the Board of Graduate Studies in Health Sciences.
(f) A candidate shall be permitted to revise and resubmit a thesis for examination once only.
(g) If a revised and resubmitted thesis is finally accepted, the result shall be either Pass or Fail (i.e. ungraded) and without eligibility for the award of the degree with distinction or credit.
(h) Where examiners cannot agree on a result, the Convener of the Board of Graduate Studies in Health Sciences should so report to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) who shall arrive at a decision after consulting a referee who should normally be external to the University.
5 Level of Award of the Degree
The degree may be awarded with distinction or with credit.
6 Variations
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) may in exceptional circumstances approve a course of study which does not comply with these regulations.
Note: An application for admission to the programme is required; this is separate from the enrolment process.
Schedule of Papers
- CHHX 701 Community Child Health (30 points)
- EDUC 427 Qualitative Research (30 points)
- GENX 820 Core Studies in Medical Practice (30 points)
- GENX 823 Teaching and Learning in Medical Practice (15 points)
- LAWS 448 Law and Psychiatry (15 points)
- PHCY 506 / PHCX 506 Research Methods (30 points)
- PHCX 522 Applied Clinical Pharmacy 1 (30 points)
- PHCX 523 Applied Clinical Pharmacy 2 (30 points)
All papers with the following subject codes:
- AVMX Aviation Medicine
- BITC/BITX Bioethics
- CHIX Children's Issues
- COBE/COBX Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy
- CTMX Continence Management
- HASC/HASX Health Sciences
- HAZX Hazard Assessment and Management
- MSMX Musculoskeletal Medicine
- NURS/NURX Nursing
- OCCX Occupational Health
- PAIX Pain Management
- PSME/PSMX Psychological Medicine
- PUBH/PUBX Public Health
- REHX Rehabilitation
- SPMX Sports Medicine
Notes:
(1) Not all papers are available in Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington.
(2) This list of papers is not exclusive.
(3) Some papers may be taken only for specific endorsed options.
Schedule of Endorsed Options
Endorsements marked with an asterisk are available through Distance Learning.
- Aeromedical Retrieval and Transport *
- Aviation Medicine *
- Bioethics *
- Clinical Education *
- Clinical Research *
- Gerontology *
- Hazard Assessment and Management *
- Health Management
- Mental Health *
- Musculoskeletal Management *
- Nursing *
- Nursing - Clinical *
- Occupational Health *
- Occupational Medicine *
- Pain and Pain Management *
- Rehabilitation *
Further Information
Further information on specific MHealSc endorsements can be found on the pages listed above.
For general information, contact:
Dr Lois Surgenor
Convenor, Board of Graduate Studies in Health Sciences
Division of Health Sciences
Tel 64 3 479 7421
Email postgrad-health-sciences@otago.ac.nz
