Master of Primary Health Care (MPHC)
Overview
The Master of Primary Health Care (MPHC) degree is is a nationally-recognised multidisciplinary advanced qualification for health professionals engaged in the delivery of primary health care. It provides an appropriate advanced multidisciplinary qualification for students who have completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Health Care (PGDipPHC), which includes approved research methods paper(s). The papers in Māori Health and Evidence-based Practice are also recommended. Either further papers can then be selected from a wide range of disciplines relevant to primary health care and complemented with a dissertation, or a thesis can be prepared and completed on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with a supervisor.
Graduates will have specific skills to enable them to deliver, and if appropriate, to practise safe, effective, and culturally sensitive primary health care. As the students will come from differing backgrounds (medical, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, management) these skills may be oriented towards management, clinical practice, basic primary care research or a combination of these.
As a consequence of the multidisciplinary nature of the programme, the graduate will gain an advanced appreciation of team dynamics in the primary health care setting. The team approach, now so essential to professional practitioners in primary health care, will be fostered and confirmed.
The graduate will have an advanced understanding of the nature and practice of primary health care, advanced clinical training in personally selected areas of practice, and experience in working with other health professionals involved in primary health care. In addition, the graduate will have the ability and skills to independently set up and carry out relevant research within the primary health care field, and to be able to contribute significantly to new developments in health care delivery.
These graduates will provide an educated resource for future primary health planning and education.
The Master of Primary Health Care (MPHC) is also available through Distance Learning.
Regulations for the Degree of Master of Primary Health Care (MPHC)
1 Admission to the Programme
(a) Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) on the advice of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine, which must be satisfied that the applicant has the ability and experience to proceed to the programme.
(b) Every applicant shall
(i) hold the Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Health Care, or
(ii) hold an equivalent qualification approved by the Board of the Faculty of Medicine, or
(iii) have been admitted ad eundem statum as entitled to proceed to the degree, and
(iv) have completed the prerequisite papers:
PRHX 701 New Zealand Primary Health Care
and eitherHASX 417 Health Sciences Research Methods
or
HASC 411 Research Design and Evaluation, together with HASC 413 Biostatistics
or
equivalent research paper(s) approved by the Board of the Faculty of Medicine.
(c) In exceptional circumstances the Board of the Faculty of Medicine may approve an exemption from the specified prerequisites.
2 Structure of the Programme
(a) The programme shall consist of either
(i) a thesis on an advanced topic (120 points); or
(ii) approved papers (60 points) and a dissertation (60 points).
(b) A candidate may not present a thesis which has previously been accepted for another degree.
(c) The programme of study, the topic of the thesis and the supervisors of the research shall be approved by the Board of the Faculty of Medicine.
(d) For the thesis, the research should be of a kind that a diligent and competent student should complete within one year of full-time study.
3 Duration of the Programme
The degree will normally be completed on a part-time basis. The degree shall normally require not less than two years of part-time study (or one year of full-time study) and not more than four years of part-time study (or two years of full-time study). Exceptions shall be permitted only with the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences).
4 Examination of the Thesis or Dissertation
(a) The thesis or dissertation shall be assessed by at least two examiners, at least one of whom shall be external to the University.
(b) The candidate's supervisor shall not be an examiner but may make a report on the work of the candidate to the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.
(c) Each examiner shall supply a written report on the thesis or dissertation and recommend a mark and grade on the basis of the thesis or dissertation as submitted, and an overall result selected from the options specified in clause (d) below.
(d) The examiners may recommend that a thesis or dissertation:
(i) be accepted without amendments;
(ii) be accepted subject to amendments being made at the discretion and to the satisfaction of the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine;
(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) Amendments 4(d)(ii) and revisions 4(d)(iii) shall be completed by a specified date to be determined by the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.
(f) A candidate shall be permitted to revise and resubmit a thesis or dissertation for examination once only.
(g) If a revised and resubmitted thesis or dissertation 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.
Note: This provision applies only to students who first enrol for the degree in 2009 or subsequently.
(h) Where examiners cannot agree on a result, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine shall report to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) or nominee who shall arrive at a decision after consulting a referee who should normally be external to the University.
(i) The candidate may be required to take an oral examination in the field of knowledge in which the thesis or dissertation lies.
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.
Further Information
Kelli Fleming
Postgraduate Coordinator
Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice
University of Otago, Wellington
Email primarycare.distance@otago.ac.nz
Tel 04 385 5995
