The Otago Post issue 9

For people interested or involved in postgraduate study at Otago

Opportunities to make a difference

Postgraduate students studying with the University's Division of Health Sciences are found all over New Zealand, and indeed across the world. The reasons that they undertake postgraduate study are as diverse as the locations in which they study.

Without exception, all of these students are making valuable contributions to the health of New Zealanders. Their desire to undertake study, research areas of importance, and implement change as a result of that research helps ensure that New Zealand's health professionals are world-class.

With over sixty qualifications covering all aspects of health sciences, from Aviation Medicine to Pharmacy to Women's Health, exciting opportunities to make a difference are very real.

Many of the 1500 postgraduate students in the Division are undertaking distance education programmes which are designed to assist with their professional development. Nearly 800 further students are studying at a doctoral level reaching the highest level of research study.

Healthcare provision is an aspect of life in which all New Zealanders have a vested interest. Otago makes tangible contributions to its delivery through providing education and development opportunities to practising health professionals no matter where in New Zealand they live.

Division of Health Sciences postgraduate facts and figures

• The Division of Health Sciences has about 1500 postgraduate students including 770 doctoral students.
• We offer 63 postgraduate qualifications (many of these have further endorsements, with nearly 30 endorsements for PGCert, PGDip and Masters).
• 50 qualifications are available by distance education.
• 57 qualifications are available as taught programmes, some of which have a research component.
• Distance education is available in a range of subjects from Aviation Medicine to Opthalmology to Pharmacy and Surgical Anatomy.

Professor Peter Crampton
Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Division of Health Sciences

Latest News

Rural nursing programme to meet rural needs
The University of Otago's Graduate Research Month promises to be even bigger and brighter in 2011 with new events including workshops and presentations from an international guest speaker and New Zealand's first University-run Twitter conference…

Physiotherapy on the marae
On a cool Spring day a group of Physiotherapy postgraduate students and staff headed out to the Otākou marae to hold an informal physiotherapy clinic for local iwi…

Three minutes on medicinal marijuana
With a name like Jack Rocky-Jay Rivers he could be on the stage but, rather than topping the charts, this performer won the 2011 University of Otago Three Minute Thesis competition with his talk 'The future of medicinal marijuana'…

Otago postgraduate wins challenge with audacious idea
Entrepreneur in the making Clay Caird credits his recent win of the NBR Otago Audacious Business challenge as having helped kickstart his fledgling company's trans-Tasman start-up…

Industry focus sets Applied Science Masters apart
A commitment to solving real-world problems is what Dr Stephen Sowerby seeks in students wanting to enter the Master of Applied Sciences Programme…

In Brief

Hui Poutama highlights Māori research
Giving scholars no more than ten minutes to present their research might pose a challenge to many, but at the University's inaugural Hui Poutama in August, Māori academic staff…

Showcase for Pacific postgraduate research
In November the University of Otago's eighth Pacific Voices symposium presented the Pacific-focused research of 25 postgraduate students from across the University…

Stand-out supervisors recognised
A good student-supervisor relationship can make a huge difference to a student's postgraduate experience and, ultimately, influence their success.

Masters scholarships offered year-round
Following the successful introduction of a year-round application process for doctoral scholarships in 2010, the University of Otago recently announced Masters' candidates can apply for scholarships on a similar basis.

Three minute showcase for postgraduate research
How neurons evolved, why people have long harboured the desire to travel to Antarctica and whether gastric bypass can help cure diabetes were among the nine thesis projects presented at the University's Three Minute Thesis competition final in August.

Otago celebrates research students
In August the University of Otago's second Graduate Research Month cemented its place in the University's events calendar, building on the success of the inaugural programme in 2010 with the addition of new and innovative events