The Master of Primary Health Care at University of Melbourne enables students to undertake a major research project on a primary health care topic of their choice. Students will have appropriately experienced supervisor/s and an Advisory Committee who in consultation, arranges a course of supervised research designed to suit the individual requirements and interests of the student.

Students may be required to supplement their research program by attendance at, or enrolment in, additional subjects if considered necessary by supervisors.

All students are required to attend departmental seminars over the period of their candidature. When students have completed their research, they should have developed competency in the conduct of research methodologies in the primary health care setting. Students will produce a 30,000-40,000 word thesis that is examined externally.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Through this course, you will develop:

• an awareness of primary care epistemology and the paradigms that underpin the field, from behavioural science through to clinical science;
• competency in the conduct of research methodologies in the primary health care setting.

In addition, you will acquire an understanding of:

• the political stimuli driving change in primary health care;
• patient perspectives and participation in health care;
• organisational structures in primary care as they pertain to the chosen topic;
• the theoretical basis of the integration of care;
• the influence of IT upon primary health care delivery.

Research Masters degrees at the University of Melbourne are designed for students to develop advanced skills in carrying out independent and sustained research. The thesis should demonstrate a critical application of specialist knowledge and make an independent contribution to existing scholarship in the area of research. On completion of the course you should be able to:

• demonstrate advanced learning in research skills and mastery of appropriate techniques, such as the use of archival or primary evidence, analysis of data, judgment of conflicting evidence etc;
• demonstrate specialist knowledge in the area of your research;
• present the results of your research in publishable form or work towards incorporating your findings in further research;
• proceed to a research doctorate if the Masters thesis has demonstrated appropriate research potential;
• gain admission to certain types of employment through this specialist qualification;
• apply the research skills acquired to other projects;
• demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, research ethics or code of practice.

Graduate Attributes

Research Masters degrees at the University of Melbourne seek to develop graduates who have a capacity for defining and managing a research project characterised by originality and independence. Your training will equip you for more sustained and original work at the doctoral level or for applied research positions in a wide variety of contexts.

The University expects its research masters graduates to have the following qualities and skills:

• an ability to initiate research projects and to formulate viable research question.
• a demonstrated capacity to design, conduct and report independent and original research on a closely-defined project.
• an ability to manage time to maximise the quality of research.
• an understanding of the major contours of international research in the research area.
• a capacity for critical evaluation of relevant scholarly literature.
• well-developed and flexible problem-solving abilities appropriate to the discipline.
• the ability to analyse research data within a changing disciplinary environment.
• the capacity to communicate effectively the results of research and scholarship by oral and written communication.
• an understanding of and facility with scholarly conventions in the discipline area.
• a profound respect for truth and intellectual integrity, and for the ethics of research and scholarship.
• a capacity to cooperate with other researchers.
• an ability to manage information effectively, including the application of computer systems and software where appropriate to your field of study.