If you want an exciting career that stimulates you, challenges you, and rewards you, then a postgraduate degree in science sets you on the right path.

Completing further study beyond a Bachelor degree will enhance your chances of employment as well as advancement, as you will increase your knowledge in specific areas that interest you. Entry requires a bachelor degree or applied biomedical science degree.

Course outline

The course has been developed in response to the international need for advanced training in infectious diseases to better prepare medical scientists, medical professionals, the public sector and other groups.

Course Director, Professor Geoff Shellam has a strong academic and research background within this field. Professor Barry Marshall is also a valued member of staff within the program.

Together, Professor Geoff Shellam and Professor Barry Marshall, as co-directors of the Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, will bring a host of resources to the program. This close affiliation with the Marshall Centre will give students access to state of the art facilities and the Nobel Laureate himself.

Students have the opportunity to gain practical experience in Western Australia's public diagnostic pathology laboratory, PathWest, through the integration of placements for research projects and practicums with coursework.

The course provides advanced training in the field of infectious diseases, including Medical Microbiology, Tropical Infectious Diseases, and Public and Environmental Health Microbiology.

Core units

See Important Dates for more information about when semesters begin and end.

First Year

Semester One

• MICR8829 Foundations of Infectious Diseases Part 1 (6 points)
• MICR8842 Foundations of Infectious Diseases Part 2 (6 points)
• MICR8830 Principles of Mycology and Parasitology (6 points)
• PUBH4403 Epidemiology I (6 points)

Semester Two

• MICR8831 Molecular and Cellular Microbiology (6 points)
• MICR8846 Molecular and Cellular Microbiology (6 points)
• MICR8832 Diagnostic Medical Microbiology (6 points)
• PUBH8761 Epidemiology and Control of Communicable Diseases (6 points)

Second Year

Semester One

• MICR8838 Research Project in Infectious Diseases Part 1 (12 points)
  
• MICR8841 Research Project in Infectious Diseases Part 2 (12 points), or

• MICR8839 Practicum in Infectious Diseases Part 1 (12 points)
• MICR8840 Practicum in Infectious Diseases Part 2 (12 points)

Semester Two

• MICR8834 Tropical, Travel and Remote Area Infectious Diseases (6 points)
• MICR8835 Vectors of Infectious Diseases, and Vector Control (6 points)
• MICR8836 Public and Environmental Health Microbiology (6 points)
• MICR8833 Antimicrobiol Agents (6 points)

Admission requirements

• A Bachelor of Science in the biomedical, biological or related areas of science or an equivalent degree; or
• A Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) or equivalent qualification;or
• A Bachelor of Dental Science (BDSc) or equivalent qualification.
• Applicants with applied biomedical science degrees (such as medical technology, nursing and the like) are also considered for entry to the course.

English Language Competence

All applicants for UWA coursework programs must demonstrate a minimum level of English Language Competence.

Course enquiries

Olga Eley, Administrative Officer
Telephone: (+61 8) 9346 2245
Email: InfectiousDiseases@bcs.uwa.edu.au