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Frequently asked questions in Health and Health Management

FEES

 

As an Australian resident, what fees do I pay per course? (How do I determine the fees for a course?)

The postgraduate health science program has an allocation of Commonwealth Supported places.   In a Commonwealth Supported program, you have access to the HECS-HELP loans scheme.   Alternatively you will receive a small discount if you pay upfront.

Many of the health science courses are included in Commonwealth Band 2.  The fee for a 4.5 unit Band 2 course in 2009 will usually be in the vicinity of $926.  The fee for a 9 unit course is double that for a 4.5 unit course (ie. $1,852 for a Band 2 course).   Please note that the fee can differ according to the Commonwealth Band to which the course has been allocated, eg. the fee for Advanced Podiatric Medicine (4.5 units) in 2008 is $1,062 because it is classified in Band 3 (whereas Paediatric Podiatry is in Band 2).

If you were to study a course a single non-award enrolment, the fee is considerably higher.

You can determine the fee for a particular course from the course homepage.  This can be accessed by:

A section titled "Fee information for this course" appears about halfway down the course homepage.   This section contains a link to the non-award tuition fee as well as the Commonwealth Supported course fee (student contribution).

 

Does the fee differ according to mode of delivery?

The fee is the same irrespective of mode of delivery i.e. face-to-face, online or external. The overall level of academic time, effort and commitment in terms of development, preparation, assessment, interaction (online, telephone, email) is considered to be equivalent.

 

Do I have to pay student union fees?

From 1st July 2006, the Student Amenities fee, which funded services and amenities provided by the Students Association, is no longer compulsory.

Please see the following website for details of the Unilife website

What other expenses am I likely to incur?

You may need to purchase a textbook or book of readings.  As these change quite frequently, please delay buying any books until you have received your course materials, have spoken to the course coordinator or attended the first session.

 

Are my fees tax deductible?

You should consult your tax advisor or the Australian Taxation Office for advice on tax deductibility.

 

Does the Master of Health Science have Commonwealth supported places?

Yes, this program offers Commonwealth Supported Places which enables students to access HECS-HELP (Higher Education Loan Program) assistance to pay their fees.

 

Are any scholarships available?

At this time, no scholarships are available to support such postgraduate study.

Some employers have fee reimbursement arrangements for employees who study areas of value to the organisation. Your employer’s human resource staff or department should be able to advise on whether such benefits are available to you.

 

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

 

If I enrol in a specific specialisation, can I change my mind later?

Yes. You may change to another specialisation or the general option, providing you meet the entry requirements and any course pre-requisites. In addition, you will need to be able to complete the specialisation requirements i.e. you must have enough room left in your program.

 

What is the difference between a coursework masters and a research masters?

A coursework masters award consists of a number of courses that may or may not include research. A research masters has a stronger focus on research and a large portion, if not all, of the award is research based.

 

How many courses do I need to study?

As for most postgraduate programs, there are three levels of awards: Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Master of Health Science (specialisation).  You can apply for the Graduate Certificate and then progress to the Graduate Diploma and the Masters programs, Health Service Management specialisation only.   Alternatively, if you enter the Graduate Diploma or Masters, you can exit with a lower award (provided you have completed sufficient courses) if circumstances change, Health Service Management specialisation only.  In fact, you can withdraw from a program at any time (ie. even after completing one or two courses).

The Graduate Certificate (ICHP) is 18 units (or the equivalent of 4 x 4.5 unit courses), the Graduate Diploma (IGHP) is 36 units (or the equivalent of 8 x 4.5 unit courses) and the Masters (IMHP) is 54 units (or the equivalent of 12 x 45 unit courses).
NB: A 9 unit course equates to 2 x 4.5 unit courses.  You do not need to take the core course, which is only available in Study Period 2 (Semester 1 in the old terminology), before any others, so long as you take it at some stage.  Thus you can start with specialisation courses straight away if you wish.

 

I am interested in studying a specific course at UniSA. How do I go about enrolling?

There are a number of ways in which you can study a course at UniSA and the fees vary accordingly:

The method of enrolment which you choose really depends on the level of commitment which you wish to make at the moment, what you want to do in the longer term and how you might weigh up the costs of a single non-award course compared to four award courses.

To take a course on a non-award basis, you need to complete the appropriate form (the same form is used for cross-institutional enrolment).

If you want to enrol in a course as part of an award, we first need to process your application for entry to one of the postgraduate programs.

 

How do I apply for entry to one of the programs?

From 2009, all applications are to be submitted through the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). Click Gradstart and follow the instructions on that page. SATAC will advise whether you have been offered a position in the program that you have applied for.

Once the application process has been finalised and you have your student username and password, you can go ahead and enrol in a course via Enrol Online (Accessed in the "Study at UniSA" section of the the University homepage).

 

I am interested in undertaking a course in another School or Division. How do I arrange this?

You must discuss your preferred choice with the Program Director (PD) first. The PD will then liaise with the appropriate Program Director in the other School or Division on your behalf.

 

I would like to complete the Health Service Management specialisation and have noticed that I can take some courses from the Master of Health Service Management at Flinders University or the Master of Public Health at Adelaide University. How do I arrange this?

The programs at UniSA, Adelaide University and Flinders University have agreed to collaborate in the Health Service Management specialisation. Again, you must discuss your interests with the Program Director who will liaise with the other universities. Cross-institutional enrolment procedures apply to courses taken at the other Universities and each University has its own cross-institutional fees.

 

Courses at the other universities have different unit values to UniSA. How does this translate when studying a cross-institutional course?

In general, equivalence is judged at the course level (contact hours, assessment etc) rather than based on units/points e.g. In Health Service Management a 6-unit course at Flinders University is usually considered equivalent to a 4.5-unit course at UniSA.

 

Can I choose some courses which are delivered online and others delivered face-to-face?

Yes. Some courses are offered in multiple modes but others are only delivered in one mode. Thus the mode of study may vary according to the courses which you choose.

 

What is an Orientation?

The University runs excellent Orientation sessions which aim to familiarise you with the University, the electronic environment and library services.   You are strongly encouraged to attend if you can.  In addition a program orientation may be conducted for new students. The aim of the session is to introduce you to the University, the School of Health Sciences, the Program, supporting services and technologies.  It provides an opportunity to meet some of the staff involved, students who have enrolled in the program and other staff within the School of Health Sciences.

By the end of the Orientation sessions, we hope that you will:

The Student Services Homepage also provides a wealth of information and useful resources, particularly if you have not studied for a while.

 

Do I need to attend the Orientation Sessions?

Attendance at the Orientation Sessions is not compulsory, but is strongly encouraged.

 

Do the courses have examinations?

Many postgraduate courses are assessed by assignments, projects, and participation. However a few still have a final examination. This depends on the nature of the course.

 

I do not live in Adelaide but wish to attend a block study session. Where can I stay?

As the University is in the centre of the city, there are lots of choices for accommodation and meals.

 

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

 

How much time can I expect to spend on my studies?

Most of the courses are 4.5 units, that is an eighth of a full-time load per program. For each unit, it is anticipated that a student would spend 35 hours in related activities across the semester, so for a 4.5 unit course that amounts to 157.5 hours! (approximately 11-12 hours per week).

Yes it does seem a lot but it takes into account the thinking time and preparation time necessary for any task and it doesn’t mean that you have to be sitting at a desk/computer for that whole time. However you will need to make a time, energy and emotional commitment to your study program to progress adequately. Most students working full-time are able to take between one or two 4.5 units courses per semester – obviously that depends on personal circumstances, family and social commitments.

 

What does online learning mean?

A course that is delivered electronically or online offers you a great deal of flexibility and an opportunity to develop your information literacy skills – the ability to access information as well as analyse and critique the information so that you can make use of it. This mode of learning necessitates that students have access to a computer with Internet facilities to access material and communicate with lecturers and fellow students.

 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

 

Do I need to be Registered as a Health Professional in South Australia?

For the Podiatry specialisation you will need to be eligible for registration with the Podiatry Board of South Australia.

 

Do I need a Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate?

You must hold a current Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate throughout the program, if you are completing the Podiatry specialisation, which involves clinical work. You do not need a Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate to complete the other specialisations.

 

ACCREDITATION

 

Is the health service management specialisation accredited by a professional body?

Society for Health Administration Programs in Education (SHAPE)
The postgraduate program in Health Science (specialisation) is a member of the Society for Health Administration Programs in Education (SHAPE), which is "A society of academic programs committed to the promotion of excellence in health service management education and research".  The SHAPE membership includes numerous programs in Australia and New Zealand.   Further information can be found at the SHAPE website.

Australian College of Health Service Executives (ACHSE)
In 2007, the Australian College of Health Service Executives (ACHSE) accredited the Master of Health Science (Health Service Management) and the Graduate Diploma of Health Science (Health Service Management). Possession of one of these awards will enable graduates to become Associate Fellows of the Australian College of Health Executives.  Students of the program are able to become student members of ACHSE. 

For further information, please access ACHSE Website.

Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA)
Accreditation by the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA) normally follows ACHSE accreditation.   Membership of RACMA, a specialist medical college, is available to Medical Administrators and trainees in Medical Administration.

Normally, to be eligible to sit the examination for Fellowship of RACMA, a medical practitioner:

Click here for full details. 

 

Does completion of the Masters Program satisfy requirements for Professional Registration in Podiatry and Occupational Therapy in South Australia or other Australian states and territories?

No.  Professional Registration is based on the relevant undergraduate program.

 

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

 

What employment opportunities might be available with a Master of Health Science - Health Service Management specialisation?

When employers and recruitment agents are trying to match applicants to a position on merit, they consider a number of factors in addition to your postgraduate qualifications.  These may include (but are not restricted to) the following:

The Master of Health Science is not a vocational program and it is not a pre-requisite for applying for positions in administration, policy or management.   The program enables health professionals, executives and managers to further develop their knowledge and skills and to enhance critical thinking and analytical skills so that they can become more effective leaders and managers.  Furthermore, the level of flexibility allows you to choose courses  which will benefit your particular career direction.  For example, if you are working (or aspire to work) in the private sector, you are strongly encouraged to choose some business courses such as Accounting for Management and Human Resource Management.  Completion of the 3 week intensive Research Summer School (or alternative online courses in evidence-based research and practice) is also highly recommended as health service leaders are increasingly being asked to demonstrate an evidence-based approach to policy development, decision-making and management actions.

In summary, the program is sufficiently flexible for you to undertake courses which fit with your own professional development and career aspirations.  No masters degree alone will guarantee a management, leadership or executive position .  Employment at these levels is based on merit and a portfolio of knowledge, experience and personal qualities.

UniSA's Career Services offer a range of services and resources aimed at maximising our graduates' employability.

 

Can academic staff provide a reference for potential employers

Potential employment is based on merit and a portfolio of knowledge, experience and personal qualities.  You will need to address many criteria associated with a position and your academic history is only one of a number of factors that will be considered.

Your academic transcript is the best record of your knowledge base and academic performance.   Prior to completion of your program, you can print your results record from "My UniSA" or request and interim transcript (NB there is a fee for this) from Campus Central.   You may also approach Campus Central if you need a statement confirming the dates of your enrolment as a student of the University of South Australia.  At graduation, you will receive a formal transcript of all of your results.

Academic staff members, including the program director and course coordinators, do not know individual students well enough to provide reliable comments on how students will perform in specific position criteria and tasks.  Furthermore, as there has been no employer-employee relationship, staff members are unable to comment on other employment-related issues.  Thus it is considered inappropriate for academic staff to act as referees in a student's search for employment.

We trust that you will understand and respect these reasons for not providing references.

 

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