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Overview

Health Data Science is the science and art of generating data-driven solutions through comprehension of complex real-world health problems, employing critical thinking and analytics to derive knowledge from (big) data. Health Data Science is an emergent discipline, arising at the intersection of (bio)statistics, computer science, and health. The MSc Health … For more content click the Read More button below. The MSc Health Data Science (Extension) offers the opportunity to dive deeper into different aspects and applications of Health Data Science, through both electives and a research project. The program is designed to appeal to both those new to Health Data Science and those already working in the field looking to upskill. It is appropriate for both an Australian and international audience. The program can be completed in 24 months full-time or part-time equivalent. Wider program access is facilitated by the fully articulated suite of HDS programs. The program is available in dual study modes; it can be completed fully online or blended face-to-face. The research dissertation contributes 24 UoC.  It can be completed over two, three or four terms. Research can be undertaken either at UNSW or be industry based, as part of a workplace placement. Dissertation projects can involve traditional research analysing big data to solve a health-related issue, or can involve the development of a health-related data driven application. Projects can be either selected from a list of proposed topics or developed from student proposals (dependent on the availability of a suitable supervisor and agreement on project suitably).

Learning Outcomes

1.
Graduates will be able to apply advanced Health Data Science techniques with a range of assumptions and solutions to novel health contexts.
  • Scholars
  • Professionals
  • Global citizens
2.
Graduates will be able to generate and evaluate novel data-driven solutions through comprehension of complex real-world health problems, employing critical thinking and analytics to derive knowledge from (big) data.
  • Professionals
  • Scholars
  • Leaders
3.
Graduates will be able to assess the rationale and application of Statistical Thinking from a variety of perspectives, to articulate context appropriate data-driven situations.
  • Professionals
  • Scholars
  • Leaders
4.
Graduates will be able to communicate knowledge and rationale from multiple perspectives arising from complex Health Data Science insights to diverse audiences, in a variety of media including data visualisation (Vis), oral and written word.
  • Scholars
  • Leaders
  • Professionals
5.
Graduates will be able to discuss and critique a global perspective for the potential of Health Data Science to positively impact health at both individual and community levels.
  • Professionals
  • Global citizens
  • Scholars

Graduate Capabilities

For more information on Graduate Capabilities please click on this link

Program Structure

Students must complete 96 UOC when taken as a standalone program.

1. Compulsory core courses - 72 UOC
2. Prescribed elective courses - 24 UOC

Core Courses48 Units of Credit:

Core Courses

Research Course24 Units of Credit:
Prescribed Elective Courses24 Units of Credit:

Enrolment Disclaimer

Please note that this Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of our offerings and includes courses that can be taken to satisfy program requirements irrespective as to their availability for a particular year. Availability of courses is best checked using filters on this site or on the class timetable site.

You are responsible for ensuring that you enrol in courses according to your program requirements and by following the advice of your Program Authority. myUNSW enrolment checks that you have met enrolment requirements such as pre-requisites for individual courses but not that you are enrolling in courses that will count towards your program requirements.

Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements

Minimum Entry Requirements

Limitations on Recognition of Prior Learning

For more information about admission requirements for various UNSW programs, visit the following website(s):
Domestic Students
International Student

Program Requirements

Internship, Placement and Exchange Opportunities

24 UoC Health Data Science: Dissertation (HDAT9900 / HDAT9901 / HDAT9902) can be undertaken as part of a workplace placement.

Compulsory Training Component

N/A - not compulsory

Progression Requirements

Students must complete 48 UoC of core courses before commencing the research dissertation or prescribed electives.

For more information on university policy on progression requirements please visit Academic Progression

Associated Programs

Nested Postgraduate Program

Graduate Diploma in Health Data Science - GradDipHDS5372 - Health Data Science
Graduate Certificate in Health Data Science - GradCertHDS7372 - Health Data Science
Master of Science - MSc9372 - Health Data Science

Professional Outcomes

Career Opportunities

Our programs are designed in response to a significant and growing gap in the global health workforce: skilled data scientists who understand the context of health and can apply data analytics to drive improvements in health. These are exactly the workforce gaps highlighted many times over by reports such as MTPConnect’s REDI Initiative Skills Gap Analysis Second Report, 2021. Since 2016, career experts Glassdoor.com have consistently top ranked Data Scientist in their US job rankings, based on job satisfaction, number of job openings, and salary. The Analytical Reasoning, Scientific Computing and Data Science hard skills developed during this program consistency rank among the 25 most in-demand by LinkedIn. The MSc in Health Data Science (Extension) aims to graduate workplace ready professionals, appealing to an identified area of workforce need. Thus, graduates will be well positioned for a range of roles in both the public and private health care and policy sectors. High-achieving students will also be well suited to further academic study, particularly at PhD level.

Recognition of Achievement

Award with Excellence
Current Students Award with Excellence
For more information, please visit the link above.
The Award with Excellence is awarded in coursework masters programs, including Masters (Extension) but with the exception of Masters (Extended) such as JD and MD, when a Weighted Average Mean (WAM) of at least 80% has been achieved and at least 50% of the requirements of the award are completed at UNSW. All eligible programs will award 'with Excellence' except in special circumstances where approval of Academic Board has been given for a program to opt out.

Program Fees

At UNSW fees are generally charged at course level and therefore dependent upon individual enrolment and other factors such as student's residency status. For generic information on fees and additional expenses of UNSW programs, click on one of the following:

Domestic Students
Commonwealth Supported Students (if applicable)
International Students

Additional Expenses and Resources

No

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)
Pre-2019 Handbook Editions