Master of Health (Research Practice)
Reach your potential and become a leader in health research.
Course essentials
Entry requirements
Credit
A full-time study load is 120 credits a year (usually four 15-credit units each semester). 120 credits equal one equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL). Each credit point equals about 10 hours of learning, so a 15-credit unit means roughly 150 hours.
Study mode
Study modes tell you how teaching and learning will be delivered for your course and include where and when classes can be scheduled, what you'll do and the tech you'll use.
Duration
Start dates
01 March 2027
26 July 2027
Locations
Course overview
This flexible study option aims to develop critical thinking and research skills that are highly sought after in a competitive employment environment. Engage with contemporary global debates and developments, pursuing an area of interest, and further advance your theoretical knowledge and research skills supporting the discovery and translation of evidence into practice.
Coursework elements will provide you with a solid foundation in research methods and the critical appraisal of literature to inform the application of a research project.
This course is only offered part-time (duration is 4 years).
A range of student services, including childcare, counselling, support for students with disabilities, Learning Resource Centre and cafeteria are available at most campuses. For further information on these services please call 1800 333 864.
The commencement of all courses is subject to available funding and enrolment quotas
IT requirements
To do this course you’ll need a fast and reliable computer and access to high-speed internet. Expect to use about 5GB of data per month for every unit you’re doing. Find out more about the minimum IT requirements for studying with us.
Got questions?
Call us on 1800 333 864, start a live chat or submit an enquiry.
Student support
The support we offer is second to none. Need academic help? No problem. Extra access or financial assistance? Let’s see what we can do. View our student services.
The fine print
The commencement of all courses is subject to available funding and enrolment quotas.
Everything in this course overview is correct at the time of being published. However, the University reserves the right to alter any course, procedure or fee. Please check for changes before you apply or enrol.
Federation University uses Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding (for eligible students) to deliver training.
School department
Nursing
Course co-ordinator
Michael Barbagallo
Career paths
Successful completion of the Master of Health will enhance your professional standing and provide you with advanced level skills and knowledge for application in the health community and may lead to employment opportunities in the tertiary sector. Completion of the research pathway provides a pathway to PhD study.
Professional recognition
The course is recognised as a valuable contribution to the ongoing professional development of practitioners working in a wide range of sectors. Please note that this does not lead to registration as a health professional.
Fees and scholarships
Tuition fee information
Commonwealth Supported Places are subsidised by the Australian Government. The tuition fee is called the student contribution amount. The indicative fee above is based on a typical first-year enrolment for this course and should be used as a guide only. For 0.5 EFTSL (60 credit point) courses the certificate fee is displayed. Your fee will depend on the units you chose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved credit you receive.
How it's calculated
The government sets the fee each year. The amount depends on the discipline area and band of each unit. 2026 annual student contribution amounts for 1 EFTSL (equivalent full-time student load) range from $4,738 (Band 1) to $17,399 (Band 4). The sample course structure below link to the EFTSL, Band and fee for each unit or you can use our unit search to find these details.
Other fees
You will also need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Fee assistance
If you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan, you can defer the payment of all or part of your student contribution fee. If you’re also eligible for a SA-HELP loan, you can defer your SSAF payment too. You won’t have to start paying either loan back until your income reaches the compulsory repayment threshold.
Scholarships
There’s a range of scholarships and grants available. Find out what you can apply for.
Course details
Start dates
Semester 2, 2026
20 July 2026
Locations
Online
Semester 1, 2027
1 March 2027
Locations
Online
Semester 2, 2027
26 July 2027
Locations
Online
Information
- Online learning is only an option if you’re not studying on an international student visa. Testing
Contact hours
The course is delivered in an online mode with structured discussion forums and collaboration. A full-time student would be expected to contribute approximately 40 hours / week to the course. A part-time student would be expected to contribute approximately 20 hours / week to the course. The amount of time required will depend to some extent on the elective courses chosen.
Sample course structure
Here’s what the course structure could look like. It’s just an example (so don’t use it for enrolment). Interested in the details? You can find current course structure or select a single unit name below to find out what it’s about and how much it costs.
Electives
- Applied Health Research and Evidence Based Practice15 credit pointsHEALT5000
Electives
- Research Methods for Health30 credit pointsHEALT6001
- Inquiry and Analysis of Literature30 credit pointsHEALT6002
- Qualitative Health Research30 credit pointsHEALT7000
- Quantitative and Mixed Methods Research in Health30 credit pointsHEALT7001
- Research Thesis A30 credit pointsHEALT7002
- Research Thesis B30 credit pointsHEALT7003
Meet us at Open Day
Open Day is your chance to explore all that Federation has to offer. Meet current lecturers and students, ask course questions, learn about our support services and explore campus spaces.
We’ve got heaps of activities, tours and presentations planned. Basically, we want you to get a real feel for Federation. The atmosphere. The opportunities. The community.
Oh – and there’s no need to pack a sandwich. Lunch is on us.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements (non year 12)
Entry into the Master of Health course is predicated on completion of undergraduate study to third year or equivalent.
Advanced Standing: Credit for up to four courses (120 credit points) may be granted to candidates who have successfully completed a fourth year of university study.
English language requirements
Academic IELTS of 7.0 overall with no bands less than 6.5
Extra requirements
Applicants must supply a current resume with their application.
If you’re only applying for this course, do it via direct application.
Ready to fill out your application?
You'll need this code:
Direct application
Federation University code
- Direct application
- Yes
- Federation University code
- HN9
This course has been developed with student flexibility in mind. Students can choose to exit with a Graduate Certificate or Health or a Graduate Diploma of Health, allowing the candidates to complete the course in smaller stages of study.
Applicants who hold a Bachelors degree as their highest level of prior study will be required to undertake 120 credit points of inductor courses prior to progressing to one of the Masters streams.
A student who has successfully undertaken a Graduate Certificate in a Health related discipline would be eligible for advanced standing of 60 credit points towards their introductory courses.
In instances where a student has successfully completed a ‘fourth year’ of higher education studies in a health related discipline (eg. a three year bachelor degree plus one year of honours or a four year undergraduate degree, or a Graduate Diploma) the course for a Master level qualification will be a minimum of 1 year FT study or equivalent. Students who meet these entry requirements would transition directly into the second year of the course and into a stream of their choice.
Students who successfully complete the Master of Health - Research Practice stream may be eligible for entry to a PhD course.
Hear from our students
So as I love serving people and helping them, I take Bachelor of Nursing and I'm pursuing nursing as my career. That only provides us with so many opportunities. They have contact with such good hospitals and agencies if you want to work for your placements and stuff. And they provide us with so much material and support to improve our skills through our nursing. Even in the uni, in the building, we have rooms are like literally hospital rooms where we have beds and all the equipments with dolls which do make sounds and they have pulse and everything. So it is so creative and so alive that we get to improve our skills so much. Ballarat is like the most happy, friendly little town in all of the Victoria I've been in Melbourne. But people over here are genuinely really sweet and nice to you. They're really friendly and they're just walking in the morning and someone is passing by and they'll just say, they'll smile and they say good morning to you, which is so sweet. Like it never feels that you're somewhere different. You're just you feel homely. I've heard a lot about Federation University. So back when I was applying for multiple universities, I was suggested Fed Uni by my agent and they suggested Fed Uni because it has so many campus. They support, support us so much and it is so multicultural. They're like so many people coming from so many different countries. So last year they hosted the Bollywood night for the Indian students. Being an Indian, I was so happy that they're hosting such an event. They keep on hosting events which are like for every culture and everyone gets to enjoy and feel at home, which is the best part. So the Bollywood night was the one for me. I'll be pursuing nursing as my career and I want to become a registered nurse, work here for the people and serve them and just enjoy life for some time.