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Curtin University
Courses Handbook 2014

This handbook contains information for courses and units at Curtin in 2014.
Information for the previous year's courses and units is available at Courses Handbook 2013.

310634 v.2 Doctor of International Health

DIntlHlth(Curtin)

Course CRICOS Code: 038778c
Registered full-time Duration for International Onshore Students on student visas: 4 Years


Course Overview

Doctoral degrees prepares students to acquire a systematic and critical understanding of a complex field of learning and specialised research skills to advance learning and/or professional practice corresponding to AQF level 10 qualifications.


The Centre for International Health offers a comprehensive academic program, designed to meet the demands of preparing senior health personnel for leadership in international health. The Doctor of International Health is a quality program with a distinctly applied orientation. The purpose of this innovative professional doctoral program is to advance applied knowledge and skills in international health and develop a high level of research capacity geared to practice in the field. The program is compatible with the demands of an international health environment which requires professionals with two key areas of competence: the capacity to work effectively in international health programs or projects; and the ability to facilitate a high level of understanding of global health issues and their relevance to the local context and the graduate's country of origin.


Additional Course Expenses

Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks and other essential study materials.


Course Overview Note

Students should not enrol in this research course to receive the related graduate diploma but rather have undertaken it as a requisite for admission. The Faculty of Health Sciences provides facilities and benefits for those studying this research course, including access to suitable computer facilities and office space for on-campus students, and financial assistance to attend appropriate intrastate, interstate or overseas conferences and towards associated research costs.



Course Entry and Completion Details

Applicants are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards. Applicants require a master degree (research) or bachelor honours degree (first or second class) or a high standard in either a master degree (coursework) or bachelor degree with a graduate diploma (or equivalent). Alternative entry requirements may be considered, details are provided at http://research.curtin.edu.au/guides.


Specifically, applicants require a master degree, together with relevant work experience in a health-related area, or a relevant honours degree, normally first class, together with relevant work experience in a health-related area, or superior performance in one of the Faculty's graduate diplomas or the equivalent from another educational institution, and relevant work experience in a health related area, or other qualifications and background warranting special consideration by the Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences. The process for assessing applications is highly competitive and each applicant will be assessed on individual merit.


Credit for Recognised Learning

Applications for credit towards a course are assessed on an individual basis. Credit reduces the amount of learning required to complete the course and may be granted for formal education qualifications, non-formal learning from non-award programs of study and informal learning through work experiences. Further information can be found at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au.


Credit for Recognised Learning may be awarded to suitably qualified applicants who already have the high-level skills necessary for completion of doctoral-level research as a result of completion of relevant postgraduate units or who have significant research/work experience in their chosen field.


Course Entry/ Completion

The application process can be broken down into two stages: Stage 1 - Expression of Interest, and Stage 2 - Form of Application for Admission. Before submitting your Expression of Interest, please visit our website at http://cih.curtin.edu.au/future_students/courses_hdr.cfm for a comprehensive guide of how to apply.



Course Organisation

Doctoral degrees require students to undertake a program of independent supervised study and produce significant and original research outcomes culminating in a thesis, dissertation, exegesis or equivalent for independent examination.


At least two-thirds of this course is undertaken by research and the remainder by coursework. Students complete four doctoral level coursework units including one core unit, two units from the first four optional units and one additional optional unit. Units are selected in consultation with the course coordinator. The thesis consists of a practically oriented research project in a specific area of international health. The thesis follows Rule 10: Degree of Doctor by Research.



Duration and Availability

This doctorate is normally three years equivalent full-time study. It is offered by distance education. In most cases, candidates find it advantageous to attend the campus to present their proposal prior to undertaking their fieldwork.


Location and delivery Mode


Year Location Period All* Internal Partially Online Internal^ External Fully Online#
2014 Bentley Campus Research Term 1   Y   Y  
2014 Bentley Campus Research Term 2   Y   Y  

The information displayed above refers to study periods and locations where the course is available for first time entry. Students are normally only offered or admitted to a course once.

* The course itself may not be available either solely internally or externally but individual units may be offered in either or both of those modes. Prospective students should contact the Course Coordinator for further information.

^ Course and associated units are offered in this mode permitting International Onshore student enrolment.

# Course and associated units are offered in this online only mode and DO NOT permit International Onshore student enrolment.




Course Structure Hrs/Wk Credit
Year 1 Semester 1
301948 v.4   International Health and Primary Health Care 600 8.0 25.0
  SELECT OPTIONAL UNITS TO THE TOTAL VALUE OF:   75.0
  100.0
Year 1 Research Term 2
304696 v.2   Doctoral Thesis - International Health
Optional Units to Select from in Year 1 Semester 1 Hrs/Wk Credit
13554 v.3 #   Epidemiology and Biostatistics 782 4.0 25.0
301950 v.4 #   Research and Evaluation in International Health 600 8.0 25.0
11546 v.2 **   Environmental and Occupational Health 782 3.0 25.0
11547 v.3 #   Epidemiology 781 3.0 25.0
11550 v.3 **   Principles and Practice of Public Health 781 3.0 25.0
303673 v.4 **   Sexually Transmissible Infection and HIV - International Perspectives 600 8.0 25.0
305795 v.4 **   Ethics in International Health 600 8.0 25.0
301952 v.4 **   Maternal and Child Health in Developing Countries 600 8.0 25.0
308427 v.2 **   Refugee and Migrant Health 600 8.0 25.0
312282 v.2 **   Research Project Development 600 8.0 25.0
311882 v.2   International Indigenous Health 600 8.0 25.0

#    Two optional units are to be selected from units marked with the asterisk

*    Along with the thesis, students undertake one core unit, two optional units marked with an asterisk* and may select one unit from those marked with a hash #

**    One optional unit may be selected from these units




Further Information

For more information about the course, please contact the Faculty of Health Sciences on telephone (08) 9266 1000, email futurestudents@health.curtin.edu.au, or visit our website: http://healthsciences.curtin.edu.au


Course Structure Disclaimer

Curtin University reserves the right to alter the internal composition of any course to ensure learning outcomes retain maximum relevance. Any changes to the internal composition of a course will protect the right of students to complete the course within the normal timeframe and will not result in additional cost to students through a requirement to undertake additional units.




Handbook Disclaimer

The online handbook is the repository of Curtin University of Technology (“Curtin”) course information. While Curtin makes all reasonable endeavors to keep its online courses handbook up-to-date, information within this website is subject to change from time to time. Curtin reserves the right to change the contents and/or the method of assessment, to change or alter tuition fees of any unit of study, to withdraw/any unit of study or program which it offers, to impose limitations on enrolment in any unit or program, and/or to vary arrangements for any program without notification via the website.

For course overviews and enrolment information please visit our future students website.