15. Infection and Immunity

Graduate Certificate in Infection and Immunity

(GradCertInfnImm) KG005

Graduate Diploma in Infection and Immunity

(GradDipInfnImm) KF040

Master of Medicine (Infection and Immunity)

(MMed(InfnImm)) KC050

Master of Science in Medicine (Infection and Immunity)

(MScMed(InfnImm)) KC051

Overview

Infectious diseases are found all over the world and in many cases present a life-threatening risk and cause death in humans. As well as increasing resistance to antibiotics, the recurrence of known pathogens and the spread of new ones make infectious diseases a challenge for science. The aim of these courses is to produce graduates who can effectively participate in future health care or research programs in infection or immunity anywhere in the world.

The program analyses the fundamental mechanisms of infectious diseases to find improved ways of combating them. It covers a broad range of topics with a focus on understanding the functions of bacteria and viral genes, the mechanisms of viral and bacterial persistence, the immune control of viral and bacterial infections and the mechanisms involved in the generation and regulation of immune responses.

The integrated scientific approach taken will reflect the current state of knowledge regarding infectious microorganisms and their pathogenesis, immunology and the immune responses to infection, and the epidemiology and control of infectious diseases. The principles and practices advocated for the effective prevention or minimisation of infectious diseases – in hospitals, laboratories, the general community and during outbreaks of disease – will be central issues in one of the major units of study. The course will also provide training in various state-of-the-art laboratory techniques used in the disciplines of infectious diseases and immunology, including culture and identification of infectious organisms, antibiotic sensitivity testing, serology, immunohistochemistry, cellular immunology and molecular microbiology.

The Master of Medicine (Infection and Immunity) and the Master of Science in Medicine (Infection and Immunity) are essentially the same program with different admission requirements. Only medical graduates (with an MBBS) may be admitted to the Master of Medicine while non-medical graduates may be admitted to the Master of Science in Medicine. Students follow the same program of study (with the exception, in some cases, of practical work), with the only difference being the title of the course they are awarded on completion.

The graduate diploma and graduate certificate programs are open to both medical and science (non-medical) graduates.

The master’s degrees may be awarded at either a pass or honours grade. Honours is only available to students who meet the criteria detailed below, which include enrolling in a further 12 credit points of dissertation units of study for which they undertake supervised research which is written up in a dissertation for examination.

Students who choose not to undertake the honours component but complete their coursework with a minimum average mark of 75 percent will be awarded pass with merit.

Admission

Graduate Certificate in Infection and Immunity and Graduate Diploma in Infection and Immunity
Applicants must have the degree of a Bachelor of Science, a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery, a Bachelor of Medical Science or Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, a Bachelor of Veterinary Science, a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, or a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Sydney, or equivalent. Candidates who hold equivalent qualifications in an appropriate discipline may also be eligible for admission, subject to approval by the faculty.

Master of Medicine (Infection and Immunity)
Applicants must have a degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Sydney or equivalent.

Master of Science in Medicine (Infection and Immunity)
Applicants must have either the degree of Bachelor of Science with first or second class honours, or the degree of Bachelor of Science from the University of Sydney, or equivalent, without first or second class honours and have completed equivalent work experience or passed a preliminary examination or examinations as prescribed by the faculty.

Structure

The graduate certificate and graduate diploma are embedded in the master’s degrees (see embedded degree explanation in chapter 8).

The graduate certificate comprises four core units of study (see table on core units of study below and chapter 31 for unit of study details).

The graduate diploma comprises four core units of study and a further two elective units of study chosen from the list of electives (see unit of study tables below and chapter 31 for unit of study details).

The master’s degree comprises four core units of study and a further four elective units of study chosen from the list of electives (see unit of study tables below and chapter 31 for unit of study details).

To qualify for the master’s degree with honours, students must obtain a weighted average mark of 70 per cent in all 48 credit points of coursework and successfully complete an additional 12 credit point research dissertation (ie 60 credit points of units of study in total), in which students undertake a supervised individual project in an area of interest and report the outcomes in a dissertation. Students are only able to enrol in the dissertation if they have achieved a weighted average mark of 70 per cent in their first 24 credit points of coursework and have the permission of the course coordinator.

Infection and immunity core units of study

Infection and immunity elective units of study

Infection and immunity dissertation units of study

Further enquiries

Dr Jim Manos
Phone: +61 2 9351 8942
Fax: +61 2 9351 4731
Email:
Website: www.usyd.edu.au/su/infdis/postgrad.html