Master of Science in Health Data Science
- Commencing Terms
- Term 1 & 3
- Duration
- 1.7 Year(s)
- Delivery Mode
- Face-to-face (includes blended), Online
- Campus
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Kensington
- Codes
- Program code 9372
- CRICOS code 096225M
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Commonwealth Supported Places are available for this program2024 Indicative CSP first year fee
- $9,000*
-
2024 Indicative CSP fee to complete degree
- $13,500*
-
2024 Indicative first year full fee
- $46,000*
-
2024 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $72,000*
Fees
Fees
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Industry relevant
-
Industry relevant
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Research centre
International application pause for 2025 intakes
Applications for international students to study at UNSW in 2025 are currently paused. Please submit your expression of interest to join our application waitlist so we can contact you.
- Overview
- Entry requirements
- What will I study?
- Future careers
- How to apply
- Fees & Scholarships
Overview
Today, health data is measured in the trillions of gigabytes. It doubles every 75 days. Big data is a term used to describe data sets that are so large and complex, they can’t be managed or analysed using traditional methods.
In health, big data includes the:
- millions of records generated routinely by health services
- real-time clinical data captured at the point-of-care
- genomic and imaging data produced in research and clinical settings
- health-related data generated by the population at large through wearable devices and social media.
The Master of Science in Health Data Science will prepare you to find the right data, unlock hidden insights and use this information to better support clinical care, inform health policy and improve population health. This degree covers the entire pipeline from comprehension of complex health issues through to data wrangling and management, machine learning, data analytics, data modelling and data communication.
Key features
- Industry relevant degree
We designed this program 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 health improvement. In this program, you’ll be exposed to real-world problems and learn the latest analytical methodologies to derive solutions.
- Suited to a wide range of backgrounds
This degree is suitable for students who are starting out in the field and those already working within it who want to upskill. Whether you’re a statistician who wants to build on your current skills, a clinician or nurse who wants to improve the quality of care received by your patients, or a keen programmer looking to convert your on-the-job experience into a formal qualification, this program welcomes students from a wide range of backgrounds.
- Flexible delivery
This degree can be completed full-time or part-time, on-campus or fully online. Content is delivered through a combination of online readings, expert guest lectures and practical hands-on tutorials. Lectures are followed by exercises, which reinforce the learning and programming skills covered in the tutorials.
Why study this degree at UNSW?
Study the first postgraduate degree in health data science
Our master’s degree, graduate diploma and graduate certificate in health data science are pioneering programs that examine data-driven solutions to complex health problems. At UNSW, we’re leading this new approach to healthcare.
Learn within a world-leading research and teaching institute
This degree is delivered by the Centre for Big Data Research in Health (CBDRH) – the leading Australian and international hub for health research using big data. The CBDRH brings together an interdisciplinary team of staff, who have world-leading expertise in managing, manipulating, analysing and visualising health big data. Using large-scale electronic data than spans the biomedical, clinical and health services domains, the CBDRH is transforming knowledge from data into practical applications within health.
Connect with staff and students in a dynamic learning environment
In some courses, a flipped classroom approach is used, where you’ll learn theory from short online videos and use face-to-face or online sessions to apply knowledge, practice skills and engage in peer-to-peer learning. A major feature of our student-centric learning experience is the online community, where you can interact with your peers and instructors from diverse backgrounds and workplaces.
Want to see more from UNSW Medicine and Health?
Entry requirements
For entry into this degree, you must have one of the following:
- an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline
- an undergraduate degree in a non-cognate discipline at honours level
- successful completion of the Graduate Diploma in Health Data Science (5372)
- qualifications equivalent to or higher than the Graduate Diploma in Health Data Science (5372) on a case-by-case basis.
Cognate disciplines
- medicine
- nursing
- dentistry
- physiotherapy
- optometry
- biomedical/biological science
- pharmacy
- public health
- veterinary science
- biology
- biochemistry
- statistics
- mathematical sciences
- computer science
- psychology
- (health) economics
- data science
- other (case-by-case basis)
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
For entry into this degree, you must have one of the following:
- an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline
- an undergraduate degree in a non-cognate discipline at honours level
- successful completion of the Graduate Diploma in Health Data Science (5372)
- qualifications equivalent to or higher than the Graduate Diploma in Health Data Science (5372) on a case-by-case basis.
Cognate disciplines
- medicine
- nursing
- dentistry
- physiotherapy
- optometry
- biomedical/biological science
- pharmacy
- public health
- veterinary science
- biology
- biochemistry
- statistics
- mathematical sciences
- computer science
- psychology
- (health) economics
- data science
- other (case-by-case basis)
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
Check the specific English language requirements for this program
Program structure
From the context of health and data curation through to analytics, computation and communication, this degree will guide you through the entire health data science pipeline.
Health Data Science Pipeline
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- Health Delivery Systems
- Data Sources
- Evidence-Based Medicine
- Health Outcomes
- Health Equity and Genes
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- Data Quality
- Wrangling
- Data Linkage
- File Management /Storage
- IT Security
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- Pattern Analysis
- Pre-Processing
- Outlier Detection
- Prediction
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- Algorithms
- Models
- Decision Making
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- Collaborative Coding
- Visualisation
- Written and Oral Presentation
Full program structure
The Master of Science in Health Data Science can be completed in 1.7 years of full-time study or three years part-time. The program is made up of eight core courses and a choice of either:
- Three Elective Courses + Research Capstone Course (HDAT9910 Health Data Science: Capstone)
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- Context of Health Data Science
- Statistical Foundations for Health Data Science
- Management and Curation of Health Data
- Health Data Analytics: Machine Learning I
- Health Data Analytics: Statistical Modelling I
- Health Data Analytics: Statistical Modelling II
- Visualisation and Communication of Health Data
- Principles of Programming or Computing for Health Data Science
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Electives are grouped into the following themes:
- Bioinformatics
- Health informatics
- Algorithms
- Data Management
- Web
- Statistical Theory
- Statistical Analytics
- Pharmaceutical
- Public Health
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The graduate certificate and graduate diploma provide an articulation pathway into the Master of Science in Health Data Science.
Future careers
The role of a health data scientist is dynamic and always evolving as their work spans across any of the multiple stages of the health data pipeline. From designing and leading research studies and analysing data, through to building machine learning processes to understand complex health issues, a health data scientist’s work draws on a multiplicity of skills.
Because it’s a profession in its early development stages, new roles and opportunities in this sector are being created all the time. The health data scientist may, for example, manage a team of data analysts to work out processes to gather data, assess how to model the data or devise ways to implement health policy change based on the outcomes of their studies and findings.
There is growing demand within the public and private health sector, both in Australia and globally, for professionals with specialised interdisciplinary skills in health data science. This degree could lead to a career in:
- government departments of health (national, state or local)
- hospitals
- universities and research institutes
- pharmaceutical companies
- health insurance companies
- private data analytics consultancies.
Our alumni
"We learnt industry-leading coding practices such as GitHub and Version Control and had regular assignments, which were useful as they were in a health context.”
Phillip Hungerford
Analytics Consultant
How to apply
Applications must be submitted through our Apply Online portal. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term. Some high-demand programs and Faculties with limited places may have an earlier application deadline or commencement date. Find out more.
Ready to start your application?
For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.
Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.
Ready to start your application?
Fees & Scholarships
$9,000*
$13,500*
There are limited Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available for this degree. Domestic students who receive a CSP will have a substantial proportion of their fees subsidised by the Australian government. CSP places are assessed on the basis of merit. Your eligibility to receive a CSP will be automatically assessed when you apply. The majority of CSP places are awarded in the lead up to term start, students may first receive a full paying offer and if eligible later receive a CSP place. Accepting your full paying offer will not detract from your ability to secure a CSP place. Start your postgraduate application today with our guide on how to apply.
There are a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available for this degree/program. Your eligibility to receive a CSP will be automatically assessed when you apply. To find out more about Commonwealth Supported Places visit Postgraduate Commonwealth Support.
*Fees are subject to annual review (or when required) by the University and may vary accordingly.
Indicative fees are a guide only and have been calculated based on the typical enrolment patterns of students undertaking the degree/program. The indicative fees listed here is an estimate for tuition only and excludes non-tuition fees and charges. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year of enrolment, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (48 units of credit (UOC) per year)
You should not rely on indicative fees as fee increases are assessed when required and may exceed the indicative figures listed here. Actual fees are calculated on enrolment. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only, other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.
Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.
Scholarships
At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.
QS World University Rankings, 2025.
AFR Top 100 Future leaders Award.
#1 Australian uni attended by start-up founders.
I was able to improve my skills in data science and apply the knowledge to health-related areas.
