Graduate Certificate in Health Research

The Graduate Certificate in Health Research is suitable for health professionals wishing to upskill in foundational skills and knowledge in health research methods.

It allows the development of research capacity in the health workforce and provides a pathway for further research training.

You will develop research capacity in understanding, appraising, and designing health research, which will provide you with solid foundations to pursue further research training, such as a Masters by Research.

In addition, by providing you with the relevant knowledge and skills to search for and critically appraise research evidence, this degree will help you to apply evidence-based practice (EBP) into clinical decision making processes, which is now recognised as a core competency across a range of health professions.

You’ll graduate with core research competencies including understanding research designs and formulating research questions, data acquisition and analysis, interpretation of research studies and their clinical relevance.

Entry requirements

Essential requirements for admission

You will gain a critical and practical understanding of research principles, methods, data sources/acquisition and analysis, and interpretation of findings, applicable to health research.

You will be able to confidently access, manage and analyse various types of health data, and also to effectively communicate, translate and disseminate research principles, theories and findings to inform policy and practice.

Study in either a full-time or part-time capacity, with opportunities for real-time interaction through weekly virtual classrooms. All courses are available online to provide flexible learning arrangements, and are scheduled to complement each other in terms of both principles/content and to provide staged learning opportunities irrespective of whether a candidate is enrolled full-time or part-time.

You will also have the opportunity to choose an elective from areas such as health evaluation, qualitative research approaches or research project development.

For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects and contribute to online discussion forums. So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12 – 26 hours of study when at university and 14 – 28 hours of independent study per week.

Enrich your studies and your life – make overseas study part of your qualification. Australian and international students may have the option to do an exchange, short-term program or study tour overseas. We have links with universities worldwide. You can choose short-term or semester-long study from a range of universities and countries depending on your area of study and cultural interests.

This degree is offered online. This means that you:

• will study online, including accessing access videos and course resources
• participate in an interactive online learning environment
• submit your assignments and get feedback online
• use discussion forums for team work and communication

With interactive online course materials and a 24/7 learning environment, you can organise your study to suit your lifestyle.

Your career

This postgraduate qualification is primarily designed for existing health professionals who would like to further develop their skill set, or for those wishing to pursue further research training.

Graduates may be employed by:

• agencies responsible for health, including local, state and federal government and non-government organisations
• regulatory bodies
• health research centres or institutes
• health education facilities.

Applying to study with us:

• go to the top of this page and make note of the SATAC code, then click Apply
• you will be redirected through to the SATAC website to continue your application

Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, tech zones, and areas that simulate real work environments. You’ll also find student gyms and campus sport activities to keep you active. We also offer flexible study options, with online resources available for accessing lecture recordings, virtual classrooms, library resources and learning support.

Adelaide has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation or private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages for plenty of options. If you need somewhere to live, our new student accommodation by urbanest is on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, a perfect location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.

Our student support services can make your life at university easier. We provide a full range of support services including academic and personal counselling. You can also access a range of services through our students association, USASA. When you become a UniSA student you can contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and any other questions you might have.

We have six campuses in metropolitan and regional areas, each with advanced facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, laboratories, and areas that simulate real work environments.