Graduate Diploma of Health and Medical Sciences

School of Medicine

Are you a professional who wishes to enhance your knowledge, skills and career prospects? The Graduate Diploma of Health and Medical Sciences at The University of Notre Dame Australia provides non-science graduates with health and medical knowledge to apply in their professional life. If you are a non-science graduate who wishes to apply to graduate-entry medicine programs, it may enhance your study preparation.

  • Why study this program?

    The Graduate Diploma of Health and Medical Sciences combines the content of the Graduate Certificate in Health Sciences and the Graduate Certificate in Medical Sciences into one qualification to achieve an understanding of the health sciences and an applied introduction to medical sciences.

    The Graduate Diploma of Health and Medical Sciences introduces the fundamental biological sciences that underpin human health and wellbeing and strengthen students’ appreciation of the broader context of health and healthcare.

    This Diploma is well suited for professionals wishing to enhance their knowledge, skills and career prospects. Examples include Law graduates wanting to transition into medico-legal, health regulation or IP protection work; business graduates seeking a career in health management; teachers wanting more profound knowledge for teaching Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) studies; a range of graduates working in public policy. In addition to the vocational benefits of this Diploma, it may assist non-Science graduates preparing to study medicine.

    High achieving Graduate Diploma graduates may be eligible for an offer of an interview for graduate-entry medicine at the School of Medicine, if they also meet the Notre Dame GEMSAS requirements.

  • Program summary

    Students will study:

    • MEDI5001 Scientific Literacy and Communication
    • MEDI5002 Environment, Society and Health
    • PHIL6020 Ethical Issues in Professional Life
    • MEDI5004 The Australian Health Care System
    • MEDI5005 Human Body 1
    • MEDI5006 Cellular and Molecular Biology
    • MEDI5007 Human Body 2
    • MEDI5008 Research Methods in Health

    There are no Practicum or Internship requirements in the Graduate Diploma of Health and Medical Sciences.

    Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

    More information regarding courses can be found at the course descriptions page.

  • Entry requirements

    A completed undergraduate Bachelor degree.

  • Learning outcomes

    Upon successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Health and Medical Sciences, graduates will be able to:

    1. Apply knowledge of the structure and function of the human body, health, health care and advancing medical knowledge in professional contexts
    2. Integrate knowledge of health and medical sciences in other fields of endeavour, for professional development and lifelong learning
    3. Critically analyse and apply ethical principles related to health care and medical sciences
    4. Apply research and problem-solving skills to analyse and critically appraise health and scientific information
    5. Communicate health and medical science information effectively
    6. Apply an understanding of the organization and regulatory framework of the Australian healthcare system in professional contexts; and
    7. Critically analyse the impact of biological, social, and environmental determinants of health on the well-being of individuals and populations.
  • Career opportunities

    A Graduate Certificate in Medical Sciences will give you the skills and knowledge to work as a research or lab assistant in government, non-government organisations, labs or universities. With further study, clinical immunology scientists, pathologists, pharmacologists, biomedical scientists, and histology technicians.

  • Real-world experience

    You will learn from our academics, who are leaders in their field. There are no practicum requirements for this program.

  • Fees and costs

    This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:


    Domestic Fee-Paying
    A domestic fee-paying place is a place at university where the student is responsible for the full cost the program.

    Eligible domestic fee-paying students may apply for the FEE-HELP loan scheme which assists eligible fee-paying students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your FEE-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.


    For indicative fees and information on how to pay, including Government loan schemes and our online calculator, visit our Fees, costs and scholarships page.

  • More information

    Considering your uni options?

    Talk to one of our career advisors for a personalised advice session. Our advisors provide support while choosing a program of study and completing our application process. Book my session.


    For more information, please call our Prospective Students Office on +61 2 8204 4404 or email sydney@nd.edu.au.


    For more information, please email studyonline@nd.edu.au.



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*2021 Graduate Outcomes Survey-Longitudinal (medium term outcome), undergraduate category, **2021 Student Experience Survey, postgraduate category and ***2021 Student Experience Survey, postgraduate category - qilt.edu.au

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