Master of Health Professional Education

Graduates of the Master of Health Professional Education should be able to:

1. LO1 Describe advanced principles of evidence-based practice in contemporary healthcare education including knowledge translation, critical inquiry and research.
2. LO2 Implement a range of advanced evidence-based educational knowledge and skills in critical inquiry, research and evaluation, and leadership that focuses on driving change for the improvement of quality and safety in health care.
3. LO3 Synthesise and evaluate different sources and forms of information in order to lead practice change through education activities and programs including simulation.

The Master of Health Professional Education supports the acquisition of evidence-based practice as a framework, to develop clinicians’ knowledge and skills using contemporary learning and teaching strategies. Graduates from this course will have an advanced level of knowledge and skills to educate and lead education of and for health professionals, with the overall intention of improving safe and quality patient care. The course will enable health educators to work across a range of health education settings and the understanding to employ educational strategies relevant to contemporary healthcare workplaces. The course connects theory, practice and research and the structure of the course enables students to undertake studies relevant to their level of professional development and readiness to undertake further studies. It enables students to exit at an earlier level of qualification as well as continue building their knowledge and skills base due to the scaffolding approach of the program. Students can tailor their course by selecting one elective unit focusing on advancing skill and knowledge.

Recommended study pattern

To qualify for the Master of Health Professional Education degree, a student must complete 120 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of:

For Project Stream:

• 70 cp from Specified Health Professional Education Units
• 40 cp from Project Stream Units
• 10 cp from Elective Units.

For Research Stream:

• 70 cp from Specified Health Professional Education Units
• 50 cp from Research Stream Units.

Specified Health Professional Education Units

• HLSC604 Quality and Safety in Health Care (10cp)
• HLSC608 Theoretical Foundations of Health Professional Education (10cp)
• HLSC609 Facilitating Learning in Health Professional Settings (10cp)
• HLSC640 Interpreting Health Research (10cp)
• HLSC664 Curriculum Design, Assessment and Evaluation in Health Professional Education (10cp)
• HLSC665 Contemporary Teaching for Health Professional Education (10cp)
• PHIL623 Healthcare Ethics: Principle in Practice (10cp).

Project Stream Units

• HLSC605 Leadership in Health Care (10cp)
• HLSC617 Independent Project (20cp)
• HLSC666 Advanced Simulation Practice (10cp).

Elective Units

To be selected in consultation with the Course Coordinator:

• HLSC603 Organisational Culture and management (10cp)
• HLSC606 Workforce Management (10cp)
• HLSC607 Policy and Planning in Health Care (10cp)
• HLSC650 Recovery Oriented Mental Health (10cp)
• HLSC652 Health Promotion and Social Inclusion (10cp)
• HLSC655 Reflective Practice and Clinical Supervision in Mental Health (10cp)
• HLSC6661 Facilitative Leadership, Coaching and Mentoring (10cp).

Research Stream Units

• HLSC42 Biostatistics for Health Sciences (10cp)

OR

• HLSC646 Qualitative Research Methods (10cp)
• HLSC623 Research Disseration Part A (20cp)
• HLSC624 Research Dissertation Part B (20cp).

Award requirements

To qualify for the degree, a student must complete 120 credit points from the schedule of subject offerings.

Exit points

A student who has completed the following requirements from the specialisations in the Schedule of Unit Offerings may exit with the relevant award:

• Graduate Certificate in Health Professional Education: 40 credit points from Specified Units in the Schedule of Unit Offerings for that award
• Graduate Diploma in Health Professional Education: 80 credit points from Specified Units in the Schedule of Unit Offerings for that award.

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Indicative total fee $12,177

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.

Learn more about ACU.

Explore ACU courses.

QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

35

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

26

To be eligible for admission to the Master of Health Professional Education, an applicant must:

• have completed either a bachelor degree in a health discipline or equivalent; OR
• have completed either the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Education, the Graduate Certificate in Health Professional Education, the Graduate Diploma in Clinical Education or the Graduate Diploma in Health Professional Education; AND
• have completed at least one year of clinical or work experience prior to admission.

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

In addition to meeting higher education requirements, applicants must have completed at least one year of clinical or work experience prior to admission.

Academic IELTS with an overall score of 6.5: with minimum scores of 6.0 in all tests.

Pearson Test of English (PTE) 58: with a minimum of 50 in all four communicative skills.

Test of English as a Foreign Language - Academic TOEFL Internet based total of 79: with a minimum 21 in writing, 18 in speaking, 13 in reading and 12 in listening.

ACU English Language Test - B(65-74%).

Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) Overall CAE of 176: with a minimum individual score of 169 in all tests.

Applicants who have completed ACU's Graduate Certificate in Health Professional Education will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of 40 credit points from Specified Units in the Schedule of Unit Offerings for that award

Applicants who have completed ACU's Graduate Diploma in Health Professional Education will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of 80 credit points from Specified Units in the Schedule of Unit Offerings for that award.

If you have already studied at university level or have significant relevant work experience, you can apply for credit towards your ACU course. Credited units replace units you would otherwise study, so you can finish your course earlier.

There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of the course or unit. Learn more about inherent requirements and how they affect you, and explore the requirements for your course.