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Master of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices and Quality Management)

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Overview

This program covers the code of conduct referred to as the 'code of Good Manufacturing Practice' (cGMP) which is crucial in the development and manufacturing of new products for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, veterinary, medical and related industries. It also covers Quality Management (QM) within the same industries and its role as an overseer of cGMP. It is designed to be at an advanced level and will introduce students to both theory and research aspects of science (cGMP and QM).
Information sessions
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Duration2 Year/s
Campus and intakes  Calendar
Hawthorn -Semester 1
Course codeZ0855
CRICOS code073314M
Fees*A$24,950 (annual for 2013)*
*The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students studying on-campus in Australia for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

Course in detail

On this page: course description, course structure and units of study.

Course description

The Master of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices and Quality Management) is part of a nested suite of programs incorporating the
 Graduate Certificate of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices), Graduate Diploma of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices) and Master of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices)
From Semester 1 2011, this program replaces the Master of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices) (Honours). In 2011, re-enrolling students may choose to remain enrolled in Z0854 Master of Science (Honours) (Good Manufacturing Practices) program or apply to transfer to Z0855 Master of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices and Quality Management).
(International students are required to study full-time.)

Course structure

The Master of Science (GMP & QM) program is one of a nested suite of postgraduate programs in Good Manufacturing Practices. Flexible and block mode delivery may alter time frames but not credit point requirements. Master students must undertake studies totalling 200 credit points, including a compulsory thesis, over two years (full-time) or four years (part-time).
International students must undertake the program on a full-time basis. While some units of study are available at interstate venues, international students may only undertake the program at the Hawthorn campus.
Interstate (non-Hawthorn campus) domestic applicants should note that some units of study may not be offered in some capital cities and that progression to the graduate diploma or master level of the good manufacturing suite of programs is unlikely due to the unavailability of some units of study at non-Hawthorn campus venues.
For the Master of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices and Quality Management), students must complete a total of 200 credit points as follows:  
  • all five units of study from Group A (62.5 credit points) compulsorily including HES6401, HES6402 and HES6403 
  • two units of study from Group B (25 credit points) 
  • two units of study from Group C (25 credit points) compulsorily including HES6513 
  • HES6429 or HES6516 as a Group D unit of study (12.5 credit points) 
  • one or two units of study from Group E (25 credit points)  ** 
  • four units of study from any group (50 credit points)  **
Notes:
** Students who elect to undertake HES6420 Minor Thesis (50 cp) will be completing an additional 25 credit points from Group E, and will therefore only be required to complete two units of study (25 cp) from any group.
Students undertaking HES6421 must also undertake HES6422 in the subsequent semester.
Electives must be approved prior to enrolment by the program manager or nominee to ensure a sensible theme, in which quality management is developed, has been developed within the electives.
Staff from Seer Pharma Pty Ltd teach units in this program.
(International students are required to study full-time.)

Units of study

Units of Study: (all units are valued at 12.5 credit points (cp) unless indicated otherwise)
* Only available at Hawthorn campus
Notes:
Students undertaking HES6421 must also undertake HES6422 in the subsequent semester.
Elective units of study may be added or removed from time to time as determined by the program manager and Faculty of Life and Social Sciences Academic Committee.
Unit of study availability may vary due to enrolment quotas, timetable constraints, location and staff availability. 

Graduate outcomes

On this page: aims and objectives, career opportunities and professional recognition.

Aims and objectives

The program aims to:
  • educate students in the fundamental reasons behind the requirement of good manufacturing practice and quality management;
  • develop in students a fundamental understanding of how good quality management and manufacturing practice operates and how the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, veterinary, medical and related industries are regulated;
  • provide students with a theoretical understanding as well as practical experience in microbiological aspects of pharmaceutical manufacturing, cleaning and sanitation, documentation and record keeping, manufacturing and packaging, process control measures, supervisory responsibility, validation, quality audits, quality management, process development, clinical study requirements, regulatory body requirement, quality assurance and quality control;
  • instil in students a research ethic and methodology enabling good quality scientific research.
The specific objective of this master degree is to provide students with an advanced understanding of good manufacturing practices and to provide an avenue for students of exceptional ability and interest to develop both breadth and depth of theoretical and practical understanding of the topic.

Career opportunities

The program is primarily aimed at laboratory staff, managers and practitioners in industries where good manufacturing practice is required. Completion of this program is expected to enhance employability and career positioning within companies.

Professional recognition

Professional recognition from regulatory bodies may be sought.

Entry requirements

This course has English language requirements and prerequisites.

English language requirements

Swinburne College English for Academic Purposes Certificate: EAP 5 Advanced: 70%; OR, obtaining a minimum IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0; OR, a TOEFL (Paper-based) minimum score of 550 (with Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Internet-based) minimum score of 79, with no individual band below 18. Refer to the English Language Requirements website for further information.

Prerequisites

To be eligible for the Master of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices and Quality Management), a student should normally have completed an appropriate undergraduate science degree with honours, or an appropriate four-year undergraduate engineering degree with honours. An average of 60% or higher in a four-year undergraduate degree, an honours degree in another discipline with appropriate work experience, or a first degree in science or engineering with appropriate work experience, are examples of an honours equivalence.

Students who satisfactorily meet this requirement can enrol directly into the Master program or may be allowed to articulate seamlessly from the graduate diploma (assuming successful completion) to the Master program. Students who do not satisfy this requirement may also be admitted to the Master program if they achieve a credit average or higher in the Graduate Diploma of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices).

Apply

On this page: course fees, scholarships and find out more.

Course fees*

A$24,950 (annual for 2013)

*The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students studying on-campus in Australia for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

Scholarships

A range of scholarships is available to international students, visit our Scholarship Page for details.

Find out more

Email: international@swinburne.edu.au

Phone:
+613 8676 7002 (outside Australia)
Freecall 1800 897 973 (within Australia)