Program Overview

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Master of Infectious Diseases

About the course

With infectious diseases on the rise, now more than ever there is a greater demand for research into the management of these diseases. The Master of Infectious Diseases provides you with the knowledge and skills to accurately identify pathogens and develop policies for the prevention and immunity of infectious diseases.

Quick details

• Status: Available
• Locations: Perth (Crawley campus)
• Attendance: Full-time, Part-time
• Delivery: On-campus
• Starting dates: Semester 1
• Weekly contact time: Approximately 46 hours per week (over 13 weeks) which includes contact hours, personal study and examinations.
• Level of study: Postgraduate
• Course Code: 54540
• CRICOS code: F
• Full time/part time duration: 2 years/4 years
• Degrees course is available in: Master of Infectious Diseases

Important dates

• Intake Periods: Semester 1, 2026
• Application Open: Domestic applications open Friday 1 August 2026, International applications open Sunday 1 June 2025
• Application Close: Domestic applications close Friday 31 October 2025, International applications close Friday 31 October 2025

Course structure

Postgraduate coursework degrees and combined (coursework and research) degrees comprise a number of units. Refer to the course structure for more information.

• Take all core units (48 points).
• Students in the course by coursework and dissertation undertaking 48 points of dissertation take all units in Group A (48 points).
• Students in the course by coursework and dissertation undertaking 24 points of dissertation take all units in Group B (42 points) and 6 points from Group C.
• Students in the course by coursework only take 6 points from Group C and 42 points from Group D.

Core units

• MICR5829 Foundations of Infectious Diseases (6)
• MICR5830 Principles of Mycology and Parasitology (6)
• MICR5831 Molecular and Cellular Microbiology (6)
• MICR5832 Diagnostic Medical Microbiology (6)
• MICR5842 Principles of Infection and Immunity (6)
• MICR5846 Molecular Epidemiology and Microbial Communities (6)
• PUBH4401 Biostatistics I (6)
• PUBH4403 Epidemiology I (6)

Option - Group A

• Take unit(s) to the value of 48 points:
  • MICR5843 Extended Research Project in Infectious Diseases Part 1 (12)
  • MICR5844 Extended Research Project in Infectious Diseases Part 2 (12)
  • MICR5845 Extended Research Project in Infectious Diseases Part 3 (12)
  • MICR5848 Extended Research Project in Infectious Diseases Part 4 (12)

Option - Group B

• Take unit(s) to the value of 42 points:
  • MICR5817 Vaccine & Drug Design & Development (6)
  • MICR5835 Vectors of Infectious Diseases and Vector Control (6)
  • MICR5836 Public and Environmental Health Microbiology (6)
  • MICR5838 Research Project in Infectious Diseases Part 1 (12)
  • MICR5841 Research Project in Infectious Diseases Part 2 (12)

Option - Group C

• Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
  • MICR5833 Antimicrobial Agents (6)
  • PUBH5761 Epidemiology and Control of Communicable Diseases (6)

Option - Group D

• Take unit(s) to the value of 42 points:
  • MICR5815 Science Communication in Infectious Diseases (6)
  • MICR5816 Infectious Diseases Literature Review (6)
  • MICR5817 Vaccine & Drug Design & Development (6)
  • MICR5835 Vectors of Infectious Diseases and Vector Control (6)
  • MICR5836 Public and Environmental Health Microbiology (6)
  • PATH5191 Clinical Laboratory Skills (6)
  • SCIE5515 Global Challenges in Biomedical Science (6)

Study options in Infectious Diseases

UWA also offers the following courses to advance your career:

• Graduate Diploma in Infectious Diseases
• Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Infectious Diseases

Public Health Focus

• Graduate Certificate in Communicable Diseases Epidemiology

Admission requirements

To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have:

• (a) a relevant bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
• (b)(i) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 60 per cent in the Level 3 units; or (ii) at least three years of relevant full-time professional experience; or (iii) evidence of adequate research outputs, as recognised by UWA.
• (c) for students who have completed 48 points of the Graduate Diploma in Infectious Diseases, a course UWA weighted average mark of at least 60 percent

A relevant bachelor's degree includes a Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, or Bachelor of Science in a biomedical or biological discipline, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Dental Science, or a bachelor's degree in applied biomedical science or public health (medical technology, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and veterinary science).

Ranking and Selection Process

Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.

English competency

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.

Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.

Fees and scholarships

Learn more about the fees that apply to you for this course.

Domestic Student Fees

For Commonwealth-supported places, student contribution amounts are charged by unit, based on area of study. For a fee estimate, go to the Fee Calculator and select “I want to price my units”. Fees are subject to annual indexation. Refer to the Handbook to identify the units required.

International Student Fees

Annual course fee

2025

$52,000.00

Onshore international students are charged an annual course fee, charged per credit point at a rate dependent on the course in which the student is enrolled. Annual course fees are calculated based on an annual study load. Check the handbook to confirm the annual study load for your course.

Fees are subject to annual indexation.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

Cost of living

There are a few things to consider before applying to study at university. One could be your cost of living. This can depend on factors such as lifestyle, accommodation, tuition fees, medical insurance, textbooks and more. For an indication of expenses and average costs, see our Cost of living page.

Careers and further study

Explore the career opportunities available to you.

Career Pathways

This course is aimed at science-based and medical professionals intending to work in research and hospital diagnostic laboratories, medical clinics, government health departments and international agencies.

Further Study

Once a Master of Infectious Diseases is complete, further study can be undertaken with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). This involves independent, supervised research in a specialised discipline of infectious diseases. The PhD is assessed solely on the basis of a thesis that demonstrates mastery of the subject and an advancement in that field of knowledge.

Student experience

Sarah Bodewes

I have always been highly interested in microbiology; the concept of disease interests me so when I was searching for a degree I knew the UWA Master of Infectious Diseases was the one for me. One aspect of the course I enjoyed was the research project I undertook. I was able to learn many new skills and obtain a new understanding of diseases, plus working with the staff at PathWest was very rewarding.

The exposure we receive to guest lecturers is fantastic. Not only do we meet a lot of professional people who are working in their field, they are also highly enthusiastic about their topic of interest. This makes listening to lectures so much more enjoyable as you are always captivated. I would like to continue my career in a laboratory setting, either diagnostic or research based.

Hisham Osumanu

I have a background in laboratory sciences. Therefore, the Master of Infectious Diseases at UWA suited me so well because MID blends microbiology, immunology and public health epidemiology followed by almost 50 percent of in-depth laboratory sessions. I was able to study and review ranges of infectious pathogens that make us sick in greater details and learned to identify them in the laboratory. Another reason I went for MID was the fantastic opportunity to conduct real world medical research with world class researchers in Western Australia and that gave me a pathway for my current PhD research in Tumour Immunology at NCARD.

What I most enjoyed when studying the MID at UWA was the research project I undertook. I was able to learn many new skills and obtain a new understanding of diseases, plus working with the staff at Institute for Respiratory Health was very rewarding. The exposure we receive to guest lecturers is fantastic. Not only do we meet a lot of professional people who are working in their field, they are also highly enthusiastic about their topic of interest. This makes listening to lectures so much more enjoyable as you are always captivated. I would like to continue my career in a laboratory setting, either diagnostic or research based.

Facility

UWA Health Campus and QEII Medical Centre

The UWA Health Campus is part of the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre (QEIIMC) precinct. The site is home to UWA teaching, research and clinical facilities, along with two major hospitals and internationally renowned organisations such as the Lions Eye Institute, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, PathWest, The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, and Telethon Kids Institute.