Graduate Diploma in Biostatistics

The Graduate Diploma in Biostatistics at The University of Melbourne provides an understanding of the concepts and analytic skills required to tackle today’s ever-increasing quantity of quantitative data in the health sciences, so that we can generate and apply new solutions to real-world problems.

The course encompasses the design of experiments and the collection, summary and analysis of data, including, importantly, the interpretation and communication of data analysis to health professionals using real-world datasets.

Your professional background could be in health sciences or mathematics – this degree suits both, but you must have an aptitude for mathematics. You can benefit from interaction with local biostatistics experts and also have access to academic biostatisticians located throughout Australia via our affiliation with the Biostatistics Collaboration of Australia. The course is also accredited by the Statistical Society of Australia Inc. (SSAI).

On completion of the Graduate Diploma, graduates will have attained the required skills for employment as a biostatistician. This course allows graduates to:

• Fast-track their qualification: study full-time and complete in one year
• Learn from leading biostatisticians at the University of Melbourne and Australia-wide
• Benefit from a hybrid approach to teaching: subjects offered both face-to-face and online
• Attain skills for employment as a professional biostatistician in medical and public health research centres, universities, hospitals, government departments and the pharmaceutical industry
• The course is accredited by the Statistical Society of Australia Inc. and is an affiliated program of the Biostatistics Collaboration of Australia

Upcoming information session

Biostatistics Information Session: 2025 Mid Year Intake

When: Wednesday 14 May 2025, 5.00-6.00pm AEST

Hear from Course Coordinator, Associate Professor Emily Karahalios, and students in this interactive session to learn more about the program, student experience, career opportunities and much more.

Booking link coming soon

Don't meet the prerequisite subject requirements?

You may have the option to enrol in specific single subjects through the University's Community Access Program, even if you are not enrolled in a course. Completing these prerequisite subjects may qualify you for entry into this course. This option is not available to student visa holders or applicants. Learn more about single subject study.

English language requirements

All applicants to the University of Melbourne must satisfy the English language requirements. This may be achieved in a number of ways, including recognised previous study taught and assessed entirely in English or an approved English language test. If you are from a non-English speaking background, the required standard of English for this degree is one of the following English proficiency test scores:

• English language test score requirements

• If you need to undertake an English language test, you must meet one of the scores* below:

  IELTS

  6.5

  ---

  with no band less than 6.0

  TOEFL

  79+

  ---

  with writing 21; speaking 18; reading 13; listening 13

  PEARSON

  64+

  ---

  with no communicative skill below 60

  CAMBRIDGE

  176+

  ---

  with no skill less than 169

  *Accepted tests: IELTS (Academic English Only); TOEFL Internet-based test; Pearson Test of English Academic; Cambridge English: Advanced/Certificate of Advanced English (CAE). If a test displays N/A, it means it is not accepted for this course.

About selection

Utilising the collective educational power of the Biostatistics Collaboration of Australia, you will develop knowledge across a wide range of biostatistical areas. This will allow you to pursue a wide array of career opportunities around the world, having gained official accreditation as a Graduate Statistician (GStat) from the Statistical Society of Australia.