CHE Higher Degrees by Research

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at Monash University signifies that the holder has completed a course of postgraduate training under proper academic supervision and has submitted a thesis for examination that

1. demonstrates the candidate's capacity to carry out independent research;
2. external examiners have declared to be a significant contribution to knowledge.

The PhD program run by the Centre for Health Economics is designed to provide students with a rigorous academic grounding in their area of specialisation and to develop the skills required to undertake original research, together with the communication skills, both oral and written, that facilitate the dissemination of the results of their work.

Program of study

The thesis

The principal component of the PhD is a major thesis of up to 100,000 words, embodying the results of an original research project. The thesis is written under the direct supervision of one or more members of the academic staff. The candidate, together with the supervisor, is responsible for developing the research program to be followed. The program should be designed to take approximately three years of full-time equivalent candidature.

Confirmation of candidature

All PhD students are initially enrolled on a probationary basis. At the end of the first year of full-time equivalent candidature students are required to submit a 1,000 word report and present a paper on their formal research proposal at a departmental seminar. This work is designed to review the overall research topic, evaluate the research undertaken to date and ascertain the anticipated future directions of the research program. A specially convened review panel makes a recommendation on the student's confirmation of candidature and future progress.

Participation in departmental activities

All candidates are expected to participate fully in the intellectual and academic life of the department. To this end, candidates are required to discuss their progress with the supervisor at regular intervals (at least once a month) and to attend all departmental research seminars and PhD workshops.

Coursework

Candidates may be required to complete additional coursework.  If deemed necessary this will be prescribed by the head of the department in conjunction with the supervisor and the convenor of the graduate program. An applicant may be required to enrol initially into a masters by research (M.Phil) program and apply to upgrade to the PhD after twelve months equivalent full-time candidature.  Any coursework that is prescribed will be designed to widen the candidate's knowledge, to place the specialised research project within a broader disciplinary context, and to enhance the student's research skills.

For more information on the Master of Philosophy degree see the  M.Phil webpage; see also the relevant entry in the Postgraduate Handbook.

Financial Support

Financial support in the form of university, faculty and departmental scholarships is available. For further information see our Postgraduate Scholarships page.

Further enquiries

Convenor of Graduate Program
C/o Ms Sandy Johnson
Centre for Health Economics
Building 75, Monash University
Clayton, Vic. 3800
Australia

Email:sandra.johnson@buseco.monash.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 9905 0789
Fax: +61 3 9905 8344

Supervisors for Higher Degrees by Research (HDR)

The Centre for Health Economics offers enrolment opportunities in both the PhD program and the MPhil program. Areas of Specialisation by supervisor are:

Dr Duncan Mortimer

• Modelling for economic evaluation
• Outcomes measurement for economic evaluation
• Economic evaluation alongside clinical trials
• Priority setting
• Quantitative analysis of health policy

Professor Anthony Harris

• Economic evaluation
• Economics of the pharmaceutical industry
• Quantitiative analysis of health policy

Professor Bruce Hollingsworth

• Efficiency and Productivity Measurement
• Production of Health and Health Care

• Determinants of Health

Professor Brett Inder

• Empirical development economics, with a particular focus on access to education and health services,

• Empirical modelling of interactions between health and labour market outcomes.

Professor Jeff Richardson

• The Theory of Cost Utility Analysis
• Measurement for Economic Evaluation
• Social ObjectivesHealth Systems and Health Insurance

Associate Professor Xueyan Zhao

• Discrete and limited dependent variable models
• Microeconometric models with applications in health, education, migration, labour, and agricultural economics.