Program overview
The MPhil (Applied Epidemiology), known as the MAE Program, is Australia’s only Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP), and achieved TEPHINET accreditation in 2018. The MAE Program is a two-year advanced FETP combined with an applied research degree that trains the public health leaders of the future. Through the MAE Program, scholars undertake a 20-month field placement, eight weeks of intensive coursework, and complete an applied research thesis.
The MAE Program aims to build a highly skilled epidemiology workforce and strengthen capacity to prepare, protect, and respond to communicable disease and other health threats in Australia and our region. The National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH) at the Australian National University (ANU) has run the MAE Program since 1991, and 244 individuals have graduated since that time.
MAE scholars spend the majority of their time in a field placement, typically in a state, territory, or federal government health department, or a public health research institute. While in their field placements, MAE scholars complete at least four useful and important applied research projects to meet the core competencies of outbreak investigation, public health surveillance, epidemiological study and an analysis of a public health dataset.
Learning in the field placements is supported by three coursework intensives at ANU (total of eight weeks) where MAE scholars complete relevant coursework. MAE scholars are also required to complete other course requirements including teaching, writing a peer-reviewed paper and presenting their work at a national or international conference.