This is a resources site for prospective students and employers interested in providing additional training opportunities for their staff. As a consortium, the BCA works a little differently to enrolment at single universities. We recommend that you read this summary of how the BCA works before consulting the documents and links listed below.

BCA Consortium Outline
BCA Program Outline 2011
BCA Curriculum 2011
BCA Student Testimonials
A note about the mathematical foundation of the BCA program
Fee Help
Study by Distance Education
Textbook & Software Guide for students 2010
Statistical software short courses
BCA Scholarships
BCA community page
Links

BCA Consortium Outline

Describes how the consortium works, including how delivery is managed between universities, and contains contact details for BCA program coordinators and postgraduate administrators at all consortium universities. More information:

Download BCA Consortium Outline PDF

BCA Program Outline 2010

Contains current information about all 3 levels of the program  - (Post)Graduate Certificate, (Post)Graduate Diploma, and Masters Degree.
Details include entry requirements and unit of study outlines. See the table on page 5 for semester availability and prerequisites for units of study, and page 6 for examples of how you might structure your studies. More information:

Download BCA Program Outline 2010 PDF

BCA curriculum 2010

Download the curriculum guideline

BCA Student Testimonials

Click here to view testimonials of current and graduate BCA students.

A note about the mathematical foundation of the BCA program

A fundamental principle underlying the BCA program is that a thorough knowledge of biostatistical concepts and methods requires a sound mathematical understanding. To practise effectively as a biostatistician you must be able to read, interpret, evaluate and potentially implement published papers that propose new methods and software for statistical design and analysis.  The language of these methods is mathematics.

As outlined in the entry requirements, the completion of courses in mathematics at university level is not required but applicants must have a proven aptitude for advanced mathematical work, indicated for example by a high level of achievement in high school or undergraduate mathematics. We appreciate that many people working in various health and medical related fields may not have specialised mathematical training; therefore the BCA program provides instruction not only in the application of biostatistical methods but also in their underlying mathematical foundations.

For this reason, the program includes three mathematically based foundation units (subjects, courses).

1. Mathematical Background for Biostatistics (MBB) which covers multivariable calculus and matrix algebra.
2. Probability and Distribution Theory (PDT) provides the essentials of probability theory, random variables and the manipulation of probability distribution functions.
3. Principles in Statistical Inference (PSI) which gives a thorough grounding in the core concepts of statistical inference including likelihood theory and parameter estimation.

If you have not completed courses in mathematics at university level you may find these foundation subjects challenging, however, once accomplished, you will have the tools to tackle the statistical concepts in subsequent units with confidence.

Fee Help

Information for prospective students, about the Postgraduate Education Loans Scheme
More information:

Click here to access information about FEE HELP

Study by Distance Education

Advice about how to get the best from your study by distance education.More information:

Click here for advice about distance education

Textbook & Software Guide for Students

Details of all compulsory textbooks and statistical software for 2009, including purchasing details.Last updated: 10 Dec 2008. More information:

Download Textbook & Software Guide PDF

Statistical Software Short Courses

Information for short courses in SAS and Stata. More information:

Click here for information about short courses for SAS and Stata

BCA Scholarships

Three annual awards for excellence are granted to outstanding applicants. More information:

Click here to find out more about BCA scholarships

Links

Click here to view linked pages and documents

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