Why study with us?

Want the best? Our consortium-based approach allows you to learn from the leaders in their field for each of the subjects.

• You will have access to the top biostatistical experts from around Australia. Our courses are taught by experts in the field based across the participating universities. Participating in their classes is a perfect opportunity to learn from the best and to build successful networks for your future career in the field.
• You can chose the BCA university of enrolment (your home university) from among the four collaborating universities.
• You will be able to build extensive professional networks among your course peers.
• You can chose from three levels of the program – Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Masters. (Check enrolment options with the university of your choice.)
• The program can be completed 100% online with a great degree of flexibility to help you manage personal and professional commitments with your study demands. (Some universities may offer Epidemiology unit which includes an on-campus component.)
  
• You can chose from a large number of elective units to pursue the areas of biostatistics which interest you most (depending on the number of waivers or credits awarded).
• The program is fully accredited by Statistical Society of Australia. Students who graduate from the program with a Masters or Graduate Diploma will, on joining the Statistical Society of Australia, be automatically entitled to accreditation as a Graduate Statistician.

What is the Biostatistics Collaboration of Australia (BCA)?

The BCA is a consortium of experts from around Australia with representatives from universities, government and the pharmaceutical industry who have combined to offer a national (and international) program of postgraduate courses via an alliance of five universities collectively known as the Biostatistics Collaboration of Australia (BCA). The BCA member universities include Monash University, The University of Sydney, The University of Queensland, The University of Adelaide and Macquarie University. The University of Melbourne is a BCA affiliated partner.

Our collaboration has developed a focused curriculum with a commitment to provide Australia with well-trained professional biostatisticians and upgrade the skills of clinical researchers. The courses provide a sound mathematically-based grounding in statistical methods with a strong emphasis on applications in all areas of health and medical research.

How is the consortium coordinated?

The BCA has a coordinating office which communicates directly to students and coordinators across the consortium universities. Staff at this office collect student information and compile class lists for the individual unit coordinators. Unit coordinators then communicate directly with students enrolled in their units of study, initially by email and then via the online learning management system (LMS), Canvas, used by the BCA.

The BCA office does not replace the postgraduate office at your home university. Students apply to enter the course directly through one of the BCA universities and make all changes to their candidatures including enrolment into units of study, withdrawal, suspension/leave of absence and updating their personal contact details through the student administration system of their home university.

BCA Office staff are available at all times to answer enquiries.

Statistical Society of Australia accreditation

The BCA program is accredited by the Statistical Society of Australia.

The Statistical Society of Australia awarded the 2019 President’s Award for Leadership in Statistics to the BCA

The BCA is a collaborative teaching program and works a little differently from face-to-face (on-campus) studies delivered by one university.

Key facts about the program

Prospective students can apply to the university of their choice (among the 4 BCA awarding universities). Please be mindful that entry policies can differ across BCA awarding universities.

Each unit of study within the program is delivered online from one of 6 participating universities.

Applicants are advised to seek academic advice about their prospective study program from the Program Coordinator at the university in which they wish to enrol (this will become their ‘home’ university). The program coordinator is the academic at each awarding university responsible for the BCA program of courses in biostatistics.

The BCA Office facilitates administration between universities. BCA staff liaise between students, unit coordinators and university personnel. Enrolment must be through an awarding univeristy, but you are very welcome to direct enquiries to us.

Fees

All BCA courses at all member universities are full fee-paying. Unfortunately no Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are available.

FEE HELP  is available through the Australian Government Postgraduate Education Loans Scheme.

1 Apply

Make sure you’ve checked the eligibility criteria

In addition to the standard procedures at your chosen university, you may be asked to complete a BCA form. These help us get you up and running at the start of semester. They are for BCA office use only; they do NOT constitute enrolment in units or courses. Application and subsequent enrolment must be completed at your home university.

Regardless of university cut-off dates, you should apply to enrol in plenty of time for the following semester. The consortium environment entails additional administration to get you setup to study.

Note that you may be able to enrol in one or two units as non-award units, depending on your current academic qualifications, either as a precursor to joining the BCA program or as a student of another award at a BCA university.

BCA office staff are always available to answer questions you may have. However, academic inquiries will need to be directed to the relevant Program Coordinator.

2 Accept

Once your application has been accepted, you will be sent an offer, which you need to accept before you can enrol at your chosen university via their online student administration system.

You will become a student of this university, so make sure you familiarise yourself with their online services, policies and procedures.

3 Enrol

Most units are associated with co/prerequisites and some units of study are semester specific whilst others are offered in both semesters. In order to plan your study, it is important to consult the Curriculum and Study Schedules.

Students enrol in units via their Home University Student Administration Portal. Given the additional administration between universities, students are encouraged to enrol in units early.

Always check the BCA semester dates, as they may not match your home university semester dates.

You will need to buy textbooks and software where required for your units of study. As you will generally need to make these purchases online, you should do this as soon as your application has been accepted.

When you need to enrol or withdraw from units of study, record changes to your personal details or apply for things such as deferral of study, you should do this through the online facility provided by your home university. For assistance with University policies and processes please contact your University’s Postgraduate Office or your Program Coordinator.