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Master of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices) (Honours)

This course has been discontinued - the information is provided for continuing students.

  • This information is for local students.
  • This course is not available to international students.
    Am I a You are a local student if:
    you are an Australian citizen, or
    you are a New Zealand citizen (excluding TAFE courses), or
    you are an Australian permanent resident.
    You are an international student if:
    you are not an Australian citizen, and
    you are not a New Zealand citizen (excluding TAFE courses), and
    you are not an Australian permanent resident.    local or an international student    ?

Overview

There will be no intake into this program from Semester 1 2011. This program has been replaced by the
Master of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices and Quality Management). This information is provided for current students only.
This program covers the code of conduct referred to as the 'code of Good Manufacturing Practice' (cGMP) which is crucial in the development and manufacturing of new products for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, veterinary, medical and related industries.  It is designed to be at an advanced level and will introduce students to both theory and research aspects of science (cGMP).
 
The Master of Science (Honours) (Good Manufacturing Practices) (Honours) is part of a nested suite of programs incorporating the Graduate Certificate of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices), Graduate Diploma of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices) and Master of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices).
Duration2 years full-time or 4 years part-time
Study modeBlock Release
Full-time
Part-time (day & evening)
Course codeZ0854
Fees
The indicative course tuition fee is $18000 for 2011, based on one year full time load (or 1 EFTSL). The total tuition fee is dependent upon the combination of units of study selected by the student. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) is a suite of income-contingent loans for Australian citizens and holders of Australian permanent humanitarian visas. FEE-HELP is available to eligible fee-paying undergraduate and postgraduate students. It provides students with a loan to cover their tuition fees (lifetime maximum $85,062 from 1 January 2010). The FEE-HELP limit is indexed on 1 January each year.
Note: New Zealand citizens and holders of other Australian permanent resident visas do not have access to HELP loans. These students must pay their student contributions or tuition fees up front without a discount.
For further information on your support and study options visit the 'Going to Uni' website at: http://www.goingtouni.gov.au
For information about Swinburne's fees visit: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/fees

Career opportunities

The program is primarily aimed at laboratory staff, managers and practitioners in industries where good manufacturing practice is required. Completion of this program is expected to enhance employability and career positioning within companies.
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Course in detail

On this page: course description, course structure and units of study.

Course description

There will be no intake into this program from Semester 1 2011. This program has been replaced by the
Master of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices and Quality Management). This information is provided for current students only.
This program covers the code of conduct referred to as the 'code of Good Manufacturing Practice' (cGMP) which is crucial in the development and manufacturing of new products for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, veterinary, medical and related industries.  It is designed to be at an advanced level and will introduce students to both theory and research aspects of science (cGMP).
 
The Master of Science (Honours) (Good Manufacturing Practices) (Honours) is part of a nested suite of programs incorporating the Graduate Certificate of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices), Graduate Diploma of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices) and Master of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices).

Course structure

Program Structure - effective from 2010:
The Master of Science (GMP) (Honours) program is one of a nested suite of postgraduate programs in Good Manufacturing Practices. Flexible and block mode delivery may alter time frames but not credit point requirements. Master (Honours) students must undertake studies totalling 200 credit points, including a compulsory thesis, over two years (full-time) or four years (part-time).
International students must undertake the program on a full-time basis. While some units of study are available at interstate venues, international students may only undertake the program at the Hawthorn campus.
Interstate (non-Hawthorn campus) domestic applicants should note that some units of study may not be offered in some capital cities and that progression to the graduate diploma or master level of the good manufacturing suite of programs is unlikely due to the unavailability of some units of study at non-Hawthorn campus venues.
For the Master of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices) (Honours), students must complete a total of 200 credit points as follows: 
  • all five units of study from Group A (62.5 credit points) compulsorily including HES6401, HES6402 and HES6403 
  • two units of study from Group B (25 credit points)
  • two units of study from Groups C (25 credit points) compulsorily including HES6513
  • one unit of study from Group D (12.5 credit points)
  • one or two units of study from Group E (25 credit points) *
  • four units of study from any group (50 credit points) *
* Students who elect to undertake HES6420 Minor Thesis (50 cp) will be completing an additional 25 credit points from Group E, and will therefore only be required to complete 2 units of study (25 cp) from any group.
Students undertaking HES6421 must also undertake HES6422 in the subsequent semester.
Electives must be approved prior to enrolment by the program manager or nominee to ensure a sensible theme has been developed within the electives.

Units of study

Units of study for program structure - effective from 2010:
All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points (CP) unless indicated otherwise. 
Group A  (Core)
HES6401 International Good Manufacturing Practices and Quality Assurance
HES6402 Good Manufacturing Practices for Manufacturing Operations
HES6403 Validation Principles
HES6404 Good Quality Control Laboratory Practices
HES6405 Contamination Control
Group B (Process Development units)
HES6406 Process Development for Therapeutics (A) – A Perspective for Protein Therapeutics  *
HES6407 Process Development for Therapeutics (B) – A Perspective for Small Molecules  *
HES6408 Process Development for Therapeutics (C) – A Perspective for Medical Devices  *
HES6423 Process Development for Therapeutics (D) – Perspective for Pharmaceutical Finished Dose Forms
Group C (GMP Electives)
HES6409 Validation Practices
HES6410 Good Laboratory Practices (for Non-Clinical Laboratories)
HES6411 Computer Systems Validation Principles
HES6412 Computer Systems Validation Practices
HES6413 Good Aseptic Practices and Sterile Products
HES6414 Clinical Trials Quality Assurance Management
HES6415 GxP and Quality Auditing Practices
HES6513 Research Skills  *
Group D (Electives)
HES6418 Chemical Analysis of Pharmaceuticals  *
HES6419 Environmental Testing and Water Science  *
HES6426 Fundamentals of Process Analytical Technology
HES6427 Chemometrics
HES6428 Design of Experiments
HES6429 Risk Management for Pharmaceutical Operations
HES6516 Environmental Management *
HES6502 The Microbial World *
HES6514 Microbes in the Environment *
Group E (Project Units)
HES6420 Minor Thesis 
HES6421 Minor Thesis (Part Time) A 
HES6422 Minor Thesis (Part Time) B 
HES6424 Minor Research Project A 
HES6430 Minor Research Project B
HES6425 Major Research Project A (25 CP) 
HES6431 Major Research Project B (25 CP) 
* Only available at Hawthorn campus
Note: students undertaking HES6421 must also undertake HES6422 in the subsequent semester. Elective units of study may be added or removed from time to time as determined by the program manager and Faculty of Life and Social Sciences Academic Committee. Unit of study availability may vary due to enrolment quotas, timetable constraints, location and staff availability.
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Graduate outcomes

On this page: aims and objectives, career opportunities, professional recognition and graduate attributes.

Aims and objectives

The program aims to:
  • educate students in the fundamental reasons behind the requirement of good manufacturing practice
  • develop in students a fundamental understanding of how good manufacturing practice operates and how the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, veterinary, medical and related industries are regulated
  • provide for students a theoretical understanding as well as practical experience in microbiological aspects of pharmaceutical manufacturing, cleaning and sanitation, documentation and record keeping, manufacturing and packaging, process control measures, supervisory responsibility, validation, quality audits, quality management, process development, clinical study requirements, regulatory body requirement, quality assurance and quality control
  • instil in students a research ethic and methodology enabling good quality scientific research
The specific objective of the master degree (honours) is to provide students with an advanced understanding of good manufacturing practices and to provide an avenue for students of exceptional ability and interest to pursue the topic to both:
  • a deep theoretical and practical understanding of a breadth of topics, and
  • a deep theoretical and practical understanding of one area at an advanced research level

Career opportunities

The program is primarily aimed at laboratory staff, managers and practitioners in industries where good manufacturing practice is required. Completion of this program is expected to enhance employability and career positioning within companies.

Professional recognition

Professional recognition from regulatory bodies may be sought.

Graduate attributes

Swinburne expects that its graduates:
  • are capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas
  • are entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace, or community
  • operate effectively and ethically in work and community situations
  • are adaptable and manage change
  • are aware of environments in which they will be contributing
Swinburne also expects its graduates to have developed the following:
  • teamwork skills
  • analysis skills
  • problem solving skills
  • communications skills,
  • ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
  • ability to work independently
Since this program requires a degree or equivalent for admission, students are expected to already exhibit most of these graduate attributes. Nevertheless, this program will enhance all of these attributes.
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On this page: entry requirements, credit transfer and recognition of prior learning

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

The entrance requirements for the Master of Science (Honours) degree are the same as the entrance requirements for the standard Master of Science degree, however, students must maintain a 70% or greater average in their year (100 credit points) or failing that, a 75% or greater average in their final semester (50 credit points) to qualify for their award.  If students fail to achieve this academic standard, but otherwise meet the requirements of the standard Master of Science degree then they may graduate with the standard Master of Science degree.
 
To be eligible for admission into the Master of Science (Honours) (Good Manufacturing Practices), a student should normally have completed an appropriate undergraduate science degree with honours, or an appropriate four-year undergraduate engineering degree with honours. An average of 60% or higher in a four-year undergraduate degree, an honours degree in another discipline with appropriate work experience, or a first degree in science or engineering with appropriate work experience, are examples of an honours equivalence. Students who satisfactorily meet this requirement can enrol directly into the Master (Honours) program or may be allowed to articulate seamlessly from the graduate diploma (assuming successful completion) to the Master (Honours) program. Students who do not satisfy this requirement may also be admitted to the Master (Honours) if they achieve a credit average or higher in the Graduate Diploma of Science (Good Manufacturing Practices).

Credit transfer

Successful completion of relevant units of study in a postgraduate degree, or equivalent, can provide entry into these programs with advanced standing. A maximum of 25% credit for each stage is permissible except where modules running in the program have been taken by students as stand-alone fee-paying units of study, in which case a maximum of 50% credit for each stage is permissible. Applicants will be considered on their individual merits and university policies will apply.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Relevant industry experience or successful completion of relevant units in a postgraduate degree can provide entry into these programs with advanced standing. A maximum of 25% credit for each stage is permissible except where modules running in the programs have been taken by students as stand-alone fee-paying units of study, in which case a maximum of 50% credit for each stage is permissible. Applicants will be considered on their individual merits and university policies will apply.
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Apply

On this page: how to apply, course fees and find out more.

How to apply

Application forms can be downloaded from the website at: www.swinburne.edu.au/hed/postgrad/apply
 


Course fees

The indicative course tuition fee is $18000 for 2011, based on one year full time load (or 1 EFTSL). The total tuition fee is dependent upon the combination of units of study selected by the student. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) is a suite of income-contingent loans for Australian citizens and holders of Australian permanent humanitarian visas. FEE-HELP is available to eligible fee-paying undergraduate and postgraduate students. It provides students with a loan to cover their tuition fees (lifetime maximum $85,062 from 1 January 2010). The FEE-HELP limit is indexed on 1 January each year.
Note: New Zealand citizens and holders of other Australian permanent resident visas do not have access to HELP loans. These students must pay their student contributions or tuition fees up front without a discount.
For further information on your support and study options visit the 'Going to Uni' website at: http://www.goingtouni.gov.au
For information about Swinburne's fees visit: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/fees

Find out more

Web: Enquire online
Tel: 1300 ASK SWIN (1300 275 794)
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