Graduate Certificate in Clinical Informatics and Digital Health - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Program Duration 

The program has been designed for part-time delivery over four semesters of study (or two years). We expect the two-year option to be easier for most students who are working full-time and juggling work/life and family commitments. 

Completing the program over two years you can do up to 4 units (2 courses per semester of study). It is recommended that students take CIDH7301 Foundations of Digital Health and Clinical Informatics and CIDH7302 Digital Health in Action before enrolling in other courses in your program.

Completing the program in 12 months 

However, it is possible to complete the program in one year, If you are interested in a one-year option, you would do Courses 1 (CIDH7301 Foundations of Digital Health and Clinical Informatics) and 3 (CIDH7303 Data and Analytics for Quality Improvement) in Semester 1 and Courses 2 (CIDH7302 Digital Health in Action) and 4 (CIDH7304 Re-imagining Healthcare) in Semester 2.  We generally recommend the 2-year sequence in which each course builds on the next, and we have set our recommended prerequisites for each course in that way.  But it is possible to do it in 1 year if you wish. 

Please enquire here if you would like to further discuss options.

Ask a question to the program convenors 

Indicative annual fee

A Commonwealth supported place (CSP) is a spot at uni that’s subsidised by the government. This subsidy doesn’t cover your entire tuition fee, but the reduction is often significant. 

The savings are quite appealing. And remember that this is a subsidy – not a loan that you’ll have to pay back. We are offering more CSP's than ever before, so it's the perfect time to take advantage of these reduced fees.   

Further details on Commonwealth supported places (CSPs) 

A CSP and HECS-HELP loan are not the same thing. A CSP is the subsidy paid by the Government and HECS-HELP is a loan you can get to pay your student contribution amount. Eligibility for a CSP and HECS-HELP are not the same. The student contribution amount must be paid by the census date. If you are not eligible for a HECS-HELP loan you will need to organise to pay this amount upfront. Just being eligible for a CSP does not mean that you will be offered one. You must meet the academic entry requirements set by your provider to get into the course. You can view a fact sheet on CSPs and HECS-HELP here.  Eligibility To get a CSP, you must: be one of the following: 

• be an Australian citizen, who will complete some of your course of study while resident in Australia; or 
• a New Zealand citizen; or an Australian permanent visa holder; or an eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder; who studies the entire course while living in Australia 
• have a Unique Student Identifier (USI) prior to the first census date (for new enrolments from 1 January 2021) 
• have sufficient Student Learning Entitlement available (for new enrolments from 1 January 2022) 
• meet the completion rate requirements (for new enrolments from 1 January 2022) 
• not undertake more than 2 years' worth of higher education study within 12 months (unless your provider has approved you to take on more). 

How can I get a CSP? 

• As well as the above residency and citizenship requirements, to get a CSP you must apply for the course through a Tertiary Admissions Centre (TAC); or directly through your chosen higher education provider. 
• Follow the instructions to 'accept your offer' in the letter that your provider will send you. The letter will tell you if the place you have been offered is a CSP or not. 
• Complete your CSP and HECS-HELP loan application form given to you by your provider by the census date. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants

The program is delivered part-time over four semesters of study (or two years). Students will complete GCCIDH program requirements comprising 8 units (4 courses).

GCCIDH Core Courses

Complete 8 units for ALL of the following:

• Foundations of Digital Health and Clinical Informatics
  (CIDH7301) 2 units

• Digital Health in Action
  (CIDH7302) 2 units

• Data and Analytics for Quality Improvement
  (CIDH7303) 2 units

• Re-imagining Healthcare
  (CIDH7304) 2 units

The program has been designed for part-time delivery therefore you can complete up to 4 units (2 courses per semester of study). It is recommended that students take CIDH7301 Foundations of Digital Health and Clinical Informatics and CIDH7302 Digital Health in Action before enrolling in other courses in your program.

Are there flexible study options? How should I plan my studies?

The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Informatics and Digital Health program is delivered fully online and offers flexibility with both synchronous (participation in live classes) and self-paced delivery.

It's recommended that you spend approximately 10 hours studying per week for each 2-unit course, including contact time, during the semester. Some courses may require more hours.

We have many professionals enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Informatics and Digital Health who haven’t completed previous study in a health-related discipline. If you have completed a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, plus 2 years full-time equivalent, relevant work experience (see below), or have completed post-secondary studies, plus 3 years full-time equivalent, relevant work experience, you can be considered for entry.

Relevant work experience means:

• work experience in a relevant discipline (see above), or
• work experience in areas such as business, commerce, economics, IT and engineering.

Applications based on post-secondary study and work experience will be assessed individually

The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Informatics and Digital health offers a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning. Course coordinators will offer live sessions to meet and engage with course staff and fellow students through discussions and group activities. Students will also be required to complete readings, assignments and assessment items to complete at their own pace within the required timeframes.

What support can I receive throughout my studies?

Each course will have dedicated course coordinators and teaching staff to help you engage and understand the course content. The contact details for your course coordinators can be found in your Electronic Course Profile (or ECP) which outlines contact information, assessment details and learning activities.

Your program convenor will be available throughout your program to provide course advice and respond to any issues that may arise in your studies.

Students will have access to all resources available for on-campus students, including UQ Employability. Students can also be involved in the Digital Health Network across UQ and Queensland Health. 

The Graduate Certificate in Digital Health is taught in two standard semesters each year with a 13-week duration. Classes for each semester commence as follows:

• Semester 1, 2023 – classes commence on 19 February 2024
• Semester 2, 2023 – classes commence on 22 July 2024