Master of Philosophy in Applied Epidemiology (MAE)(Australia’s Field Epidemiology Training Program)
From 2024 the Master of Philosophy in Applied Epidemiology (MAE) Program will only be open to Australian citizens and Australian permanent residents.
Australia’s FETP
Australia’s Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) at ANU is an applied ‘learning-through-doing’ practitioner training program. The Australian program is TEPHINET-accredited, and part of a global network of 76 FETPs strengthening public health systems across more than 100 countries. The MAE partners with and complements health department initiatives to enhance workforce skills, health system performance and the evidence base for policies, programs and practice.
Established in 1991, our program is modelled on the highly regarded Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our graduates have gone on to hold senior positions in health departments across Australia, and work for international organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). Graduates, students, and our teaching staff frequently play critical roles in the coordination and field response to national and international public health events, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS, 2002–2003), H1N1 influenza (2009), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV, 2012–), Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines (2013), Ebola virus disease in West Africa (2014–2016), Cyclone Winston in Fiji (2016) and the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 onwards.
As of June 2021, our ever-growing network consists of 63 students and 270 alums. Their ability to respond proactively and add professional surge capacity to immediate health threats has garnered significant respect for our graduates and program worldwide.
The MAE is committed to supporting First Nations Scholars, with fifteen per cent of graduates identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Applied Epidemiology is a 22-month program that trains internationally accredited future public health leaders. Using an ‘on-the-job’ approach, students spend most of the program working within field placements. This supports capacity development in the health sector and ensures our alums gain real-life training contributing to the detection, investigation, response and control of acute public health events. Scholars also undertake short periods of intensive coursework and complete a research thesis. In addition, students can participate in an internship at WHO during their study to apply their learning in an international context.
Degree overview
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Applied Epidemiology is a 22-month program that trains internationally accredited future public health leaders. Using an ‘on-the-job’ approach, students spend most of the program working within field placements. This supports capacity development in the health sector and ensures our alums gain real-life training contributing to the detection, investigation, response and control of acute public health events. Scholars also undertake short periods of intensive coursework and complete a research thesis. In addition, students can participate in an internship at WHO during their study to apply their learning in an international context.
Key facts
What you will learn
MAE scholars spend most of their time in a field placement, typically a government health department or a research institute. While in their placements, scholars complete at least four useful and important research projects under the supervision of field and academic supervisors to meet the following competencies:
- Response to an acute public health threat (usually an outbreak investigation);
- Analysis of a public health data set;
- Conduct an epidemiological research project;
- Evaluation or establishing a surveillance system.
Learning in the field placements is supported by three coursework intensives at ANU (usually three-week blocks) where scholars complete courses in outbreak investigation, public health surveillance, data analysis, applied research methods and issues in applied epidemiology. Scholars must also complete other course requirements, including teaching, writing a peer review paper and presenting their work at a national or international conference.
Scholars write up their projects and their other requirements into a thesis submitted for examination (including an oral viva) to be awarded the MPhil degree.
The Master of Philosophy requires the completion of 30 units of coursework.
Download the Master of Applied Epidemiology flyer (PDF, 353KB).
Field placements
In Australia
MAE scholars receive on the job training in a field placement, typically a government health department or a research institute.
Read more about placements in Australia.
Research topics
We have a wide range of potential research topics. They range from short-term PhB projects to year-long honours and graduate projects to three-year PhD projects.
Student experience
Srean Chhim
- Graduate profile
Hear from graduate Srean Chhim about his MAE experience and deployment to the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge in Cambodia.
Celeste Marsh
- Graduate profile
Hear from Celeste Marsh about her MAE experience and deployment with the Department of Health and Aged Care and NSW Health.
Dr Kushani Marshall
- Student experience
Read about Dr Kushani Marshall’s MAE experience and deployment at Australia’s National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance.
First Nations graduates
Dr Jill Guthrie leads a discussion with First Nations Alumni Jocelyn Jones, Bobby Maher, Tamara Riley and Roxanne Jones about their MAE experiences.
Strengthening health systems in PNG
- In the field
Meet five MAE alumni working in Papua New Guinea to train the next generation of field epidemiologists.
One Health in Wadeye, Northern Territory
- In the field
Meet Tamara Riley as she combines her veterinarian skills with epidemiology in a One Health program in the remote community of Wadeye.
From Ebola to COVID-19 response
- In the field
Meet Dr Amy Parry as she works to upskill local health professionals in outbreak response.
Career opportunities
The MAE is Australia’s TEPHINET-accredited program. The skills our graduates learn throughout their training are recognised around the world and place them in good positions for employment nationally and internationally. Our graduates have gone on to hold senior positions in federal and state health departments across Australia. Roles range from emergency response in the National Incident Room to research, policy development and advice. Many have also worked for international organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), International Committee of the Red Cross, and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in both emergency response and ongoing roles.
Our graduates are eligible to join TEPHINET Alumni Network, which provides access to many professional opportunities in Australia and internationally. Graduates can also join the ARM Network – a network dedicated to facilitating the deployment of qualified Australian field epidemiologists and other public health specialists in the event of global, regional, and cross-jurisdictional public health disease emergencies.
Some graduates also pursue academic and research roles, with employment opportunities at universities worldwide.
As a student at ANU, you gain access to the ANU CareerHub – an online career development and employability tool that includes a jobs board and careers resources. You also have access to drop-in chats with a career consultant and to attend our career fairs to meet potential employers.
Meet some of your teachers
Tony Stewart (MAE Director)
Tony Stewart is the MAE Director. He graduated as part of the first cohort (1991-1993) and has been involved with the program and the global FETP ever since. After graduating from the MAE he worked with the Burnet Institute based in Indonesia on immunisation and maternal and child health projects; and with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community on pandemic preparedness and vector borne diseases. From 2014-2020 he worked with WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) and the WHO Health Emergencies Program, on responses to Ebola in West Africa, Zika, the Rohingya refugee crises in Cox Bazar and other events.
Dr Emma Field
Emma is the National Convenor of the MAE. Emma's areas of expertise include Health Security and Health Systems. Emma has worked extensively in the Asia Pacific Region including the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. Emma co-ordinates the ASEAN-Australia Health Security Fellowship Program and convenes Public Health Surveillance for the MAE Program.
Dr Davoud Pourmarzi
Davoud is the MAE Curriculum Convenor. He is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has experience teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Dr Rezanur Rahaman
Rezanur is a medical doctor with specialist training in field epidemiology, international public health, and infectious disease and environmental epidemiology. His research interests include infectious diseases, environmental epidemiology and climate change, zoonosis prevention and a One Health approach.
Dr Florian Vogt
Dr Florian Vogt is a Research Fellow with the MAE. His research experience and interests include operational research in health emergencies and humanitarian settings, field epidemiology and outbreak response, and neglected tropical diseases.
Dr Sam Colquhoun
Sam is an epidemiologist with 20 years field experience in operational research and public health programs in resource poor countries. She has a strong interest in MCH, infectious diseases, NCD and vaccine research as well as health system strengthening in primary health care.
Anna-Jane Glynn-Robinson
Anna is an epidemiologist with experience working for the Australian Government and the World Health Organization. She has a strong interest in vaccine preventable diseases, molecular epidemiology and health diplomacy.
Amy Parry
Amy is the International Convenor of the MAE. She is an international field epidemiologist with experience in both acute and protracted humanitarian response settings. Amy is a graduate and staff member of the Australian FETP, with a background in anthropology and public health. Prior to coming back to Australia to commence her PhD focusing on epidemiology emergency response workforce strengthening, she worked in Cambodia with the WHO Health Emergencies Program (2013-2018), and in the Thai-Burma border refugee camps (2005-2008)
Laura Vitler
Laura is the Senior Administrator/MAE Student Officer for the MAE. Laura has extensive administrative experience working in the Australian Government, and the ANU. She worked many years at the John Curtin School of Medical Research and the Director’s Office of the then Research School of Population Health (now NCEPH). She made a move to the NCEPH Student Office looking after HDR and coursework students. Laura brings all this experience to the MAE.
Fang (Abigail) Fang
Fang (Abigail) Fang is a communications specialist from China with a background in International Relations. Abigail is currently serving as ASEAN administrator of the MAE program. She is responsible for helping the program run its international projects smoothly.
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Fees & scholarships
Tuition fees: Tuition fees
The Australian Government RTP Domestic Fee Offset Scholarship covers tuition fees for Australian citizens and permanent residents for up to four years. ASEAN-Australia Health Security Fellowships are available for some countries.
Scholarships: Scholarships
The Master of Philosophy in Applied Epidemiology Scholarship provides funding for students in Australian placements and is supplied via the field placements as a tax-free full-time scholarship of $60,000 per annum in year 2023 with 3.5% increase in year 2024 on a pro rata basis of scholarship duration.
In 2023 we launched the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) scholarship with the aim of Indigenous scholars being able to undertake the MAE program in placements that focus on improving the health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Watch the webinar
World Field Epidemiology Day is a global movement that recognises and raises awareness of field epidemiology. At ANU, we celebrated the vital role field epidemiologists play in protecting population health and advancing global health security with a conference discussing this year’s theme: Empowering Field Epidemiologists for Stronger Health Systems.
How to apply
Applications for the 2023 intake are now closed. If you would like to be notified when applications open for the next intake, please email mae.nceph@anu.edu.au. Calls for applications go out annually, usually around August each year. There is only a single intake each year.
Applicants typically have several years of relevant work experience and should have a bachelor degree with at least one upper second class honours, or a graduate diploma or master degree with significant research thesis component. Learn more about admission requirements.
All applicants must meet the University’s English Language Admission Requirements for Students.
*Please note from 2024 the Master of Philosophy in Applied Epidemiology (MAE) Program will only be open to Australian citizens and Australian permanent residents.
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