master-applied-epidemiology

Master of Philosophy in Applied Epidemiology (MAE)

Australia’s FETP

Update: Applications for 2025 have closed. Please monitor our website for 2026 recruitment. Alternatively, if you wish to be contacted when applications open, please email mae.nceph@anu.edu.au.

The Master of Philosophy in Applied Epidemiology (MAE) Program is Australia’s only Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP). The program is TEPHINET-accredited, and part of a global network of FETPs strengthening public health systems. The MAE partners with and complements health department initiatives to enhance workforce skills, health system performance and evidence-based policies, programs and practice.

The program was established in 1991, modelled on the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Over time the program evolved and became a unique FETP to support Australia’s and the region's public health. In 2024 the program was reaccredited by TEPHINET with distinction and merit, which showed the high quality of the MAE program.

We are proud that fifteen percent of the MAE graduates identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We celebrate and encourage diversity among scholars as we believe a diverse workforce can improve public health. 

Key facts

Degree overview

MAE is a 22-months full-time program that uses an ‘on-the-job’ training approach where students spend most of the program working and learning within field placements typically a government health department or a research institute. While in their placements, scholars complete useful and important research projects based on the priority of the field placements and under the supervision of field and academic supervisors to meet the following competencies:

  • Investigate an acute public health problem or threat (typically a disease outbreak);
  • Analyse public health datasets (such as surveillance data);
  • Establish or evaluate a public health surveillance or other health information system; and
  • Design and conduct an epidemiological study.

The Master of Philosophy requires the completion of 30 units of coursework.

Download the degree flyer.

Careers

As 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 and public health units across Australia. 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. 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.

Dr Meru Sheel helps build capacity in the Asia-Pacific region during emergencies.

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Learning experience

From all walks of life to MAE

Field epidemiology students at ANU come from all walks of life. Meet some of our 2024 students and find out what inspired them to study epidemiology.

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Bridging animal and human health

MAE: Bridging animal and human health

Hear from Michaela Gilbert about her MAE experience and two-year placement with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

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Study lead Dr Mulu Woldegiorgis.
Study lead Dr Mulu Woldegiorgis.

Impact of long COVID in Western Australia

New research from The Australian National University (ANU) shows that nearly 20% of over 11,000 Australians who had COVID-19 in 2022 still had symptoms three months later.

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Investigating a COVID-19 cluster

Second-year Master of Philosophy in Applied Epidemiology Scholar Ashish Shrestha embarked on a field epidemiology training placement in Queensland.

 

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Tamara Riley

One Health in Wadeye, Northern Territory

Meet Tamara Riley as she combines her veterinarian skills with epidemiology in a One Health program in the remote community of Wadeye.

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MAE graduate shares her experience with the program

Hear from Celeste Marsh about her MAE experience and deployment with the Department of Health and Aged Care and NSW Health.

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First Nations and the MAE Program

Dr Jill Guthrie leads a discussion with First Nations Alumni Jocelyn Jones, Bobby Maher, Tamara Riley and Roxanne Jones about their MAE experiences.

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Fees & scholarships

Fees

Please visit the Programs and Courses website for information about fees.

View fees

Scholarships

Featured Master of Philosophy in Applied Epidemiology Scholarship

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 $66,908 per annum in year 2026 with an increase in year 2027 to $69,049 on a pro rata basis of scholarship duration.  

Note: Scholarship duration is 09/02/2026 to 10/12/2027.

Key people

Dr Emma Field

Dr Emma Field

Dr Emma Field

Emma is the MAE Director. 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.

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Dr Davoud Pourmarzi

Dr Davoud Pourmarzi

Dr Davoud Pourmarzi

Davoud is the MAE program Curriculum Convenor. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has extensive experience in teaching and HDR supervision.

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Dr Md Rezanur  Rahaman

Dr Rezanur Rahaman

Dr Md 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.

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Dr  Samantha Colquhoun

Dr Sam Colquhoun

Dr  Samantha 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.

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Dr Amy Elizabeth  Parry

Dr Amy Parry

Dr Amy Elizabeth  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).

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Ms Guddu Kaur

Guddu Kaur

Ms Guddu Kaur

Guddu is an applied epidemiologist who has worked for the past 12 years primarily in the management of communicable disease events in low resource settings across Australia, Africa, Asia-Pacific and Central America. In her spare time, she can be found making questionable recipes she found online.  

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Laura Vitler

Laura Vitler

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.

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Dr Rosalina Sa’aga-Banuve

Dr Rosalina Sa aga-Banuve

Dr Rosalina Sa’aga-Banuve

Rosalina is a medical doctor with over 30 years experience initially as a clinician then in regional and global organizations in health policy and program management in the Pacific. She is passionate about improving capacity in the field of applied epidemiology for all students both national and international.

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Stephanie Wheeler

Stephanie Wheeler

Stephanie Wheeler

Stephanie is a field epidemiologist and registered nurse who has worked with national governments and WHO to develop field epidemiology capacity in Cambodia, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. She is particularly interested in the intersection of health security and social equity, and how we meaningfully engage communities in emergency preparedness and response.

 

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