
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
- Admission requirements
- 22 months full-time
- Access to state-of-the-art facilities
- #1 in Australia for graduate employability ( Times Higher Education)
- Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 216KB)
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.
Learning experience
Fees & 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 $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

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

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 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 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.
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Dr 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).
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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 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

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 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.
Watch the webinar
World Field Epidemiology Day is a global movement raising awareness of field epidemiology’s vital role in protecting population health and strengthening global health security.