Study at NCHSR
Study at NCHSR
The National Centre in HIV Social Research (NCHSR) was established in 1990 with funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. It is part of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at The University of New South Wales which is a member of the Group of Eight (Go8) key teaching and research universities in Australia and a founding member of Universitas 21, a consortium of the world’s leading research universities from Asia, Europe and North America.
NCHSR is internationally recognised for its contribution to the Australian response to HIV and hepatitis C. While it's core research has been in the social aspects of HIV, particularly in regard to sexual practice, in recent years the NCHSR research program has expanded to include hepatitis C, injecting and illicit drug use, sexual health, Aboriginal health and related issues in the Asia-Pacific region.
Our Graduates are leaders in social research, public policy and health promotion in the fields of health, HIV, viral hepatitis, drug use and sexuality both nationally and internationally.
About the program
NCHSR offers a postgraduate program in Health, Sexuality and Culture, which is guided by a social paradigm that understands people and communities as social beings. It is designed to provide the empirical skills necessary to participate in the global fields of sex and drug research, and to equip students with an understanding of critical debates in social theories of sex, drugs and the politics of health and medicine. It is this mix of practical empirical skills and critical inquiry that makes the Health, Sexuality and Culture program unique.
The program is designed for students with a background in the social sciences, humanities or health. It offers specialised core courses in the social theories of sex and drug practices as well as research methods. Students may also take other courses offered within the university.
Students enrolled in this program undertake their own research project, supervised by NCHSR staff. Much of the research at the Centre is oriented to the needs of practitioners working in the policy field, but we also encourage conceptual and theoretical inquiry into questions of health, sexuality and culture and their interrelationships.
The minimum requirement for entry into the program is a good Bachelor degree in arts, social sciences or another relevant discipline.
NCHSR offers three degrees: Graduate Diploma, Master of Arts by Research, and PhD. The MA by Research and PhD are HECS-exempt for Australian and New Zealand permanent residents. The Graduate Diploma incurs a HECS fee.
A copy of the NCHSR Postgradute brochure is available here. (PDF) (2 Mb)
Our Staff
NCHSR academic staff come from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds, with expertise in anthropology, cultural studies, gender studies, linguistics, media, psychology, public health, sociology and science studies.
While the core work of NCHSR relates to HIV, hepatitis C and STIs, we encourage conceptual and theoretical inquiry into questions of health, sexuality and culture and their interrelationships. We welcome postgraduate proposals on any aspect of the social study of sex or drugs, including issues of gender, embodiment, medicine, technology, culture and globalisation.
Postgraduate Coordinator
For further information please contact Dr Jeanne Ellard the NCHSR Postgraduate Coordinator.
