Healthcare professionals from the Pacific Islands will have access to more affordable education to upskill in cancer care, after the University of Melbourne announced it would halve the cost of its Master of Cancer Sciences course for eligible students.
The University of Melbourne’s Master of Cancer Sciences is Australia’s first cancer specific, wholly online postgraduate degree and was developed in partnership with the VCCC Alliance.
Course Co-ordinator A/Prof David Kok said: “The fee remission will empower clinicians from our Pacific neighbours to gain vital expertise in cancer care and research that can then be applied in their local communities.”
Master of Cancer Sciences alumnus Dr Andrew Soma graduated in 2024 and became the first and only medical oncologist in the Solomon Islands. He was part of the team that helped established the Solomon Islands’ first oncology unit.
“Dr Soma is a great example of how we can make a significant contribution to cancer care in our region by uplifting individuals,” A/Prof Kok said. “With the Pacific Island Student Fee Remission, we hope to further improve access to these educational opportunities, and thus enable more clinicians like Dr Soma to gain these important skills without having to travel abroad.
“It reflects our commitment to strengthen cancer care internationally and nurture healthcare leaders of the future,” he said.
The opportunity for clinicians in the Pacific islands to further their education can lead to better cancer care in their local communities. Being able to do this remotely allows clinicians to continue serving their people, often in a resource constrained environment.
To be eligible for the discount, applicants must be residents of the Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, or Vanuatu. Applicants who are residents in these countries will be automatically considered when they submit their course application.
The fee remission applies to the Master of Cancer Sciences, the Graduate Certificate in Cancer Sciences, or Specialist Certificate in Cancer Sciences courses, for 2025 and 2026 intakes.
