Faculty of Medicine

Master of Health Research Ethics

The realm of health research in Malaysia and Southeast Asia has witnessed a remarkable surge in recent years. However, an essential aspect that demands urgent attention is the awareness and understanding of research ethics, especially when it involves human subjects. Insufficient knowledge in this area increases the potential risks and harms faced by research participants.

Dedicated to addressing this critical concern, the Universiti Malaya (UM) proudly offers the Master of Health Research Ethics (MOHRE) degree program, developed in collaboration with the esteemed Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics at Johns Hopkins University (JHU). As the first of its kind in Malaysia and one of the leading programs in Southeast Asia, MOHRE is meticulously tailored to meet the specific needs and challenges within our region.

Our program equips graduates with the intellectual acumen and practical skills necessary to navigate the intricate ethical landscapes inherent to international biomedical and social science research. By fostering thoughtfulness and expertise, MOHRE graduates are empowered to engage effectively with a broad range of pressing ethical challenges. Furthermore, their contributions extend to enhancing the effectiveness of research ethics committees, shaping policies, refining training programs, and promoting ethical practices.

We encourage aspiring scholars and professionals to explore the opportunities provided by the Master of Health Research Ethics program at the Universiti Malaya. Together, we can advance the field of research ethics and uphold the highest standards of integrity in health research endeavors.

For comprehensive information about the course and available scholarships, we invite you to visit our official website at mohre.um.edu.my

Benefit

At the completion of the programme, graduates will:

understand the concept of research ethics and apply them to ensure responsible conduct of research.
have the skills and attitudes to solve research ethical issues when conducting or governing research.
be able to work with stakeholders in advancing ethical conduct of research in an institution.

Career Opportunity

Graduates of the programme will have the opportunity to explore careers related to health research ethics such as ethics institutional review board member, university academician or lecturer, researcher in health institutions, manager of clinical research centres, lawyer in law firms, officer in bioethics institutions, editorial member in publishing body, executive in ethics accreditation body and policy developer in the government agency.

Course Structure

This programme imposes a theory, practical skills and research learning experience. Various courses are integrated which correspond to these three elements. The core subjects accumulate to 36 credits from the total of 42 credits overall. This is in line with the design of the programme as tabulated in the following Table:

Core Modules (36 Credits)
Core Courses (27 Credits)
No.	Course Code		Course Title	Credit
1	MQF7001		Research Methods	3
2	MQF7003		Foundations of Research Ethics	3
3	MQF7004		Research Ethics in Special Populations	3
4	MQF7005		Responsible Conduct of Research	3
5	MQF7006		Ethical Issues in Global Health Research and Clinical Trials	3
6	MQF7007		Ethical Issues of Emerging Sciences	3
7	MQF7008		Practicum in Health Research Ethics	9
Research Project (9 Credits)
No.	Course Code		Course Title	Credit
1	MQF7012		Research Project	9
			TOTAL	36
Elective Module (6 Credits)
Elective Courses (6 Credits) (Choose 2 Only)
NO.	COURSE CODE		COURSE TITLE	CREDIT
1	MQF7009		Good Clinical Practice	3
2	MQF7010		Ethics in Animal Research	3
3	MQF7011		Healthcare Law and Ethics	3
4	SQE7019		Ethics of Science and Technology	3
			TOTAL	6
		GRAND TOTAL		42

Language Requirement

A non-Malaysian applicant whose degree is from a university or institution of higher learning where the medium of instruction for that degree is not the English language shall be required:

(a). To obtain a score of 600 for a paper-based total (PBT); a score of 250 for a computer-based total (CBT) or a score of 100 for an internet-based total (IBT) for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); or

(b). To obtain a band of 6 for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic).

Entry Requirement

The entry requirements for this program are:

A Bachelor’s degree related to health research ethics with CGPA of at least 3.0 and above or equivalent;
AND
Passed the entrance assessment set by the faculty (shortlisted candidates with be interviewed)

All applications should be submitted online via the application portal of the UM Institute of Graduate Studies (https://pgadmission.um.edu.my/). Applicants should also submit the Supplementary Application Form together with the relevant documents and email to mohre@um.edu.my.

Intake Schedule

Once a year in the month of September/October

Fees

Fee Structure for Citizen
Fee Structure for Non-Citizen

Scholarship and Support

This program is supported by the Fogarty International Centre of the United States National Institute of Health, in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University. The MOHRE program does offer scholarships to eligible candidates from lower and middle-income countries within Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam)

The scholarship covers:

Each scholarship covers course fees and research project support.

For international students, additional stipend will be given.

All complete applications for the programme will be considered for the MOHRE Scholarship

Please feel free to contact us via email at mohre@um.edu.my if you have any questions or inquiries regarding the program. Our team is dedicated to providing assistance and guidance to help you join our esteemed program. We look forward to the opportunity to support your academic journey.