Biostatistics Refresher Course
Information about the Course
What is involved?
Participants in the Biostatistics Refresher Course receive a study guide and CD and work through the course and activities. An online classroom will be open for the duration of the course, with online facilitators, A/Prof Peter Thomson, and Dr Navneet Dhand, to answer any questions that arise from self-directed study.
Participants do not need to have accessed an online classroom before - instructions and assistance will be provided. The online classroom is asynchronous, meaning you do not need to be online at the same time as the tutor.
When is it held?
The Biostatistics Refresher Course is delivered online in the period of January - February each year. In 2009, the course will be scheduled to run from Tuesday 27th January - Friday 13th February 2009.
How much will it cost?
The course fee for the Biostatistics Refresher Course in 2009 is AUD$200. This includes a study guide and a CD which will be sent to you upon confirmation of enrolment.
If you are unable to attend the course during the given period of time, you can purchase the study guide and CD for half the price at AUD$100 and work through the course notes on your own.
Who can enrol?
Class sizes are limited and potential participants will be prioritised in the following order:
- New Postgraduate Coursework Students
- Existing Postgraduate Coursework Students
- PhD and other Postgraduate Students in the Faculty of Veterinary Science
- Staff in the Faculty of Veterinary Science
- Anyone else who is interested in the course
For VPHMgt students, enrolment in the course will be confirmed upon receipt of payment.
Non-VPHMgt students will be put on a waiting list and advised of whether there is a space in the class in early January – enrolment in the course will be confirmed upon receipt of payment.
How do I enrol?
To enrol in the biostatistics refresher course, or to be added to a waiting list, please email Emmeline Yeo at
The Biostatistics Refresher Course Information Document and Enrolment Form for 2009 is now available here for download:
Word Format (82 KB)
PDF Format (94.8 KB)
For those who are unable to attend the course, you may purchase just the study guide and CD by downloading and completing the Biostatistics Course Materials form:
Word Format (41 KB)
PDF Format (52.1 KB)
Do I need to take the Biostatistics Refresher Course?
Traditionally, the study of statistics is endured, rather than enjoyed, by undergraduate students - a fact that is sometimes regretted later, when its usefulness becomes more obvious. Even for many dedicated students, knowledge of statistics taken at undergraduate level can quickly be forgotten. As a result, we offer a refresher course in Biostatistics every January.
The course offers a valuable opportunity to catch up on knowledge that may seem distant now. The Biostatistics Refresher Course is taught by members of the distinguished Veterinary Faculty, A/Prof Peter Thomson, Associate Professor in Veterinary Biometry and Dr Navneet Dhand, Lecturer in Veterinary Biometry and Epidemiology.
For those who may be unsure whether they need to take the course, a quiz entitled Do I need to take the Biostatistics Refresher Course? is available.
The questions and answers to this quiz are available to download as separate pdf documents:
Download Quiz (PDF 137 KB)
Download Answers (PDF 147 KB)
Reminder - do not download the answers until you have completed the quiz!