When applying for a postgraduate scholarship to complete a program in clinical studies, you are required to submit an essay in support of your application. The course being studied should relate to your current role or role being sought. Applicants in other roles must be able to provide evidence of requiring further education in the field.

This category may include Digital Health studies.

The essay should be written to a standard which is commensurate with the level of study being undertaken. This includes relevance to the topic, format, spelling, grammar and clear articulation of thoughts and ideas.

When composing your essay, cite sources in-text and include a reference list. Please do not copy and paste directly from other sources.

Essay requirements and marking criteria

Clinical Studies

  • Graduate Certificate: 300-word limit - ​Examine how this qualification will improve your capability to enhance care of the patient in your chosen field.
  • Graduate Diploma: 400-word limit - Examine how this qualification will develop extended skills in your field of clinical practice, and how these skills are applied to improving outcomes for patients and families in your community.
  • Masters: 500-word limit - Identify an emerging issue within your specialty and its impact on clinical practice. Using the literature to inform your response, describe any opportunities to address the issue within your area of practice.

Graduate Certificate - Clinical Studies

Question: Examine how this qualification will improve your capability to enhance care of the patient in your chosen field.

Length: 300 words

Assessment criteria

Total score: /30

​Criteria Priority/areas for focus​Needs Work(Score 0 - 3) ​Adequate (Score 4 - 7) Good (Score 8 - 10)
​ Contet/Relevance​Describe impact of program of study/new qualification to improving capability in chosen field.​No or inadequate description of how qualification will enhance applicant’s capability.​General description providing some detail of how qualification will enhance applicant’s capability.​Detailed description of how qualification will enhance applicant’s capability.
​ Writing/Clarity​Organisation of the paper that is logical, comprehensible, and grammatically correct.​Essay is poorly organised and difficult to read – does not flow logically from one part to another. There are several spelling and/or grammatical errors. Writing lacks clarity and conciseness.    ​Essay is generally well organised and most of the argument is easy to follow. There are only a few minor spelling or grammatical errors.  Writing is mostly clear but may lack conciseness.     ​Essay is coherently organised, and the logic is easy to follow. There are no spelling or grammatical errors. Writing is clear and concise and persuasive.
​Analysis/Evidence​Demonstrates understanding of the topic, utilising appropriate references/reports/policies to support author’s position. Essay does not address the question.
  • Topic not defined/described.
  • Paper not referenced or uses unreliable sources.
  • Word limit significantly under- utilised.
 Essay addresses some aspects of the question.
  • Topic briefly defined/ described.
  • Paper includes minimal references from reliable sources.
  • Word limit utilised +/- 10%.
Essay meets all aspects of the question.
  • Topic clearly described.
  • Paper is well referenced, utilising reliable/primary sources.
  • Word limit utilised +/-10%.

Graduate Diploma - Clinical Studies

Question: Examine how this qualification will develop extended skills in your field of clinical practice, and how these skills are applied to improving outcomes for patients and families in your community.

Length: 400 words

Assessment criteria

Total score: /30

CriteriaPriority/areas for focus​Needs Work (Score 0 - 3)​Adequate (Score 4 - 7)Good (Score 8 - 10)
​ Content/Relevance​Describe impact of program of study/new qualification to application to practice and outcomes for patient care/communities and/or workforce.Brief, superficial and/or unclear description of knowledge and skill application. Limited to vague impressions of benefit/s to patient care/communities and/or workforce. ​Application of knowledge and skills to benefit patient care/communities and/or workforce is included in some detail, with adequate attempt made to reflect on outcomes.​Application of knowledge and skills to benefit patient care/communities and/or workforce is presented in a clear and articulate manner with evidence of critical reflection.
​ Writing/Clarity​Organisation of the paper that is logical, comprehensible, and grammatically correct.​Essay is poorly organised and difficult to read – does not flow logically from one part to another. There are several spelling and/or grammatical errors. Writing lacks clarity and conciseness.    ​Essay is generally well organised and most of the argument is easy to follow. There are only a few minor spelling or grammatical errors.  Writing is mostly clear but may lack conciseness.       ​Essay is coherently organised, and the logic is easy to follow. There are no spelling or grammatical errors. Writing is clear and concise and persuasive.
​Analysis/EvidenceDemonstrates understanding of the topic, utilises appropriate references/reports/ policies to support author's position and demonstrates application to practice.Essay does not address the question.
  • Topic not defined/described.
  • Paper not referenced or uses unreliable sources.
  • Word limit significantly under-utilised.
 		Essay addresses some aspects of the question.
  • Topic briefly defined/ described.
  • Paper includes minimal references from reliable sources.
  • Word limit utilised +/-10%.
 		Essay meets all aspects of the question.
  • Topic clearly described.
  • Paper is well referenced, utilising reliable/primary sources.
  • Word limit utilised +/-10%.

Masters - Clinical Studies

Question: Identify an emerging issue within your specialty and its impact upon clinical practice. Using the literature to inform your response, describe any opportunities to address the issue within your area of practice.

Length: 500 words

Assessment criteria

Total score: /30

Criteria Priority/areas for focus​Needs Work (Score 0 - 3) ​Adequate (Score 4 - 7) Good (Score 8 - 10)
​ Content/Relevance​Identifies an appropriate issue or challenge in contemporary practice in relevant field, and critically explores strategies to address. Issue or challenge identified is not contemporary and/or supported by reliable sources/evidence. Strategies proposed are vague and generalised in nature.  ​Issue or challenge identified is contemporary, supported by the literature, with some examples provided. Strategies to address are defined with adequate attempt to apply to practice. ​Issue or challenge identified is contemporary, strongly supported by the literature and clear linkages to relevant field provided. Strategies to address are defined with critical application to practice.
​ Writing/Clarity​Organisation of the paper that is logical, comprehensible, and grammatically correct.​Essay is poorly organised and difficult to read – does not flow logically from one part to another. There are several spelling and/or grammatical errors. Writing lacks clarity and conciseness.    ​Essay is generally well organised and most of the argument is easy to follow. There are only a few minor spelling or grammatical errors.  Writing is mostly clear but may lack conciseness.     Essay is coherently organised, and the logic is easy to follow. There are no spelling or grammatical errors. Writing is clear and concise and persuasive.
​Analysis/Evidence Demonstrates understanding of the topic, utilises appropriate references/reports/

policies to support author's position and provides analyses of the evidence as applied to practice.		 Essay does not address the question.
  • Topic not defined/described.
  • Paper not referenced or uses unreliable sources.
  • Word limit significantly under- utilised.
 Essay addresses some aspects of the question.
  •  Topic briefly defined/ described.
  • Paper includes minimal references from reliable sources.
  • Word limit utilised +/-10%.
 Essay meets all aspects of the question.
  • Topic clearly described.
  • Paper is well referenced, utilising reliable/primary sources.
  • Word limit utilised +/-10%.
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Current as at: Friday 17 November 2023
Contact page owner: Nursing and Midwifery