Discover why our students choose to study pain management online.
About us
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This course is available to be studied in several different study modes, including online or face-to-face. Check study modes offered in the 'course details’ section below.
In response to COVID-19, the University of Sydney has reviewed the availability of the face-to-face version of this course, and this will be available for students to study face-to-face or remotely in 2022. For the latest updates on course availability, visit the COVID-19 information page.
About this course
The Graduate Diploma in Pain Management provides advanced education in pain management for graduates in medicine, dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy, psychology and other disciplines involved in pain management.
This course is offered through our interactive online learning environment, giving you the flexibility to tailor your study schedule around your lifestyle.
All stream specific units are online. You may find however; a couple of electives do have a face-to-face component. These can be avoided depending on your individual preferences.
The diploma is recognised for Continuing Medical Education/Maintenance of Professional Standards Program points by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists.
The Graduate Diploma in Pain Management is embedded within the Master of Medicine (Pain Management) and Master of Science in Medicine (Pain Management).
You may choose to complete the graduate diploma or use it as a pathway into a master's degree in this discipline, subject to meeting admission requirements.
For further information please contact us at paineducation.admin@sydney.edu.au or call +61 2 9463 1516.
Currently not available.
For academic requirements check the ‘Admission criteria’ section on this page.
You can apply online via the application portal. When you are ready to apply, select the ‘Apply’ button on this course page. Visit the How to apply page for other important information.
Semester 1 - 31 January of the commencing year
Semester 2 - 15 July of the commencing year
We strongly encourage applicants to apply as early as possible, offers are made on a rolling basis and places are limited. Separate scholarship deadlines apply - check the scholarships website for details.
Semester 1 (February) and Semester 2 (August)
You can apply online via the application portal. When you are ready to apply, select the ‘Apply’ button on this course page. Visit the How to apply page for other important information.
Standard closing dates:
Semester 1 - 15 January of the commencing year
Semester 2 - 25 June of the commencing year
We strongly encourage international applicants to apply as early as possible to allow time for visa and travel arrangements. Separate scholarship deadlines may apply - check the scholarships website for details.
Semester 1 (February) and Semester 2 (August)
The University of Sydney Pain Management programs explore the problem of pain in the community and the role of health professionals in managing and treating a range of pain conditions. You will learn to prevent acute and sub-acute pain from progressing to chronic and disabling pain, and how to work with other health professionals to achieve this goal.
Students complete 36 credit points of online coursework. The coursework comprises of four core units of study and two elective units of study. Registered students are provided with a user name and password that allows them to access a protected course web site.
Explore the Medicine and Health Postgraduate Handbook to learn more about what you will study as part of this degree:
The website provides study guides with lecture notes as well as extracts from relevant journals and text books. Interactive multimedia tutorials are also provided in some units. Computer conferencing allows students and staff to maintain regular contact. Assessment is by essays, case studies and online activities. Marks are also given for the contribution students make to online discussion.
A successful applicant for the Graduate Diploma in Pain Management will hold:
In exceptional circumstances, the faculty may admit applicants without these qualifications who, in the opinion of the school, have qualifications and evidence of experience and achievement sufficient to successfully undertake the award.
Please be advised that a statement of intent is a mandatory document for this program. For a statement of intent, please specify the reason(s) why you would like to apply for this program and how do you think it will be beneficial to you after completing the program.
For more information about the University’s credit policy, please see the Credit for Previous Studies page.
This course is recognised for Continuing Medical Education/Maintenance of Professional Standards Program points by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists.
Our degree program has been endorsed by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP).
The Graduate Diploma in Pain Management is designed and offered to improve the knowledge and skills of health care professionals and thus improve the services offered to patients in pain.
This course is not a pathway to a specialist qualification, however it is acknowledged that the course provides an excellent preparation for the Fellowship exam of the Faculty of Pain Medicine, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists.
