The Opportunity
The CHE and its collaborators have recently been awarded an Incorporating Patient Data in Health Technology Decision Making Grant under the 2025 Preventative and Public Health Research Initiative of the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). This grant will fund the PAtient-Centred Evaluation of medical devices (PACE) program for the next 5 years.
The PACE project aims to improve how medical technologies are assessed by involving patients and communities more deeply in the process. An important part of this project (WP-1) will be to understand the impact of patient data on funding decisions for medical technologies. We will do this by compiling and analysing a database of past funding decisions. PACE will also (WP-2) build an evidence-base of real patient experiences and preferences to guide decisions, ensuring health policies better reflect what matters to people. We will do this by conducting a series of survey-based experiments with patients and the general public.
We are now pleased to invite applications from suitably qualified individuals for up to three training scholarships in health economics within the PACE program. The successful candidates will undertake a tailored training program in theory and methods relevant to WP-1 or WP-2 of the PACE program comprising: study towards a higher degree by research, advanced coursework in quantitative methods, and hands-on work experience within the PACE program. You will work closely under the PhD supervision of Associate Professor Duncan Mortimer and Associate Professor Jing Jing Li. You will also have the opportunity to work with leading researchers from the University of Sydney, Deakin University and University of Technology Sydney, who are collaborators on this project.
Who we’re looking for
This project is an excellent fit for researchers who want to improve access to treatment for patients with chronic and life-threatening conditions.
Work on WP-1 will suit someone with an interest and aptitude for collecting primary data from patients and the general public. It will require co-design of survey instruments incorporating stated choice experiments and the application of experimental design principles to ensure that the survey delivers high quality data. Analysis of this data will employ both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Work on WP-2 will suit someone with an interest and aptitude for coding administrative data using large language models. It will require use of advanced quantitative methods to identify the types of medical devices that are more likely to receive government funding and the circumstances under which approval of government funding is likely to be delayed.
Applicants should have completed an Honours degree, a four-year bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree with excellent results and a research component in a quantitative discipline such as economics, psychology, or econometrics. A background or strong interest in health policy, health economics or public health will be valuable.
Integrated PhD Program
The project is based in the Centre for Health Economics, a large and active economics research group within the Monash Business School in Melbourne, Australia.
As a candidate in the CHE Integrated PhD Program, you will receive rigorous training in advanced health economics, econometrics, and related studies.
The Integrated Program starts with 1 year of advanced coursework and research training including a minor thesis packaged into a Master of Commerce (MCom) degree. Provided you meet the agreed requirements, you will then progress to the PhD project component, which involves high quality research training and career development, culminating in a written thesis on the topic outlined above. The PhD research stage will typically take three and a half years to complete.
You will also enjoy opportunities for domestic and international conference travel and the potential to undertake international research visits. You will be provided your own laptop and dedicated workspace for the duration of the Integrated program. Students become part of CHE’s vibrant research community, engaging in seminars, workshops and collaborating with leading researchers.
PhD students at the Centre for Health Economics are supported to pursue research with real-world impact.
PhD Program entry requirements and scholarship eligibility
Applicants to enter the 4.5-year Integrated PhD program should have completed an Honours degree, a 4-year Bachelor’s degree or a Master's degree with top marks and a research component in Economics, Econometrics or a related quantitative discipline as outlined above.
For full information on eligibility and English language requirements, please visit the Monash Business School Integrated PhD Program page.
Applications Open
A new application round for a February 2027 commencement is open and close on 31 August 2026. Applications should follow the Integrated PhD program application process outlined on the Monash Business School website.
Briefly, the process is:
- Assess your eligibility using the interactive tool on the webpage under Step 1 (i.e. the PhD readiness tool).
- If eligible, submit an application following the instructions under Step 2. Note that under this step, you must select “Graduate Coursework” as your study type, and “B6023 – Master of Commerce” as your course preference. Then click on the "Show Start Dates" button and select 2027 Semester 1 as your start date. Follow the "View Course Options" prompt, and select "Health Economics" as your preferred stream. You do not need to identify a potential supervisor at this stage. The Centre of Health Economics will assess all eligible applications. Where appropriate supervision is available, shortlisted applicants will be contacted to meet potential supervisors to assess mutual fit.
- In accordance with the Integrated PhD application process, successful candidates will then be issued an "invitation to apply" to progress within the Integrated PhD pathway (Step 3).
About Monash and the Centre for Health Economics
The Centre for Health Economics is one of the world’s leading research groups in the economic analysis of health and health care. We have the highest concentration of economists working in health in the Asia-Pacific region and the largest Health Economics PhD program in Australia, reflecting the reputation of our researchers and the quality of their mentorship.
Monash is one of the top 50 universities in the world, ranked top in health economics in the Asia-Pacific region. As a PhD student of the Centre, you will be part of a team of researchers at the cutting edge of impactful international research across research themes including: disadvantage and health; global and environmental health economics; economic behaviour, incentives and preferences in health; economic modelling of health policies and technologies; and health financing and market organisation.
Employment prospects
PhD graduates from the Centre for Health Economics typically find employment as researchers in leading universities and consulting firms around the world. For instance, our previous graduates have been successful in gaining positions at the London School of Economics, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, the University of Illinois, the University of York, the University of Melbourne, Australian National University, Ernst & Young, the World Bank and government health departments.
Enquiries
For questions about the project or to discuss whether the project is a good fit for you, please contact:
Associate Professor Duncan Mortimer at [email protected]
Applications Close: Monday 31 August 2026, 11:55pm AEST
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