Niyi Awofeso

There are several factors making the UNSW a very attractive choice for research students coming from overseas. Not only is it a first-class educational institution offering excellent library facilities and quality academic supervision, it also provides a vibrant campus life, and easy access to a city with a range of leisure activities to suit all tastes.

I decided to undertake a doctorate after a very positive experience with the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, which I completed in 1996. It was especially gratifying to have my MPH project accepted for publication by an internationally recognised journal and on returning home to Nigeria I began almost immediately to collect data with a PhD in mind. I enrolled for a UNSW PhD (Health Administration) in 1997. My PhD research analysed several 'non-health' factors that affect the health of pupils enrolled in Koranic training institutions in northern Nigeria, and proposed strategies for reforms. Six peer-reviewed publications were extracted from the thesis prior to publication. The thesis won me a UNSW Dean's Scholarship in the 2000/2001 academic session.

I would describe the supervision I received as comprehensive, flexible and mature. My supervisors (Prof. Pieter Degeling and A/Prof. Jan Ritchie) provided me with valuable insights, which helped to focus the thesis on areas with major implications for health services management. I wholeheartedly recommend the UNSW School of Public Health to anyone hoping to undergo rigorous and exciting public health training that is well suited to the demands of the 21st century.