Master of Public Health
Overview
Prepare for a role as a public health professional and enjoy a rewarding career where you'll make a difference to people's health outcomes across the community and workplace.
Public health focuses on preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting healthy lifestyles. It offers a rewarding career that suits people from a variety of backgrounds including health, science, education and the social sciences.
The Master in Public Health is a 1.5-year program that will give you the skills, knowledge and confidence to influence and inform health policy and lead health services reform. You'll learn how to act on new developments regarding health concerns, such as COVID-19, diabetes, obesity, HIV/AIDS and injury prevention, as well as more traditional concerns such as under-nutrition and communicable diseases.
You'll complete a program that is evidence-based, comprehensive, and reflects UQ's strong links with organisations such as Australian Aid, the World Bank, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and international ministries of health.
As part of your program, you'll complete a research project on a specific topic or problem relevant to public health. You'll be involved in all aspects of research, from defining a topic and methodology to interpreting results and reporting on your findings.
You'll choose a field of study from 6 different options. In each field, you'll complete a range of core courses, specialist courses, and electives, to build and extend your knowledge.
Program highlights
- Undertake a research project with close support from internationally respected teachers and academics.
- Study a comprehensive curriculum validated by the Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation (APHEA) – a world-leading accrediting body for public health master's programs.
- With options to study online, on campus, or a combination of both, you can structure your study to suit your needs.
Fields of study
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
- Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs
- Global Health
- Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- Indigenous Health
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Research experience
- Fieldwork
Placements and work experience
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Introduction to Environmental Health
- Social Perspectives in Public Health
- Introduction to Epidemiology
- Health Systems
Career possibilities
Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Depending on which field you choose, here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Health promotion coordinator
- Public health nutritionist
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health worker
- Public health medical registrar
- Research associate
- Digital health coordinator
- Epidemiologist
- Primary health manager
- Policy and research officer
Professional memberships
When you graduate, you may be eligible for memberships with the following professional organisations. Contact the organisation to find out how to become a member.
- Australian College of Health Service Executives
- Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine
- Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators
“Our program provides students with training across the key disciplines in public health... Over the course of the semester, I enjoy seeing students have their ‘aha’ or lightbulb moments as things start to fall into place for them.”
Associate Professor Marina ReevesSchool of Public Health
“Our program provides students with training across the key disciplines in public health... Over the course of the semester, I enjoy seeing students have their ‘aha’ or lightbulb moments as things start to fall into place for them.”
Associate Professor Marina ReevesSchool of Public Health
Events
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Stories
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Careers
Fighting misinformation for the benefit of public health
Careers
Public health career possibilities unrestricted by COVID
Stories
See all storiesCareers
Fighting misinformation for the benefit of public health
Careers
Public health career possibilities unrestricted by COVID
Entry requirements
Prerequisites
An approved degree in the same discipline or:
- a degree in a different discipline and have completed 1 year full-time (or equivalent) work experience in a healthcare setting; or
- the Graduate Certificate and/or a Graduate Diploma in Public Health from this university (or equivalent).
A degree in one of the following disciplines would normally meet the 'approved degree' requirement:
- Behavioural and social sciences (Sociology, Psychology, Counselling)
- Biomedical Sciences
- Biostatistics
- Dentistry, Oral Health
- Development Studies
- Environmental Health
- Exercise and Nutrition Sciences
- Exercise and Sport Science
- Food Science
- Health Economics
- Health Management
- Medicine, Medical sciences
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Occupational Therapy
- Pharmacy
- Physiotherapy
- Public Health or Health Sciences
- Science
- Speech Therapy
- Veterinary sciences.
The minimum GPA to be considered for admission into this program is 4.0.
Prerequisites
An approved degree in the same discipline or:
- a degree in a different discipline and have completed 1 year full-time (or equivalent) work experience in a healthcare setting; or
- the Graduate Certificate and/or a Graduate Diploma in Public Health from this university (or equivalent).
A degree in one of the following disciplines would normally meet the 'approved degree' requirement:
- Behavioural and social sciences (Sociology, Psychology, Counselling)
- Biomedical Sciences
- Biostatistics
- Dentistry, Oral Health
- Development Studies
- Environmental Health
- Exercise and Nutrition Sciences
- Exercise and Sport Science
- Food Science
- Health Economics
- Health Management
- Medicine, Medical sciences
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Occupational Therapy
- Pharmacy
- Physiotherapy
- Public Health or Health Sciences
- Science
- Speech Therapy
- Veterinary sciences.
The minimum GPA to be considered for admission into this program is 4.0.
Related programs
Depending on your previous qualifications and current goals, you might want to consider
one of these related programs:
English language requirements
IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL IBT - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.
TOEFL PB - Overall 570, listening 54, reading 54, writing 59/5.
Pearsons - Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub bands.
BE - A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.
CES - Overall 176 and 169 in all sub bands.
OET is not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Additional application information
All core courses are offered both internally and externally. If a student wishes to complete the program by internal or external mode only then their choice of elective courses will be reduced.
A degree in one of the following disciplines would normally meet the "approved degree" requirement:
- Behavioural and social sciences (Sociology, Psychology, Counselling)
- Biomedical Sciences
- Biostatistics
- Dentistry, Oral Health
- Development Studies
- Environmental Health
- Exercise and Sport Science
- Food Science
- Health Economics
- Health Management
- Medicine, Medical sciences
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Occupational Therapy
- Pharmacy
- Physiotherapy
- Public Health or Health Sciences
- Science
- Speech Therapy
- Veterinary sciences
Additional application information
All core courses are offered in both internal and external mode. Please note that Part C elective courses may or may not be offered in external mode.
If a student wishes to complete the program by external mode only, then their choice of elective courses will be reduced.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Master of Public Health are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement.
Fields of study
Fields of study
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs
In addition, individuals, families and communities experience adverse social harms arising from specific patterns of intoxication, modes of drug use and illicit drug markets.
Through this plan, you'll learn about substance use and misuse and the harm caused to individuals and communities. You'll also study effective tools for assessment and interventions of misuse.
Global Health
It examines policy responses to these challenges that are shaped by countries, but increasingly by diverse transnational and multilateral actors that shape health. The study of global health therefore is multidisciplinary, extending beyond the disciplines of public health to embrace politics, development, human rights and law and political economy.
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
You'll study how to plan, implement and measure the effectiveness of public health campaigns and programs.
This field of study within the Master of Public Health is fully accredited by the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE). This enables you to fast track your registration as an IUHPE Registered Health Promotion Practitioner through the Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA) after you graduate.
Indigenous Health
Through this program, you'll learn about topics such as Indigenous health needs, how public health solutions can be improved and delivered and how to plan and implement health interventions.
Nutrition
Topics of particular interest include the nutrition transition and meeting the challenges of both over and under-nutrition. Masters students have the opportunity to put this into practice in their final semester by undertaking an individual research project, joining a group fieldwork project in South-East Asia, or undertaking additional specialist coursework.
Standard
It ensures that all students gain the essential knowledge and skills required to work as public health professionals across a wide range of populations and countries. It includes introductory courses to biostatistics, epidemiology, and environmental health as well as health systems and social perspectives in population health.
Fields of study
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs
In addition, individuals, families and communities experience adverse social harms arising from specific patterns of intoxication, modes of drug use and illicit drug markets.
Through this plan, you'll learn about substance use and misuse and the harm caused to individuals and communities. You'll also study effective tools for assessment and interventions of misuse.
Global Health
It examines policy responses to these challenges that are shaped by countries, but increasingly by diverse transnational and multilateral actors that shape health. The study of global health therefore is multidisciplinary, extending beyond the disciplines of public health to embrace politics, development, human rights and law and political economy.
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
You'll study how to plan, implement and measure the effectiveness of public health campaigns and programs.
This field of study within the Master of Public Health is fully accredited by the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE). This enables you to fast track your registration as an IUHPE Registered Health Promotion Practitioner through the Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA) after you graduate.
Indigenous Health
Through this program, you'll learn about topics such as Indigenous health needs, how public health solutions can be improved and delivered and how to plan and implement health interventions.
Nutrition
Topics of particular interest include the nutrition transition and meeting the challenges of both over and under-nutrition. Masters students have the opportunity to put this into practice in their final semester by undertaking an individual research project, joining a group fieldwork project in South-East Asia, or undertaking additional specialist coursework.
Standard
It ensures that all students gain the essential knowledge and skills required to work as public health professionals across a wide range of populations and countries. It includes introductory courses to biostatistics, epidemiology, and environmental health as well as health systems and social perspectives in population health.
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
AUD $33,424
Indicative annual fee 2021
This indicative annual fee is the cost of enrolling in the Master of Public Health for the 2021 academic year. It is calculated based on a standard full-time study load (16 units per academic year).
If you enrol in a larger or smaller study load, your fees will be calculated on a proportionate basis. All fees are reviewed annually.
Indicative annual fee
AUD $23,360
Indicative annual fee 2021
This indicative annual fee is the average cost of enrolling in the Master of Public Health at 2021 fee rates. It is calculated based on a standard full-time study load (16 units per academic year).
The average fee would be less for part-time study. Actual fees will vary according to your choice of courses, their unit value and the time you take to complete this program.
Fees may be higher in later years as all fees are reviewed annually.
A limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are offered for this program on the basis of academic merit. Once all CSPs have been exhausted, offers may be made on a tuition fee paying basis.
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
FEE-HELP
Domestic students who are accepted into the Master of Public Health pay tuition fees.
FEE-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their tuition fees.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.
Scholarships
Make your university experience more affordable with a scholarship. Opportunities include:
Scholarships
Make your university experience more affordable with a scholarship. Opportunities include:
How to apply
Applying online
All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Master of Public Health is 5224.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Master of Public Health is 5224.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying - or if you have any questions about Uni - get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
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