Master of Public Health (M7W)

Overview  2024

Entry Requirements

See entry requirements

Duration

Minimum 2 Years, up to a maximum of 5 Years

Duration

Duration refers to the minimum and maximum amounts of time in which this course can be completed. It will be affected by whether you choose to study full or part time, noting that some programs are only available part time.

Location

Hobart
Semester 1, Semester 2
Online
Semester 1, Semester 2

Entry Requirements

See entry requirements

Duration

Minimum 2 Years, up to a maximum of 5 Years

Duration

Duration refers to the minimum and maximum amounts of time in which this course can be completed. It will be affected by whether you choose to study full or part time, noting that some programs are only available part time.

Entry requirements

Location

Hobart
Semester 1, Semester 2
Online
Semester 1, Semester 2
With the COVID-19 pandemic elevating public health to the forefront of public interest, there has never been a better time to embark on or advance your career in public health and learn how tackle contemporary and emerging public health challenges.

The Master of Public Health will provide you with the tools necessary to make a difference in your community. You’ll learn to be a systems thinker and confidently navigate the research policy- practice interface. You will have the skills to design, implement, and evaluate complex evidence-based policy and practice interventions in local and global contexts.

This course will introduce you to epidemiological monitoring, health promotion, designing interventions to prevent or reduce the burden of disease and disability, health systems planning, management and evidence-based public health practice. The course also covers environmental health, non-communicable disease prevention, communicable disease epidemiology, and health economics.

The Master of Public is equally relevant to those who work within health as well as those wanting to move into the field of public health.

The duration of this course can be reduced with recognition of relevant skills and prior experience. This means you can study this degree in as little as 1.5 years.

In year one of the Master of Public Health, you’ll develop knowledge for a globally recognised qualification by studying topics such as global health systems, public health intervention practice, health research, and systems thinking.


In year two you’ll develop specialised knowledge in the areas of environmental health, noncommunicable disease prevention, communicable disease epidemiology, and health economics. You’ll also have the choice of completing elective coursework units, or undertaking an individual research project supervised by an expert in the field which can be a pathway for entry to a PhD.


In the final year of the Master of Public Health, you’ll be able to choose from an elective coursework or major research project pathway.

  • 1 Generate and apply public health intelligence to inform decision making in public health practice, policy, and actions to address health challenges of local, national and global populations.
  • 2 Use evidence-based research and evaluation methods to design, implement, and evaluate public health interventions, policies and systems that focus on prevention, protection and improving the health of populations.
  • 3 Apply public health principles and systems thinking to ensure sustainable and resilient public health systems that prevent and mitigate the impact of disease and environmental threats.
  • 4 Design, implement and evaluate preventive health policies, strategies, and interventions that address the socio-ecological determinants of health.
  • 5 Engage, collaborate and communicate for ethical public health action and advocate for health, social justice and advanced health equity.
  • Career outcomes

    "Tasmania faces a combination of health, social, and economic challenges, and the team at the University of Tasmania is invested in – and passionate about – trying to solve these challenges and teaching the next generation of clinicians, policy professionals, and advocates."

    Tim Kariotis - Master of Public Health

    Public health graduates play vital roles in ensuring health system resilience and reform in all countries. Graduates find employment in local, state, and national government ministries and health services, non-government health agencies, international health agencies, humanitarian organisations and universities. The many career options include:

    • Health policy analyst and advisor roles leading strategy and policy development, monitoring and evaluation and health system reform
    • Epidemiologists and health data analysts involved in surveillance and monitoring of infectious and non-communicable conditions and epidemiological reporting the patterns of disease
    • Public health expertise within the disciplines of medicine, nursing, midwifery, and allied health
    • Program managers designing, implementing, and evaluating health promotion and prevention interventions
    • Emergency, disaster, and humanitarian response coordinators
    • Public health academics teaching across the public health discipline and leading public health research

    The MPH curriculum is benchmarked against competency standards articulated by the Council of Public Health Institutions in Australasia (CAPHIA). There is currently no professional accreditation required for public health tertiary qualifications.

    Course structure

    The Master of Public Health is 200 credit points of study comprising: 62.5 credit points of core units, 87.5 credit points of choice units, and 50 credit points of pathway units.

    This unit explores the principles, theories and practice of epidemiology. Students are provided with a comprehensive introduction to the collection and interpretation of epidemiological data within the framework of health, health care delivery and human services. The unit content covers…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 1
    HobartSemester 2
    OnlineSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit introduces the scope of public health practice in the 21st century and the social, political and economic context within which public health practitioners operate. The unit combines theoretical and practical material to assist students to understand the social…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 1
    HobartSemester 2
    OnlineSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Evaluation is a core function of public health and health system leadership. It provides evidence to improve the design, delivery, reach and impact of health interventions in the many different contexts of the health system. This unit develops student competencies…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 1

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit offers an introduction to the fundamental concepts of biostatistics, providing a background in descriptive and analytical methods that are used to estimate associations between variables. This unit covers statistical theory, data entry and manipulation methods, data summarising, basic…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 2
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Choose 4 Units From the List

    Globally, health systems are tasked with responding to contemporary challenges and the related disease burden and health needs of their population. This unit takes a systems approach to examine how health systems are designed, the key components, who pays, and…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Systems thinking is an approach to public health that allows us to understand and manage complex problems. The purpose of this unit is to introduce key systems thinking concepts and practical methods to address complexity to improve the health of…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 2
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit focuses on the practical development of interventions and strategies to reduce the major risk factors for the major non communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart and lung diseases, cancers and diabetes, including tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 1

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Communicable Disease Epidemiology will explore communicable diseases of humans from an epidemiological perspective. It will provide an introductory overview of the basic biological knowledge needed to understand the interactions within and between populations of microbes, human and other animals. Students…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 2
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit provides essential background on the different types of surveillance systems used in public health, and the strengths and limitations of the data held within those systems. Students will learn the skills and knowledge required to perform descriptive analyses…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit provides essential background to professionals working in local, state and national settings for effective outbreak response. Students will learn the skills and knowledge required to respond to communicable disease outbreaks and other public health incidents. This includes: the…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    Rozelle - SydneySemester 2
    OnlineSemester 1

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit will introduce the principles of economic thinking, including core economic concepts and tools that assist healthcare policy decision-making. There will be a focus on exploring the evidence base, context and economic decisions that occur within the process of…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 1

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit explores how historical, cultural and social elements, as well as previous and contemporary policy frameworks, shape the health and wellbeing of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. Cultural safety, self-determination and collaboration are central concepts within…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 1
    LauncestonSemester 1
    Cradle CoastSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 1

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of contemporary environmental health concepts and examine the environmental and ecological determinants of health within the framework of national and international policy. Students undertaking this course will acquire valuable insights into…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 1

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Systems thinking is an approach to public health that allows us to understand and manage complex problems. The purpose of this unit is to introduce key systems thinking concepts and practical methods to address complexity to improve the health of…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 2
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit will introduce the principles of economic thinking, including core economic concepts and tools that assist healthcare policy decision-making. There will be a focus on exploring the evidence base, context and economic decisions that occur within the process of…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 1

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Students propose and complete a public health practice project through which they apply cognate discipline knowledge, problem-solving capability, and applied research skills to develop recommendations for a contemporary public health topic proposed by local partnerships. The unit is designed to…

    Credit Points: 25

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 1
    HobartSemester 2
    OnlineSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Choose 3 of the Units from the List

    Globally, health systems are tasked with responding to contemporary challenges and the related disease burden and health needs of their population. This unit takes a systems approach to examine how health systems are designed, the key components, who pays, and…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    The purpose of this unit is to enable students to gain an in-depth understanding of the essential role that leadership plays in contemporary health and human service (H&HS) organisations.  You will start to develop the foundational knowledge and skills required…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    OnlineSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit develops knowledge and skills relating to sustainability; land use planning including health impact assessment (HIA) and environmental impact assessment (EIA); air, water and environmental noise pollution; contaminated land; waste management; and environmental management systems (EMS). Contemporary environmental protection…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    This unit is currently unavailable.

    This unit develops knowledge and skills relating to toxicology, environmental health risk assessment, including core principles, frameworks and procedures for environmental health risk assessment and critical evaluation of evidence underpinning environmental health risk assessment. It also introduces risk management and…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    This unit is currently unavailable.

    This unit focuses on the practical development of interventions and strategies to reduce the major risk factors for the major non communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart and lung diseases, cancers and diabetes, including tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 1

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Communicable Disease Epidemiology will explore communicable diseases of humans from an epidemiological perspective. It will provide an introductory overview of the basic biological knowledge needed to understand the interactions within and between populations of microbes, human and other animals. Students…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 2
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit provides essential background on the different types of surveillance systems used in public health, and the strengths and limitations of the data held within those systems. Students will learn the skills and knowledge required to perform descriptive analyses…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit provides essential background to professionals working in local, state and national settings for effective outbreak response. Students will learn the skills and knowledge required to respond to communicable disease outbreaks and other public health incidents. This includes: the…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    Rozelle - SydneySemester 2
    OnlineSemester 1

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit will equip students with an understanding of the research methods used in health disciplines in order to interpret published research, and design research of their own. The Unit content includes the theoretical underpinning of both qualitative and quantitative…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 2
    OnlineSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Science communication has an increasingly vital role to play in a modern, global society. The growing awareness of the threat of climate change, along with the unprecedented impact of COVID-19, has highlighted the importance of the effective communication of science.…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartTerm 3
    OnlineTerm 3

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Qualitative Research Methods provides Honours, Masters and HDR candidates with grounding in qualitative research methodologies and associated methods. Students will develop abilities in framing research questions; developing, critiquing and applying qualitative research methodologies; defending method choice; and the practicalities of…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartWinter school
    OnlineWinter school

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit will equip students with an understanding of the research methods used in health disciplines in order to interpret published research, and design research of their own. The Unit content includes the theoretical underpinning of both qualitative and quantitative…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 2
    OnlineSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Major Projects Part A and B are the final part of your Masters degree that provide an opportunity to undertake a substantial piece of original, independent research, building on and focussed on the topic or topics that are of particular…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 1
    HobartSemester 2
    OnlineSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Major Projects Part A and B are the final part of your Masters degree that provides an opportunity to undertake a substantial piece of original, independent research, building on and focussed on the topic or topics that are of particular…

    Credit Points: 25

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 1
    HobartSemester 2
    OnlineSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Choose 3 of the Units from the List

    Globally, health systems are tasked with responding to contemporary challenges and the related disease burden and health needs of their population. This unit takes a systems approach to examine how health systems are designed, the key components, who pays, and…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Systems thinking is an approach to public health that allows us to understand and manage complex problems. The purpose of this unit is to introduce key systems thinking concepts and practical methods to address complexity to improve the health of…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 2
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    The purpose of this unit is to enable students to gain an in-depth understanding of the essential role that leadership plays in contemporary health and human service (H&HS) organisations.  You will start to develop the foundational knowledge and skills required…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    OnlineSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit develops knowledge and skills relating to sustainability; land use planning including health impact assessment (HIA) and environmental impact assessment (EIA); air, water and environmental noise pollution; contaminated land; waste management; and environmental management systems (EMS). Contemporary environmental protection…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    This unit is currently unavailable.

    This unit develops knowledge and skills relating to toxicology, environmental health risk assessment, including core principles, frameworks and procedures for environmental health risk assessment and critical evaluation of evidence underpinning environmental health risk assessment. It also introduces risk management and…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    This unit is currently unavailable.

    This unit focuses on the practical development of interventions and strategies to reduce the major risk factors for the major non communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart and lung diseases, cancers and diabetes, including tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 1

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Communicable Disease Epidemiology will explore communicable diseases of humans from an epidemiological perspective. It will provide an introductory overview of the basic biological knowledge needed to understand the interactions within and between populations of microbes, human and other animals. Students…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 2
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit provides essential background on the different types of surveillance systems used in public health, and the strengths and limitations of the data held within those systems. Students will learn the skills and knowledge required to perform descriptive analyses…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    OnlineSemester 2

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit provides essential background to professionals working in local, state and national settings for effective outbreak response. Students will learn the skills and knowledge required to respond to communicable disease outbreaks and other public health incidents. This includes: the…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    Rozelle - SydneySemester 2
    OnlineSemester 1

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit will introduce the principles of economic thinking, including core economic concepts and tools that assist healthcare policy decision-making. There will be a focus on exploring the evidence base, context and economic decisions that occur within the process of…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 1

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Science communication has an increasingly vital role to play in a modern, global society. The growing awareness of the threat of climate change, along with the unprecedented impact of COVID-19, has highlighted the importance of the effective communication of science.…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartTerm 3
    OnlineTerm 3

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    This unit explores how historical, cultural and social elements, as well as previous and contemporary policy frameworks, shape the health and wellbeing of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. Cultural safety, self-determination and collaboration are central concepts within…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartSemester 1
    LauncestonSemester 1
    Cradle CoastSemester 1
    OnlineSemester 1

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Qualitative Research Methods provides Honours, Masters and HDR candidates with grounding in qualitative research methodologies and associated methods. Students will develop abilities in framing research questions; developing, critiquing and applying qualitative research methodologies; defending method choice; and the practicalities of…

    Credit Points: 12.5

    LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
    HobartWinter school
    OnlineWinter school

    Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

    Entry requirements

    Domestic Entry Requirements

    Tertiary: Successful completion of an AQF 7 Bachelor degree or equivalent

    Where standard entry is not able to be met the following criteria for alternative entry will be considered by the Course Coordinator:

    • At least 3 years relevant work experience (Specific occupations, workplace settings and industries are more relevant for specific courses and will receive greater weighting in consideration) demonstrating the relevance of the course;
    • A record of high achievement in any other qualifications or uncompleted undergraduate qualifications such as Distinction average.

    International Entry Requirements 

    Admission to most postgraduate coursework courses at the University of Tasmania require qualifications equivalent to an Australian bachelor degree. Applicants must achieve the required grade in their qualifying studies, meet any prerequisite subjects, and meet English language requirements to be eligible for an offer.

    Tertiary: Successful completion of an AQF7 Bachelor degree or equivalent in a health related field such as health sciences, medicine, nursing, dentistry, allied health, psychology, social sciences, environmental health and health services management.

    English Language: IELTS 6.5 (no individual band less than 6.0)

    Applications for credit can be made in your course application. Find out more information about how to apply for a credit transfer/advanced standing at Recognition of Prior Learning.

     

    Students who complete the Graduate Certificate in Public Health (M5W) may receive full (50 cpt) credit in the Master of Public Health.

    Students who complete the Graduate Diploma of Public Health (M6W) may receive full (100 cpt) credit in the Master of Public Health.

    The Graduate Certificate in Public Health and Graduate Diploma of Public Health provide an exit award for the Master of Public Health. 

    Students who complete the Graduate Certificate in Health Protection (H5P) may receive full (50 cpt) credit into the Master of Public Health. The Graduate Certificate in Health Protection (H5P) is not an exit award for the Master of Public Health.

    Students who complete the Graduate Diploma of Environmental Health (M6Q) may receive full (100 cpt) credit into the Master of Public Health through credit of units and recognition of cognate disciplinary knowledge. The Graduate Diploma of Environmental Health (M6Q) is not an exit award for the Master of Public Health. 

    Fees & scholarships

    Domestic students

    Options for this course

    Cost shouldn’t get in the way of you studying.

    If you’re a domestic postgraduate student, you might be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place in this course. This means your fees will be subsidised by the Australian Government. You’ll only need to pay the student contribution amount for each unit you study within the course.

    You may also be able to defer payment of the student contribution amount by accessing a HECS-HELP loan from the Government. If eligible, you’ll only have to pay your tuition fees once you start earning above a specific amount.

    Further information is available at Scholarships, fees and costs.

    Student contribution

    Student contribution amounts are charged for each unit of study. This means that how much you’ll pay will depend on which units you choose. Find out more about student contribution amounts.

    An important note on Youth Allowance and Austudy

    The Department of Social Services has approved some accredited and professionally-oriented Master courses for student payments through Youth Allowance or Austudy. This means if you enrol in one of these courses, you may be eligible for student payments. However, please be aware that this is not the case for all Master courses. Please visit our Scholarships, Fees and Costs website for further information.

    Further information

    Detailed fee information for domestic students is available at Scholarships, fees and costs, including additional information in relation to the compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).

    Domestic students enrolled in certain postgraduate coursework programs may not be eligible for student payments through Youth Allowance and Austudy. Visit the Department of Social Services website to find out more about eligibility for Centrelink support and the list of eligible courses

    International students

    2024 Total Course Fee (international students): $ 70,106 AUD *.

    Course cost based on a rate of $34,450 AUD per standard, full-time year of study (100 credit points).

    * Please note that this is an indicative fee only.

    International students

    International students are charged the Student Services and Amenities Fee but this fee is incorporated in the annual rate. International students do not have to make any additional SSAF payments.

    Scholarships

    For information on general scholarships available at the University of Tasmania, please visit the scholarships website.

    How can we help?

    Do you have any questions about choosing a course or applying? Get in touch.

    Domestic
    13 8827 (13 UTAS)
    International
    +61 3 6226 6200
    Email
    Course.Info@utas.edu.au
    Online
    Online enquiries

    Next steps