Bachelor of Health Service Management
UndergraduateUAD-HSM-DEG2025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Lead the health services that care for your community’s wellbeing
Prepare for a rewarding management career and thrive in healthcare settings. You’ll study core business skills and gain specialist knowledge in health services policy, planning, and promotion. Graduate into health admin roles and work your way up.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 26 Jan 2025,
- 18 May 2025,
- 31 Aug 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 24
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Bachelor of Health Service Management
About this degree
On successful completion of the Bachelor of Health Service Management, graduates will have:
- Broad and coherent knowledge about the theory and practice of Health Service Management, including health policy and reform, clinical governance, and safety and quality.
- Well-developed cognitive and technical skills in leadership and management and organisational change.
- Broad understanding of business, financial, and human resource management skills.
- Broad understanding of ethical considerations in Health Service Management.
- Effective professional self-awareness skills including communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
The Bachelor of Health Service Management provides general foundation studies in a broad range of areas within the health service industry, including; determinants of health and health promotion; health service policy planning and evaluation; business development, economic and financial management; data analytics to inform decision making; human resource management; and strategic leadership.
The Health Service Management program will provide the skills to measure the health of populations, understand how social, cultural, and economic factors influence contemporary health problems in Australia and internationally, and develop practical skills in health promotion, health educational strategies, and the management of health services.
The program is designed to provide professional knowledge, skills, and attitudes that underpin the role of health service managers. Graduates acquire contemporary leadership and management skills and knowledge to enable beginning-level practice in a wide variety of health care settings.
Recommended study pattern
Students must complete four core Open Access subjects as outlined below and achieve a minimum GPA of 4.0 to be eligible to gain admission to the degree. The four core subjects are:
- COM1001OUA Managing Organisations and People
- ENT1002OUA Personal Professional Development
- ENT1011OUA Entrepreneurship Foundations and Mindset
- PUB1001OUA Health and Illness in Populations
In total, students must complete 20 subjects and meet the following requirements:
- Complete four (4) compulsory core subjects
- Complete nineteen (19) subjects in Health Service Management
- Complete one (1) capstone course (UAD-ENT3900OUA eChallenge OR UAD-PRO3510OUA Industry Project)
You are expected to have an adequate level of English when undertaking all subjects in this degree.
Award requirements
Students must successfully complete 24 subjects which equate to 72 units.
- Complete four compulsory core Open Access subjects
- Complete nineteen major subjects in Health Service Management
- Complete one capstone course
Choose your subjects
Majors
There will be no formal Majors within this program. Majors normally comprise 24 units of study in total, with 12 units at Level III. While the courses comprising the program meet the definition and requirements of a Major, the resulting Major would be in "Health Service Management", and attributing such a Major is redundant given the name of this degree.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
If you are a student studying and accessing FEE-HELP or paying upfront and you are intending to complete the Bachelor of Health Service Management you are eligible to apply through Open Universities Australia as soon as you have successfully completed a minimum of four core University of Adelaide Open Access subjects within this degree.
Students must contact The University of Adelaide with their intention to graduate.
For information please visit The University of Adelaide Graduation page.
Alternatively, students can apply to graduate in absentia at any time.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$16,000
Indicative total fee $48,000
The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
The University of Adelaide has a habit of breaking new ground. It was Australia’s first university to welcome female students. The first to offer science and business degrees. Its alumni include Australia’s first female prime minister; the first Australian to walk in space; 2021 Young Australian of the Year; and 2020 Australian of the Year. Adelaide’s OUA degrees will give you deep discipline knowledge, transferable, future-ready skills, and the capability to change the world for the better. With Adelaide, you can make history.
Learn more about Adelaide University.
Explore Adelaide University courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 8
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 7
Entry requirements
Start small with no entry requirements
Yes, you can get into this degree!
Gain entry through single subjects, regardless of your ATAR or study history. Here’s how:
Single subjects
Start with subjects
Enrol and pass subjects from this degree. You can get access to HELP loans if you’re eligible. This enrolment option is only available through Open Universities Australia.
We’ll recommend starting subjects for you when you enrol.
Enrol in single subjectsContinue to the Bachelor of Health Service Management
Enter the degree with full credits from your subjects. You’ll study for the same amount of time as students who go straight into the degree.
Beyond the first 4 subjects, enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
Successful completion of the Health Services Management pathway four (4) core Open Access courses with a minimum GPA of 4.0.
- COM1001OUA Managing Organisations and People
- ENT1002OUA Personal Professional Development
- ENT1011OUA Entrepreneurship Foundations and Mindset
- PUB1001OUA Health and Illness in Populations
Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirements
- The 4.0 GPA requirement equates to four Passes.
- Be aware that if you fail a subject it is included in your GPA calculation and means you will need to achieve higher grades to obtain admission to the degree.
- For this reason, we recommend students consider their study load and academic skills before attempting a subject.
- For more information on GPA requirements, please refer to The University of Adelaide website.
All subjects are conducted in English.
You may be eligible for credit toward your degree if you have completed study at another institution, or have relevant work or informal experience. You can apply for credit once you have been made an offer of admission into an undergraduate program. Due to the vast range of possible prior studies you may have, we cannot formally assess your credit application until you have been admitted into an undergraduate program at The University of Adelaide.
Credit applications will be assessed according to The University of Adelaide policy.
Career opportunities
The program is designed to provide professional knowledge, skills and attitudes that underpin the role of health service managers. Graduates acquire contemporary leadership and management skills and
knowledge to enable beginning-level practice in a wide variety of health care settings.
The University of Adelaide Careers Service prepares, inspires, and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.
Professional recognition
It is proposed to have the program accredited by the Australasian College of Health Service Management.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
Health and Welfare Services Managers | Over $120K | Up 56.6% |
Medical Administrators | Over $120K | Up 0.01% |
Nurse Managers | Over $120K | Up 19.9% |
Policy and Planning Managers | Over $120K | Up 53.8% |
Practice Managers | $75K to $93K | Up 18.7% |
Primary Health Organisation Managers | N/A^ | N/A^ |
Tribunal Members | N/A^ | N/A^ |
^ There is no data available
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.