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Master of Public Health
PostgraduateCUR-MPH-MAS2019
Course information for 2019 intake
Positively impact the health of individuals and communities
Study the effects of the environment and economics on public health outcomes. Examine information and apply theories of social justice to issues of health inequity and disadvantage. This is an internationally recognised degree.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Credit available
- Yes
- Total subjects
- 15
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Master of Public Health
About this degree
On completion of the degree students will be able to:
- apply research based specialised knowledge including recent developments in public health together with applicable research principles and methods
- reflect critically on theoretical knowledge, public health scholarship, advocacy and professional practice
- investigate, analyse and synthesize complex information and problems that impact directly or indirectly on public health outcomes
- interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non specialist audiences
- evaluate the applicability of existing and emerging technologies for public health practice
- apply knowledge and skills to new situations in the degree of public health practice leading to further learning
- critically evaluate the impact of environmental and geographical context, local institutions and culture on public health outcomes
- articulate, defend and apply a theoretical understanding of social justice implicit in public health practice
- demonstrate a high level of personal autonomy and accountability when interacting with diverse individuals, communities and organisations as an advocate/champion of public health.
This multidisciplinary public health course focuses on the prevention and control of illness and the promotion of health in Australia and globally. It explores the influences of social, environmental, biological and individual determinants on health to improve individual and population health outcomes. Public health practitioners apply skills in epidemiology and surveillance, disease prevention and control, health protection and promotion, and health policy and leadership. In addition to coursework students undertake professional capstone subject or a research dissertation.
In this course students complete subjects covering a board range of public health issues. The core subjects provide an introduction to public health, its origins and development, and the foundations of health research, epidemiology and biostatistics, planning and evaluation, health protection and control, health promotion, health policy and economics and health systems. The course will include focus on key public health issues. Students will complete one of two streams: Capstone or Research. The Research stream will require a CWA of 70.
Recommended study pattern
Please note: Students should check for any prerequisites before enrolling in any subjects. There are four groups of subjects that Master of Public Health students must complete:
Year One
Students should complete all eight public health core subjects (also available as the Graduate Diploma in Public Health).
Year Two
- Public Health Capstone Stream (default stream) OR
- Public Health Research Stream (students will need to be invited to study this stream)
Award requirements
To qualify for the Master of Public Health students must complete 15 subjects or equivalent.
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.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
The new revised degree will remain a 400 credit point degree. Year One of the degree is the same for all students. In Year Two, students will study either of the two new streams, Public Health Capstone Stream (default stream) OR Public Health Research Stream. The Research stream will require a CWA of 70 and students will need to be invited to study this stream. The old degree streams will be phased out and students will be able to complete their relevant degree with no interruption to their studies.
All current students will have their individual study plans updated if required and will be notified accordingly.
For further details or advise, please email postgradpubhlth@curtin.edu.au.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $47,426
The amount shown here is 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.
Start your career with Curtin’s globally recognised courses and extensive industry connections. Through OUA, their online courses offer an interactive and collaborative learning experience that gets you the same degree as if you studied on campus. Curtin is a global university with a vibrant culture of innovation and collaboration and is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide.
Learn more about Curtin University.
Explore Curtin courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 14
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 15
Entry requirements
This is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
Specifically, applicants require an undergraduate degree from a tertiary institution preferably in a health science area, education, behavioural sciences, social sciences or management. Satisfying the admission requirements enables an applicant to be considered for admission, but does not guarantee an offer of admission to the program. Admission into program is at the discretion of the course coordinator/School and is dependent on a number of considerations including the applicant's academic background and work experience along with assessment of supplementary information provided by the applicant.
Applicants need to meet Curtin’s English Language requirement as all degrees are taught in English. If your education degrees were not solely in English, as per the International Handbook of Universities or the World Higher Education database, please attach a scanned original copy of English Proficiency Test results.
Admission requires an overall International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) (or equivalent test) score of at least 6.5 and competence in all test components (IELTS score of 6.0).
Please refer to the 'Minimum English Entry Requirements' document at http://students.curtin.edu.au/local/docs/English_List.pdf.
Applicants for a Graduate Certificate are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at http://courses.curtin.edu.au/course_overview/admission-requirements/. Applicants generally require a Bachelor Degree or equivalent credit gained for recognised learning.
*** Please Note: If any academic or legal document is not in English, you must provide a colour scan of the non-English documents, including a colour scan of the official English translations of these documents. This is for comparison purposes. ***
Credit for Recognised Learning (CRL) is assessed on individual merit and is awarded for different types of learning, for example, studies you have previously completed or for relevant work experience.
Students must be admitted in an award degree of study before lodging their completed CRL application, along with all required supporting documentation for a formal assessment.
To apply for CRL, please visit the Curtin University website: https://study.curtin.edu.au/credit/
It is important to note accepted documentation includes scans of the original Transcripts and/or Award Certificate; front and back; in colour; and original size. For further information see the scanned documents and certification requirements and guidelines.
More information about the policies and procedures related to CRL assessment and appealing a CRL assessment outcome can be found in the Credit for Recognised Learning manual (PDF).
If you have any questions, please contact opencurtin@curtin.edu.au
Career opportunities
Graduates from this course work in a variety of settings. They may be employed in research, the public sector, non-government organisations and international companies. Graduates with a course weighted average above 70 per cent are eligible to apply for admission into the PhD program at Curtin.
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.