Choose a speciality to explore your study options
Gain the skills to make a meaningful impact
Health professionals play a vital role in keeping our communities safe, well and thriving. If you want a rewarding career with plenty of challenge and camaraderie, health and medical science could be the perfect path for you.
Whether you want to get qualified for a specific role or gain an insight into the healthcare sector as a whole, we’ll match you with the right course for your goals.
Popular health & medical science degrees
Undergraduate LAT-HUN-DEG
Undergraduate USA-BPH-DEG
Postgraduate UND-HMS-GDI
Postgraduate TAS-AMS-MAS
Available majors
- Medication Safety
Popular health & medical science subjects
Undergraduate USA-HLTH1055
Undergraduate CUR-CMHL1000
Related degrees
Postgraduate MUR-SHP602
Related degrees
Undergraduate UAD-PUB1001OUA
Related degrees
Why study health & medical science online through us?
Access quality university courses without needing an ATAR
Enjoy your pick of courses from across the country—including postgraduate health specialisations only offered in certain states
Study more flexibly with single subjects, short courses and degrees available to start throughout the year
How Open Universities Australia (OUA) works
We partner with leading universities to make higher education easier for everyone to access. We're here to:
- offer you guidance on your course choices.
- unlock more flexible study options for you with your university.
- ease your mental load by supporting you with your student admin.
Health & medical science careers
Where graduates work:
Your studies could lead to a career in nursing, allied health, support and administration, or management.
Many graduates go on to work as allied health professionals like nutritionists, pharmacists and physiotherapists.
Others choose careers in the public health sector, where they develop policies and programs, or conduct vital research in areas such as epidemiology and biostatistics.
Can you access professional placements when studying online?
Yes, many health and medical science courses allow you to complete your theoretical subjects online, from wherever suits you. Then, you can undertake any necessary practical components in person, on campus or in the workplace.
Some courses even offer potential financial assistance to help you attend. Check each course page or ask us for more information about this.
You might also be interested in these study areas:
Meet Adriana, who found her true passion
"I wanted to study food and nutrition because I really love food, as most people do. And I also love to work with people and help them through their goals...
"When I finally finished my degree, it was the most amazing feeling. I felt that I could step out into the workforce and be ready to take on anything."
Frequently asked questions about health & medical science
How do I choose the right health and medical science specialisation?
| Study area | Consider it if you'd like to... |
| Health management | Lead and inspire high-performing healthcare teams and drive innovative practices in hospitals, care homes or public health departments. |
| Nursing | Put your caring nature and people skills into practice and provide patients with the best possible care. |
| Nutrition | Become an expert on food and the body and use your knowledge to empower others. |
| Occupational therapy | Put your problem-solving skills to the test and gain the satisfaction of helping others achieve confidence and independence. |
| Pharmacy | Become a medicine expert. Use your knowledge to help patients manage their health, whether in clinical or retail settings. |
| Physiotherapy | Experience the satisfaction of helping people come back from physical injury or manage chronic conditions. |
| Public health | Gain a big-picture view of health and health systems. Go into research or government and manage programs that make a difference to the community. |
| Rehabilitation | Promote physical wellbeing in people with injury or disability to improve their quality of life. |
| Sports | Be close to the action. Help athletes be in peak form or manage health issues. Work your way up to elite sports settings. |
What types of health and medical science courses are available through Open Universities Australia?
We have a wide range of online health and medical science courses on offer from leading Australian universities. To narrow down what may suit you best, here’s a quick breakdown of the different course types available.
| Course type | Why you might be interested |
| Short course | Spanning 10-18 weeks, depending on the topic, short courses are great for testing out your affinity with a certain area of interest. You might like to consider one if you want to learn about a single area of health or medical science, such as human biology or nutrition. |
| Single subject | Try a single subject if you want to give the field a test drive before deciding on a full course. Single subjects can help you meet the entry requirements for some undergraduate degrees, and count as credit towards a qualification. |
| Undergraduate degree | If you’d like a career in health or medical science, haven’t studied at uni before and are keen for broad foundational knowledge, then an undergraduate degree such as a Bachelor of Health and Medical Science is an ideal choice. Undergraduate certificates and diplomas are another option; these are shorter-length courses and have lower entry requirements. |
| Postgraduate degree | Ideal for those who want to specialise in a particular aspect of health and medicine and have studied or worked in the healthcare field before, postgraduate degrees are a great choice for furthering your existing knowledge. Through us, you can enrol in flexible online graduate certificates, graduate diplomas and masters degrees. |
What are the entry requirements for health and medical science?
Entry requirements vary from course to course. It’s best to read each individual course page to see what the entry requirements are.
Generally, short courses and single subjects have fewer (and sometimes no) entry requirements, while undergraduate degrees may require you to have a certain ATAR or study experience.
Postgraduate degrees in health and medical science normally require you to have an existing qualification, or proven work experience, in the field. Our student advisors can help you get recognition of prior learning so that you can find your way in.
How can you help me get into a course without entry requirements?
We have a unique arrangement with our university partners. It means we can help people who don’t have the right ATAR or academic history get into their chosen study area, no matter what.
Through this enrolment option, you get started with 2-4 single subjects that don’t have entry requirements. When using our search page, these are called ‘open enrolment subjects’. Once you have successfully completed these subjects, you can use them to gain entry into a number of undergraduate courses.
Read more about how to get into uni without an ATAR, or ask us for more information about how this works.
How flexible can my studies be?
When you study through us, you have the freedom to:
- start at multiple points during the year, instead of observing the traditional uni calendar
- control your study load by deciding how many subjects to take at once
- study subjects across multiple universities and multiple study areas
And those are only some of the flexible options available. To learn more, visit our study planning page or contact a student advisor.
How much does it cost to study health and medical science through Open Universities Australia?
Enrolling through Open Universities Australia comes at no cost. Your course fees will be the same as if you had studied on campus. We’re a not-for-profit that, put simply, just wants to help you access the right course for you.
Course fees are dependant on the level of study you’d like to undertake, the number of subjects you’re studying, the course content and the university offering the course. You’ll find an indicative cost on each course page.
It’s also worth noting, through Open Universities Australia you may be eligible to apply for financial assistance, including HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP. These are government loans that defer the cost of your course until you are earning over a certain amount in your career.
To understand more, visit our fees page.
What to read before choosing your course
Help! What degree should I study?
You know you want to go to uni, but you have no clue what course to study. First of all, don’t panic. This is a very, very common problem, and one we’re known for solving. The following advice should help you narrow down your choices.
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If you’re studying full-time, you may be eligible for income support. Find out about the three main types of Centrelink payments for students, Austudy, ABSTUDY and Youth Allowance.
University entry requirements explained
Learn more about how admission criteria works when you're applying for university—and what to do if you don’t meet the requirements.
Why single subject study could be perfect for you
Did you know you can take a single university subject without committing to the whole qualification? It’s a great way to upskill—or to give your degree a test run.
Find out more about how to get started
Speak to a student advisor for:
- free, impartial advice
- expert knowledge about courses and unis
- personalised recommendations
Looking for other ways to start the conversation? Contact us.