Course outline
With a strong emphasis on research, the Master of Public Health course provides professionals from multidisciplinary backgrounds with enhanced skills to pursue a career in public health.
A conceptual understanding of public health and research is developed throughout first year, and in the second year, individual interest areas are pursued through one of the five specialisations:
- Research - focus on a research topic of your interest and of public health importance, develop in-depth knowledge on research methods and relevant practical skills for conducting a small-scale research under the mentorship of an experienced supervisor.
- Project - develop in-depth knowledge on the design and implementation of public health projects. Focus on theoretical concepts and practical skills for designing and implementing a public health project of your choice under the mentorship of an experienced supervisor.
- Public Health Informatics - learn more about the application of data and technology for public health practice and research. Develop in-depth knowledge of theoretical concepts and relevant practical skills for conducting a small-scale research focusing on public health Informatics under the mentorship of an experienced supervisor.
- Public Health Economics - advance your skills in the analyses of healthcare costs, cost effectiveness/resource utilisation and health economics for public health practice and research. Develop in-depth knowledge of theoretical concepts and relevant practical skills for conducting a small-scale research focusing on public health economics under the mentorship of an experienced supervisor.
- Health System Management - explore human experiences in healthcare settings including contemporary professional, ethical, social justice, political, consumer considerations and leadership roles, and utilise these for public health practice and research. Develop in-depth knowledge of theoretical concepts and relevant practical skills for conducting a small-scale research focusing on health system management under the mentorship of an experienced supervisor.
This course is also available as a graduate certificate and graduate diploma option.
Hear from our students
"The professors and teachers are really accessible, supportive and friendly. Looking back on the first semester of this course, it was really comprehensive. I learned about a lot of public health concepts and found it challenging but interesting to learn about Australia's healthcare system, particularly indigenous health. I think it's really important to understand this concepts well if you want to pursue a career in Australia's public health sector."
Career opportunities
The Master of Public Health course prepares you to be a public health professional. There are multiple career options available in Australia and globally including working within the public and private sectors, development agencies and universities as a researcher, policy officer, health promotion officer, or as an academic. Graduates can be involved in managing and evaluating public health courses, formulating and implementing policies. You may also pursue further study and complete a PhD.
Sample structure
Sample structures are just one example of the many options available within your chosen course. Please contact Federation University for further information on available options.
Please note this is a sample structure only and is not to be used for enrolment purposes. To enrol, please refer to the information provided to you by Federation University for your individual course structure or view our enrolment information page.
To view current unit information and cost, click on the individual unit name below, or click here to view current unit information and cost for ALL units.
Year 1
Semester 1
Semester 2
Year 2
Semester 1
Semester 2
Contact hours
Contact hours can vary depending on requirements, however typical contact hours for full-time study are around 25-30 hours comprising of on-campus classes, online learning and self-directed study.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements (non year 12)
To be eligible for this course you must hold:
• Successful completion of a recognised 3-year Australian bachelor degree or overseas equivalent; or
• Other university qualification and appropriate industry experience
You may exit the course at 12 months and receive a Graduate Diploma of Public Health, following the completion of 120 credit points, or exit the course at 6 months and receive a Graduate Certificate in Public Health, following the completion of 60 credit points.
English language requirement
Academic IELTS of 6.5 overall with no individual band less than 6.0 or equivalent.
How to apply
The application method varies depending on your circumstances, please visit our How to apply page for further information.
Direct application: Yes
Federation University code: HP9
Fees and scholarships
2024 Indicative Fees
Fee Type: Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
$8,948 student contribution amount
A Commonwealth Supported Place is subsidised by the Australian Government. Your fees (student contribution amount) are set on an annual basis by the government and are determined by the discipline area and band of your individual units, not the overall course. Each unit falls into a band which determines the student contribution.
2024 annual student contribution amounts for 1 EFTSL (equivalent full-time student load) range between $4,445 Band 1 to $16,323 Band 4. To find the Band, EFTSL and contribution amount for each unit, check the Sample Structure or refer to the 2024 unit listing.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and the indicative amount should be used as a guide only. It is based on a typical enrolment for a student undertaking the first year of study in this course. For 0.5 EFTSL (60 credit point) courses the certificate fee is displayed. Total cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved credit you receive.
Other fees
You will also need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Fee assistance
You may be eligible for a HECS-HELP loan, which can be used to defer payment of all or part of your student contribution. You may also be eligible to defer payment of your SSAF through a SA-HELP loan.
Scholarships
Our scholarships and grants can help with your study costs. Explore our scholarships to find an opportunity that's right for you.
Recognition of prior learning
Can your studies count towards a degree with us? Use our online Credit Search to get the details on completing your studies sooner.
Pathways/alternate entry
Students who have successfully completed a fourth year of university study may be eligible to apply for entry into the course with up to 120 credit points (equivalent to 1 year of full-time study)
Additional information
To help you get the most from your online learning experience, it's important that you own or have frequent access to a fast and reliable computer that's ideally not more than two years old.
You will also need frequent access to a reliable high-speed internet connection. You should expect to use approximately 5GB of data each month, per unit, just for study use.
For further information, visit the Minimum IT requirements for studying online webpage.
A range of student services are available at most campuses. For further information on these services or for course information, please contact us on 1800 333 864.
The commencement of all courses is subject to available funding and enrolment quotas.
All information contained in this course overview including the availability of courses and fees, is correct at the time of being published, however the University reserves the right to alter any course, procedure or fee. Students should check for any amendment prior to enrolment.
CRICOS Provider No.00103D
Please note: This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding to eligible individuals.
National RTO Code: 4909