Public Health

The Master of Public Health at the Australian National University is a comprehensive graduate program designed to equip students with the essential knowledge and skills required to address contemporary health issues on local, national, and global scales. This programme aims to develop skilled public health professionals capable of designing, implementing, and evaluating policies and programs that improve population health outcomes. The curriculum encompasses a wide array of disciplines including epidemiology, health promotion, health policy, environmental health, biostatistics, and health management, ensuring graduates are well-prepared to tackle complex health challenges. The course structure offers flexibility through elective subjects, allowing students to tailor their studies to specific interests such as infectious diseases, chronic disease prevention, global health, or health systems analysis. Practical experience is a core component of the program, with opportunities for internships, fieldwork, and collaborative projects with government agencies and health organizations, providing real-world application of theoretical knowledge. The program emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach, integrating research, policy analysis, and community engagement to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students benefit from the expertise of leading academics and public health practitioners who are actively involved in research and policy development, contributing to cutting-edge debates and innovations in the field. Graduates of the Master of Public Health are equipped to pursue careers in government departments, international health agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private sector health companies. The program also provides a strong foundation for those interested in advancing to doctoral studies or research positions in public health. With a focus on ethical practice, cultural competence, and evidence-based approaches, the Master of Public Health prepares graduates to make meaningful contributions to improving health equity, reducing disparities, and promoting sustainable health initiatives worldwide.

The Master of Public Health requires the completion of 96 units, which must consist of:

24 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

POPH8103 Introduction to Health Policy and Administration

POPH8104 Contemporary Issues in Public Health

POPH8100 Fundamentals of Epidemiology

POPH8101 Biostatistics in Population Health

A minimum of 6 units from completion of courses from the following list:

CHMD8004 Qualitative Methodologies for Health Research

POPH8105 Epidemiology Literature Research Project

POPH8315 Methods in Applied Epidemiological Research

A maximum of 66 units from completion of courses from the following list:

ANTH8046 Introduction to Australian Indigenous Development

CHMD8001 Directed Readings in Culture, Health and Medicine

CHMD8004 Qualitative Methodologies for Health Research

CHMD8005 Representing Medicine: Performance, Drama and Identity

CHMD8006 Global Health and Development

CHMD8008 Medicine and Society in History

CHMD8009 Anthropological Approaches to Health Interventions

CHMD8010 Anthropological Concepts for Health Research: From Risk to Suffering

CHMD8011 Refugee Health: From Displacement to Resettlement

DEMO8008 Principles of Population Analysis

DEMO8079 Health Demography

EMDV8001 Environmental Sustainability, Health and Development

IDEC8007 Aid and Development Policy

LAWS8237 Health Law and Bioethics in Global Context

MEDI8115 Fundamentals of Health Protection and Health Promotion

MEDI8116 Public Health disasters, catastrophes and recovery

MEDN8000 Translational Medicine: From Discovery to Healthcare

MGMT7030 Foundations of Management

NSPO8001 Australia's National Security Community

NSPO8013 Disease, Security and Biological Weapons

POGO8029 Health Policy in a Globalising World

POPH8313 Analysis of Public Health Data

POPH8316 Outbreak Investigation

POPH8317 Public Health Surveillance

POPH8318 Human Health, Environment and Climate Change

POPM8001 Mental Health

A Bachelor degree or international equivalent with an average mark of at least 70%.

All applicants must meet the University's English Language Admission Requirements for Students.

Applicants with a Bachelor Degree or Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline may be eligible for 24 units (one semester) of credit.

Applicants with a Graduate Diploma or Honours in a cognate discipline may be eligible for 48 units (one year) of credit.

Cognate disciplines

Health, Medical Sciences, Biological sciences, Psychology, Social sciences

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.

With the approval of the MPH Program Convenor, other electives may be chosen from postgraduate courses offered across ANU and other recognised universities; for example, see courses listed under the Master of Culture, Health and Medicine Program, Master of Public Policy and Master of Environment. Relevant courses offered by the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU) may also be selected.