Course overview
- Description
This course provides graduates with a suitable background and generalist qualification for a career in public health research or practice. In particular, it provides a foundation in the research disciplines of epidemiology, biostatistics, health economics and health promotion, as well as the broader social context in which public health programs are planned, delivered and evaluated.
The course can be undertaken by coursework only, coursework and dissertation or coursework and practicum. Students must meet the eligibility criteria to undertake the dissertation or practicum.
- Course title
- Master of Public Health (coursework or coursework and dissertation)
- Award abbreviation
- MPH
- Course code
- 91550
- Course type
- Master's degree by coursework or by coursework and dissertation
- Status
- Current / 2025
- Administered by
- Population and Global Health
- CRICOS code
- 003032A
Course details
- Intake periods
- Beginning of year and mid-year
- Attendance type
- Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
- Credit points required
- 72
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester. - Standard course duration
- 1.5 years
- Time limit
- 5 years
- Delivery mode
- Multi-mode
- Locations offered
- UWA (Perth)
- Domestic fee type
- Commonwealth supported and/or HECS-HELP
- Available to international students
- Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
- Course Coordinator(s)
- Dr Barbara Nattabi
- Fees
- Visit the fees calculator.
Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.
Example Study Plans
See study plans for more information.
Specialisations
Course structure
Key to availability of units:
- S1
- Semester 1
- S2
- Semester 2
- N/A
- not available in 2025 – may be available in 2026 or 2027
- NS
- non-standard teaching period
All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.
Where relevant students must meet the eligibility criteria to undertake the project, dissertation or practicum, all of which are optional.
Students in the course by coursework and dissertation take units to the value of 24 points from Group A and units to the value of 12 points from Group B. Students in this pathway are unable to take both the dissertation and the practicum.
Students in the course by coursework take units to the value of 36 points from Group B.
Take all units (36 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | PUBH4401 | Biostatistics I |
| lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 1.5 hours per week |
| S1, S2 | PUBH4403 | Epidemiology I | None | lectures: 60-70 minutes recorded lectures per week; online tutorial worksheets: ~ 2-3 hours per week |
| S1 | PUBH5749 | Foundations of Public Health | None | lectures/tutorials: 3 hours per week |
| S2 | PUBH5752 | Health Systems and Economics | None | lectures/tutorials: 3 hours per week |
| S1 | PUBH5754 | Health Promotion I | None | lectures: 3 hours per week |
| S2 | PUBH5805 | Qualitative Research Methods in Health | None | seminar: 3 hours per week |
Group A Dissertation
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | PUBH5712 | Dissertation (full-time) (24 points) |
| regular meetings with supervisor as required |
| S1, S2 | PUBH5714 | Dissertation (part-time) (24 points) |
| regular meetings with supervisor as required |
Group B Options
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS | AHEA5755 | Aboriginal Health | None | offered intensively |
| S1 | APHB5501 | Developmental Origins of Health and Disease |
| seminars: 12 hours; presentations: 6 hours (depending on number of students) |
| S2 | PAED4401 | Research Conduct and Ethics |
| online modules only |
| S1 | PUBH5705 | Health Program Evaluation |
| lectures/tutorials 3.5 hours |
| NS | PUBH5721 | Public Health Field Trip | Attendance on campus for up to six, 2-hour seminars, followed by up to 14 days of working with an NGO in countries such as Nepal and Fiji. Timing, location and mode of delivery will be dependent on partner agencies and university travel restrictions. | |
| S2 | PUBH5743 | Environmental and Occupational Health | None | lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 1 hour per week for 12 weeks |
| NS | PUBH5755 | Critical Perspectives in Global Health | None | 1 week full-time (37.5 hours), plus 1 month pre-reading (37.5 hours) and 1 month post-contact week assessment (75 hours) |
| N/A | PUBH5757 | Clinical Epidemiology | None | offered intensively |
| S2 | PUBH5758 | Public Health Practicum (24 points) | 35 hours per week | |
| S2 | PUBH5761 | Epidemiology and Control of Communicable Diseases | None | online tuition: 3 hours per week |
| NS | PUBH5763 | Health Leadership and Management | None | One week full time, plus pre-intensive week readings. |
| S1 | PUBH5767 | Child and Maternal Health |
| 3 hours per week for 12 weeks |
| S2 | PUBH5769 | Biostatistics II |
| lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 1.5 hours per week |
| S2 | PUBH5783 | Health in an Era of Environmental Change | None | online lectures and discussions: 3 hours per week |
| N/A | PUBH5784 | Special Topics in Public Health | None | |
| NS | PUBH5785 | Analysis of Linked Health Data | None | offered intensively (1 week full-time) |
| NS | PUBH5801 | Economic Evaluation of Health Care |
| 1 week full-time |
| N/A | PUBH5802 | Advanced Analysis of Linked Health Data |
| offered intensively (1 week full-time) |
| N/A | PUBH5804 | Food and Nutrition in Population Health |
| 1 week full-time |
| S1 | URBD5810 | Healthy by Design | None | 1 hour lecture; 2 hours tutorial |
See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.
Rules
Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures
1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.
(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules
2.(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).
(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.
English Language competency requirements
3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.
Admission requirements
4.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
(a) (i) a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; or
(ii) a Graduate Certificate in Population Health Studies 91230, Graduate Certificate in Environmental Health 92210, Graduate Certificate in Communicable Diseases Epidemiology 91220, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 60 per cent.
(2) Applicants who have or have had a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' against courses 92550 or 92560 are not eligible for admission.
Admission ranking and selection
5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.
Articulations and exit awards
6.(1) The following courses form part of an articulated sequence:
- 91230 Graduate Certificate in Population Health Studies (24 points)
- 91550 Master of Public Health (72 points)
- 92210 Graduate Certificate in Environment and Health (24 points)
- 92220 Graduate Certificate in Communicable Diseases Epidemiology (24 points)
(2) A student who withdraws from the Master of Public Health course before completing it, but after fulfilling the requirements of a lesser award in the above sequence, may apply for the relevant award.
Course structure
7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 72 points.
(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.
Satisfactory progress
8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.
9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.
Progress status
10.(1) Students who fail to make satisfactory progress under Rule 8 for the first time are assigned the progress status of 'Suspended' by the Faculty.
(2) Students who fail to make satisfactory progress under Rule 8 for a second time are assigned the progress status of 'Excluded' by the Faculty.
11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.
Award with distinction
12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—
(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;
(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;
and
(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.
Deferrals
13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).
Additional rules
Enrolment
14. Unless the School, permits otherwise, a student must enrol in units to the value of at least 12 points in any year of enrolment.
Credit
15. Unless the School permits otherwise in recognition of exceptional circumstances, credit will normally only be granted for coursework completed within the last five years.
[Approved addition to University Policy]