Bachelor of Health Service Management
Undergraduate
ADU-HSM-DEG 2026Course information for 2026 intake
Shape the health services that care for your community’s wellbeing
Prepare for a rewarding career and thrive in healthcare settings. You’ll build core business skills and gain specialist knowledge in health services policy, planning, and promotion. Graduate career-ready to make a difference in the health sector.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 21 Dec 2025,
- 19 Apr 2026,
- 9 Aug 2026
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 24
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Bachelor of Health Service Management
About this degree
Discover how to enhance community wellbeing with Adelaide University's 100% online Bachelor of Health Service Management.
You'll explore courses in health service management, leadership, and ethical considerations while developing essential management skills in business, finance, and human resources. Discover how to measure population health and address both local and global health issues, along with policy planning and data analytics.
You'll tackle pressing healthcare questions including IVF gender selection, resource allocation, and euthanasia. You’ll also learn how to turn business ideas into opportunities.
Through mentoring and networking opportunities, you will grow into an ethical leader ready to inspire, innovate, and influence the future of healthcare.
Prepare for a fulfilling healthcare career where you can enhance the efficiency and equity of services in your community.
Gain vital business management skills, including financial management, along with specialized knowledge in health services policy, planning, and promotion. Build a toolbox of transferable skills in health promotion, data analytics, health ethics, management challenges, entrepreneurship, population measurement and marketing.
Boost your workplace confidence and employability as a compassionate leader through various professional development opportunities. Expand your skill set in service management, health education and the entrepreneurial mindset. Develop modern strategic leadership skills to launch a rewarding career in health. You’ll graduate equipped to inspire, drive innovation, and influence the future of healthcare in diverse workplace environments.
Recommended study pattern
Year 1
- OL Introductory Accounting - ACCT1004
- Entrepreneurship Foundations and Mindset - BUSI2053
- Managing Organisations and People - BUSI1040
- OL Introduction to Marketing - MARK1010
- Personal and Professional Development - BUSI2052
- Health and Illness in Populations - PUBH2025
- Introduction to Health Ethics - PUBH1014
- OL Data Nalytics1 - STAT1007
Year 2
- OL Business Operations Management - BUSI2024
- OL Business Information Systems and Management - BUSI2025
- Social Foundations of Health - PUBH2019
- OL Health care systems: structure, policy and people - PUBH2020
- OL Environmental and Occupational Health - PUBH2021
- Health Economics - PUBH2022
- Knowing What Works - Evaluation for Public Health - PUBH2023
- Strategic Management - BUSI3042
Year 3
- Managing Conflict and Change - BUSI3043
- OL Systems Thinking for a Complex World - BUSI3044
- Elective
- Human Resources Management - HRES3006
- OL Health Promotion III - PUBH3014
- Management Challenges in Health - PUBH3015
- Doing Business in Health - PUBH3016
- OL Health Technology Assessment - PUBH3017
Award requirements
Students must successfully complete 24 subjects.
Choose your subjects
Electives
Choice of capstone courses:
- OL eChallenge - BUSI3045
- Industry Project - BUSI3092
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.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$16,800
Indicative total fee $50,400
The amounts shown here are 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.
Adelaide University is Australia’s new major university, delivering an accessible, contemporary and future-focused teaching and learning experience. Adelaide University’s range of 100% online undergraduate and postgraduate programs is designed by experts and shaped by industry, with world-class research informing your learning. Experience flexible study, tailored student support when you need it, and on-demand learning resources. Join a vibrant community of online learners and launch your next move.
Learn more about Adelaide University.
Explore Adelaide University courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:
- 8
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:
- 10
Entry requirements
Beyond the first 4 subjects, enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
Managing Organisations and People - BUSI1040
Personal Professional Development - BUSI2052
Health and Illness in Populations - PUBH2025
Entrepreneurship Foundations and Mindset - BUSI2053
Completion of 4 x Open Access Courses (See above)
Not applicable
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.