Degree details

This qualification, recognised nationally and internationally as the public health credential for careers in public health, will help you develop and further your career in public health practice, research and management. A focus on the socio-ecological model of public health emphasises and analyses the important interactions between the social, biological, economic and environmental determinants of health. 

You'll learn how to apply this analytical skill set to plan, implement and evaluate population-based interventions that protect and promote health. You will focus your studies by selecting from a range of electives in areas such as public health nutrition, health promotion, environmental health, and health services management.

You will be prepared for a career in areas such as environmental health management, epidemiology and biostatistics, health policy, health program planning and evaluation, health promotion and public health nutrition. You will find career opportunities within government health departments, in public health teams, in community health and in academia. You may also find opportunities in non-government organisation health agencies and international aid agencies.

Professional recognition

The following professional bodies recognise graduates of this award:

Higher education

To apply for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Public Health, a student must:

  • hold an undergraduate degree in an unrelated discipline (i.e. a degree in a discipline other than medicine, nursing, public health, environmental health, allied health, psychology clinical health, research, biomedical health or social sciences); OR

VET studies

  • hold a health-related diploma plus two years relevant work experience in the public health sector; OR

Work and Life

  • have a minimum of five years equivalent full-time work experience in health practice and/or administration/management/leadership roles within health related organisations and students would be expected to have career goals to work in public health-related organisations.

English Proficiency Requirements

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this program are as follows:

  • A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 6.0
  • OR a minimum score of 575 on TOEFL
  • OR an internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 79 (no sub-score less than 19)
  • OR no score less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only)
  • OR a minimum grade of C on the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
  • OR a minimum grade of C on the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
  • OR an overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50.

English test results must be no more than two years old.

Students who successfully complete the Direct Entry Program (DEP) will satisfy the English Language requirements for this Griffith degree.

Griffith University grants credit and recognition of prior learning which may relate to prior formal learning or prior informal and non-formal learning. For more information, please visit the following website:

Award Requirements

To be eligible for the award of Graduate Certificate in Public Health (GCertPH), a student must acquire 40 credit points as prescribed below:

  • gain 30 credit points for the core subjects and
  • gain 10 credit points from the listed elective subjects.