Graduate Diploma in Health Administration

Upon successful completion, students should be able to:

LO1. Identify a selection of contemporary, evidence-based developments in health care and explain their relevance to the administration of health service delivery;

LO2. Analyse and synthesise complex information, including concepts, theories and contemporary challenges within a complex and dynamic health environment;;

LO3. Use advanced decision-making skills to respond to emerging challenges within a variety of health care settings..

The Graduate Diploma in Health Administration offers students the opportunity to build on their administrative or management foundations by evaluating current approaches to policy development and implementation in health care delivery.

The structure of this course allows students to select a project stream or a research stream relevant to health administration.

Recommended study pattern

Students are required to follow the pattern of unit enrolment set out in the relevant Course Enrolment Guide, unless otherwise approved by the Course Coordinator. In all aspects of progress through the course, students will be advised by the Course Coordinator.

To qualify for the degree, a student must complete 80 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of:

a. For Project Stream:

i. 70 cp from Health Administration Units;

ii. 10 cp from Elective Units.

OR

b. For Research Stream:

i. 70 cp from Health Administration Units;

ii. 10 cp from Research Stream Units.

Health Administration Units - 10 credit points each

• Organisational Culture and Management
• Quality and Safety in Health Care
• Leadership in Health Care
• Workforce Management
• Policy and Planning in Health Care
• Interpreting Health Research
• Healthcare Ethics: Principles in Practice

Elective Units - 10 Credit points each

• Accounting for Decision Making
• First Nations Knowings: Australian Context
• Strategic Management in Digital Health Service Delivery
• Either
  • Qualitative Research Methods OR
  • Biostatistics for Health Sciences
• Redesign in Health Service Delivery
• Leading Change in Health Services
• Facilitative Leadership, Coaching and Mentoring
• Ethical Leadership
• Ageing and Ethics of Elder Care

Elective units can also be selected from another Master course upon approval by the Course Coordinator. 

Domestic students can choose an elective via a cross-institutional arrangement as approved by the Course Coordinator.

Research Stream Units - 10 Credit points each

• Qualitative Research Methods
• Biostatistics for Health Sciences

Award requirements

To qualify for the degree, a student must complete 80 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of:

a. For Project Stream:

i. 70 cp from Health Administration Units;

ii. 10 cp from Elective Units.

OR

b. For Research Stream:

i. 70 cp from Health Administration Units;

ii. 10 cp from Research Stream Units.

Choose your subjects

Electives

Elective Units 10 credit points each - select 1 unit from the following

• Accounting for Decision Making
• First Nations Knowings: Australian Context
• Strategic Management in Digital Health Service Delivery
• Either
  • Qualitative Research Methods OR
  • Biostatistics for Health Sciences
• Redesign in Health Service Delivery
• Leading Change in Health Services
• Facilitative Leadership, Coaching and Mentoring
• Ethical Leadership
• Ageing and Ethics of Elder Care

Elective units can also be selected from another Master course upon approval by the Course Coordinator. 

Domestic students can choose an elective via a cross-institutional arrangement as approved by the Course Coordinator.

Exit points

A student who has completed the following requirements from the specialisations in the Schedule of Unit Offerings may exit with the relevant award:

• Graduate Certificate in Health Administration: 40 cp from Health Administration Units.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $21,155

The amount shown here is 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.

Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.

Learn more about ACU.

Explore ACU courses.

QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

35

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

26

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Diploma in Health Administration, an applicant must have completed a Bachelor degree in a health discipline or equivalent.

International applicants need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

• Academic IELTS with an overall score of 6.5: with minimum scores of 6.0 in all tests.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) 58: with a minimum of 50 in all four communicative skills
• Test of English as a Foreign Language - Academic TOEFL Internet based total of 79: with a minimum 21 in writing, 18 in speaking, 13 in reading and 12 in listening
• Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) Overall CAE of 176: with a minimum individual score of 169 in all tests.

If you have already studied at university level or have significant relevant work experience, you can apply for credit towards your ACU course. Credited units replace units you would otherwise study, so you can finish your course earlier.

ACU will consider requests for advanced standing based on prior studies to a maximum equivalence of 40cp.

In some situations, it may be possible to receive Recognition of Prior Learning for all or part of the first placement unit.