Master of Digital Health

Graduates of the Master of Digital Health (120cp) should be able to: 

LO1. Critically analyse, reflect on and synthesise specialised technical skills with advanced principles and strategies for digital health adoption to meet current and future health service delivery needs.

LO2. Research and apply established theories and contemporary knowledge for the ethical adoption of person-centred, collaborative and multidisciplinary digital health support services.

LO3. Design, deliver, evaluate and refine meaningful digital health interventions and governance activities for the adoption of digital health and data standards.

Graduates of the Master of Digital Health (Health Administration and Leadership) (160cp) should be able to:

LO1. Critically analyse, reflect on and synthesise specialised technical skills with advanced principles and strategies for digital health adoption to meet current and future health service delivery needs.

LO2. Research and apply established theories and contemporary knowledge for the ethical adoption of person-centred, collaborative and multidisciplinary digital health support services.

LO3. Design, deliver, evaluate and refine meaningful digital health interventions and governance activities for the adoption of digital health and data standards.

LO4.Design and develop strategic planning for the adoption of a digital health ecosystem that best supports individual person-centred health journeys.

Graduates of the Master of Digital Health (Data Science) (160cp) should be able to:

LO1. Critically analyse, reflect on and synthesise specialised technical skills with advanced principles and strategies for digital health adoption to meet current and future health service delivery needs.

LO2. Research and apply established theories and contemporary knowledge for the ethical adoption of person-centred, collaborative and multidisciplinary digital health support services.

LO3. Design, deliver, evaluate and refine meaningful digital health interventions and governance activities for the adoption of digital health and data standards.

LO4. Design and deliver strategies for ethical data sharing and linkage policy and planning activities.

Graduates of the Master of Digital Health (Information Technology) (160cp) should be able to: 

LO1. Critically analyse, reflect on and synthesise specialised technical skills with advanced principles and strategies for digital health adoption to meet current and future health service delivery needs.

LO2. Research and apply established theories and contemporary knowledge for the ethical adoption of person-centred, collaborative and multidisciplinary digital health support services.

LO3. Design, deliver, evaluate and refine meaningful digital health interventions and governance activities for the adoption of digital health and data standards.

LO4. Design and deliver a well-functioning digital health ecosystem, collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.

Digital health represents a global strategic shift in health promotion, maintenance and restoration across all health disciplines and provides employment opportunities within a range of settings, including; hospital information technology, biotechnology and consumer technology, business analytics in healthcare and medical and big health data.

A professional working in this industry needs to understand the importance of a digitally connected ecosystem that directly benefits the healthcare sector through reduced hospital admissions, improved coordination or care, reduced duplication in testing, reduced adverse events and improved person-centred care. They will need to understand how to perform gap analyses, assess big heath data and generate and fix systems that directly improve the quality, safety and efficacy of healthcare. Professionals in this area also need to be equipped with critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and to pursue further learning in order to maintain relevance in an industry that is fast-paced and continually evolving.

The Master of Digital Health is designed to ensure that its students will develop advanced expert knowledge and understanding of industry relevant digital health concepts, advanced skills as a generalist or in an area of specialisation, and develop multidisciplinary skills suitable for the health and health IT industries. Graduates of the Master of Digital Health will have the knowledge and skill required to demonstrate autonomy, expert judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner, and do so in an ethical manner characterised by a concern for respect, equity and social justice.

To complete the Master of Digital Health, a student must complete 120 or 160 credit points (cp), dependent on entry pathway and Specialisation.

Recommended study pattern

To qualify for the Master of Digital Health (120cp) , a student must complete 120 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of: 

50 cp from Health Units

50 cp from IT Units

20 cp from Capstone units

To qualify for the Master of Digital Health with a named specialisation (160cp) in: 

• Health Administration and Leadership 
• Data Science 
• Information Technology

a student must complete 160 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of: 

50 cp from Health Units

50 cp from IT Units

40 cp from one Specialisation group and

20 cp from Capstone units (Capstone must be in the Specialisation)

Award requirements

To qualify for the the Master of Digital Health, a student must complete 120 cp from the schedule of unit offerings.

To qualify for the Master of Digital Health with a named specialisation a student must complete 160 cp from the schedule of unit offerings

Choose your subjects

Majors

Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary foci are built into the curriculum and bring together current and new knowledge from IT professionals, health professionals, and digital health professionals within the industry, for example, health informatician, health business analyist, strategic and operations officer, and medical software developer. The structure also provides students with the ability to tailor the degree to their specific career, industry or vocational needs by embedding an elective suite that draws from a variety of discipline expertise, or the ability to choose from one of three specialised pathways; (i) information technology, (ii) data science, or (iii) health administration and leadership.

To qualify for the Master of Digital Health with a named specialisation (160cp) in:

• Health Administration and Leadership 
• Data Science 
• Information Technology

a student must complete 160 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of: 

50 cp from Health Units

50 cp from IT Units

40 cp from one Specialisation group and

20 cp from Capstone units (Capstone must be in the Specialisation)

Exit points

Students may exit with either of the following relevant awards provided they have completed the required units specified within the degree:

Graduate Diploma in Digital Health

80 cp

Graduate Certificate in Digital Health

40 cp

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 Ranking 2024:

34

Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:

29

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

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

To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites: 

• Bachelor degree in Health or Information Technology 

OR 

• Bachelor degree in any other field of study 

OR 

• ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Digital Health 

NOTE: Applicants having completed ACU’s Graduate Diploma in Digital Health will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of up to 80 credit points. 

NOTE: Applicants having completed ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Digital Health will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of up to 40 credit points.

English Proficiency Entry RequirementsStudents must meet English Language requirements as follows:

• IELTS: Overall score 6.5, Individual score of 6.0 in all test
• PTE: 58 with a minimum of 50 in all four communicative skills
• TOEFL: Internet based total of 79: minimum 21 in writing, 18 in speaking, 13 in reading and 12 in listening
• ACU English Language Test: B (65-74%)
• CAE: Overall CAE of 176, Minimum individual score of 169 in all tests

Applicants having completed ACU’s Graduate Diploma in Digital Health will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of 80 credit points.

Applicants having completed ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Digital Health will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of 40 credit points.

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

TheMaster of Digital Health is designed as a program of structured learning that includes relevant professional practice-related learning, independent research and work integrated learning, as well as the opportunity for an industry-based internship.