Master of Global Public Health

Graduates of the Master of Global Public Health will demonstrate an appropriate depth of integrated knowledge of the practice of public health including:

1. priority issues, populations and settings
2. contemporary interventions, systems and models of public health management and practice
3. the role and application of research outputs including population level data to the planning of public health policy and practice
4. the principles and methods that underpin research within public health planning, implementation and evaluation
5. the application of public health knowledge and methods within International contexts and practice.

There are diverse career opportunities for professionals interested in moving into the public health field, developing health research skills and/or furthering competency development in public health practice areas such as:

• International health
• Humanitarian aid
• Health program planning and evaluation
• Health promotion
• Health policy
• Epidemiology and biostatistics
• Environmental health management
• Maternal and child health
• Public health nutrition.

You will be prepared for a variety of career opportunities with state and federal health departments, in public health units/teams, community health, local government, and in academia. Public health graduates are also highly sought after by NGO health agencies and international aid agencies.

Professional recognition

As a graduate of the Master of Global Public Health, you will be eligible for membership of the following professional bodies:

• Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA)
• Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA)
• International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE).

Higher education

To be eligible for admission to the Master of Global Public Health, applicants must have:

• a related Bachelor degree from a recognised University (or another tertiary education institution of equivalent standing) with a minimum GPA of 4.0 (using a 7.0 point scale);
• OR a Graduate Certificate in Public Health from Griffith University with a minimum GPA of 4.0 (using a 7.0 point scale) - applicants with the Griffith Graduate Certificate in Public Health will be eligible for 40 credit points of advanced standing;
• OR a related Graduate Certificate (or equivalent qualification) from a recognised University (or another tertiary education institution of equivalent standing) with a minimum GPA of 4.0 (using a 7.0 point scale) - applicants may be eligible for up to 40 credit points of credit.

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 overall score of 176 (no score less than 169) on C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English) or C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• 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.

Applicants should refer to the English language requirements section of the following University policy for exceptions to these overall requirements:

• Postgraduate Programs Admission Policy

Reduce the time it takes to finish your degree. You can apply to Griffith to recognise your prior learning, including:

• Formal learning through courses completed at uni and TAFE.
• Informal learning through workplace experience or volunteer training.
• Non-formal learning through social experiences and hobbies.

This program helps you to develop and further your career in public health practice, research and/or management. It allows you to re-orient your work interests in health to disease prevention and health promotion and is widely recognised both nationally and internationally as the public health credential for careers in public health.

The program focuses on the socio-ecological model of public health that emphasises and analyses the important interactions between the social, biological, economic and environmental determinants of health. They enable you to apply this analytical skill set to plan, implement and evaluate population based interventions that protect and promote health.

The program has a strong focus on global health and provides you with the opportunity to focus your public health studies by selecting from a range of electives in areas such as public health nutrition, health promotion, climate change, international health, environmental health, and health services management.

Recommended Study Pattern

As a guide, core subjects in this degree can include:

• Global Health Systems 

• Epidemiology: Principles and Practices

• Global Health, Equity and Human Rights

• Social Determinants of Health

Plus there’s a selection of electives to choose from. As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you.

Award Requirements

To be eligible for the award of Master of Global Public Health (MGlobalPH), a student must acquire 160 credit points as prescribed below:

• Standard pathway:
  • gain 100 credit points for the core courses and
  • gain 60 credit points of listed elective courses
• Dissertation pathway:
  • gain 90 credit points for the core courses and
  • gain 30 credit points of listed elective courses and successfully complete the 40 credit point dissertation.

To be eligible for the award of Master of Global Public Health (MGlobalPH), a student admitted with 40 credit points of advanced standing must acquire 120 credit points as prescribed below:

• Standard pathway:
  • gain 70 credit points for the core courses and
  • gain 50 credit points of listed elective courses
• Dissertation pathway:
  • gain 50 credit points for the core courses and
  • gain 30 credit points from the listed elective courses and
  • successfully complete the 40 credit point dissertation.

This degree may be awarded with Distinction where a student achieves a minimum program GPA of 6.5 with no failed courses. The words 'This award was achieved with Distinction' will be recorded on the testamur.

Exit Points

To be eligible to exit the Master of Global Public Health with the Graduate Certificate in Public Health award, a student must acquire 40 credit points as prescribed below:

• gain 30 credit points for the core courses and
• gain 10 credit points of listed elective courses.

The Graduate Certificate exit point is not available to students admitted to the Masters program with advanced standing.

To be eligible to exit the Master of Global Public Health with the Graduate Diploma of Public Health award, a student must acquire 80 credit points as prescribed below:

• Standard pathway:
  • gain 60 credit points for the core courses and
  • gain 20 credit points of listed elective courses.
• Dissertation pathway:
  • gain 70 credit points for the core courses and
  • gain 10 credit points of listed elective courses.

The Graduate Diploma exit point is not available to students admitted to the Masters program with advanced standing.

Students who exit with the Graduate Diploma will not be eligible for readmission to complete the 120 credit point Master of Public Health. These students will be eligible to apply for admission to the 160 credit point Master of Global Public Health and, if successful, will be required to complete at least 80 credit points.

To be eligible to exit the Master of Global Public Health with the Master of Public Health award, a student must acquire 120 credit points as prescribed below:

• Standard pathway:
  • gain 80 credit points for the core courses and
  • gain 40 credit points of listed elective courses.
• Dissertation pathway:
  • gain 70 credit points for the core courses and
  • gain 10 credit points from the listed elective courses and
  • successfully complete the 40 credit point dissertation.

Students who exit with the Master of Public Health will not be eligible for readmission to complete the 160 credit point Master of Global Public Health.