Master of Health Leadership and Education

On completion of this program students should be able to achieve the following learning outcomes:

1. Effectively apply relevant theories to leadership and educational practice and scholarship in the health education context.
2. Analyse contemporary issues within health leadership and education and their significant influence on the application of contemporary professional practice.
3. Engage in critical reflection to promote life-long learning to maintain and improve professional knowledge and skills.
4. Develop sophisticated understandings of the unique nature of learning, teaching and leadership in the clinical and professional health context.
5. Engage with critical thinking to solve ethical dilemmas in the culturally and socially diverse healthcare environment.
6. Develop initiatives that enhance best practice principles of leadership and education in the unpredictable workplace.
7. Apply accomplished communication and negotiation skills to influence and achieve optimum outcomes and shape professional conduct, particularly as they relate to learning, teaching and leadership.
8. Develop a comprehensive and practical understanding of research methods and how to apply these methods to research in the healthcare context.
9. Develop skills in identifying and interrogating hypotheses or research questions.
10. Use evidence-based research in preparation of professional analysis and advice.

The Master of Health Leadership and Education is designed to meet the unique learning needs of interprofessional health leaders and educators in a variety of healthcare settings and clinical and/or academic contexts. In acknowledging complex lives and multiple priorities this degree is flexible. Learners will extend their foundational knowledge and skills in leadership and educational theory and explore their professional development in the context of their specific leadership and educational practice. This qualification provides a pathway for the health professional interested in applying their leadership and educational practice to ultimately prepare for leading innovative and purposeful change in their health professional context.

Recommended study pattern

To be eligible for the award of Master of Health Leadership and Education students must complete 300 Units of Credit consisting of:

Compulsory Subjects:

• MEDI6008 Applied Research 1 (50 cp)
• MEDI6009 Applied Research 2 (50 cp)
• PHIL6020 Ethical Issues in Professional Life (25 cp)
• MEDI5008 Research Methods in Health (25 cp)

Compulsory Electives:

• Health Leadership Compulsory Electives (students must select two electives from list below):
  • MEDI5110 Contemporary issues in Health Professional Education and Leadership (25 cp)
  • MEDI5124 Coaching and Supervision in Health (25 cp)
• Health Education Compulsory Electives (students must select two electives from list below):
  • MEDI5121 Learning and Facilitation in Health Professional Education (25 cp)
  • MEDI5123 Reasoning and Clinical Innovation
  • EDUC5116 Designing Curriculum for Effective Learning (25 cp)
  • EDUC5117 Principles and Practices of Assessment and Evaluation (25 cp)
• General Electives (Students can select the remaining two elective courses from the Compulsory Electives list, and/or from below) :
  • MEDI5004 The Australian Health Care System (25 cp)
  • BUSN5750 Organisations: Power, Leadership and Transformation (25 cp)
  • BUSN5740 Strategic Workforce Issues (25 cp)
  • BUSN5680 Leading Change (25 cp)
  • BUSN5003 Leading Change in a Catholic Context (25 cp)
  • BUSN5100 Accounting for Managers (25 cp)
  • EDUC5013 Leadership in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (25 cp)
  • EDUC5011 Introduction to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (25 cp)

Award requirements

To be eligible for the award of Master of Health Professional Education students must complete 175 Units of Credit consisting of the five (5) Compulsory Courses and five (5) Elective Courses giving 125 Units of Credit.

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.

• Core subjects

• Health Education Electives

• Health Leadership Electives

• General Electives

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

Indicative total fee $27,930

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.

The University of Notre Dame Australia is committed to delivering an excellent student experience, alongside a high standard of teaching, research, and training. As a leader in ethical education, Notre Dame aims to develop students’ critical reasoning and their ability to make ethical decisions—crucial skills to progressing their careers and leading purposeful lives. At Notre Dame, students navigate their future with an ethical education online.

Learn more about UNDA.

Explore UNDA courses.

QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

38

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

38

To be eligible for admission to the Master of Health Professional Education applicants must also meet the following specific requirements:

• As a minimum qualification, a recognised Bachelor degree in a health profession or equivalent professional experience in health professional education, and;
• An active involvement in health professional education – applicants need to demonstrate their teaching experience in a health professional environment which can include but not limited to:
  • Any clinical or hospital education-based position, or any position in which they supervise students in daily work routines (for example, people supervising undergraduate nurses, physios, doctors, medical interns, registrars, etc.)
  • Work in a health-based school in academia or TAFE
  • Work in a multidisciplinary team of health professionals
  • Provide education/supervision to members or students
  • Work in a health professional context, such as health scientist teaching in a school of medicine or veterinary clinic/hospitals
  • People with health professional degrees and working in physio, OT, or social work.

English as primary language

All primary and secondary education was taught and assessed solely in English in a recognised country, Australia, the United Kingdom, the USA, Ireland, Canada (except Quebec), and New Zealand, or;

You have Completed 2+ years or full time equivalent tertiary study in English only at an institution in Australia, the United Kingdom, the USA, Ireland, Canada (except Quebec), and New Zealand, or; 

 International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assessment, or an equivalent English language proficiency assessment, with an overall IELTS (or equivalent) score of 7.0, with no individual band score below 7.0.

All English language tests are valid for two years from the date of completion

Applications for Advanced Standing and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be considered and reviewed on a case by case basis by UNDA's Student Administration.