Master of Public Health

Graduates of the Master of Public Health will have:

• an integrated knowledge of the practice of public health including:
  • priority issues, populations and settings:
  • contemporary interventions, systems and models of public health management and practice
  • the role and application of research outputs including population level data to the planning of public health policy and practice
• the principles and methods that underpin research within public health planning, implementation and evaluation.

Public health professionals play a critical role in improving population wellbeing, shaping health policy, and responding to complex global health challenges. Griffith's Master of Public Health equips you with the knowledge, analytical skills and practical capabilities to design, deliver and evaluate public health programs that make a real-world impact. 

You'll learn how social conditions, environments and systems shape health — and how to apply this understanding to reduce inequities, prevent disease and improve health outcomes across complex and varied community and policy contexts. 

This program is ideal if you’re seeking to advance your career in health policy and planning, build population-level expertise to complement clinical or allied health experience, pursue public health roles locally or internationally, or transition into public health from a health or science background. 

Highlights of studying the Master of Public Health 

• Gain a strong foundation in population health, epidemiology and health policy 
• Apply analytical and epidemiological skills to plan, implement and evaluate population-based interventions 
• Analyse population health data to support evidence-based public health decision making 
• Explore international and global health contexts, including equity, community engagement and human rights 
• Design and evaluate health promotion and disease prevention programs across diverse settings 
• Communicate public health evidence effectively to inform practice, policy and stakeholders 
• Build practical skills through applied assessment tasks, case studies and project-based learning that reflect current public health practice. 

Lead change with purposeGriffith is ranked #1 in Queensland in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)*, so as a Master of Public Health graduate you'll be prepared to deliver life-changing outcomes for individuals and communities alike. 

 *Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2024.

Recommended study pattern

The Master of Public Health is offered full-time and part-time; fully online and on-campus.

You will be classed as a part-time student if you are enrolled in less than 30 credit points per trimester. As a part-time student, you will generally attend 6 hours of scheduled classes per week.

As a full-time student, you will generally attend 12 hours of scheduled classes per week throughout the trimester.

Classes may be scheduled during the day and evening throughout the week to accommodate part-time and working students unavailable to attend classes during the day.

The Master of Public Health is offered fully online. You can access course materials, participate in learning activities, lodge assessment items and access support services via Learning@Griffith. There is no requirement for on-campus attendance and access to a reliable computer with internet connection is essential. If it suits you, some courses may be taken on-campus.

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

• Healthcare Systems
• Epidemiology: Principles and Practices
• Environment and Population Health
• 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

For the award of Master of Public Health (MPH), you must successfully Complete 120 credit points for one of the following:

• 120 credit points for all Pathway 1 - duration 1 year (80CP of study and 40CP for prior learning), or
• 120 credit points for all Pathway 2 - duration 1.5 years (120CP of study - related degree), or
• 120 credit points for all Pathway 3 - duration 1.5 years (120CP of study - any degree)

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 with the 3147 - Graduate Certificate in Public Health award, you must successfully complete 40 credit points of courses from this program.

To be eligible to exit with the 4094 - Graduate Diploma of Public Health award, you must successfully complete 80 credit points of courses from this program.

To exit, you should apply for a program transfer. 

Note: The Graduate Diploma exit point is not available if you are admitted to the Masters program Pathway 1 - 1 year program (80CP) related degree and work experience.

If you exit with the 4094 - Graduate Diploma of Public Health, you will not be eligible for readmission to complete the Master of Public Health.

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

Indicative total fee $16,500

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.

With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia.

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QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

18

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

20

You can complete this program in 1 year or 1.5 years depending on your prior study and work experience

To be eligible for this program, you must meet one of the following criteria:   

1 year duration (80CP) 

• a recognised Bachelor degree (or higher) in a related discipline and two years relevant work experience

1.5 year duration (120CP) - flexible entry

• a recognised Bachelor degree (or higher) in a related discipline
• a recognised Bachelor degree (or higher) and two years relevant work experience

1.5 year duration (120CP) - foundation entry

• a recognised Bachelor degree (or higher)

Related discipline includes public health, epidemiology, health promotion, environmental health, indigenous health, occupational therapy or nutrition and dietetics (from Griffith University only)

Relevant work experience includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health worker, community development/engagement officer, community health, community medicine, counselling, criminologist, environmental health officer, epidemiologist, health program evaluation, health promotion, human services/social worker, medical practitioner, non-government organisation, preventative medicine, public health officer, social policy officer, social welfare officer, social worker, sociology with a human services focus, World Health Organization

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.

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

The Direct Entry Program (DEP) is not available for Domestic students.

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

• Admission Procedure

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.