Master of Public Health(Advanced option available)
Study Public Health at ANU
Do you care about the health and medical care of people around the world? The Master of Public Health will give you the skills and experience you need to get into the public health and population health sector, either through research or the workforce.
It offers a unique mix of applied education and practical techniques tackling contemporary global health problems.
The program is offered both online or in person, and has an advanced option available that incorporates a research project. The courses will teach you basic knowledge and incorporate electives to allow you to follow your interests. The skills you learn can be workplace-related.
Your teachers will be practicing researchers who bring to the classroom their findings from case studies and the field, including their work from on the frontlines of COVID-19.
You'll also have access to leading practitioners as guest lecturers, thanks to our close relationships with government departments and industry bodies in Canberra.
Key facts
What you will learn
Master of Public Health
You will graduate from the Master of Public Health with knowledge of globally significant fields including ageing, mental health, health services research, global health, chronic disease epidemiology, environment, climate and health, infectious disease epidemiology and modelling, and society, culture and health.
What you will learn
Use analytical tools to define and describe public health problems
Understand the factors that affect major health problems in populations
Learn what impacts the need, demand, and use of health care and public health service
Critically evaluate research findings in medical, public health and science journals
Explain the societal, behavioural, biological and socioeconomic causes of disease
Solve public health problems with creativity, curiousness and evidence-based rigour
Integrate knowledge and research method skills to address a research question
Apply advanced research methods skills through a sustained piece of scholarship
Advanced program
The Advanced program provides you with the opportunity to extend your practical, coursework experience in public health with the development and implementation of a research project. It is particularly relevant if you want to benefit from the research strengths of ANU and its ready access to the local and national health administration policy scenes.
Research topics
We have a wide range of potential research topics. They range from short-term PhB projects to year-long honours and graduate projects to three-year PhD projects.
What it's like to study Public Health
Translating skills into health policy and practice
Sarp Kaya always wanted to work at Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and studying a Master of Public Health helped him reach that goal.
A balancing act of full-time work and online study
Working full-time, Sai Lyons has found time to do her Masters with an all online program.
Gain the skills needed to fight disease
“The public health program is diverse and flexible, where I get to choose the subjects I am interested in. I plan to return home after graduating and put my new skills to use, working on disease prevention. I did my undergrad in microbiology in Botswana, then studied and practiced teaching for twenty years, and found an interest in public health.” - Malegobo Solomon
Meet some of your teachers
Dr Matthew Kelly
Dr Kelly’s research is broadly based around health, epidemiological and demographic transitions in Southeast Asia. Of particular interest is the nutrition transition in the region towards diets high in sugars, fat and processed foods and associated rises in obesity and diet-related disease.
Dr Liana Leach
Liana is a research fellow in the Society, Culture and Health research stream at The National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH). Her research interests include examining the impact of family and work circumstances on mental health. Her work involves the translation of mental health research for public policy and practice.
Dr Aparna Lal
Aparna's research focuses on how the natural environment, including climate variability, impacts human health and wellbeing. Her projects combine public health surveillance with remote sensing, and land and water quality information to quantify, monitor and understand the processes that shape disease patterns.
Public Health careers
A Master of Public Health from ANU is an internationally-recognised population health qualification from Australia’s number 1 university (QS World University Rankings 2020).
You will graduate with the skills to improve the mental and physical health of a whole population. You can find work in Australia and overseas in non-government organisations, primary health care, policy roles, research and private consultancies.
The Australian National University has been ranked as the top university for graduate employability in Australia in the Global University Employability Ranking 2020. As a student at ANU, you gain access to the ANU CareerHub – an online career development and employability tool that includes a jobs board and careers resources. You also have access to drop-in chats with a career consultant and to attend our career fairs to meet potential employers.
Fees & scholarships
Tuition fees: Tuition fees
New students in the Advanced program are eligible to apply for a Commonwealth Supported Place.
Scholarships: Scholarships
ANU offers many scholarships both to overcome disadvantage and to recognise academic merit.
Watch the webinar
Learn about different areas of public health and its applications, examples of careers and employment trends in different areas, and what it is like to work in public health. Also get an overview of studying the Master of Public Health at The Australian National University.
How to apply
Understand the entry requirements
- Check domestic admission dates on the ANU Study website.
- Check admission requirements and deadlines for this degree on the Handbook website. Read the requirements carefully to make sure you understand them.
- You must also meet the University's English language admission requirements.
Gather supporting documents
If you graduated from an Australian university, UAC will be able to access your results in most cases. However, you may be asked to provide transcripts or other documentation, so it is a good idea to prepare your records just in case.
You can still apply before you complete your bachelor degree if you are in your final year, and you must advise UAC in your application. You may need to provide a copy of your academic transcript directly to UAC as soon as you complete your degree. They will provide instructions during the application process.
Submit an application
Start your application on the Universities Admissions Centre website.
Receive an offer
All offers are made through UAC and are released on a rolling basis. You can access your offers and correspondence by logging into your UAC account.
Accept your offer
Once you receive an offer it is very important that you accept it to ensure your place at ANU is reserved.
Understand the entry requirements
- Check international admission dates on the ANU Study website.
- Check admission requirements and deadlines for this degree on the Handbook website. Read the requirements carefully to make sure you understand them.
- You must also meet the University's English language admission requirements.
Prepare entry requirements & support documents
When you apply to ANU, you must be prepared to provide specific documents that we need to assess your application.
Submit your application
Start your application on the ANU Admissions website.
Receive an offer
There are three assessment rounds in each semester. Applying in the first round will give you three opportunities to be assessed and accepted, giving you the best chance of being offered a place at ANU.
Accept your offer
Accept the offer and enrol at ANU!
Need more information?
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