Infectious diseases
Preventing and controlling infectious diseases
Despite our improved understanding of the epidemiology and control of infectious diseases, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases pose ongoing threats to global health security. This study area explores infectious disease surveillance and intelligence, outbreak investigation and response, and infection prevention and mitigation.
Join a sector-leading population health community
UNSW's Medicine & Health faculty is ranked #54 globally for life sciences and medicine (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025) and is creating the leaders of tomorrow. This study area is delivered by UNSW's School of Population Health - a leader in academic excellence, global impact and social engagement. Our dynamic, international community of staff, alumni, practitioners and students are working together to enhance population health and healthcare systems.
Our teaching is strongly influenced by our research. Our staff bring expertise from multiple disciplines and have experience across local, national and global settings. Our students benefit from research and collaboration opportunities at our internationally recognised research centres and institutes, opens in a new window. Our programs are designed to be relevant to the workplace, with many opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge to practice.
The PLuS Alliance, opens in a new window is a partnership between three leading research universities – Arizona State University, King’s College London and UNSW. This partnership was designed to solve global challenges and increase access to world-class higher education in high-need areas. Through the PLuS Alliance, you can take online courses with Arizona State University, giving you the opportunity to expand your professional network and bring a global perspective to your education.
Enhance your career prospects
A qualification in infectious diseases will prepare you to understand disease intelligence, identify epidemic patterns, investigate outbreaks and develop disease control strategies. You'll become a judgement-ready practitioner with the advanced disciplinary knowledge and skills required to control infectious diseases and health emergencies across a range of contexts and settings. There’s strong demand for infectious diseases professionals in the public and private health sectors, both within Australia and internationally. Our graduates typically find work across a range of employers, including ministries and departments of health, government organisations, NGOs, and primary care and community healthcare services.
Our programs
Indigenous Alternative Entry Scheme
The Indigenous Entry Scheme redresses the imbalance of access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to population health programs.