Master of Public Health (Extension)
- Commencing Terms
- Term 1, 2 & 3
- Duration
- 1.7 Year(s)
- Delivery Mode
- Face-to-face (includes blended), Online
- Campus
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Kensington
- Codes
- CSP UAC code 910808
- Full Fee Paying UAC Code 910809
- Program code 9046
- CRICOS code 061597E
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Commonwealth Supported Places are available for this program2024 Indicative CSP first year fee
- $9,000*
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2024 Indicative CSP fee to complete degree
- $14,000*
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2024 Indicative first year full fee
- $54,000*
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2024 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $84,000*
Fees
Fees
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Pathway to PhD
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Industry relevant
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Flexible delivery
International application pause for 2025 intakes
Applications for international students to study at UNSW in 2025 are currently paused. Please submit your expression of interest to join our application waitlist so we can contact you.
- Overview
- Entry requirements
- What will I study?
- Future careers
- How to apply
- Fees & Scholarships
Overview
The Master of Public Health is widely recognised as essential for a career in population health, including health promotion, primary health care, policy formulation, research and management of health programs. You will extend your knowledge and skills in public health research by undertaking an advanced research project.
This Master of Public Health (Extension) degree will give you a sophisticated understanding across the complex body of multidisciplinary knowledge of public health including epidemiology, biostatistics, social determinants of health, health promotion, population research methodologies, and health program design, implementation and evaluation. You will be perfectly positioned to pursue a PhD in Public Health to further advance your career in public health research.
Key features
- Industry relevant program
This program was designed to be relevant to the workplace, with many opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge to practice. One such opportunity is our internship program, where you’ll gain practical experience in relevant health organisations. We offer a range of domestic and international internship placements in Australia, Asia and the Pacific.
- Flexible delivery
Complete your study from anywhere in the world. This degree provides flexible learning options so you can complete the degree according to your needs and commitments. Courses can be taken online or face-to-face, full-time or part-time. Our online learning spaces facilitate collaborative learning so you can connect with fellow students and course convenors in real-time.
Why study this degree at UNSW?
Tailor your degree to your interests
Tailor your degree to suit your goals through a broad program of study or a focused public health specialisation. We offer nine specialisations in areas where we have extensive expertise, including:
- Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing
- Epidemiology
- Health Economic Evaluation
- Health Promotion
- Infectious Diseases Control
- International Health
- Primary Health Care
- Public Security
- Social Research
Gain international connections through the PLuS Alliance
The PLuS Alliance combines the strengths of three leading research universities – Arizona State University, King’s College London and UNSW – to solve global challenges. You’ll have the opportunity to take online courses with Arizona State University to bring a global perspective to your education. Moving away from the traditional classroom, this degree will immerse you in a global learning environment, where you’ll study alongside students from Australia, the United States and around the world.
Join a sector-leading population health community
Join a community that’s playing a key role in enhancing population health and healthcare systems. This program is delivered by the School of Population Health – a dynamic, international community of staff, alumni, practitioners and students. Our multi-disciplinary teaching and research staff have research and practitioner experience in local, national and international settings. Research and collaboration opportunities are available for students in our internationally recognised research centres and institutes. You will be part of a community involved in translating ground-breaking research into disease prevention and response strategies and informing health policy.
Build your professional network
Join an engaged cohort of like-minded students and a successful alumni community. Our graduates currently hold leadership roles in public and private services spanning ministries/departments of health, local health districts, public service roles relevant to social determinants of health, non-government organisations across Australia and around the world, in addition to graduates who bring population health expertise to their clinical work.
Want to see more from UNSW Medicine and Health?
Entry requirements
For entry into this program, you must have one of the following:
- A three-year undergraduate degree, plus, an honours or postgraduate degree, in a field relevant to public health or health management.
OR
- A three-year undergraduate degree in a field relevant to public health or health management, plus, two years full-time professional or volunteer experience. This may also include equivalent professional experience acquired as part of a degree of four or more years duration (e.g., MBBS, BMed, MD).
In exceptional circumstances, applicants with extensive relevant professional work experience (e.g., hospital-trained nurses, paramedics, Aboriginal health workers) may be considered. A minimum of five years full-time relevant professional experience is required and an interview with the School of Population Health may be conducted.
Relevant fields
Examples of relevant fields include, but are not restricted to:
- medicine
- nursing
- allied health
- health sciences
- biomedical sciences
- dentistry
- sociology
- behavioural and social sciences
- psychology
- marketing
- human services
- emergency services
- environmental health
- veterinary science
- health administration
- business
- management
- engineering
- law
- science
- mathematics and statistics
- economics
- policy studies
- development studies.
Indigenous Alternative Entry Scheme
Aimed at redressing the imbalance of access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to population health programs, this scheme provides entry to our postgraduate coursework degrees based on your interest in public health and relevant educational and/or professional experience.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
For entry into this program, you must have one of the following:
- A three-year undergraduate degree, plus, an honours or postgraduate degree, in a field relevant to public health or health management.
OR
- A three-year undergraduate degree in a field relevant to public health or health management, plus, two years full-time professional or volunteer experience. This may also include equivalent professional experience acquired as part of a degree of four or more years duration (e.g., MBBS, BMed, MD).
In exceptional circumstances, applicants with extensive relevant professional work experience (e.g., hospital-trained nurses, paramedics, Aboriginal health workers) may be considered. A minimum of five years full-time relevant professional experience is required and an interview with the School of Population Health may be conducted.
Relevant fields
Examples of relevant fields include, but are not restricted to:
- medicine
- nursing
- allied health
- health sciences
- biomedical sciences
- dentistry
- sociology
- behavioural and social sciences
- psychology
- marketing
- human services
- emergency services
- environmental health
- veterinary science
- health administration
- business
- management
- engineering
- law
- science
- mathematics and statistics
- economics
- policy studies
- development studies.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
Check the specific English language requirements for this program
Program structure
The Master of Public Health (Extension) can be completed in 1.7 years of full-time study or three years part-time. The program is made up of 12 courses total, including:
- four core courses
- four elective courses
- additional electives which include a research project or research methodology course
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Please visit the program handbook to view the elective courses on offer.
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You can choose to study a broad Master of Public Health (Extension) or complete a specialised program of study.
- Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing
Enhance the capacity of the primary health care, public health, allied health and community development sectors to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. This specialisation equips people for careers developing interventions into the physical, psychosocial, cultural and environmental determinants of Indigenous Australians’ health and wellbeing.
- Epidemiology
Learn how implement the principles of epidemiology that underpin public health programs and policies. You’ll gain sector-needed advanced epidemiological and biostatistical skills. This specialisation is suitable for students who want to transition to a career in quantitative research methods in public health.
- Health Economic Evaluation
Gain an understanding of the use and purpose of economic analyses in population health. You’ll learn how to apply economic evaluation to assess the costs and benefits of healthcare programs. This specialisation is suitable for students who want to transition to a career in health economics.
- Health Promotion
Public health practice requires consideration of social determinants, health policies, equity gaps and social justice. This specialisation focuses on social understandings of health. It will equip you for a career taking a multi-sectoral approach to promoting health through research, practice, policy and advocacy.
- Infectious Diseases Control
Learn the principles and practice of disease surveillance and fundamentals of outbreak investigation. This specialisation explores methods of disease control including vaccination, treatment programs and processes for containing emerging infections such as pandemic influenza.
- International Health
Explore global health and development from a public health perspective. This specialisation provides students with the skills and knowledge to address key health issues in low and middle income countries. It also enables students to contribute effectively to international health development.
- Primary Health Care
Learn how to contribute and respond to current developments in primary health care services. Primary care is a critical component of any health system, with the potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the whole health system. This specialisation explores the role of primary care and integrated care in improving the health of populations.
- Public Security
Gain a strong grounding in public health combined with the health aspects of disasters, emergency management and crises. This specialisation is particularly aimed at first-responders, analysts or policy makers from health, emergency management, law enforcement, military or related backgrounds.
- Social Research
The solutions to health problems often lie outside health systems or departments – in social policy, urban design or the penal system, to name a few. This specialisation will provide you with expertise in the methods and practices needed to develop public health responses which meet community needs.
- Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing
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Dual degrees: Complete two degrees in 1.7 years of full-time study.
- Master of Health Leadership and Management/Master of Public Health
- Master of Global Health/Master of Public Health
- Master of Public Health/Master of Infectious Diseases Intelligence
Dual degrees + research extensions: Complete two degrees with a research focus in two years of full-time study. This option includes an extension component where you’ll complete additional electives including a research project or a research methodology course.
- Master of Public Health (Extension)/Master of Health Leadership and Management
- Master of Public Health/Master of Health Leadership and Management (Extension)
- Master of Public Health (Extension)/Master of Global Health
- Master of Global Health (Extension)/Master of Public Health
- Master of Public Health (Extension)/Master of Infectious Diseases Intelligence
- Master of Public Health/Master of Infectious Diseases Intelligence (Extension)
Future careers
Graduates of the Master of Public Health (Extension) are recognised as leaders in disease prevention and control, program and policy formulation, implementation and evaluation, health promotion, population health research and management of health programs. Many occupy key positions in health departments, population health units, universities and non-government organisations in Australia, the Western Pacific and Asian regions.
There’s strong demand in Australia and globally for professionals with specialised interdisciplinary skills in Public Health. The Master of Public Health (Extension) can lead to a career in:
- government departments and ministries of health
- public health networks
- local area health services
- universities and research institutes
- international health policy and funding institutions
- non-governmental agencies
- mental health services
- Indigenous health organisations.
How to apply
Applications for domestic students (Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders and New Zealand citizens) are processed through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) Postgraduate.
Ready to start your application?
For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.
Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.
Ready to start your application?
Fees & Scholarships
Commonwealth Supported Places
$9,000*
$14,000*
All places within this degree are Commonwealth supported. This means that if you receive an offer from UNSW Sydney as a domestic student, you will have a substantial proportion of your fees subsidised by the Australian government. Start your application today with our guide on how to apply.
*The indicative Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) fees are an estimate based on the relevant student contribution band/s for a Commonwealth Supported Place undertaking a standard full-time load of 48 units of credit per year (1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load/1 EFTSL). To find out more about Commonwealth Supported Places visit Postgraduate Commonwealth Support.
Indicative fees are a guide only and have been calculated based on the typical enrolment patterns of students undertaking the degree/program. The indicative fee listed here is an estimate for tuition only and excludes non-tuition fees and charges. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year of enrolment, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (48 units of credit (UOC) per year).
You should not rely on indicative fees as fee increases are assessed when required and may exceed the indicative figures listed here. Actual fees are calculated on enrolment. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only, other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.
Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.
Scholarships
At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.
QS World University Rankings, 2025.
AFR Top 100 Future leaders Award.
#1 Australian uni attended by start-up founders.
This program fuelled my passion for improving the health of all Australians.
