Obesity Prevention and Management

Entry requirements

Bachelor’s degree or an appropriate health professional qualification requiring at least three years of full-time tertiary study. If your first language is not English you need to meet our English language requirements as follows: IELTS score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); we also accept a number of other English language tests. Due to COVID-19, we currently accept Duolingo English Test (DET), IELTS Indicator Test, and TOEFL iBT Special home Edition.

Don’t meet the English language requirements? The University of Otago Language Centre "English for Otago" programme offers a pathway for Undergraduate and Postgraduate students to meet the English language requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Months of entry

February, July

Course content

In general, this qualification is intended for health professionals who have completed three years of tertiary study and already have experience in the field. The Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (PGDipHealSc) may be taken either as a generic qualification or, more usually, with an endorsement in a specific area of specialisation.

Obesity is a global epidemic and a major contributor to the health and economic burden of disease. The Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (PGDipHealSc) endorsed in Obesity Prevention and Management will give health professionals working in the area of obesity prevention and management a unique opportunity to be more fully educated about significant factors in the prevention and management of obesity, to ultimately improve professional practice and outcomes for clients/patients and the general community.

Suited to professionals working in areas such as primary health care, nutrition, exercise, health promotion and policy, or those in central government who wish to enhance their scope of professional practice, these qualifications have the potential to influence career paths and/or support leading an interprofessional obesity prevention and management team.

Papers:

• GENA 737 Obesity Prevention and Management
• NUTN 404 Nutrition and Chronic Disease
• SPME 711 Exercise Prescription

Further approved papers from the following lists to the value of at least 30 points, including at least one of OBPM 401-403:

Approved 15-point papers:

OBPM 402, OBPM 403, GENA 731, GENA 732, GENA 735, GENA 822, GENA 825, HASC 413, PUBH 713, PUBH 714, PUBH 732, PUBH 733, PUBH 741, PUBH 743, PUBH 744

Approved 30-point papers:

OBPM 401, AVME 785, GENA 702, GENA 704, GENA 709, GENA 710, GENA 720, GENA 736, GENA 820, GENA 823, HASC 417, HASC 701, NURS 415, NUTN 402, PHTY 610, PRHC 701.

Structure of the Programme

• The programme of study shall consist of approved papers, to the value of 120 points, which must be as specified in the schedule of endorsed options if the diploma is to be endorsed in an area of specialisation.
• With prior approval, up to two 400-level papers in a relevant or related subject offered by another university or tertiary institution may be credited to the diploma.
• The papers shall constitute a coherent and integrated programme of study in the Health Sciences discipline.

Information for international students

Otago offers students an unrivalled campus experience and a vibrant, social student culture. The majority of Otago’s 21,000 students live, work and play in Dunedin - New Zealand’s only true university city. Otago is home to over 3,000 students, from over 100 countries.

Fees and funding