Public Health

Entry requirements

The course is open to those with a wide variety of backgrounds and qualifications. As a guide, a general requirement for entry into postgraduate public health courses is a good undergraduate degree, diploma, or professional qualification, which would normally equate to a B average overall.

If your first language is not English you need to meet our English language requirements with an IELTS score of 6.5. 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, April, July, August

Course content

The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health (DPH) is a broad-based qualification which is highly sought after by a range of employers. It is relevant and practical, with graduates being able to identify and understand public health issues, and depending on which optional papers are taken, gain the skills to analyse and use health data, design appropriate health promotion strategies, plan and evaluate public health interventions, work collaboratively with professionals and the community, appreciate resource allocation and cost issues in health and uphold ethical standards.

The DPH consists of four core papers, with a further four papers chosen from the schedule enabling the qualification to cover a broad range of public health topics. We expect that the majority of students will complete an unendorsed DPH, however there are three endorsed options for those with specific interest areas in epidemiology, health promotion, or social research methods.

For those who are planning to go on to a Master of Public Health (MPH), a research paper relevant to the intended methodological approach needs to be included as one of the optional four papers. This is in addition to the core epidemiology paper, PUBH 711 Principles of Epidemiology.

The DPH can be used as a stand-alone qualification, but equally you can use the papers from the Diploma to progress to the Master of Public Health (MPH). Note candidates for the MPH must have attained a good B average (73%) overall in their DPH.

Schedule of Endorsed Options

Unendorsed Option PUBH 711, PUBH 712, PUBH 713, PUBH 714 and four further PUBH papers to the value of 60 points.

Endorsed Options

Epidemiology PUBH 711, PUBH 712, PUBH 713, PUBH 714; three of PUBH 721, PUBH 725, PUBH 726, PUBH 732, and one further PUBH paper to the value of 15 points.

Health Promotion PUBH 711, PUBH 712, PUBH 713, PUBH 714, PUBH 743, PUBH 744, and two further PUBH papers to the value of 30 points.

Social Research Methods PUBH 711, PUBH 712, PUBH 713, PUBH 714, PUBH 723, PUBH 724; one of PUBH 725, PUBH 736, PUBH 743 and one further PUBH paper to the value of 15 points.

This course is available at Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin campuses.

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