Earning a master’s degree in interdisciplinary public health is probably the best way to secure a senior role in the job sector. This in-demand specialization employs around 100,000 people in the United States alone, meaning there is an increasing need for experts in this field, including Australia.
According to PayScale, the average annual salary of a master’s degree holder in public health is over $60,000 in the U.S. Such a degree is offered at numerous universities in Australia, one of the world’s top five countries for higher education. That’s why we’re discussing a list of the best seven schools offering a master’s program in public health in Australia.
Top Schools Offering Public Health Master’s Programs in Australia
1. University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne, founded in 1853, is recognized as one of the world’s top 40 by multiple major global university rankings. Its main campus is in the Melbourne suburb of Parkville, offering higher education to more than 50,000 students. It is the alma mater of three Nobel laureates and four Australian prime ministers.
At UniMelb, a student typically needs two years to earn an Australian Master of Public Health degree in full-time format and four years in part-time format. The program has three components: the core component, the elective component, and the capstone option.
While the core component provides students with an elaborate foundation in public health theory and practice, the electives allow them to focus on one or more areas, including Climate Change and Health, Planetary and Global Health, Disaster Medicine Principles and Responses, Health Policy, and more.
Finally, the capstone option allows them to strengthen their specialist training further and apply their already-attained knowledge to real-world scenarios. The MPH program takes place at the Parkville campus.
2. Australian National University
Based in Canberra, the Australian National University is one of the country’s best institutions for graduate employability, according to the Times Higher Education Rankings. It was founded in 1946 as a postgraduate research university, while undergraduate studies were introduced in 1960.
The College of Health and Medicine at ANU offers two Master of Public Health programs. One is based entirely on coursework, and the other, known as the Advanced program, involves a research project and thesis. The department also provides a graduate certificate and diploma in the same field.
Either of the programs is available in full-time and part-time study mode. In addition to the traditional option of studying on campus, students can take the programs online in their entirety. A full-time student usually requires two years to complete an MPH degree at ANU.
3. Monash University
Monash University is a Melbourne-based public university that was established in 1958. It has four main campuses: Clayton, Caulfield, Peninsula, and Parkville. According to almost every significant international university ranking, it ranks among the top 100 in the world.
Monash’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine offers its Master of Public Health program at The Alfred Hospital. It allows students to specialize in various areas, including health economics, epidemiology and biostatistics, global health and human rights, and clinical research methods.
Students may be able to complete the program in two years in a full-time format and four years in a part-time format and get a master’s degree. In either case, completing it much sooner is possible if a student already has relevant entry qualifications. The MPH program consists of expanding public health knowledge, foundations of public health studies, and advanced application expertise.
4. University of Sydney
The University of Sydney has been recognized by the QS World Rankings as one of the top five in Australia and the world for graduate employability. It began its journey in 1850 as the country’s first institution. Its main campus, which occupies over 177 acres of land, is situated in the inner-western Sydney suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington.
Sydney’s School of Public Health offers its Master of Public Health program at the Camperdown/Darlington campus. Moreover, students can opt to study online. The MPH program allows students to specialize in one of four areas: chronic disease prevention, communicable disease control, health promotion and advocacy, or research methods. The minimum duration is one and a half years in full-time format and three years in part-time format.
5. University of Adelaide
Next on our list of universities in Australia with a Master’s in Public Health is the University of Adelaide. Founded nearly 150 years ago, it is the alma mater of three Nobel laureates. Its main campus lies in the heart of Adelaide, at North Terrace. The institution’s Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences oversees the master’s degree in public health. The program is available in full-time and part-time study modes, as well as on-campus and online delivery modes.
Full-time students with no prior public health qualification usually need two years to earn the MPH degree, but those with degrees with a solid public health component can earn it in one to one and a half years. Moreover, the program discusses related topics, such as health promotion, epidemiology, global public health, biostatistics, and more.
6. University of Queensland
Beginning in 1909, the University of Queensland currently has prominent campuses in the Brisbane suburbs of St Lucia and Herston and the south-eastern Queensland town of Gatton. The public research institution ranks 43rd in the QS World University Rankings 2024. Students can earn a full-time Master of Public Health degree at UQ in one and a half years.
The Faculty of Medicine administers the program, which is based at the Herston campus. Students can study related courses, including Health Systems, introduction to environmental health, foundations of public health, introduction to epidemiology, and more. Furthermore, the MPH program can be undertaken entirely by coursework, while incorporating a project or a dissertation is also available.
7. University of Western Australia
Finally, we end our list of the Australian schools offering a Master’s in Public Health degree with the University of Western Australia. It is a Perth-based, research-intensive institution established in 1911. It claims a spot in the lists of the world’s top 100 universities published by multiple international rankings.
Its three campuses are located in the Perth suburbs of Crawley and Claremont and in Albany, a port city in Western Australia. UWA’s School of Population and Global Health offers a master’s program that can be earned with or without a specialization. In both cases, students can take it full-time or part-time at the Crawley campus, with some courses available online. They can undertake it entirely through coursework or by combining coursework with a project, a dissertation, or a practicum.
The MPH program without specialization ideally takes one and a half years in a full-time format. On the other hand, the duration is two years for a full-time student pursuing a degree in a discipline. The areas of specialization are public health foundations, applied public health, and public health methodology.
Thanks to Australia’s excellent educational system and various learning resources, local and international students interested in pursuing a public health master’s program can gain more knowledge and experience in the field. The universities listed above can help you choose which will suit them the best, so ensure you read everything and research more about them.
We hope this article about Australia’s best universities offering Master’s degrees in Public Health was helpful. If you want to learn more about learning opportunities in the country, explore our Study in Australia and check out the Available Programs for International Students for more open courses abroad!
