The Master of Public Health (MPH) at University of Melbourne prepares students towards future careers as leaders in public health and health care. It is ideal for graduates with a record of academic achievement who gain satisfaction knowing that they are working to improve the lives of others and who aspire to leadership roles in public health.

The program will appeal to those who want to move into the field of public health, as well as those who already work within a public health or health related field and are preparing for advancement in their organisation or field, or seeking to broaden their knowledge and skill set.

Within the course students are exposed to the core foundations of public health theory and practice and also have the opportunity to specialise in the advanced public health training streams offered through the University of Melbourne. The Master of Public Health programs at the University of Melbourne are delivered by academic staff with extensive experience and depth of knowledge, who are leaders in their chosen fields of public health.

Most of our students specialise in one or more of the following key areas:

• Ageing
• Epidemiology & Biostatistics
• Gender and Women’s Health
• Global Health
• Health Program Evaluation
• Health Economics & Economic Evaluation
• Indigenous Health
• Sexual Health
• Health Social Sciences

In addition students consolidate their specialist training by undertaking a capstone experience which synthesizes knowledge integration allowing students to apply knowledge gained in the course to real world scenarios resulting in effective outcomes. Options include:

• A Research Project with an expert in their field, or
• A Professional Practice placement with a recognised agency,
• institution or community organisation concerned with health, or
• Further elective subjects

The Master of Public Health has three components:

1. The core component includes up to six subjects that provide students with a rigorous, multidisciplinary foundation in public health theory and practice, that is essential to all aspects of public health practice;
2. The specialist component offers students the opportunity to focus on one or more key fields in public health and gain the skills and knowledge required for practice in the area. Specialisations are offered in the fields of Ageing, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Gender and Women’s Health, Global Health, Health Program Evaluation, Health Economics and Economic Evaluation, Health Social Sciences, Indigenous Health, Primary Care, Sexual Health; and
3. The capstone experience offers students the opportunity to consolidate their specialist training and apply the knowledge gained in the course to real world scenarios. Students may apply to undertake a Research Project with an expert in their field; a Professional Practice placement with a recognised agency, institution or community organisation concerned with health; or capstone selective subjects.

Course description

We are pleased to announce that after an intensive two year review of the MPH core subject curriculum that we have made some exciting new changes to the MPH core subjects. Within the review we consulted with employers and staff, reviewed graduate student feedback and benchmarked against MPH offerings around the world. As a result of the review we have developed an novel new core subject, ‘Planning and Prioritizing in Public Health’, that is focused on practical public health workplace skills.

We have also made minor changes to other core subjects with the aim of having an increased focus on the drivers of public health problems, the skills required by all public health practitioners, and planning and managing public health projects and programs. These curriculum and structural changes will enable the ability of the School to continue to produce high quality graduates equipped with relevant knowledge and skills for a breadth of careers within the public health workforce.

Students commencing the Master of Public Health in 2017 and beyond will have the opportunity to complete ‘Planning and Prioritising in Public Health’. Existing students will also have the opportunity to take this subject as an elective from 2017 onwards. These changes will increase the breadth of skills and knowledge gained by students within their MPH experience.

The Master of Public Health produces industry ready graduates who go onto a varied range of career options. We often find that students come into the degree and find career options that they had never considered. Local and international students can find work in Australia and overseas, depending on their area of focus. In a recent alumni survey we found that the most common type of organisation to be employed in post-graduation were (highest to lowest):

• Non-Government Organisations, for example international health agencies (either based in Australia or overseas) and large and small local disease specific agencies;
• Government affiliated organisations, such as hospitals, primary health care organisation, large international health organisations;
• Government (Local, State and Federal);
• Universities and Research Institutions;
• Private companies, usually based in Australia. These can be the larger consulting firms, smaller health focused consulting firms, health communication companies or the pharmaceutical industry.