Boost your health career with a Public Health Graduate Certificate online. You can study online while working full-time. And you have the option to use completed subjects as credit towards a masters.
Start or further your public health career with a Graduate Certificate in Public Health. The four-subject course offers foundational training, a postgraduate qualification and a platform for further study. Specialisations include communicable disease and health analytics.
Become Certified in Promoting Healthy Communities
Earning a Graduate Certificate in Public Health can be a career defining move as you gain skills and qualifications in a new field. The postgraduate course is an effective way to build knowledge and capabilities while adding to your credentials. Most students enter without previous qualifications in public health, instead holding degrees in other health and non-health disciplines.
Applying for jobs with a strong public health focus is easier, with brighter prospects for success, when you are qualified in the discipline. The same is true for related specialisations such as epidemiology and health data analytics. You may, compared to other job candidates, appear unqualified without a certificate or any other award even if you have relevant experience.
Postgraduate health courses can be completed fully online as a working professional. Most online postgraduate courses are actually designed for busy people. Flexible study hours allow students to balance part-time study online with full-time work and family commitments.
Graduate Certificate in Public Health Online
You can gain postgraduate qualifications in a convenient way with a Graduate Certificate in Public Health online. The versatile grad cert course provides (a) formal public health training (b) credentials for health and public sector careers and (c) a platform for further study. By doing an online course, post graduate studies can neatly fit within your weekly schedule.
UTS Online Graduate Certificate in Public Health
UTS Online’s Graduate Certificate in Public Health is designed for professionals who are passionate about community health and want to explore the social, cultural and ethical perspectives of health to drive better outcomes across all levels of society. This course is suitable for those wanting to gain foundational knowledge to pursue a dynamic and rewarding career in this field. After successfully completing the course, you’ll have the opportunity to progress into the Master of Public Health, where you can choose to major in data analytics, sub-major in leadership, or create your own pathway through a range of advanced electives.
Communicable Disease
A high-demand health specialisation in Australia and globally is communicable disease. Students learn about the diseases that spread through human populations, including how to prevent, detect, manage and control transmission. In an online graduate certificate course, you explore key concepts and case studies to gain a foundational education in this field.
UTS Online Graduate Certificate in Public Health and Communicable Disease
UTS Online’s Graduate Certificate in Public Health and Communicable Disease is designed for professionals who want to develop a fundamental understanding of epidemiology and population health, and learn to critically evaluate approaches to communicable disease control. You’ll develop skills in health applicable in a wide range of areas, such as communicable disease, epidemiology and biostatistics, and Indigenous health. Delivered 100% online, and part-time, you will gain immediately applicable skills to make a greater impact in your current role and prepare for future health challenges. Informed by leading academics and researchers, this course will provide you with a high calibre education at the forefront of public health.
Health Analytics
Understanding health analytics is beneficial if you're involved in health management, policy or practice. You can build health analytics skills with an online course designed for working professionals. With a Graduate Certificate in Health Analytics, you learn how to use health data to improve patient outcomes and health services delivery.
UTS Online Graduate Certificate in Health Analytics
UTS Online’s Graduate Certificate in Health Analytics is for professionals looking to develop knowledge and skills in using health data. Students learn to drive positive healthcare outcomes by evaluating and applying health research and data. Through this course, you’ll develop advanced skills in biostatistics, epidemiology and data visualisation, and learn how to use these tools to effectively evaluate the performance of health systems. Developed with busy working professionals in mind, this course is delivered part-time and 100% online – meaning you can upskill without having to compromise your commitments. Tailor your studies with the option to progress into a Master of Public Health, and choose to major in data analytics, sub-major in leadership, or select from a range of advanced electives to transform your career goals.
What You'll Study (Course Structure)
The courses typically consist of four subjects. These may be core subjects or elective units chosen from the remainder of the postgraduate program. Common topics covered include: foundations of public health, epidemiology, communicable disease, health research, and biostatics.
With accelerated online courses, you complete each subject over a 6-7 week study period. By doing a new subject every couple of months, a grad cert can be completed in just 8 months of part-time study. You study as part of a virtual class and may have weekly assignments along with your classmates. The timing of when you study is fully flexible as most students are working professionals.
The UTS Online course is 24 credit points, which is equivalent to 4 subjects. One elective is included.
- Foundations in Public Health (3 CP) + Indigenous Public Health (3 CP)
- Fundamentals of Epidemiology (6 CP)
- Social Perspectives in Public Health (6 CP)
- Plus 6 credit points from the Master of Public Health program.
This course is 24 credit points, which is equivalent to 4 subjects. All subjects are core (compulsory) subjects.
- Communicable Disease (6 CP)
- Foundations in Public Health (3 CP) + Indigenous Public Health (3 CP)
- Fundamentals of Biostatistics (3 CP) + Fundamentals of Qualitative Research (3 CP)
- Fundamentals of Epidemiology (6 CP).
The Health Analytics course is 24 credit points, which is equivalent to 4 subjects. One elective is included.
- Data Visualisation and Visual Analytics (6 CP)
- Fundamentals of Biostatistics (3 CP) + Fundamentals of Qualitative Research (3 CP)
- Fundamentals of Epidemiology (6 CP)
- Plus 6 credit points from the Master of Public Health program.
Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes depend on whether you're doing a general or specialised course. Nonetheless, you should come away with a good grasp of key issues in the discipline. Here are examples of capabilities you're likely to develop.
- Understands the roles and contributions of different health fields to public health
- Can explain pivotal interactions between microorganisms and humans (or animals)
- Familiar with principles underpinning communicable-disease prevention and control
- Can identify key biases in epidemiological research and propose counter-measures
- Uses biostatistical analysis to evaluate the efficacy of healthcare practices.
You also have room for further advancement with continued training. A graduate certificate is often seen as a prep course, leaving the option to continue studying for a graduate diploma or master's degree.
Career Opportunities
A graduate certificate can help you make a career transition or gain specialist qualifications. Public health professionals come from diverse backgrounds, including, for example, nursing and medical professions, law, psychology, data analysis and public relations.
A quick scan of job ads shows employment opportunities such as:
- Public Health Registrar – Burnet Institute
- Policy Officer – ACT Government
- Lecturer in Health Promotion – Edith Cowan University
- Registrar (Public Health) – Queensland Health
- Project Officer Quality Assurance – Black Dog Institute
- Senior Policy Officer – Queensland Health
A postgraduate university qualification in the field, achieved in just 8 months of part-time study, can easily create new job opportunities and potential career paths. In the Australian qualifications framework, a graduate certificate is equivalent to an honours degree and graduate diploma.
Jobs can be found in organisations such as health departments, population health agencies, non-government research and policy organisations, and universities. Careers may centre on areas such as disease prevention and control research, program and policy formulation, program administration, health promotion, and population health research.
Entry Requirements
The entry requirements are essentially that you have a bachelor degree or higher qualification. Public health is a broad field that's open to professionals from diverse disciplines. Without academic qualification, you may still be eligible to enrol if you have extensive experience in healthcare or human services.
Entry based on academic qualifications
To gain entry, applicants should have a bachelor's degree (or an equivalent or higher qualification) recognised by the University OR evidence of general and professional qualifications demonstrating the ability to succeed with postgraduate studies. Academic qualifications include a bachelor degree, graduate certificate, graduate diploma and master’s degree.
Entry based on professional experience
You may also be considered for course admission with extensive experience in a healthcare or human services field.
Recognition of prior learning (RPL)
Previous studies may be recognised as credit towards postgraduate studies provided that your prior learning meets relevant course requirements.
Tuition fees and FEE-HELP
Tuition fees for the four-subject course are $3,600 per subject in 2022.
FEE-HELP loans are available for eligible students to cover course fees. This Australian Government program provides loans that are paid gradually based on your annual income.
Key dates: The course has six intakes per year, occurring in Jan, Mar, May, July, Sep and Oct.
International students
As a fully online course, the program is unsuitable if you're an international student intending to study in Australia on a student visa.
English language requirements
For international students or local applicants with international qualifications, English proficiency requirements apply.
- Academic IELTS minimums: 6.5 overall with writing score 6.0; or
- TOEFL paper based: 550-583 with 4.5 TWE of 4.5; or
- TOEFL internet based: 79-93 with a 21 writing score of 21; or
- AE5: Pass; or
- PTE: 58-64; or
- C1A/C2P: 176-184 with a 179+.
FAQs
It is worth getting graduate certificates in Australia, as they can help you advance in your career or pursue new opportunities. You're typically looking at an 8-month part-time program. A grad cert can be a good option if you want to continue your education but don't have the time or resources to commit to a full master's degree program.
- Graduate certificates can provide you with specialised knowledge and skills in a particular field, which can be beneficial for your professional development.
- Completing the course can show potential employers that you're dedicated to your profession and willing to invest in your own education and growth.
- Additionally, you normally gain the option of using completed subjects as credit towards a graduate diploma or even a master's degree.
The value of a grad cert will depend on your individual circumstances and career goals. With online study available, you can earn one without having to take time off work. FEE-HELP allows you to start studying with the support of a loan from the Australian Government to cover tuition fees.
High-paying careers in community and population health include:
- healthcare administrators
- epidemiologists
- biostatisticians
- health policy analysts
- environmental health and safety engineers.
These professionals are responsible for managing healthcare organisations, conducting research, and developing policies to improve community health outcomes. The careers typically require a combination of education and relevant experience, and offer competitive salaries and opportunities for advancement.
