Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health (DPH)
Overview
The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health (DPH) is designed to develop public health skills at the postgraduate level. Candidates are required to hold a degree or to have appropriate professional qualifications and experience.
Regulations for the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health (DPH)
1 Admission to the Programme
(a) Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) on the advice of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine, which must be satisfied that the applicant has the ability and experience to proceed to the programme.
(b) Every applicant shall have fulfilled one of the following conditions:
(i) have been admitted to a degree or diploma of a university in New Zealand;
(ii) hold an appropriate professional qualification approved by the Board of the Faculty of Medicine;
(iii) have been admitted ad eundem statum as entitled to proceed to the diploma.
2 Structure of the Programme
(a) The programme of study shall normally consist of two compulsory papers (PUBH 701 and PUBH 702, 30 points each) and other PUBH or PUBX papers to the value of 60 points. A candidate shall not be awarded the diploma unless a pass has been gained in each of the selected papers including the compulsory papers.
(b) With the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences), a candidate may substitute for one of the prescribed papers an appropriate paper at an equivalent level offered by another university or examining body.
(c) A candidate who has completed the requirements for the Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health shall be exempted from those papers for the diploma which have been previously passed for the certificate.
3 Duration of the Programme
The duration of the programme shall be one academic year of full-time study or the equivalent in part-time study.
4 Examination
(a) Every candidate must gain terms before being admitted to examinations.
(b) A candidate who fails any paper may, on the recommendation of the examiners, be admitted to a special examination.
5 Level of Award of the Diploma
The diploma may be awarded with distinction or with credit.
6 Variations
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) may in exceptional circumstances approve a course of study which does not comply with these regulations.
Note: An application for admission to the programme is required; this is separate from the enrolment process. In the admission process priority consideration will be given to applications received by the relevant Department of Public Health or Preventive and Social Medicine by 15 November in the year preceding entry.
Applications for Admission to the Programme
Applicants should have received a good degree, diploma, or professional qualifications, which would normally equate to a B grade average overall.
Closing dates for applications are 2 December for first semester and 31 May for second semester. Late applications may be considered in exceptional circumstances.
Subject Area
Further Information
Ruth Helms
Manager, Academic Programmes
University of Otago, Christchurch
Email ruth.helms@otago.ac.nz
Mr Bruce R. Smith
Faculty Manager
Faculty of Medicine
Email bruce.smith@otago.ac.nz
Trevor Williams
Postgraduate Liaison Officer
University of Otago, Wellington
Email postgrad.wsmhs@otago.ac.nz
