Postgraduate Study in Public Health
Make a difference through collective action for a healthier world and Aotearoa.
The University of Otago’s expertise in public health is nationally and internationally recognised.
Learn from inspirational teachers and explore aspects that influence health and health equity, such as housing, climate change, wealth distribution, policies, systems and power, and public health responses to them.
Public health is a diverse and vital area. Issues that influence public health are often changing and knowledge is constantly evolving.
Study postgraduate public health in Christchurch, Dunedin or Wellington
Are you just starting uni?
Learn about studying Public Health as an undergraduate at Otago.
Choose a study option
Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Postgraduate qualifications
Honours, Master’s, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a Master’s or to step up to a PhD.
Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health (PGCertPH)
A one-semester (at full time), coursework programme, with many endorsed options, that can be completed on its own or taken as a step towards the DPH
Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health (DPH)
A one-year full-time (or longer part-time) programme covering a broad range of public health topics
Master of Public Health (MPH)
A two-year programme (full time) comprising coursework plus thesis or coursework plus dissertation, equipping graduates to work in non-clinical fields
Ready to apply?
Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
PUBH papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POPH192 | 2025 | Population Health | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PUBH192 | 2025 | Foundations of Epidemiology | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| PUBH202 | 2025 | Health Promotion | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PUBH203 | 2025 | Health Policy and Politics: Global and Local | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PUBH204 | 2025 | Hauora Māori: Challenges and Opportunities | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PUBH211 | 2025 | Epidemiology of Global Health Conditions | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PUBH303 | 2025 | Public and Global Health: Current Issues | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PUBH304 | 2025 | Rangahau Hauora Māori - Māori Health Research | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PUBH311 | 2025 | Public Health Research | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PUBH711 | 2025 | Principles of Epidemiology | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (28 April 2025 - 19 June 2025) |
| PUBH712 | 2025 | Foundations of Hauora Māori | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (24 February 2025 - 17 April 2025) |
| PUBH713 | 2025 | Society, Health and Health Promotion | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (15 September 2025 - 7 November 2025) |
| PUBH714 | 2025 | Public Policy and Health Systems | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 5 September 2025) |
| PUBH721 | 2025 | Methods for Epidemiological Research | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (15 September 2025 - 7 November 2025) |
| PUBH723 | 2025 | Survey Methods | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 5 September 2025) |
| PUBH724 | 2025 | Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (15 September 2025 - 7 November 2025) |
| PUBH725 | 2025 | Applied Biostatistics 1 - Fundamentals | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (28 April 2025 - 19 June 2025) |
| PUBH726 | 2025 | Applied Biostatistics 2 - Regression methods | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 5 September 2025) |
| PUBH732 | 2025 | Using Epidemiology in Public Health Practice | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 5 September 2025) |
| PUBH733 | 2025 | Environment and Health | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (28 April 2025 - 19 June 2025) |
| PUBH734 | 2025 | Health Protection | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (24 February 2025 - 17 April 2025) |
| PUBH735 | 2025 | The Economics of Health Policy Decision Making | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (24 February 2025 - 17 April 2025) |
| PUBH736 | 2025 | Economic Evaluation | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (15 September 2025 - 7 November 2025) |
| PUBH737 | 2025 | Public Health Law and Public Health Ethics - Fundamentals | 15 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| PUBH738 | 2025 | Global Health Law and Global Health Ethics | 15 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| PUBH739 | 2025 | Special Topic | 15 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| PUBH740 | 2025 | Special Topic: One Health | 15 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| PUBH741 | 2025 | Hauora Māori- Policy Practice and Research | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (28 April 2025 - 19 June 2025) |
| PUBH742 | 2025 | Global Health and International Health Systems | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (15 September 2025 - 7 November 2025) |
| PUBH743 | 2025 | Health Promotion Programme Planning and Evaluation | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (24 February 2025 - 17 April 2025) |
| PUBH744 | 2025 | Healthy Public Policy | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 5 September 2025) |
| PUBH745 | 2025 | Introduction to Pacific Public Health | 15 points | 1st Non standard period (24 February 2025 - 17 April 2025) |
| PUBH890 | 2025 | MPH Dissertation | 60 points | 1st Non standard period (24 February 2025 - 20 February 2026), 2nd Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 20 June 2026), 2nd Non |
Contacts
Postgraduate contact details
Christchurch
Postgraduate Programme Administrator
Department of Population Health
University of Otago, Christchurch
Email publichealth.christchurch@otago.ac.nz
Dunedin
Public Health Postgraduate Programme Administrator
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine
Otago Medical School – Dunedin Campus
Email publichealth.dunedin@otago.ac.nz
Wellington
Postgraduate Co-ordinator
Department of Public Health
University of Otago, Wellington
Email publichealth.uow@otago.ac.nz
Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) contact details
Contact your local schools' liaison officer if you're currently at secondary shool.
Or contact the Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) team:
Tel +64 3 479 7202
Email bhealsc@otago.ac.nz
This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.
Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.
World-class research
The University of Otago has a global reputation for research excellence. Our expertise is vast across health, society, culture, sustainability and the environment.
Explore our research