Turn your passion for environmental health into leadership.
Why study postgraduate Environmental Health?
Environmental health is about understanding how our surroundings influence human wellbeing and finding ways to protect people and communities. In Otago’s postgraduate programmes you build deep insight into the links between environment, policy, science and health outcomes. You learn to analyse real-world challenges from pollution and water quality to healthy urban spaces and risk assessment.
Career opportunities
Postgraduate study in environmental health prepares you to work at the intersection of environment and health with skills employers' value in public, private and community settings. Career pathways might include:
- Public health analyst or adviser
- Environmental health specialist in government or local authority
- Health protection and policy officer
- Researcher in environmental health and sustainability
- Community engagement and health promotion specialist
What it’s like to study at this level
At Otago, postgraduate environmental health unfolds through purposeful coursework and applied, collaborative learning. You’ll engage with experienced researchers, case studies and current health challenges that connect theory with practice. Your learning will stretch your thinking, broaden your perspective and prepare you to influence healthier environments at local and global scales.
This is for you if ...
Postgraduate environmental health is suited to students with a relevant undergraduate degree or professional experience in health, science, social science, environmental studies or related fields. Curiosity about how environments shape health and strong analytical skills will help you succeed.
Study where research shapes real change
Otago has a strong reputation for public health research and a global perspective on health equity and environmental wellbeing. Our postgraduate programmes let you study alongside experts who are shaping conversations on sustainability, policy and health impacts across Aotearoa and internationally. You’ll benefit from a supportive academic community and opportunities for research that connects evidence to action. With flexible study pathways and a reflective, real-world focus, Otago helps you grow into a thinker and practitioner who can make a lasting impact on environmental health in diverse settings.
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, masters’, 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.
Ready to apply?
Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.
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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