Take your career further with specialist education supporting informed, ethical practice in addiction and mental health.
Why study postgraduate Addiction and Co-existing Disorders?
Addiction and co-existing disorders have far-reaching impacts, and responding well calls for thoughtful, evidence-informed practice.
In our postgraduate programmes you will explore how substance use and other addictive behaviours intersect with mental health, social context, and wellbeing. The focus is not just on conditions, but on people and systems, and how effective responses are designed and delivered.
This subject supports practising health professionals to strengthen their understanding, challenge assumptions, and refine their approach. Completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences in Addiction and Co-existing Disorders also meets the academic requirements for registration with the Addiction Practitioners’ Association Aotearoa New Zealand (DAPAANZ).
Whether you work directly with clients or contribute at a systems level, you will develop insights that support ethical, culturally responsive, and evidence-informed decision making. The result is greater confidence, clarity, and impact in your professional role.
Career opportunities
A qualification in Addiction and Co-existing Disorders supports career development across a wide range of health and social service settings.
Possible pathways include:
- Addiction or mental health practitioner
- Clinical leadership or service development roles
- Policy or planning roles in health organisations
- Research or evaluation roles in health and wellbeing
- Community education or advocacy roles
What it’s like to study at this level
Teaching is delivered primarily by distance from the National Addiction Centre in Christchurch, allowing you to study from wherever you are based and fit your learning around professional and personal commitments. Online learning includes video-conference classes and self-directed learning modules, supporting you to build knowledge at your own pace and apply it to your practice context.
The papers include some in-person teaching blocks, which provide valuable opportunities to connect with staff and peers, deepen discussion, and build professional networks. Together, the distance and on-campus components create a learning experience that is rigorous, flexible, and closely connected to real-world health practice.
This is for you if ...
This subject is designed for practising health professionals and clinicians working with people experiencing addiction and co-existing mental health disorders. You will benefit most if you bring current professional experience, a commitment to reflective practice, and an interest in enhancing your clinical effectiveness and decision making.
National expertise supporting advanced professional practice
The National Addiction Centre at the University of Otago’s Christchurch campus is a dedicated centre for teaching, research, and leadership in treating addiction and co-existing disorders.
Our research and practice respond to the social, cultural, and policy contexts of addiction in Aotearoa New Zealand. Teaching is informed by research that engages with local communities and health services, supporting practice that is relevant, ethical, and grounded in the realities of contemporary health care.
Otago’s wider reputation in health sciences strengthens this learning environment. With flexible distance study supported by in-person teaching blocks, you gain access to nationally recognised expertise while remaining connected to your professional setting.
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.
Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (PGCertHealSc)
A one-year part-time (or one semester full-time) programme for health professionals who want to increase knowledge and skills in a specific area of practice
Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (PGDipHealSc)
A one-year full-time (or longer part-time) programme for health professionals who want to increase knowledge and skills in a specific area of practice
Ready to apply?
Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.
Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject.
Applications for the PGCertHealSc in Addiction and Co-Existing Disorders are now closed for 2026.
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Contacts
Co-ordinator, Student Experience
University of Otago, Christchurch
Email postgrad.uoc@otago.ac.nz
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2026 Calendar and supplementary material.
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