Advance your understanding of child health and grow into a researcher who brings insight, curiosity, and humanity to complex paediatric questions
Why study postgraduate Child Health?
Child health has a powerful influence on the wellbeing of society. When you study child health you explore how biology, development, social conditions, and healthcare systems shape children’s lives. You will investigate how early experiences affect health across the lifespan and how evidence can guide better outcomes for young people and their families.
Otago’s Department of Paediatrics and Child Health has a long history of leadership in teaching, clinical practice, and research. You can explore child health through many pathways, including clinical questions, population-level trends, and the factors that influence care and policy. Postgraduate study will equip you with the knowledge and research skills needed to contribute meaningfully to the field.
Career opportunities
Studying Child Health at Otago, opens doors to diverse career paths. Graduates often find themselves working in public health, child and adolescent medicine, social policy, or community health. Career paths might include:
- Academic research or research management
- Health-related advisory roles (within government ministries or health agencies)
- Postdoctoral fellowships and further academic work
- Clinical teaching or university lecturing roles
- Senior roles in genetic counselling or specialised child-health services
What it’s like to study at this level
Postgraduate Child Health at Otago blends academic depth with practical experience. You’ll be guided by supervisors from a range of disciplines, and you will work within research groups that connect scientific inquiry, clinical insight, and community perspectives.
Your study may include data-focused research, hospital-based or community work, or projects involving direct engagement with children, youth, or caregivers. Throughout the programme you’ll be encouraged to develop rigorous analytical skills and a reflective, research-driven approach to improving child health.
This is for you if ...
You will typically hold a medical degree or academic background in health, life sciences, social sciences, or a related field that prepares you for advanced study in child health.
Leading the future of child and family wellbeing
Otago’s Department of Paediatrics and Child Health has a long history of leadership in teaching, clinical practice, and research. The department brings together expertise across many areas of child health and maintains strong links with basic sciences and population-health research.
You will study within a close, supportive academic community with access to significant national projects including epidemiology services and population data groups. These connections create opportunities to contribute to research that informs health services and supports better outcomes for children and young people across Aotearoa.
Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject.
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
CHHE papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHHE701 | 2026 | Community Child Health | 30 points | 1st Non standard period (9 February 2026 - 12 July 2026), 2nd Non standard period (13 July 2026 - 7 December 2026) |
| CHHE702 | 2026 | Clinical Attachment in Paediatrics | 90 points | 1st Non standard period (14 February 2026 - 11 July 2026), 2nd Non standard period (11 July 2026 - 13 February 2027) |
Contacts
Distance Learning Co-ordinator
Faculty of Medicine – Dunedin
PO Box 913, Dunedin
Tel +64 3 470 9688
Fax +64 3 474 7817
Email admin.obgypostgrad@otago.ac.nz
Thorsten Stanley (CHHE 702)
Senior Lecturer in Paediatrics
University of Otago, Wellington
University of Otago
PO Box 7343 Wellington South
Wellington, New Zealand
Tel +64 4 385 5999
Fax +64 4 385 5898
Email thorsten.stanley@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 2026 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