Advance your professional purpose: Study primary health care nursing and help close gaps in health equity.
Why study postgraduate Primary Health Care Nursing?
Nursing (Primary Health Care) at Otago helps you deepen your expertise in the everyday places where people first seek support and guidance. You will explore how Aotearoa’s health system works, how care can be delivered more effectively, and how professionals can work together to improve outcomes for diverse communities.
This is more than responding to illness. It is about understanding people, reducing barriers to care, and using evidence to strengthen practice.
Whether you work in a clinic, general practice, or community setting, your study will help you influence change and grow your confidence across a wide range of primary care environments.
Career opportunities
Postgraduate study in primary health care nursing prepares you for roles that bring together clinical skill, critical thinking, and the ability to support change. You may work as a:
- Nurse educator or clinical mentor in a community or PHO (Primary Health Organisation)
- Policy adviser or strategist focused on primary care delivery
- Nursing leader in general practice or community health programmes
- Advanced nursing practitioner working across collaborative teams
- Researcher or contributor to community-focused health initiatives
What it’s like to study at this level
At Otago, you will study in a flexible, distance-taught format that supports your work and life. Courses blend online learning, video-conference discussions, and a residential block course that brings you together with other health professionals.
This is for you if ...
To get the most from this endorsement, it helps to bring both professional experience and academic readiness.
You should be a graduate or hold a health professional qualification that required at least three years of full-time tertiary study. You will also have experience in, or be currently working within, the relevant area of health care. You should be prepared to present evidence of your ability for advanced academic study.
Your next step toward smarter community care
Otago’s Christchurch campus delivers the Nursing (Primary Health Care) endorsement, supported by the University’s strong reputation in health sciences.
Our distance-taught programme gives you the flexibility to study while working, and it keeps your learning grounded in New Zealand’s health system. Staff from the Department of Primary Health Care bring real experience and research insight to every course. You will connect with a network of supportive, purpose-driven professionals and many students describe the programme as confidence-building and transformative for their practice.
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
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Contacts
Coordinator, Student Experience
University of Otago, Christchurch
Email postgrad.uoc@otago.ac.nz
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