Public Health is available as a major subject within the Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) degree, taught on on our Dunedin campus.
Public Health focuses on preventing disease and promoting the health of the population through the organised efforts of society.
This differentiates it from the practice of personal healthcare, because Public Health involves collective action across sectors and disciplines, with a focus on populations and communities.
It has a strong focus on health equity, and reducing ethnic and socioeconomic inequalities in health.
Public health study aims to understand:
- Why some people are healthy and some are not
- How to prevent illness and injury
- How people's health can be improved through working with communities
- How political systems and health organisations affect health
Graduates of the BHealSc majoring in Public Health will have the skills to work in a range of areas in the wider health sector, including government and non-government organisations. Our postgraduate public health qualifications may also be of interest to BHealSc graduates.
Please note: The Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) is not the same as Health Sciences First Year (HSFY).
Further information about studying Public Health
Visit the Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) page for details about this qualification and majoring in Public Health.
Visit the future students website to learn more about studying on our Dunedin campus.
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Campus info
The BHealSc degree is taught on our Dunedin campus. Our postgraduate Public Health and Health Management qualifications are taught in Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington.