Study with us
Our Postgraduate courses are for all of New Zealand’s primary care workforce – nurses, GPs, practice managers, pharmacists and all primary care professionals.
Our interprofessional distance learning programmes are designed to be taken from anywhere in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Recent widespread consultation with the sector identified the following areas of learning as being the priority for today’s primary care workforce:
- Sound knowledge of primary health care
- Strategic and leadership skills
- Cultural competency
- Expert communication
- Ability to innovate and change in a rapidly changing sector
Our qualifications have been developed and updated to ensure that deep learning in all of these critical areas is achieved.
Our recently refreshed Post Graduate Certificate in Primary Health Care is designed to easily staircase into the Post Graduate Diploma and then the Master’s degree.
Please be aware that the Admissions process can take some time, so feel free to contact the Postgraduate Coordinator of Primary Health Care if you have any questions or concerns:
Email primarycare.distance@otago.ac.nz
High quality, flexible, interprofessional distance learning
All our postgraduate programmes are fully supported by concurrent study skills sessions, easy to use online platforms, and individual help for those who haven’t studied for a while.
Papers and Qualifications
Postgraduate Papers
We run a range of distance taught interprofessional and patient-focused postgraduate papers, supported by blended learning.
Postgraduate Qualifications
You can study towards a Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or Master's in Primary Health Care, Travel Medicine or General Practice.
Further Information on our Postgraduate Programmes
What do our recent students say?
Wendy Horo-Gregory, Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Health Care
After working in a variety of nursing fields, I chose postgraduate study at Otago to focus more specifically on New Zealand primary health care and Māori health. It also helped that colleagues had completed the papers I was interested in and had highly recommended them.
The qualification gave me a better understanding of the sector I work in, the “complexity of inequity”, and the role individuals and all healthcare workers collectively play in improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
The study was harder than I had anticipated, but the academic support I received from the team in the Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice was amazing.
Marleen Hart, Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Health Care
This course has definitely broadened my appreciation of primary care and its vital role in the health system, and given relevance to many of the targets and expectations that come from the PHO.
I would definitely recommend this course to anyone working in primary care because I think it gives perspective to the area as a whole, rather than an individual’s “job”, therefore creating purpose and value to one’s role.
Information for Current Students
Student Checklist
Step by step guide for getting started.
Residential Information
Information on dates, location, accommodation, parking etc
Contacts and Teaching Team
Contacts in the Department
Postgraduate Teaching Team
Our convenors and teachers come from a range of backgrounds, providing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our Postgraduate Programmes.
For further information on Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas please contact: primarycare.distance@otago.ac.nz
For further information on Masters/ PhD study please contact: primarycare.higherdegree.uow@otago.ac.nz
