A postgraduate program

Fast facts

Course type:	Postgraduate (coursework)
Availability (full-time or part-time):	Full-time Part-time
Location:	On campus External

Courses 

Course name	Units	Duration (full-time equivalent)	GradStart code	CRICOS code
Doctor of Public Health	108 units	3 years	N/A	039963E

Overview

Never before have public health practitioners been challenged to address the complexity of health problems - some old, some newly developed - resulting from interactions between people and their physical and social environments. It is clear that today's public health workforce needs professionals with well developed skills to seek out and apply new knowledge, to lead, and to advocate for the promotion of health and the prevention of disease.

The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) provides an advanced degree through a combination of coursework and research. This is in line with international trends demonstrating the advantages of a professional doctorate for practitioners and leaders in public health as an alternative to a PhD.

The full-time course consists of two years of coursework and a one year dissertation.

The coursework topics can be taken in external mode but all students will be required to attend intensive courses on campus in the second year (third and fourth years if studying part-time).

The course provides advanced knowledge and specialist skills for practitioners in the public health and human services workforce, including those in service delivery and allied health, support services, management, research and policy making in public health, community services and housing fields. It emphasises a social understanding of health and well-being and is interdisciplinary in nature, recognising the need to draw on a multitude of approaches, methodologies and ideas to solve complex problems in public health and related areas.

The Discipline of Public Health has identified the following priority areas for research: community participation in health services and health promotion; food policy; healthy cities and settings; location and health; models of public health; public policy and health; social capital; socioeconomic and gender determinants of health. Specialisation and supervision are also available in areas such as cancer epidemiology, drugs and public health, general practice, injury prevention and public health surveillance. Every effort is made to ensure study areas are relevant to the student's work needs.

What will I study?

Refer to the course rule:

• Doctor of Public Health
  

Entry requirements

Domestic students				International students
Applicants must satisfy the following criteria: hold from an approved tertiary institution an approved honours degree or equivalent qualification at level 2A or higher or a masters degree with a Credit grade point average or better or have completed at least 2 years of an approved Graduate Entry Medical Program; and have at least five years' working experience in public health or a health-related human service area (eg service delivery, state and national health departments, local government, education, welfare, housing, community service); or have held a position of leadership at middle management level in public health or a senior support position in a health-related human service organisation, or can demonstrate excellence in practice; and have demonstrated evidence of commitment and innovation in their field. Applications for admission to the DrPH must be supported by a portfolio that demonstrates the applicant’s eligibility and suitability for the course. Refer to Doctor of Public Health - Portfolio Preparation (PDF 87KB) . The choice of research projects for the Dissertation topic will be dependent upon the available areas of expertise of the teaching staff.				Applicants must satisfy the following criteria: hold from an approved tertiary institution an approved honours degree or equivalent qualification at level 2A or higher or a masters degree with a Credit grade point average or better or have completed at least 2 years of an approved Graduate Entry Medical Program; and have at least five years' working experience in public health or a health-related human service area (eg service delivery, state and national health departments, local government, education, welfare, housing, community service); or have held a position of leadership at middle management level in public health or a senior support position in a health-related human service organisation, or can demonstrate excellence in practice; and have demonstrated evidence of commitment and innovation in their field. Applications for admission to the DrPH must be supported by a portfolio that demonstrates the applicant’s eligibility and suitability for the course. Refer to Doctor of Public Health - Portfolio Preparation (PDF 87KB) . The choice of research projects for the Dissertation topic will be dependent upon the available areas of expertise of the teaching staff. English language requirements: If English is not your 1st language you must meet English language requirements.

Applications

Domestic students		International students
Mid-year entry:	Yes (with conditions)	Mid-year entry:	Yes (with conditions)
Apply through:	Admissions/Prospective Students Office Refer to postgraduate study applications.	Apply through:	International Office

Annual fees

Course	Place type	Domestic students	International students
Doctor of Public Health	Commonwealth supported - Student contribution amount	$8,048	N/A
	Full fee paying	N/A	$21,900

Note: Domestic student fees are indicative only. Further information: How are these fees calculated?

Contact 

Associate Professor Colin Macdougall
Tel: (08) 72218412
Email: colin.macdougall@flinders.edu.au

Information about application procedures is available from:
Ms Christina Cockerill, Discipline of Public Health, Flinders University
GPO Box 2100, Adelaide SA 5001
Tel: (08) 7221 8426
Email: christina.cockerill@flinders.edu.au

General domestic students information

Web: Prospective students

Enquiries: Admissions/Prospective Students Office
Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide SA 5001
Tel (08) 8201 3074 or 1300 657 671 (local call cost)
Fax (08) 8201 2580
Email: admissions@flinders.edu.au

General international students information

Web: International students

Enquiries: Ask Flinders