Master of Public Health
Build your expertise to address public health challenges both now and in the future, and research a topic of your interest with the AUT Master of Public Health.
Develop advanced knowledge and skills to lead strategic changes in community and public health across Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond. You’ll build expertise in addressing the social, economic, cultural, educational and environmental factors that shape individual and community wellbeing.
AUT’s Master of Public Health advances best practice in this challenging field. It's ideal if you’re passionate about community wellbeing, tackling health inequities or influencing health policy and strategy. It’s also a good fit if you’re already working in the field and need an advanced tertiary-level qualification.
Download programme guides
Minimum entry requirements
Completed one of the following with a B average or higher:
- Relevant bachelor’s degree
- Relevant graduate diploma
International student entry requirements
Other requirements
May be admitted on the basis of a relevant professional qualification or professional experience approved by the Dean (or representative) to be equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
English language requirements
- IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall with no band less than 6.0; or equivalent
Advance your knowledge of contemporary public health challenges and strengthen your skills in shaping innovative health policies and programmes. You’ll also research a topic of interest by completing either a thesis or a dissertation. This programme is committed to principles of equity, social justice, empowerment and community participation and ownership.
While this programme is predominantly offered at the South Campus, some of the courses you study may be offered at the City or North Campus. To view timetables and see at which campus courses are offered use our course search. If the room for your course starts with A, that means it’s held at the North Campus (Akoranga). If it starts with M, it’s held at the South Campus (Manukau) and if it starts with W, it's held at the City Campus (Waihorotiu). All courses are offered via flexible learning, including a mix of block courses on campus and online, or blended learning.
International students must adhere to the requirements of their student visa and enrol in the on-campus offerings of courses.
Complete the following core courses
Semester 1 courses
- EPMY801 Social Epidemiology (15 points)
- MAOH804 Te Hau o te Ora Hauora Māori Development (15 points)*
- PUBH801 Principles of Public Health (15 points)
Semester 2 courses
- MAOH804 Te Hau o te Ora Hauora Māori Development (15 points)*
- PUBH804 Public Health Policy and Systems (15 points)
*This course is offered in both semesters and you can choose when you want to complete it.
And choose one research methodology course from
Semester 1 courses
- HEAL811 Research Design and Methods (15 points)
- PUBH810 Pacific Health Research and Design (15 points)
Semester 2 courses
- HEAL811 Research Design and Methods (15 points)
- MAOH801 Te Rangahau Hauora Māori – Māori Health Research Practice (15 points)
Or an alternative research methodology course (ie HEAL808 or HEAL810) with approval of the programme leader.
And choose three elective courses from**
Full-year course
- COMH801 Tipu Ora: Theories and Perspectives in Violence and Trauma (30 points)
Semester 1 courses
- COMH802 Pae Ora – Optimising Practice in Violence and Trauma (15 points)
- EMGT806 Emergency and Disaster Risk Communication (15 points)
- EMGT808 Disasters and Development (15 points)
- HEAL801 Disability and Health (15 points)
- HEAL803 Special Topic*** (30 points)
- HEAL808 Quantitative Research (15 points)
- HEAL810 Qualitative Research (15 points)
- HEAL811 Research Design and Methods (15 points)
- HEAL816 Special Topic*** (15 points)
- HEAL817 Leadership and Management (15 points)
- HEAL840 Critical Inquiry for Evidence Based Practice (15 points)
- HEAL858 Exponential Health Technologies (15 points)
- HEAL859 Digital Health Disruption (15 points)
- MAOH805 Te Pū o te Ora – Māori Health Praxis (15 points)
- MGMT861 Managing Organisations and People (15 points)
- PUBH810 Pacific Health Research and Design (15 points)
- RHAB815 Measuring Health and Well-being (15 points)
Semester 2 courses
- COMH805 Mauri Ora – Holistic Healing from Trauma (15 points)
- EMGT807 Environmental Change and Humanitarian Action (15 points)
- EMGT809 Building Community Resilience (15 points)
- EPMY802 Advanced Epidemiology**** (15 points)
- GEOL801 Environment, Hazards and Society**** (15 points)
- HEAL803 Special Topic*** (30 points)
- HEAL808 Quantitative Research (15 points)
- HEAL810 Qualitative Research (15 points)
- HEAL811 Research Design and Methods (15 points)
- HEAL812 Health Professional Practice (15 points)
- HEAL813 Practice Reality (15 points)
- HEAL816 Special Topic*** (15 points)
- HEAL825 Applied Health Care Ethics (15 points)
- HEAL840 Critical Inquiry for Evidence Based Practice (15 points)
- HEAL860 Digital Health Leadership (15 points)
- HEAL861 Digital Health and the Future of Work (15 points)
- HLAW801 Health Law (15 points)
- MAOH801 Te Rangahau Hauora Māori – Māori Health Research Practice (15 points)
- MENH801 Enhancing Social Participation in Mental Health (15 points)
- PUBH802 Public Health Programme Management (15 points)
- PUBH803 Global Health (15 points)
Or alternative optional courses approved by the programme leader.
**Choose three 15-point courses or select the 30-point course COMH801 Tipu Ora: Theories and Perspectives in Violence and Trauma plus one 15-point course.
***With approval of programme leader.
****Not running in 2026.
And complete a thesis or dissertation
- HEAL999 Thesis (120 points) OR
- HEAL998 Thesis (90 points) plus approved optional courses totalling 30 points OR
- HEAL901 Dissertation (60 points) plus approved optional courses totalling 60 points
Public health pathways
View the different pathways, core and elective courses available for our postgraduate public health programmes.
Ready to enrol in your courses?
Find out how you can enrol in the courses and classes for your programme, whether you’ve just joined AUT as a new student or you’re already studying with us. If you’re looking for a course timetable or more info on a specific course use our course search.
Skills you will develop in the Master of Public Health
The outcomes for graduates of the Master of Public Health are outlined in the Graduate Profile below.
Practice as a health professional in New Zealand is governed by legislation and a number of ‘Responsible Authorities’ (such as the NZ Psychologist Board, Physiotherapy Board and the Nursing Council who register practitioners). Overseas qualified health professionals who wish to practise in New Zealand should communicate directly with the relevant Responsible Authority. Qualifications recognised for professional registration at AUT are undergraduate; study at postgraduate level is not considered equivalent recognition for NZ Board certification.
Interested in disaster risk management?
We recommend you take the following courses as part of your programme so you can graduate with a focus on disaster risk management:
Research is a key part of the Master of Public Health; below are some examples of recently completed student research projects.
- Cameron Duff
Topic: Permaculture and Community Garden-Farming for Urban Food Production
Supervisor: Radilaite Cammock
View thesis - Daniel Fernandez
Topic: Adult Facilitators Creating a Space for Children to Co-Design a Toothbrushing Game to Promote Oral Health
Supervisors: Cath Conn, Jennifer Nikolai
View thesis - Fern Pereira
Topic: Ultra-Processed Foods and Single-Use Plastic Packaging in Home-Packed School Lunchboxes: A NZ Study
Supervisors: Grant Schofield, Tom Stewart
View thesis - Gloria Faesen Kloet
Topic: Increasing Consumption of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables: Talanoa Epistemology to Explore Fijian Migrant Youth Ideas
Supervisors: Cath Conn, Radilaite Cammock
View thesis - Jorjia Stewart-tuiletufuga
Topic: Using Talanoa to Explore Pacific Participants Experiences of Education Sessions Provided in Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) in Counties Manukau Health (CMH)
Supervisors: Jalal Mohammed, Sione Vaka
View thesis - Kimleang Nhoeuk
Topic: Mothers’ Perceptions of Healthy Feeding Practices for Children Under the Age of Five Years in Cambodia
Supervisors: Sari Andajani, Carolyn Cairncross
View thesis - Larisa Cavit
Topic: Exploring Factors That Influence Vaccination Uptake for Children With Refugee Backgrounds: An Interpretive Descriptive Study of Primary Healthcare Provider’s Perspectives
Supervisor: Nadia Charania
View thesis - Mulisa Senbeta Debela
Topic: Parental Vaccine Hesitancy Among Former Refugees in New Zealand
Supervisor: Nadia Charania, Nick Garrett
View thesis - Munin Neang
Topic: Community’s Perceptions and Strategies to Prevent Violence Against Children in the Home, in Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia
Supervisor: Sari Andajani
View thesis - Princess John
Topic: Sociodemographic Determinants of Essential Health Interventions for Pregnant Women and Newborns in Papua New Guinea: A Retrospective Exploratory Secondary Analysis of Parental Attributes of Four Provinces
Supervisors: Ailsa Holloway, Melanie Moylan
View thesis - Priyanka Kumar
Topic: Give People Hope: A Grounded Theory Analysis of Perspectives of Health Professionals and Cannabis Users on Cannabidiol-based Therapy for Chronic Pain in New Zealand
Supervisors: Charles Mpofu, Dianne Wepa
View thesis - Steve Cameron
Topic: Creating Healthy Food, Building Healthy Families: An Evaluation of a Healthy Cooking Healthy Lifestyle Programme in NZ
Supervisors: Carolyn Cairncross, Cath Conn
View thesis - Wenjie Luo
Topic: Analysis of Mental Health and Influencing Factors of Chinese University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Rapid Review
Supervisors: Jalal Mohammed, Julie Trafford
View thesis - Nimra Iqbal Choudhary
Topic: Disaster Preparedness Perceptions of Healthcare Workers in a Hospital Setting; A Qualitative Descriptive Study in Balakot, Northern Pakistan
Supervisors: Alisa Holloway, Eleanor Holroyd
View thesis
($10,630 tuition fees + $1,221.60 student services levy)
($45,300 tuition fees + $1,221.60 student services levy)
- Fees shown are based on a full-time workload for the points indicated next to the fee. The exact fee charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment.
- Fees are subject to change year to year. If you are planning for study beyond the current year, fees may vary from those stated.
- There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay.
- International students' tuition fees reflect the full cost of tuition. Domestic students' tuition fees are less due to a proportion of the tuition fees being funded by the New Zealand Government.
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.