Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health
Learn how you can advance public health and address today’s health challenges in diverse contexts and communities with the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health at AUT.
Passionate about promoting health, tackling health inequities or addressing the social, economic or other factors that affect individual and community wellbeing? Are you considering a career in public health, or already working in the field? The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health prepares you for managing our pressing community and public health risks, now and in the future.
Topics you’ll study include principles of public health, social epidemiology, public health policy and systems and Te Hau o te Ora Hauora Māori Development.
Download programme guides
Minimum entry requirements
Completed one of the following:
- 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
Further your knowledge of public health and wellbeing with this postgraduate diploma that is committed equity, social justice, empowerment as well as 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 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 four 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 four 15-point courses or select the 30-point course COMH801 Tipu Ora: Theories and Perspectives in Violence and Trauma plus two 15-point courses.
***With approval of programme leader.
****Not running in 2026.
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 Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health
The outcomes for graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma in 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:
($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.