Master of Health

Build on your experience, broaden your knowledge, and become a leader with a postgraduate qualification in health.

Take your degree and experience to the next level and gain advanced knowledge of complex health care systems and current issues in health.

Prepare for a career in health and wellbeing or build on your existing background. Choose to study health without a specialisation, or select from one of seven specialist areas:

• Health Leadership and Management
• Health Policy, Planning and Service Delivery
• Health Promotion
• Midwifery
• Nursing
• Professional Practice
• Workplace Health and Safety (accredited by IOSH).

Develop the theoretical and practical skills required to meet the demand for skilled staff in the health sector.

To qualify for entry, you’ll need a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, and for some subjects you’ll normally be a registered health professional in that area. The path you take will depend on your previous academic achievements and your professional goals.

Scholarships for international students

We are currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma programme. Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.

Workload

As a guide, for each course you take at the University you should allocate around 10 hours per point for self-directed study, research, assessments, and attendance at lectures and workshops. For example, a 30-point course will be made up of around 300 hours of study.

If you’re studying full-time, you can expect a workload of 40 hours of study time a week for much of the year. Part-time students doing one course per trimester will need to allocate approximately 20 hours of study a week. Make sure you take this into account if you are working full-time.

Workload

Studying full-time, you can expect a workload of 40 hours of study time a week for much of the year. As a guide, for each course you take at the University you should allocate around 10 hours per point for self-directed study, research, assessments, and attendance at lectures and workshops. For example, a 30-point course will be made up of around 300 hours of study.

Scholarships

You can apply for a postgraduate scholarship offered by the University to help fund your studies.

Career options

To find out more about career opportunities with the MHlth, see What can I do with my degree in Health.

Find out what and how you’ll study in the Master of Health.

Qualification family structure

The MHlth is part of a tiered family of qualifications. These are staircased so that courses completed for each qualification can count towards the next step:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Health
• Postgraduate Diploma of Health
• Master of Health.

Choose the qualification with the entry requirements, time commitment, and career benefits that suit you.

What you’ll study

The 180-point Master of Health can be completed in one year of full-time study (three trimesters). Domestic students studying part time may complete the degree in up to four years.

Depending on your courses and specialisation, you’ll complete your course through online learning, face-to-face block lectures and workshops, research projects, and practicums.

Part 1

In the first part of your qualification, you’ll take one of two core courses that will help you to develop your research skills within a health context.

You’ll explore topics that best support your area of professional interest, including healthcare management, promotion, and practice.

If you choose to specialise, you’ll need to include courses that are key to your specialisation. You can also credit Part 1 of your Master of Health Psychology to a Master of Health

Part 2

In part two you’ll complete your degree and explore your specialisation further, with either a relevant research project or a professional project that demonstrates an advanced knowledge of your field of professional practice.

Specialisations

You can choose to complete your Master of Health or Postgraduate Diploma in Health with or without a specialisation. The Postgraduate Certificate in Health must be completed with a specialisation.

The specialisations available are:

• Health Leadership and Management
• Health Policy, Planning and Service Delivery
• Health Promotion
• Midwifery
• Nursing
• Professional Practice
• Workplace Health and Safety (accredited by IOSH).

Studying as an international student

The Midwifery, Nursing, and Professional Practice specialisations may not be suitable for international students due to the qualifications required as pre-requisites.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss an alternative programme in your field of interest, contact the International Office.