Victoria University

Graduate Certificate in Public Health

  • Delivery: Online
  • Commitment: 15 - 20 hours/week
  • Study Level: Postgraduate
  • Duration: 8 months

Award winning study model, delivered 100% online, this course will equip you with the foundational knowledge and skills to pursue a career in public health practice.

Download a course guide

Find more detailed information on our courses, including:

  • Course structure
  • Learning outcomes
  • Fees
  • Entry requirements

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Course overview

  • Award-winning study model
    VU Online's award winning postgraduate Block Model recognises the complexity of students' lives while giving a consistent, manageable and connected online learning experience. Earn your Graduate Certificate in Public Health faster than on-campus with our unique study model.

  • No exams or textbooks to purchase
    The online units have been designed with a student-centred approach that spans across the overarching learning outcomes to the engaging activities and self-determined assessments.

  • Support seven days and in the evenings
    VU Online provides you with the support you need, when you need it, during your course. Our support network has a single focus on ensuring you are entirely supported to succeed.

The Graduate Certificate in Public Health course equips graduates with the foundational knowledge and skills to pursue a career in public health practice. The course integrates the biological basis of health with population-based intervention and policy and, in doing so, covers dimensions of the social, cultural, economic and political aspects of health. 

Designed for practitioners who may already be employed in the field of public health, as well as recent graduates, this course provides the building blocks in public health in practice, epidemiology and biostatistics. It also provides a pathway, upon successful completion, to continue on to the Master of Public Health.

CSP Subsidised Fees Available

This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.

Key facts

Delivery
Online
Study level
Postgraduate
Course type
Graduate Certificate
Duration
8 months (Part time)
Commitment
15 - 20 hours/week
Units
4
Fees
More Information
Commonwealth supported place (CSP) is where the government pays part of your fees.
FEE-HELP, HECS, CSP
Price per unit
$3,200
$1,940 (CSP)
More Information
You may be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) where the government pays part of your fees. The CSP per units fees are calculated based on the annual CSP rate. It applies to standard full-time enrolment, which is 24 credit points.
Intake
January, 2025
March, 2025
May, 2025
July, 2025
August, 2025
October, 2025

What you will study

This course covers four core areas of public health. 

  • Foundations of Public Health
  • Epidemiology and Biostatistics 1
  • Public Health in Practice 
  • Culture and Society in Public Health

Entry requirements

To apply for the online Graduate Certificate in Public Health, you are required to have:

  • Completed an Australian bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, OR
  • Five years of approved work experience

Outcomes

Roles in public health are diverse and in high demand. They cover areas of health promotion, disease prevention and policy. Depending on your career goals and skill set, studying the Graduate Certificate in Public Health course with VU Online will open up numerous roles that may interest you.

  • Public health officer
  • Non-government organisation worker
  • Community development officer
  • Health promoter
  • Public health researcher
  • Health educator
  • Program officer
  • Project officer

Fees & CSP

Student fees shown are subject to change. You may also be required to pay student amenities fees. Contact the university directly to confirm.

The fees shown are per unit. The number of units are listed above. Together they indicate the total fees for the course.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.

Commonwealth Supported Places

A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a place where the government pays for part of your unit fees. This is a subsidy, not a loan, so you do not need to pay it back. Your remaining fees may also be eligible for FEE-HELP.

This subsidy is available to eligible students completing the Graduate Certificate in Public Health. It is only applicable to new students commencing their Graduate Certificate in 2024. To find out if you’re eligible for this subsidy, visit the government’s Study Assist website.