7 Best Master’s in Public Health Programs in New Zealand

New Zealand is a relatively small island nation with spectacular sceneries and rich diversity of cultures which make it a wonderful place to study and explore. They are extremely welcoming of international students and – as the language of instruction is English – this is a very easy country to study in. There are also a great number of excellent universities offering a Master’s in Public Health.

The best universities offering a Master’s in Public Health in New Zealand are below.

Helpful Posts

Related Scholarships

Cost of Studying MPH in New Zealand

The cost of tuition in New Zealand tends to vary depending on whether you are a citizen of the country or not. As such, you can expect to pay c. $6,300 per year as a domestic student, whereas international students will face bills of up to 4 times that amount (for example, the University of Auckland charges c. $29,000 per year).

In addition to the cost of tuition, you should also budget for student fees and – of course – the cost of living. The latter is not too expensive in New Zealand’s smaller towns but will be more costly in the bigger cities such as Auckland. However, New Zealand does have one of the greatest standards of living in the world, so you will be taking advantage of that while studying there.

Requirements to Study Master’s in Public Health in New Zealand

The Master’s in Public Health in New Zealand has a requirement of an undergraduate degree, but there are usually no particular subjects that need to have been studied (although this varies with each university). There is also an English language requirement of 6.5 minimum on the IELTS (although other tests results are accepted – find out more here).

To apply, you will need to know the application process, application requirements, deadlines, and submit your application. This can be a bit difficult for international students, so we’ve prepared a guide on How to Study in Ireland for International Students. Check it out if you are unsure.

In What Languages Do You Study Master’s in Public Health in New Zealand?

The language of instruction is English for all universities offering a Master’s in Public Health in New Zealand.

7 Universities in New Zealand with Master’s in Public Health

1. The University of Auckland

The University of Auckland is the top university in New Zealand offering MPH programs. It was established in 1883 as part of the University of New Zealand and is the largest in the country with 40,000 students.

The Master of Public Health is taught from the Grafton campus and has two options: a Taught program (including a dissertation and courses from the Master of Public Health schedule) and a more in-depth Research program (including additional advanced level courses in Health Informatics, Health Management, Maori Health, Population Health or Population Health Practice as well as other courses from a Postgraduate Diploma schedule).

Depending on which option you choose, you can expect to study for one to two years full-time, in order to ensure you get the appropriate number of course credits. This course will set you up for contributing to the health and welfare of any community, with a career in disease prevention, surveillance, health promotion, or epidemiology.

2. University of Otago

The University of Otago was founded in 1869, which makes it the oldest university in New Zealand. It routinely welcomes 14% of its student population from abroad and is highly ranked within New Zealand and internationally for its academic successes. On its campus in Dunedin, you will find 12 multidisciplinary research centers. It also hosts New Zealand’s only schools of Dentistry and Surveying, and is the first medical school in the country.

The Master of Public Health at this university in New Zealand is a full-time one-year program, but in order to be admitted, you’ll need to have completed a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health. There are some other specific requirements that are available to consult on the website.

3. Massey University

Massey University ranks third for its Master of Public Health in New Zealand. It is located in Palmerston North and has campuses both in Albany and Wellington. This is New Zealand’s second-largest university when not counting international students – the student body is approximately 31,000 students across undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

The Master of Public Health here focuses extensively on research conducted under the supervision of experts in their field. In order to gain admission, you’ll have to have completed an undergraduate degree in health sciences, or any other topic as long as you have professional experience that is considered relevant to the course. You may also be considered if you have already completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health.

Interestingly, this Master’s program is offered as distance learning as well.

4. Victoria University of Wellington

Situated in the vibrant town of Wellington, Victoria University was originally part of the University of New Zealand, established in 1897. It is very highly regarded for its research intensity, quality, and facilities. Victoria University is one of the top institutions in New Zealand with Master’s in Public Health Degree.

The Master of Health program offers various avenues of specialization, such as Health Leadership and Management or Health Policy, Planning and Service Delivery.

The Master’s is taught over 3 trimesters full-time, costing around $29,000 for the full program. In your first year, you will develop your research skills in a health context via a core course. You then have the opportunity to specialize and take on either a relevant research project or a professional project that demonstrates advanced knowledge of your field of professional practice.

You’ll need to have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant health-related subject to be considered for admission.

5. University of Canterbury

The University of Canterbury offers a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, after which you have the opportunity to study for either a Master of Health Sciences or a Master of Health Sciences Professional Practice.

The former is a 2-year program studied full-time and covers the issues affecting health sciences, allowing students to create their own curriculum across the areas that interest them in relation to health and health practice. The prerequisite for admission is either a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject, a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services, or an appropriate health professional qualification.

If you do not want to conduct the research portion of the degree, the taught-only program option is the Master of Health Sciences Professional Practice.

6. Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

The Auckland University of Technology, one of the universities in New Zealand offering MPH degrees, calls itself the “fastest-growing postgraduate study destination.”

If you’re looking to learn about how to contribute to public health management and policy, disease control, and health promotion, then this program at AUT is for you. Having completed a relevant Bachelor’s degree and with at least a year of professional experience, you will be enrolling in a two-year full-time program. You have a number of core courses followed by various elective topics, and you will need to complete a thesis or dissertation in order to graduate. The Master’s at AUT focuses on the role of social, economic, cultural, educational, environmental, and other societal factors in the production and maintenance of individual and community wellbeing.

7. The University of Waikato

This program is a research-based qualification encouraging the critical examination of how political, cultural, social, and economic factors influence the meaning and nature of sport, exercise and leisure. Multidisciplinary in nature, it involves working in high-tech laboratories at the Cambridge Avantidrome or the University of Waikato Adams Centre for High Performance in Tauranga. You’ll be able to tailor the program to your interests and needs and study very flexibly.

The program takes place over a year and a half and is taught in Hamilton.

 

I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Australia Scholarships Page.