Why Study/Key Benefits

The Bachelor of Health Science, majoring in Public Health and Health Promotion, is designed for students who want to work in public health, health education, health promotion, community development, research, policy and related health-service environments.

Key benefits include:

• Focus on public health and health promotion using digital technology and contemporary health practices.
• Learn how to communicate health messages through digital and social media channels.
• Develop skills in analysing health data and understanding population health needs.
• Explore how diseases spread and how prevention and health-promotion strategies can be designed.
• Develop project management and health communication skills.
• Apply learning through Work Integrated Learning. Swinburne states that every student in its bachelor degrees receives a guaranteed Work Integrated Learning opportunity through a placement, internship or industry research project.
• The major includes practical activities such as developing a pandemic action plan using a gamified platform, exploring contemporary public-health challenges and developing public-health campaigns.
• The programme can provide a foundation for further postgraduate study in health and related fields.
• Swinburne states that its Public Health subject area is ranked in the global top 500 in the ARWU Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022. This is a university-published ranking reference rather than a current 2026/2027 ranking.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The standard Bachelor of Health Science structure is 300 credit points. The published Semester 1, 2026 indicative sequence provides the current subject framework; Swinburne notes that unit offerings and sequencing may change.

Year 1 – 100 credit points

Core units:

• Anatomy and Physiology – BIO10004
• Introduction to Health Sciences – HEA10001
• Digital Health Foundations – HEA10004
• Foundations of Statistics – STA10003
• Brain and Behaviour – PSY10007

Public Health and Health Promotion major units:

• Environment and Society: Problems and Solutions – SOC10005
• Physical Activity, Health and Technology – SPH10013

The remaining study is completed through an elective.

Year 2 – 100 credit points

Core unit:

• Health and Disease Across the Life Course – BIO20004

Major units:

• Health Promotion and Disease Prevention – HEP20002
• Epidemiology – STA20009
• Indigenous Health – HEA20006

Additional elective study is included in the year-two structure.

Year 3 – 100 credit points

Core units:

• Research Methods for Health Science – HEA20007
• Health Sciences Project – HEA30001

Major units:

• Health Communication – HEP30003
• Public Health Nutrition – NTR30004
• Leadership and Innovation in Health Promotion – HEA30010

Additional elective study completes the standard structure.

The course handbook confirms the eight Public Health and Health Promotion major units as:

• Environment and Society: Problems and Solutions
• Physical Activity, Health and Technology
• Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
• Epidemiology
• Indigenous Health
• Health Communication
• Public Health Nutrition
• Leadership and Innovation in Health Promotion

Disciplines/Specialisations

The selected major is:

• Public Health and Health Promotion

The broader Bachelor of Health Science also offers other majors, including:

• Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health
• Biomedical Science
• Clinical Technologies
• Health Economics
• Health Service Management
• Neuroscience
• Nutrition
• Public Health and Health Promotion

The Public Health and Health Promotion major particularly focuses on:

• Public health
• Health promotion
• Health communication
• Epidemiology
• Disease prevention
• Indigenous health
• Public health nutrition
• Community development
• Health policy
• Digital health communication

Programme Highlights

• Public-health-focused undergraduate degree.
• Major combining health promotion, epidemiology, health communication, nutrition, Indigenous health and disease prevention.
• Digital technology integrated into public-health learning.
• Practical public-health campaign and communication activities.
• Development of health data analysis and project-management skills.
• Guaranteed Work Integrated Learning opportunity within the bachelor degree.
• Health Sciences Project provides an opportunity for a student-led project with potential industry links.
• Optional professional placement of six or 12 months is available within the standard Bachelor of Health Science structure.
• Small-class environment and industry-connected curriculum are highlighted by Swinburne.
• The course can support progression to postgraduate health-related study.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne identifies the following career opportunities for this major:

• Community developer
• Health education and promotion officer
• Policy developer
• Government officer
• Community officer
• Project officer

The programme's subject areas can also provide relevant preparation for work involving:

• Public-health programmes
• Health promotion campaigns
• Community health initiatives
• Health communication
• Population-health research
• Health-policy support
• Disease-prevention programmes
• Public-health nutrition

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

• The currently published 2027 intake dates are 1 March 2027 and 2 August 2027.
• Current published application deadlines are 24 February 2027 and 28 July 2027 respectively.
• Swinburne's published course structure currently uses an indicative Semester 1, 2026 sequence, and the university states that unit offerings and sequencing can change. Students should therefore confirm their final study plan after enrolment.
• International students on an Australian Student visa must study full-time and on campus for this programme.
• Optional professional placement may involve additional eligibility, selection and administrative requirements. The exact placement availability for a particular student is dependent on the relevant Swinburne process.
• The course page currently identifies the CRICOS course code as 077669G.
• Swinburne currently states that the degree includes guaranteed Work Integrated Learning, while the specific Public Health and Health Promotion structure identifies the Health Sciences Project as an industry-linked learning opportunity.
• 2027 tuition fees are not currently published on the official course page. Therefore: Not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students intending to study this course in Australia generally require an Australian Student visa (subclass 500).

Key requirements and conditions currently published by the Australian Department of Home Affairs include:

• The student must be enrolled in an eligible full-time course and provide a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
• The course must be registered on CRICOS.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is required unless an exemption applies.
• Applicants must satisfy the Genuine Student requirement.
• Applicants must meet health and character requirements.
• Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial capacity where required by the Department of Home Affairs.
• Applicants must provide any documents specified by the Department's Document Checklist Tool.
• Student visa holders can generally work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session.
• Students can generally work unlimited hours when their course is not in session, subject to the applicable visa conditions.
• The current Student visa application charge starts from AUD 2,500 for the main applicant, although the applicable amount should be checked at the time of application.