Why Study / Key Benefits

• Professionally focused master's degree designed for people already working in the health sector or seeking health-related employment.
• Coursework-based rather than thesis-based, making it particularly suitable for students who want to strengthen professional knowledge and practical capability rather than undertake a research thesis.
• Allows students to follow a general/unendorsed pathway or focus on a specialist endorsement.
• UC describes the programme as an opportunity to examine significant health-science issues and improve professional practice.
• Teaching is provided through Te Kura M?tai Hauora | School of Health Sciences, including researchers with strong expertise in the New Zealand health sector.
• The programme can be particularly useful for experienced health professionals seeking advanced knowledge, career progression or a move into another health-related area.
• UC postgraduate Health Sciences study covers areas including health promotion, public health, health policy and decision-making, health information technology and community health.
• The programme can also provide a pathway toward further doctoral-level study, including the Doctor of Health Sciences or PhD in Health Sciences.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The Master of Health Sciences Professional Practice is a 180-point coursework master's.

For the unendorsed pathway:

• HLTH 463 Wh?nau and Community Health: 30 points
• HLTH 464 Research Approaches for Health and Sport: 30 points
• Remaining 120 points: selected from approved courses in the Master of Health Sciences schedule, subject to programme requirements and approval.

The endorsed pathways have different compulsory courses. Examples include:

Environment and Health:

• HLTH403 Environmental Health
• HLTH460 Epidemiology and Critical Appraisal
• HLTH463 Wh?nau and Community Health
• HLTH464 Research Approaches for Health and Sport
• ENVR404 Environmental Toxicology
• ENVR415 Environmental Risk Assessment
• GEOG404 Resource and Environmental Management in New Zealand
• GISC422 Foundations of Geographic Information Systems and Science 

Health Behaviour Change:

• HLTH430 Motivating Behaviour Change I
• HLTH431 Motivating Behaviour Change II
• HLTH463 Wh?nau and Community Health
• HLTH464 Research Approaches for Health and Sport
• Plus 60 points of approved/recommended courses.

Health Information Management:

• HLTH402 Health Information Management
• 30 points selected from approved Health Sciences/related options
• 60 points of further approved Health Sciences courses
• Remaining programme requirements as specified by the endorsement.

Health and Community:

• GEOG401 Wellbeing, Community and Place
• HLTH463 Wh?nau and Community Health
• HLTH469
• HLTH464 Research Approaches for Health and Sport
• Plus 60 points of recommended/approved courses.

Palliative Care:

• HLTH448 The Foundation of Hospice Palliative Care
• HLTH449 Praxis in Hospice Palliative Care
• HLTH450 Palliative Care: Advanced Theory and Practice
• HLTH463 Wh?nau and Community Health
• HLTH464 Research Approaches for Health and Sport
• Plus 30 points of approved/recommended courses.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The current programme page lists these active endorsement options:

1. Environment and Health
2. Health and Community
3. Health Behaviour Change
4. Health Information Management
5. Palliative Care

Programme Highlights

• 180-point Level 9 master's degree
• 18 months full-time
• Up to 4 years part-time
• February and July starts
• Coursework-based professional master's
• No major thesis requirement
• Option to study without an endorsement
• Five current specialist endorsement options
• Flexible delivery across campus, distance, block and other course formats
• Suitable for experienced health professionals and students seeking health-related employment
• Interdisciplinary approach across health, community, behaviour, information management, environmental health and palliative care
• Delivered through UC's School of Health Sciences
• Opportunities to develop specialist knowledge and professional skills relevant to the health sector.

Career Outcomes

The programme is intended to strengthen professional capability and prepare graduates for health-related employment.

Potential areas include:

• Health-sector professional roles
• Health promotion
• Community health
• Public health
• Environmental health
• Health information management
• Health behaviour change
• Palliative care
• Health-sector administration and management
• Government and public-sector health organisations
• Social and community services
• Non-government/not-for-profit health organisations
• Health policy and related professional roles

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current programme remains a 180-point coursework-based master's.
• Health Leadership and Management has been removed from this programme and replaced by the separate Master of Health Leadership and Management.
• Some courses may require vaccination and/or health screening.
• Courses involving clinical, research or work-integrated access to health agencies may have additional Ministry of Health or agency requirements.
• These requirements can change, so students must check the individual course requirements during application/enrolment.
• Delivery is course-specific; students should not assume that all 180 points are available online.
• Some older UC pages/documents contain historical endorsement information, so applicants should use the current programme page and current endorsement pages when selecting their pathway.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student studying this programme in New Zealand, the relevant visa is normally the Fee Paying Student Visa.

Current Immigration New Zealand information states:

• Visa: Fee Paying Student Visa
• Current cost: from NZD $850
• Maximum possible duration: up to 4 years
• The actual visa duration normally corresponds to the period of study/tuition paid, subject to passport validity and visa conditions.
• You need an Offer of Place from an approved education provider.
• You must demonstrate funds for tuition or evidence of a scholarship.
• You must demonstrate sufficient living funds or have an acceptable sponsor.
• You must have acceptable medical/travel insurance.
• You must satisfy health, character and genuine-intention requirements.