Why Study/Key Benefits

• The Graduate Diploma in Health (GradDipHlth) is a 120-point qualification designed to deepen understanding of important health topics.
• It is particularly suitable for:
  • Graduates considering a career change into the health sector.
  • Students planning to progress to postgraduate Health study.
  • International students who do not yet meet the entry requirements for some postgraduate programmes.
• Students develop knowledge of health systems, health theories and health practices.
• The programme develops capabilities in equity, diversity and inclusion and bicultural confidence and competence.
• UC highlights M?ori and Pacific health outcomes, health promotion, health education and communication.
• Students can select subjects relating to nutrition, psychology, wellbeing and physical activity, mental health and addictions, epidemiology, and health policy.
• The qualification can prepare students for health-related roles in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The qualification contains 120 points.

The regulations require:

• Minimum 45 points from the specified Schedule E courses.
• Minimum 75 points at 300-level from the Bachelor of Health's Schedule V.

Current UC programme information lists the following courses for the qualification.

Introductory/required-choice courses:

• HLTH101 Introduction to Health Studies
• HLTH105 Communication for Practice
• HLTH106 Te Wero – M?ori Health Issues and Opportunities
• HLTH112 Anatomy and Physiology I
• HLTH203 Epidemiology
• HLTH213 Health Systems and Policy
• HLTH216 Foundations of Mental Health and Addictions
• HLTH302 Evidence in Health
• HLTH312 Health Planning, Implementation and Evaluation

Students choose 45 points from this group.

Elective/advanced options include:

• HLTH302 Evidence in Health
• HLTH306 Te Kete Hauora – M?ori Health Knowledge and Understandings/Internship
• HLTH307 Human Nutrition Over the Lifespan
• HLTH312 Health Planning, Implementation and Evaluation
• HLTH316 Professional Skills in Mental Health and Addictions I
• HLTH321 Health Internship
• HLTH323 Critical Analysis of Health Education Practices
• HLTH326 Professional Skills in Mental Health and Addictions II
• BIOL351 Cell Biology 2
• GEOG325 Health, Wellbeing and Environment
• HSRV311 Qualitative Research Methods
• PACE390 Professional and Community Engagement Internships
• PSYC330 Forensic Psychology
• PSYC336 Industrial and Organisational Psychology
• PSYC341 Environmental Psychology
• PSYC348 Contemporary Issues in Family Psychology
• PSYC373 Neuroscience and Neurological Disorders
• PSYC374 Health Psychology
• PSYC375 Intermediate Research Methods and Statistics
• PSYC376 Working with People – Introduction to Professional Skills in Psychology
• PSYC378 Psychology of Social Media
• PSYC379 Introduction to Psychopathology
• PSYC380 Risk and Resilience in Human Development
• PSYC381 Applied Neuroscience: Brain Imaging
• PSYC382 Culture and Cognition
• PSYC384 Learning and Behaviour Analysis
• PSYC385 Human Factors: The Forces that Shape Behaviour with Products, Technology, and Systems
• SPCO309 Applied Exercise Physiology
• SPCO343 Performance Nutrition and Recovery Monitoring
• SPRT322 Physical Activity and Wellbeing
• SPRT323 Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology.

Disciplines/Specialisations

There are no formal majors, minors or endorsements for the Graduate Diploma in Health.

However, students can build a particular academic focus through their course selections, including:

• Health systems and policy
• Epidemiology
• M?ori health
• Health promotion and education
• Mental health and addictions
• Nutrition
• Health psychology
• Physical activity and wellbeing
• Exercise physiology
• Health and environment
• Psychology and behavioural science
• Health research and qualitative methods
• Health planning and programme evaluation
• Professional/community engagement
• Health internships
• Anatomy and physiology.

Programme Highlights

• New UC qualification first offered in 2026.
• 120 points.
• One-year full-time study option.
• February and July starts.
• Flexible combination of introductory and advanced health study.
• Opportunity to combine Health courses with selected subjects from areas such as Psychology, Biology, Geography, Sport and Exercise, Social Work-related study and professional engagement.
• Strong emphasis on health equity, diversity and inclusion.
• M?ori and Pacific health issues are incorporated into the curriculum.
• Options involving internships and professional/community engagement are available within the approved course selection.
• Can serve as preparation for further postgraduate Health study.
• UC's Health portfolio includes postgraduate qualifications such as the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences, Master of Health Sciences, Master of Health Sciences Professional Practice, Doctor of Health Sciences and PhD options.

Career Outcomes

UC states that the qualification can prepare graduates to enter the health industry and contribute to health initiatives and sector challenges. Depending on course choices, potential areas include:

• Health advocacy
• Health consultation
• Health policy
• Health science
• Health psychology
• Health education
• Health promotion
• Community and wellbeing organisations
• Health-related research and analysis
• Health programme planning and evaluation
• Health-sector support roles.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

• The Graduate Diploma in Health is new in 2026. The current regulations took effect on 1 January 2026.
• The programme has a 60-month maximum completion period under the current regulations.
• There are no majors, minors or endorsements.
• Honours, Distinction and Merit are not awarded for this qualification.
• The Executive Dean of Health or delegate must approve admission to the qualification.
• The programme regulations require at least 75 points at 300-level from the Bachelor of Health's Schedule V, so students cannot simply select any 120 points from the wider university catalogue.
• Individual courses have prerequisites. For example, HLTH203 requires 60 points at 100-level, while HLTH312 requires 30 points at 200-level from Health Science.
• Some courses are not offered in every semester. The 2026 regulations show HLTH216 and HLTH302 as not offered in 2026, while other courses have Semester 1, Semester 2, UC Online or distance-learning occurrences.
• Students should therefore have their intended course combination checked before enrolment.
• The qualification can potentially be used as a pathway into the Bachelor of Health, subject to approval and credit-transfer rules.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student physically studying this qualification in New Zealand, the usual visa is the New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa.

Current Immigration New Zealand requirements include:

• An offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Sufficient funds to pay tuition fees, or an acceptable scholarship.
• Sufficient funds for living expenses.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Good health.
• Good character.
• Genuine intention to study in New Zealand.
• Evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of the stay.
• Online visa application.