Admission criteria

To be considered for entry into this course, you must:

• Have completed a bachelor degree (AQF7) in any discipline with a weighted average mark (WAM) of 65%, or equivalent.

Or

• Have completed a bachelor degree (AQF7) or equivalent in any discipline.
  
  And
• Have completed a graduate certificate (AQF8) from the University of Melbourne in a cognate (relevant) discipline with a weighted average mark (WAM) of 65%, or equivalent.

Cognate (relevant) discipline includes: Health Economics and Economic Evaluation, Sexual Health, Gerontology, Health Informatics and Digital Health, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Public Health, Aboriginal Health in Rural Communities or Climate Change and Health.

The University of Melbourne is committed to maintaining a transparent admissions policy by clearly communicating all entry scores to prospective students. Entry requirements to the University of Melbourne are regularly reviewed to ensure they align with the University's Selection and Admissions Policy. The entry requirements published for this course will apply from the start year 2027 intake onwards.

Where degree levels are referenced, levels align with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Applications are assessed against these standards.

Where our admission criteria includes a minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) and/or specific subject criteria, these are based on University of Melbourne grades and subjects. If you've studied elsewhere, we'll assess your relevant prior studies and equivalent grades. Your final WAM may be adjusted depending on your previous institution's accreditation, subject grading, and pass marks.

English language requirements

All applicants to the University of Melbourne must satisfy the English language requirements. This may be achieved in a number of ways, including recognised previous study taught and assessed entirely in English or an approved English language test. If you are from a non-English speaking background, the required standard of English for this degree is one of the following English proficiency test scores:

About selection

As part of your application, you must also:

• Provide a curriculum vitae (CV) detailing relevant education, work experience, skills and achievements, if relevant

Missing information or documents may result in your application being deemed ineligible.

When assessing (and where relevant, ranking) applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

• Prior academic performance
• Relevant prior (research and/or professional) experience

The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Selection and Admission Policy.

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for this course does not guarantee selection.

Additional information

Graduate Access Melbourne (GAM)

We encourage domestic students to explore eligibility for Graduate Access Melbourne (GAM). GAM offers an opportunity for admission to this course even if your tertiary marks are below the standard entry requirements. GAM applicants may also be considered for financial bursaries and Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) where available.

GAM categories include coming from a rural area, being an Indigenous Australian, experiencing financial hardship or personal difficulties, having refugee status, or living with a disability or medical condition. In assessing applications, we look to balance opportunity and your capacity to succeed.

Advanced Standing

Prior studies may be credited towards your degree and potentially reduce the duration of your course. This is known as Advanced Standing (also known as credit or recognition of prior learning).

All applicants are automatically considered for Advanced Standing.

Applicants with the following may be awarded 25 points of credit:

• A bachelor degree (AQF7) in a professional health discipline with at least a 65% weighted average, or equivalent.

Professional health disciplines include: nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy or another allied health profession

Applicants with the following may be awarded 50 points of credit (entry to the 150 point program):

• A bachelor degree (AQF7) in public health with at least a 65% weighted average, or equivalent.
• A bachelor degree (AQF7) in medicine with at least a 65% weighted average, or equivalent.
• A bachelor degree (AQF7) in any discipline with at least a 65% weighted average, or equivalent and at least two years full time (or equivalent) documented relevant work experience in a public health or professional healthcare.
• A masters degree (AQF9) or PhD (AQF10) in professional or public health.

Public health experience relevant to this course may include work activities focused on health policy, health economics, health planning, epidemiology research.

Professional healthcare experience relevant to this course may include roles in nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy or another allied health profession.

Applicants with the following may be awarded 100 points of credit (entry to the 100 point program):

• A medical degree and a Medical Specialist Fellow of Australia, and have current registration with AHPRA or equivalent, approved by the Fellowship awarding Faculty.
• Executive level or equivalent role in health within government or the health service sector with at least 5 years of full-time health sector work experience.

Applicants seeking admission into the 150-entry point or 100-entry point must provide:

• A brief curriculum vitae (CV) outlining their relevant professional experience including the period of time in each role and time fraction. The CV must include the contact details of two referees who can verify the authenticity and nature of the experience claimed.
• A brief statement (maximum 100 words) accompanying their CV, outlining the relevance of their prior professional experience and work activities to the field of public health.

Eligible applicants will be offered the appropriate entry point at the time of admission. Further requests for advanced standing will not be considered after enrolment has commenced.

Applicants who have completed subjects within the following degrees from the University of Melbourne may receive advanced standing (with credit):

• Graduate Certificates in Aboriginal Health in Rural Communities
• Graduate Certificate in Health Economics and Economic Evaluation
• Graduate Certificate in Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Graduate Certificate in Sexual Health
• Graduate Certificate in Gerontology
• Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics and Digital Health
• Graduate Certificate in Climate Change and Health
• Graduate Certificate in Public Health.

The Graduate Certificates listed provide credit for entry to the Master of Public Health. Any of the above mentioned Graduate Certificates cannot be taken concurrently with the Master of Public Health. The Graduate Certificates cannot be claimed retrospectively when the relevant subjects are taken as part of a completed Master of Public Health.

For additional, in-depth details on entry requirements and admissions for this course, refer to the University Handbook.