Bachelor of Health Science (Public Health)
Undergraduate
2025
You're considered an International student if you are:
Undergraduate
2025
0100073
The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.
Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.
Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:
Recent secondary education
Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent
AND
OR
Higher education study
OR
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
OR
Work and life experience
Bangladesh HSC | 4 |
Canada High School (OSSD) | 65 |
Eynesbury FSP | 330 |
German Abitur | 3.5 |
Kenya KCSE (average) | B+ |
Malaysia STPM (best 3) | 6 |
Malaysia UEC | 30 |
Norway GPA | 3 |
Pakistan HSSC | 85 |
Sri Lanka A Levels (best 3) | 7 |
Sweden GPA | 13 |
UK Board GCE A Levels/HK Board | 7 |
Vietnam | 7.5 |
Australia | 70 |
IB (best 6) | 26 |
USA SAT (1600) | 1110 |
India (best 4) State Board | 75 |
India (best 4) Central Board | 65 |
HKDSE | 15 |
Nepal NEB | 2.61 |
Start your unstoppable career in improving the health of people and populations. A degree in public health prepares you to be at the forefront of disease prevention and health promotion.
Public health practitioners address social and cultural, commercial and environmental factors which prevent disease and prolong the lifespan of the greater public. With an emphasis on advocacy and equity, you’ll work with individuals, groups, communities and organisations across public and private sectors to engage with meaningful health issues, and become equipped with skills to address global health challenges.
You’ll learn diverse approaches including policy development; data analysis and reporting; media and advocacy; public events; community-based education and preventative interventions to create positive change. These methods may be used to tackle complex global health issues such as infectious diseases, heart disease, cancer and mental health.
You'll engage with 200 hours of industry-relevant experience with local advisory groups, industry groups, local councils, and similar, giving you valuable insight into your future career and allowing you to build your industry networks while studying.
With its strong focus on research, further study opportunities may include a Master of Research, Master of Health Services Management, or Master of Physiotherapy (Graduate Entry).
Students who undertake activities where interaction with patients/the public is required for their degree, such as field or clinical placements/visits and in University clinics and gyms, must demonstrate they meet mandatory pre-placement conditional requirements. These include criminal history clearance, a Working with Children Check and immunisation requirements.
Please visit the Clinical Placement Unit for information on key requirements, and to access the full student checklists.
You’ll become equipped with the knowledge, skills and attributes to contribute as a dynamic and forward-thinking generalist public health practitioner.
Your studies will equip you with an understanding of the social and commercial determinants of health and wellbeing. You will learn how to engage with communities and populations to promote wellbeing through locally-relevant information and activities. You will learn the principles and purpose of evaluation in public health, the importance of lived-experience perspectives, the role of advocacy, and the responsible dissemination of public health information. You’ll also learn epidemiological techniques to identify patterns in population health, such as the prevalence of mental health conditions or cardiovascular disease, novel associations between risk factors and diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and COVID-19.
During your first year you’ll understand core areas of practice and in your second year you’ll get to apply that knowledge. In the final year, there will be an emphasis on becoming a public health practitioner and entering the workforce, and career development. You will also have the opportunity to showcase your industry project and placement experiences at the annual student conference.
Throughout the degree, you’ll focus on equitable access to health programs and services for priority population groups such as, but not limited to, people experiencing homelessness, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse people, veterans, people living in rural and remote locations, young people, and older adults.
Graduates meet a broad range of industry-relevant public health competencies across six key areas including:
You’ll study either one minor or choose from four elective courses. Your minor can be made up from UniSA’s wide list of majors and minors, allowing you to develop a unique combination of knowledge and skills. Alternatively, the four elective courses can be selected from a specific list of courses related to the degree.
The curriculum is aligned to the Foundation Competencies for Public Health Graduates in Australia and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework. This provides you with transferable skills which can be applied across all levels of government, community-based organisations and programs, as well as in a variety of organisations like the Australian Red Cross, the Heart Foundation, the Royal Society for the Blind, and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).
This degree is a great choice for those interested in pursuing a non-clinical health career, and are interested in shaping the health and wellbeing of our society.
The Bachelor of Health Science (Public Health) pays particular attention to the environments in which we are born, grow, live, work, and play; how they influence health and wellbeing, and how they are changing.
The impact of public health is far reaching. Its scope ranges from vaccines to prevent disease; campaigns and laws which reduce the impacts of tobacco and substance use; access to prenatal services for healthy babies and families; media that provides evidence-based information and recommendations; research that explores mental health, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic conditions; safety advances such as seatbelt laws, which have saved millions of lives; sun-safety messaging; access to contraception; education to prevent sexually transmitted disease; environments that promote wellbeing; and community programs that promote physical activity and social engagement.
With its broad scope, you can focus on areas of public health that matter to you.
You’ll be taught by industry-experienced academics and researchers, from a university producing above world-class research in public health and health services.1
12018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)
Careers in health are on the rise. In Australia, healthcare and social assistance is projected to make the largest contribution to employment growth over the next five years.1
Public health practitioners can work in various roles in Australia and overseas, including:
Depending on your results, you may also be eligible to continue onto postgraduate study. You can take your career to the next level with a Master of Research, Master of Health Services Management, Master of Physiotherapy (Graduate Entry) or Master of Occupational Therapy (Graduate Entry).
1Australian Government National Skills Commission Employment Projections 2021
This program provides a qualification that is recognised as the basis for initial registration of graduates by the International Union of Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE), as internationally recognised competent Health Promotion Practitioners. Accreditation recognises that education and training undertaken by graduates of this program covers all domains of the IUHPE Core Competencies Framework, and that their learning outcomes relate to the performance criteria defined in the IUHPE Professional Standards, preparing graduates to be competent Health Promotion Practitioners as defined by the IUHPE (the international program accrediting body).
How to apply for international students will give you helpful information about the application process at the University of South Australia. When you are ready, apply through our International Application System. If you would like to talk to someone near you about studying at the University of South Australia, we have agents all over the world who can assist you. Find an Education Agent in your country.
Australian
There are other pathways you can follow to study this degree, including:
International
There are other pathways you can follow to study this degree, including:
Every year, over 2,500 UniSA students are supported in their studies through scholarships and grants worth millions of dollars. Check out the scholarships below. One of them may be perfect for you. Visit our scholarships page for more.
Recipients can get a 50% reduction on tuition fees for up to four years of full-time study for selected degrees.
Recipients can get a 15% reduction on tuition fees for the duration of their chosen degree.
As a UniSA student, you will have unique access to work placement opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events, internships, guest speakers and more.
Our campuses are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops and laboratories, as well as spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform. We have health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and great student lounges. You will also gain access to a range of community clinics, which provide professional and cost effective services in areas of health, business, law and psychology. There are campus sport activities to keep you active, and if you are keen to explore the social side of university life, there are movies, cooking demonstrations, parties and lots more.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation and private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages, or explore our student accommodation by Scape on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, an ideal location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.
As a Health Science (Public Health) student you'll have access to our:
You'll also access a range of on-campus spaces including modern lecture theatres, collaborative teaching rooms, and relaxed student lounges.
I am privileged with directing a dynamic and flexible degree in collaboration with a group of dedicated teachers and researchers, all focused on developing capable, industry-ready graduates who will contribute to improving and maintaining the health of communities. As an educator, I seek to provide an environment that supports student engagement, wellbeing, and knowledge development, providing teaching and learning practices that enable students to realise and achieve their potential.
There are a number of ways to apply to study UniSA's undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degrees.
You can access our online International Application System through our How to Apply page. The International Application System is an easy and secure online application and acceptance process. You will have visibility of your application through the secure online portal with the ability to download offer documents, submit your acceptance and make a payment.
Alternatively you can submit an application through one of the University's registered Education Agents.
If you are completing an Australian year 12 qualification in Australia or overseas, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in Australia, you must apply through SATAC http://www.satac.edu.au/.
If you are applying for the UniSA Study Abroad or Study Abroad Plus program, you can submit your application online here.
Postgraduate study by research
For information on applying to do postgraduate study by research, including Masters by Research, PhDs or Doctorates, please visit http://unisa.edu.au/resdegrees.
There is no closing date for submitting your application however the admissions process takes between one and three weeks from the date that we receive your application and all required supporting documentation.
If you are completing an Australian year 12 qualification in Australia or overseas, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in Australia, you must apply through SATAC. Key dates for applications can be found here.
You may be eligible to receive credit or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area at an equivalent or higher level. Receiving credit will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree.
The amount of credit you may be eligible to receive is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Admissions team.
The best way to determine your eligibility to receive credit or advanced standing is to apply using our International Application System which can be found on our How to Apply page. You will need to supply detailed syllabus documents with your application.
UniSA welcomes the opportunity to speak with you regarding your study options. Our staff are able to talk to you about degree information, career outcomes and pathways, entry requirements, applications, and student life, so that you are able to make the best study decision for your future.
Click here to book a 1:1 appointment with one of our enquiries team.
We also have many events throughout the year in Australia and overseas where you can speak with UniSA representatives about your area of interest. View our calendar of events in your home country by selecting the 'International' filter.