Undergraduate
Public Health
Contact us
Address
Student Central
The University of Western Australia (M355), 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, Western Australia 6009
Telephone
131 UWA (131 892)
International
(+61 8) 6488 1000
Hours
Frequently asked questions
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Careers and further study
This course opens up a world of future study pathways and career options.
Career Pathways
The field of public health changes constantly, presenting new challenges and allowing you to work at the cutting edge of the nation's public health issues to make a real difference.
The Public Health major will give you a strong foundation in health science with skills in scientific investigation, critical thinking and problem solving. Knowledge and skills in population health, leadership, research, health promotion, epidemiology and disease prevention are coupled with personal and professional development.
As a Public Health graduate, you'll find careers in:
- health promotion
- health program and evaluation
- epidemiology and disease control
- health consulting
- health planning and policy
- health informatics
- health economics
- clinical trials research
- health advocacy
- health administration
- cancer research and many more
Employers include private companies, not-for-profit organisations such as the Cancer Council, hospitals, government organisations, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology companies, universities and other research agencies.
This major also provides you with a strong foundation for future clinical studies in the postgraduate courses of medicine, dentistry and podiatry. In addition, you can obtain higher degree qualifications by research or coursework and professional degree qualifications in social work.
Honours and other pathways
Students who complete the Public Health major are well-placed to engage in postgraduate study in health- and non-health cognate areas of study. These include:
- Master of Public Health
- Master of Economics
- Doctor of Medicine
- Juris Doctor
Six areas of Public Health career directions
Six areas of Public Health career directions
Population Health
Master of Public Health
Fees and scholarships
Domestic Student Fees
Eligible Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) students can use the HECS-HELP loan program to pay their tuition fees. For Full-Fee Paying (FFP) places, students are charged an annual course fee.
Find out more information about tuition fees, or visit the fee calculator for a more accurate cost.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.
Cost of living
International Student Fees
Find out more about tuition fees or visit the fee calculator for the estimated total course fee.
Note, tuition fees are reviewed annually and are subject to increase up to 7.5 per cent per annum.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.
Cost of living
Admission requirements
The University of Western Australia welcomes applications from international and domestic school-leavers. If you’re interested in studying this major, find out the admission details below.
Minimum entry requirements
- 3.3
- 79
- 270
- 330
- 300
- 66
- 1170
- 60
- 80
Admission requirements
Mathematics requirement
This major requires a certain level of Mathematics. If you do not meet this level, you may be able to take additional Mathematics units in your first year to satisfy this requirement.
WACE prerequisite: Mathematics Applications ATAR
English competency
English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.
Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.
How to apply
Ready for the next step?
Find out how to apply through our simple online application process.
We'll guide you through our entry requirements, admission pathways available to you and application deadlines for your chosen course.
We can’t wait for you to join us!
Course details
Public Health examines patterns of health and disease in society, the applications of medical research and evidence-based medicine to populations and considers what we can do to improve the health of the community. This major will give you a strong foundation in health science with skills in scientific investigation, critical thinking and problem solving.
About the course
In your first year, you'll study health issues locally and globally, and the social, environmental, biological and historical factors that influence health in a population.
Quick details
- Available
- Perth (Crawley campus)
- Full-time
- Part-time
- On-campus
- Semester 1, Semester 2
- 16-25 hours teaching time, plus your own study time
- Undergraduate
- MJD-PPHLH
- 3 years (BBiomedSc), 4 years (BBiomedSc[Hons])
You may also be interested in these courses
Anatomy and Human Biology 
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 
Exercise and Health 
Applied Human Geography 
Law and Society Careers in Public Health
Course Structure
Our undergraduate degrees offer you a broad range of options allowing you to combine subjects in a way that matches your career goals and personal interests.
Popular combinations
Student Exchange & Study Abroad
About the Public Health major
Your degree options
This major is offered as a degree-specific, or first, major for these degrees. It is also offered as a second major in our other bachelor's degrees.
Bachelor of Philosophy
Bachelor of Biomedical Science
Zachary Rowbottom
Zachary Rowbottom
The Population Health field trip is designed to further develop public health knowledge and practice by addressing health issues in a developing country. The unit is tailored for the country that students visit and may involve working with a local non-government organisation (NGO) on a health issue identified as a priority for that NGO, or undertaking a series of site visits. Students get the chance to interact with local community members, groups and health professionals.
Population Health graduate Zachary Rowbottom travelled to Nepal with other UWA students and lecturers with the intention of assessing the impact of an Open Defecation Free Program in Pokhara-Lekhnath. Students were able to identify issues around living and health practices from the surrounding landscape. In Perth, water is a resource that is never thought twice about, but in rural Nepal, you have to question how to get clean, sufficient water to the top of a hill with no road. And if there is a road, it could be too dangerous to travel on due to the monsoon season causing frequent landslides.
“One of the highlights of the trip was interacting with the people of the Pokhara-Lekhnath municipality area,” says Zachary. “Being able to interview them provided-in depth knowledge and allowed me to develop an understanding from their experience and point of view on the topic and how it affects their community’s health.”
“Further, having the opportunity to speak with world leaders in water, sanitation and hygiene provided us with a health professional’s view on sanitation practice in Pokhara, as well as an understanding of where our passion and knowledge in global health could take us.”
“Overall the trip provided myself and fellow students with valuable international health education from both local Nepali communities and leading professionals, real-life exposure to issues regarding sanitation and hygiene in a developing country, and lifelong friendships.”
Health Students' Society
The Health Students' Society (HSS) is a student-run, not-for-profit organisation for undergraduates completing health-related majors at UWA. HSS provides social and education opportunities and encourages students to make the most of their time on campus and of university life. HSS offers a support network for members during their degrees and aims to enhance the university experience and raise the profile of graduates to prospective employees.
Rachel Standing
"I studied a double undergraduate degree of Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce at UWA, with majors in population health, genetics and management. In 2012, I completed an Honours project in autism genetics as a collaborative research project between UWA and the Telethon Kids Institute.