Masters (Coursework)
UC's Health Sciences qualifications give health professionals, non-clinical members of the health workforce, and others interested in the health sector or health issues the opportunity to examine critically a range of significant issues in health sciences, and where relevant to improve their professional practice.
The Master of Health Sciences allows you to put together a postgraduate programme of study across health-related disciplines, such as the functioning of the health system, from the management of health information, to health in communities. The increasing focus on prevention and lifestyle change provides enormous potential for a refocusing of health strategies and allied areas such as education, sport and recreation, and local government.
This gives you considerable flexibility, and the opportunity to plan a programme to suit your interests, current employment, or career goals, providing opportunities for interdisciplinary postgraduate study for students already working in health or related services who wish to extend their knowledge and skills, or recent graduates seeking employment in these sectors.
The Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc) is a research-inclusive qualification worth 240 points. You will be supervised by some world-leading researchers in Te Kura Matai Hauora | School of Health Sciences.
You may either follow a general programme, or focus on a specialisation and receive your qualification endorsed in one of several areas:
UC also offers a coursework-only (180-point) Master of Health Sciences Professional Practice.
To enrol in the MHealSc, you must have completed either a relevant bachelor's degree, an appropriate health professional qualification, or the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (or equivalent) with at least a B Grade Point Average.
Students with a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (or equivalent) can complete Part II only (a full year of research - 120 points - in a pre-approved topic is recommended, although other options may be available).
If English is your additional language, you are also required to meet UC's English language requirements.
For the full entry requirements, see the Regulations for the Master of Health Sciences or use the admission requirements checker.
The government has announced new vaccination requirements for the health and education sectors. At UC, our programmes are strongly connected to our communities of practice. For many of our programmes, you will not be able to complete research or practice-oriented courses if you are not vaccinated. This is due to research/practice taking place in health centres and schools/kura where all employees and volunteers are required to be vaccinated.
For these courses you will be required to be vaccinated in line with the NZ Government regulations, and supply evidence of your vaccination status.
Enrolment into the Health Behaviour Change and Nursing endorsements will require a vaccine.
You can apply online at myUC. Find out more about how to apply for graduate and postgraduate qualifications.
Nursing endorsement students should check the Nursing page for instructions on how to apply.
Many graduates continue to work within their health profession while others work in health-related fields, the social services, or local or central government.