Fast Facts
Location
Online study is only available to off-shore students
Commencing
- Online: February, July
- Townsville: February, July
Fees
$37,960.00+
+estimated annual tuition fee for a full-time study load
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Scholarships and financial aid available if eligible
Duration
1.5 years full-time
Part-time study available for online students
Entry Requirements
AQF level 7 bachelor degree in a relevant discipline; or equivalent
CRICOS Code
026849C
Course detail
Pursue your passion with a Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, one of only two degrees of this kind offered globally.
Complete most of your studies online, and benefit from immersive learning experiences in the north of Queensland by studying elective block mode subjects that focus on tropical, rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
Develop your professional judgement and ethical decision making using evidence-based approaches. Use your knowledge and expertise in public health core competencies and tropical medicine to become an effective leader for positive change in the communities in which you work.
View the handbook for a detailed overview of available subjects.
About JCU's Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
Build on your skills and experience as a health professional with one of the best MPH programs in Australia. Earn your Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine degree (similar to a Masters Degree in Public Health) through JCU and gain a specialised understanding of the most pressing health issues in the region and throughout the world.
A World-Class Education
Take advantage of JCU's unique geographical placement and connections with private and government entities. Build a solid foundation of the skills and knowledge required to deliver programs that promote health, prevent disease and protect the health of the population. Study your way in a flexible environment that matches your needs. Equip yourself through online (external) courses or a mix of online and on-campus classes. Choose block intensives to maximize your learning while minimising disruption to your schedule.
Gain crucial experience in public health graduate programs as you work in some of the world's leading research facilities. Build your resume and practical knowledge at cutting-edge laboratories. Connect with leaders in the field to build your network of professional connections.
Learn through courses with small class sizes under lecturers committed to student success. Become a well-rounded professional with well-developed communication skills and the ability to critically analyse information.
Study JCU's MPH Programs and Become a Change-Maker
Take part in research that makes a difference. Prepare yourself to effect meaningful change in community health outcomes in rural, urban, and tropical environments. Understand the challenges facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as well as issues of public health management.
Learn about the unique challenges of tropical living through studies in human parasitology. Become an effective researcher skilled in identifying diseases and developing interventions. Improve the quality of life for others and learn how to best implement public health policies to stop the spread of disease.
Be a part of cutting-edge research into emerging health threats. Work to decrease health disparities for marginalised peoples. Build on your passion to make a difference with real-world skills through one of the best public health masters programs in Australia.
A Masters Degree in Public Health That Can Lead to a Successful Career
Prepare for success using applied and experiential learning to become a leader in advancing global public health. Work at home or abroad and choose your own direction in public health, laboratory research, private corporations, or academia.
Work with local governments in disaster preparedness or as a specialist in biosecurity. Advance community health by researching and implementing initiatives or working in child and maternal health in communities at risk.
Use your leadership skills as an environmental health director to oversee staff and policies in clinics or hospitals. Track down patterns of disease to prevent illness and educate others on how to stop its spread. Advocate for marginalised people and help public services understand the distinct health challenges tropical, rural and remote communities face.
Create a Brighter Future With a Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
Use your skills in research and your knowledge of disease and illness to make the world a better place for everyone. Boost the health of communities. Advocate for the health of those without a public voice. Go beyond just treating disease, identify the issues and work towards preventing illness and improving the quality of life in under-served communities.
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Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
JCU Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine graduates are equipped with specialist skills and are employed in a wide range of healthcare settings.
You could find employment in State and Commonwealth Government organisations, health care settings, community settings, non-profit and international organisations.
This could include working in roles related to disease control and protection of the health of the population living in tropical areas, and promotion of health and wellbeing.
Handbook year | Information valid for students commencing in 2023 |
Course code | 74204 |
Course type | Masters Degree (Coursework) (AQF Level 9) |
Owner | Academy |
College | Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences |
Award Requirements
Admission Requirements
Course pre-requisites | Completion of an AQF level 7 bachelor degree in a relevant discipline, from this or another university; or Other qualifications recognised by the Deputy-Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Tropical Health and Medicine as equivalent to the above; or Submission, as an exceptional case, of other evidence of professional and academic attainments, including employment for a minimum of five years in health related activities. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection. In assessing applications the following will be considered: prior academic performance and prior relevant work experience. |
Minimum English language proficiency requirements | Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 2 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy. |
| Additional selection requirements | Information published by JCU or otherwise made available to students when applying, may specify additional criteria to be considered in ranking applicants in order of merit if the number of applications exceeds a quota or other limit on the places made available for the course. Information provided by applicants during the application process and any other information obtained by JCU in the application process may be used by JCU to rank applicants in order of merit by reference to those additional criteria. |
Academic Requirements for Course Completion
Credit points | 36 credit points |
Course learning outcomes | Upon successful completion of the MPH&TM, graduates will be able to:
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Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements | Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Postgraduate Public Health and Tropical Medicine. |
Reasonable adjustments | All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure. |
Course Structure
CORE SUBJECTS
TM5501:03 Tropical Medicine
TM5502:03 Tropical Public Health
TM5513:03 Public Health Management, Leadership, Planning and Policy
TM5515:03 Epidemiology for Public Health
TM5516:03 Biostatistics for Public Health
TM5525:03 Communicable Disease Control
OPTIONS
Select 18 credit points of specified level 5 subjects from List 1
List 1
HS5102:03 Qualitative Research Methods for Health Professionals
HS5555:03 Infection Prevention and Control in Health Care Settings
IA5013:03 Indigenous Australians
IA5022:03 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People as Colonial Subjects
IA5029:03 Comparative Indigenous Studies
IA5030:03 Navigating the Cultural Interface
PC5519:03 Pharmaceutical Regulation and Quality
PC5520:03 Pharmaceutical Public Health - Pharmacovigilance
TM5310:09 Dissertation 2
TM5503:03 Human Parasitology
TM5506:03 Social Science in Public Health
TM5508:03 Diving and Marine Medicine
TM5510:03 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
TM5512:03 Travel Medicine
TM5514:03 Environmental Health
TM5518:03 Medical Entomology
TM5524:03 Qualitative Research Methods for Public Tropical Practitioners
TM5526:03 Public Health Economics
TM5527:03 Project
TM5528:03 Health Promotion
TM5529:03 Applied Health Economics
TM5534:03 Tropical Paediatrics
TM5536:03 Public Health in Humanitarian Emergencies
TM5540:03 Public Health and the Workplace
TM5541:03 Managing Effective Health Programs
TM5547:03 Public Health Program Planning and Evaluation
TM5549:06 Dissertation 1
TM5552:03 Global Health and Development
TM5557:03 Disaster Health Management
TM5560:03 Foundations of Aeromedical Retrieval
TM5562:03 Reproductive Health in Developing Countries
TM5563:03 Public Health Leadership and Crisis Management
TM5569:03 Health Promotion Strategies and Methods
TM5571:03 Public Health Placement
TM5573:03 Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion
TM5575:03 Substance Misuse Prevention
TM5578:03 Emerging Public Health Threats
TM5580:03 Health and Nutrition in the Tropics
TM5581:03 Expedition and Wilderness Medicine
TM5600:03 Introduction to One Health
TM5601:03 Qualitative Research Methods for One Health Professionals
Location
COURSE AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
JCU Townsville | |
| External |
Candidature
Expected time to complete | 1.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
Maximum time to complete | 8 years |
Maximum leave of absence | 3 years |
Progression
Course progression requisites | Nil |
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s) | No |
Special assessment requirements | Nil |
Professional accreditation requirements | Nil |
Supplementary exam for final subject | Not applicable |
Credit
Eligibility | Students may apply for exemption for previous tertiary study where appropriate in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure. Credit may be granted for AQF Level 8 qualifications in a cognate discipline. |
Maximum allowed | 18 credit points |
Currency | Credit will be granted only for studies completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course. |
Expiry | Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 18 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed this course. |
Other restrictions | A maximum of 6 credit points may be granted for other postgraduate subjects, provided those subjects have not been credited towards any other award, either at this or any other University. |
Award Details
Award Title | MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND TROPICAL MEDICINE |
Approved abbreviation | MPHTM |
Inclusion of majors on testamur | Not applicable - this course does not have majors |
Exit with lesser award | Students who exit the course prior to completion, and have completed the appropriate number of credit points and suitable subjects may be eligible for the award of either Graduate Certificate of Public Health or Graduate Diploma of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. |
Course articulation | Not applicable |
Special awards | Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure |
Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD37,960.00
Course fees are charged per year of full-time study. International course fees are reviewed annually and subject to change.
A Student Services and Amenities Fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.
Student Visa holders must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their Student Visa (except Norwegian, Swedish and Belgian citizens). Costs depend on the length of study and the number of dependents accompanying the student. For more information see Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
Scholarships and financial aid are also available for international students.
Consult the admission requirements section in the Handbook for prerequisites and pathways into this course.
Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine applicants must also complete and upload the following forms and documentary evidence with their application:
- Current AHPRA Registration (if applicable)
- Degree Testamur
- Curriculum Vitae
- Personal Statement or Letter of Motivation.
Application dates vary between courses, whether they're delivered in semester, trimester or carousel study modes. View our Application due dates page for more information.
Gather the documents you need to apply and submit an application via JCU's online application portal.
Real stories
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Student
Angus Lane (MBBS)
Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
The lecturers and academic staff are a real highlight for me. They are engaged, passionate and up-to-date on world affairs, and have always been approachable for advice, support or to further cultivate your interest in public health or tropical medicine.
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Alumni
Dr Faith Alele
Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
I had a beautiful experience at JCU. The support was extraordinary and beyond my expectations. Now when I have the opportunity to work in the public health sector I can do things much more differently compared to when I was working without the knowledge gained in my Public Health and Tropical Medicine degree.
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Lecturer
Associate Professor Stephanie Topp
Global Health and Development, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences
In Public Health and Tropical Medicine, we have an unusually broad range of subjects that allows students to tailor their Master degree to meet any one of the many options that public health graduates have. This includes aeromedical retrieval, tropical medicine, communicable disease control and humanitarian work