What is public health?
The world is changing fast. An ageing population, rising health inequity and the growing threat of novel diseases are straining health systems worldwide, with real costs to health systems and lives.
Public health is the art and science of improving health — not for one person, but for entire populations — through the combined efforts of organisations, Government, communities and individuals.
Public health practitioners enjoy a range of careers in areas including health promotion, chronic disease prevention, health economics, health policy, global health, health program evaluation, sexual health, and epidemiology.
*Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026
Why study public health at Melbourne?
Ranked #18 globally for public health (ShanghaiRanking 2026), our approach is grounded in the latest research and delivered by the leading experts in their fields.
Join a global network of health and research partners
Anchored in the world-leading Melbourne Biomedical Precinct, the University of Melbourne is proud to contribute to a thriving, innovative global ecosystem of health and research institutes advancing public health. Our public health partnerships include the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, the Nossal Institute for Global Health, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance and the Australian Institute for Infectious Disease (opening in 2027).
Our collaborations with leading institutions feed directly into our curriculum, putting you at the cutting edge of public health research, while the University’s 150-year legacy of contributing to health advancements opens doors to careers in Australia and internationally.
Join a community that has contributed to major public health breakthroughs including:
- World-first mapping of the immune response to COVID-19
- Partnering with First Nations communities to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem in Australia
- Producing award-winning research that has changed international chlamydia treatment guidelines
Research-informed learning from world-leading experts
At the Melbourne School of Public Health, you'll learn from people who have shaped public health in Australia and around the world. Our staff and honorary staff include:
- Associate Professor Tilman Ruff AO, co-founder of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize
- Professor Marcia Langton AO, Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor, one of Australia's leading Aboriginal scholars
- Professor Brett Sutton AO, who led Victoria's COVID-19 response as Chief Health Officer, Director at CSIRO
Launch diverse and rewarding health careers
Our Public Health graduates are in high demand. 9 in 10 of our domestic Master of Public Health graduates are employed within six months of finishing (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023-2025), with a median full-time salary of $106,000 (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025).
We are a global institution, and our qualifications create career pathways in Australia and around the world. Our graduates have worked in organisations including the World Health Organisation, Health Ministries and United Nations agencies.
With a public health education, you can build a career in a wide range of roles including:
- Program or project manager
- Epidemiologist
- Health advisor
- Biostatistician
- Health promotion officer
- Public health consultant
- Health economist
- Data analyst
- Ethics officer
- Policy officer
Our courses
Advancing public health for a changing world
Healthcare systems around the world are burdened by preventable disease, impacting the economy and quality of life of millions.
Watch how Lynette Phuong, Global Health Consultant, is using her postgraduate education in public health to advance access to healthcare and reduce health inequality worldwide.
Looking for personalised advice?
Find out more about our graduate degrees and get support with your application. Speak to our expert staff online, via phone or at an upcoming event. You can also register to learn more about your course options and opportunities via email.