Graduate Diploma in Health Science (4700)

  • Approved Abbreviation: GradDipHlthSc
  • Western Sydney University Program Code: 4700
  • AQF Level: 8

CRICOS Code: 064831J

This program applies to students who commenced in 2020 or later.

Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.

For Commencement Year 2016 to 2020 - please refer to 4700.2 Graduate Diploma in Health Science

For Commencement Year 2015 - please refer to 4700.1 Graduate Diploma in Health Science

The Graduate Diploma in Health Science provides students with an opportunity to delve deeper into issues relevant to the Australian healthcare system as well as international models of healthcare. It explores the socioeconomic, behavioural, biological and societal determinants of health and disease, providing a sound knowledge in epidemiology and the use of healthcare data for decision-making. It provides an entry point to the Master of Health Science for those who wish to continue on their professional development journey with further studies. 

Study Mode

One year full-time or two years part-time.

Program Advice

healthsciences@westernsydney.edu.au

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Campus Attendance Mode Advice
Online Full Time Online See above
Online Part Time Online See above
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road Full Time Internal See above
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road Part Time Internal See above

Work Integrated Learning

Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline.  This program includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

There is an optional work component available in this program.  Please contact the Program Advisor listed above for information.

International students should be aware that if an elective is a requirement of the program but the work itself was not registered with CRICOS, students can still complete these electives but it would be counted towards the work limitation.  For more details, refer to the 'Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students' website.

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students

This course will include WIL opportunities that involve using the workplace and community as a site and as a source for learning. WIL partners include various Local Health Districts, hospitals, aged care providers, and other health service providers found within the community. Two units will be focused on WIL, one using workplaces and communities as sources for learning through project-based learning, and the other following the more traditional WIL format of using the workplace and community as a site for learning. Details of the units are as follows:

Professional Project 1 – this unit will use the workplace as a source of learning, by bringing industry partners to campus to present “wicked problems” that students will then work on solving. Industry partners will then return to, together with the unit coordinator and other academic staff, assess the solutions presented by students, potentially selecting some that can be used in their real healthcare services. Industry partners will be involved in mentoring activities with students while academic staff will support students throughout the process.

Professional Internship in Health – this unit will use workplace and community as a site for learning and will involve 320h of placement with a healthcare service. Assessment is undertaken by the on-site supervisors using a comprehensive form and supporting documentation and resources. Mid-placement checks with both students and supervisors are undertaken to pre-empt any concerns as well as random checks throughout. Students are required to complete academic assessment tasks, including an e-Portfolio and a workplace product at the end.

Admission

Applicants must have either

An undergraduate or higher degree in a relevant health-related discipline,

Or

A graduate diploma or graduate certificate in any discipline and two years full-time equivalent work experience in a relevant health-related discipline.

Applicants seeking admission on the basis of work experience must support their application with a Statement of Service for all work experience listed on the application. 

Statement of Service form

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas may be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the Western Portal. Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

All other International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office.  

International students applying to the University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Program Structure 2023

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 80 credit points which include the subjects listed in the recommended sequence below.

Students must complete the following subjects.

Subject Title Credit Points
Domain Subjects
PUBH 7031Health Systems and Policy10
PUBH 7016Introduction to Epidemiology10
PUBH 7033The Social Determinants of Health10
HLTH 7025Healthcare Data for Decision-Making10
Focus Subjects
HLTH 7022Advanced Health Service Management10
PUBH 7030Health Systems Planning and Evaluation10
Select two alternate subjects from the list below20
Total Credit Points80

Alternate Subjects

Subject Title Credit Points
POLI 7002Translation from Theory and Research to Policy10
REHA 7027Research into Practice: bridging the clinician-researcher divide in applied and creative therapies10
BUSM 7027Employment Relations Professional Practice10
BUSM 7043Industrial Relations and Workplace Change10
BUSM 7081Reward Management10
BUSM 7087Strategic Employment Relations10
ACCT 7015Financial Reports for Decision Making10
BUSM 7024Developing Human Capital and Organisational Capability10
BUSM 7025Diversity, Labour Markets and Workforce Planning10
BUSM 7045Innovation Through Digital Technology10
BUSM 7040Governance, Ethics and Social Entrepreneurship10
BUSM 7072New Venture Finance10
BUSM 7028Entrepreneurial Management Capabilities10
BUSM 7046Innovation for New Markets10
BUSM 7048Innovation, Creativity and Foresight10
INFS 7001Advanced Healthcare Data Environments10
INFS 7002Advanced Healthcare Software and Systems10
BUSM 7064Managing Project Teams and Stakeholders10
BLDG 7013Project Procurement Systems10
BUSM 7082Risk Management and Decision Making10
BUSM 7090Strategic Project Management10
BUSM 7097Time and Quality Management10
NURS 7028Leadership in Clinical Practice10
MGMT 7003Financial Management of Projects10
PUBH 7020Policy, Power and Politics in Health Care Provision10
PUBH 7026Supporting Aged Communities10
PUBH 7018Leadership for Quality and Safety in Health Care10
PUBH 7014Health and Socio-political Issues in Aged Care10
PUBH 700410
PUBH 7011Health Advancement and Health Promotion10
HLTH 7002Building Organisational Capacity in Health Care10
PUBH 7028Surveillance and Disaster Planning10
HLTH 7008Introduction to Biostatistics10
AGEN 7005Research Protocol Design and Practice10
NURS 7019Cultural and Social Diversity in Health Care10
PUBH 7015Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology10
PUBH 7010Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Diseases10
PUBH 7002Analytic Approaches in Epidemiology10
PUBH 7025Statistical Methods in Epidemiology10
PUBH 7008Environmental Epidemiology10
PUBH 7005Controversies in Epidemiology10
PUBH 7006Data Management and Programming for Epidemiology10
HLTH 7015Qualitative Research Methodology in Health10
HLTH 7024Health Services Financing10
HLTH 7025Healthcare Data for Decision-Making10
PUBH 7029Digital Health Management10
PUBH 7032Patient-centred digital healthcare10
HLTH 7029Quality and Safety10
PUBH 7034Workplace Safety and Risk Management10
BUSM 7078Project Management10
HUMN 4001Researcher Development 1: Reading ,Writing, and the Business of Research10
HUMN 4003Writing Beyond the Academy: Knowledge Translation and Public Audience Communication10
Alternate subjects available from 2023
Disability in Context
Person-Centred Practice
Effective Working Relationships
Human Rights in Practice and Theory
Bioethics
Information and Data Governance Law and Policy
International Corporate Governance

Discontinued Subjects

The subjects listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed the subject in 2024 or earlier. 

LAWS 7006 Australian Legal System and Common Law

Equivalent Subjects 

The subjects listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed these subjects in 2019 or earlier. 

HUMN 4009 - Research Design 1: Theories of Enquiry
HUMN 4012 - Research Literacies

Further information on recommended progression is available on the Postgraduate Health Science progression page.

Postgraduate Public Health Progression

Program Structure 2024

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 80 credit points which include the subjects listed in the recommended sequence below.

Students must complete the following subjects.

Subject Title Credit Points
Domain Subjects
PUBH 7031Health Systems and Policy10
PUBH 7016Introduction to Epidemiology10
PUBH 7033The Social Determinants of Health10
HLTH 7025Healthcare Data for Decision-Making10
Focus Subjects
HLTH 7022Advanced Health Service Management10
PUBH 7030Health Systems Planning and Evaluation10
Select two alternate subjects from the list below20
Total Credit Points80

Alternate Subjects

Subject Title Credit Points
POLI 7002Translation from Theory and Research to Policy10
REHA 7027Research into Practice: bridging the clinician-researcher divide in applied and creative therapies10
BUSM 7027Employment Relations Professional Practice10
BUSM 7043Industrial Relations and Workplace Change10
BUSM 7081Reward Management10
BUSM 7087Strategic Employment Relations10
ACCT 7015Financial Reports for Decision Making10
BUSM 7024Developing Human Capital and Organisational Capability10
BUSM 7025Diversity, Labour Markets and Workforce Planning10
BUSM 7045Innovation Through Digital Technology10
BUSM 7040Governance, Ethics and Social Entrepreneurship10
BUSM 7072New Venture Finance10
BUSM 7028Entrepreneurial Management Capabilities10
BUSM 7046Innovation for New Markets10
BUSM 7048Innovation, Creativity and Foresight10
INFS 7001Advanced Healthcare Data Environments10
INFS 7002Advanced Healthcare Software and Systems10
BUSM 7064Managing Project Teams and Stakeholders10
BLDG 7013Project Procurement Systems10
BUSM 7082Risk Management and Decision Making10
BUSM 7090Strategic Project Management10
BUSM 7097Time and Quality Management10
NURS 7028Leadership in Clinical Practice10
MGMT 7003Financial Management of Projects10
PUBH 7020Policy, Power and Politics in Health Care Provision10
PUBH 7026Supporting Aged Communities10
PUBH 7018Leadership for Quality and Safety in Health Care10
PUBH 7014Health and Socio-political Issues in Aged Care10
PUBH 5001Infectious Diseases and Outbreak Response10
PUBH 7011Health Advancement and Health Promotion10
HLTH 7002Building Organisational Capacity in Health Care10
PUBH 7028Surveillance and Disaster Planning10
AGEN 7005Research Protocol Design and Practice10
HLTH 7008Introduction to Biostatistics10
NURS 7019Cultural and Social Diversity in Health Care10
PUBH 7015Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology10
PUBH 7010Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Diseases10
PUBH 7002Analytic Approaches in Epidemiology10
PUBH 7025Statistical Methods in Epidemiology10
PUBH 6001Epidemiology of Climate Change10
PUBH 7006Data Management and Programming for Epidemiology10
HLTH 7015Qualitative Research Methodology in Health10
HLTH 7024Health Services Financing10
HLTH 7025Healthcare Data for Decision-Making10
PUBH 7029Digital Health Management10
PUBH 7032Patient-centred digital healthcare10
HLTH 7029Quality and Safety10
PUBH 7034Workplace Safety and Risk Management10
BUSM 7078Project Management10
TEAC 7029Disability in Context10
TEAC 7084Person-Centred Practice10
TEAC 7041Effective Working Relationships10
LAWS 7014Human Rights in Practice and Theory10
LAWS 7008Bioethics10
LAWS 7015Information and Data Governance Law and Policy10
LAWS 7018International Corporate Governance10

Discontinued Subjects

The subjects listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed the subject in 2024 or earlier. 

LAWS 7006 Australian Legal System and Common Law

Equivalent Subjects 

The subjects listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed these subjects in 2019 or earlier. 

HUMN 4009 - Research Design 1: Theories of Enquiry
HUMN 4012 - Research Literacies

Further information on recommended progression is available on the Postgraduate Health Science progression page.

Postgraduate Public Health Progression