Postgraduate Diploma
in Public Health

Apply by:

25 April 2025

To start by:

05 May 2025

Apply by:

25 April 2025

To start by:

05 May 2025

Study a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health

Faculty of Health Sciences

Department/School:

School of Health Systems and Public Health

Plan description: PGDip (Public Health)

Plan code: 10221019

SAQA ID: 111181

Minimum study duration: 2 years

The purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Public Health is to provide an educational opportunity for working professionals for acquiring, strengthening and deepening knowledge and skills to effectively contribute to strengthening health systems and programmes. The online qualification is intended to achieve a skilled workforce who are able to assess, plan, implement, manage, monitor and evaluate public health programmes, services or interventions at any level of the health system. Upon achievement of the qualification, a learner will be able to apply public health knowledge, tools, and skills in solving complex problems in healthcare by using a systems approach and evidence-based interventions. The public health tools of epidemiology and biostatistics will enable learners to measure the health status of populations, plan appropriate interventions and interpret the outcomes of interventions. Health promotion and primary healthcare knowledge and skills will aid the learner in designing programmes that focus on disease prevention and health promotion while disease control knowledge and skills will ensure that learners are able to use appropriate disease control strategies. The role of the environment and its influence in the control of diseases will allow the learner an opportunity to understand the holistic approach and the interdependency of environmental and human factors. Management competencies will allow the learner to be able to use management principles and tools to ensure a functional health system. An evidence-based approach is strengthened by the learners’ opportunity to plan a research project that addresses a gap or need.

Prof Liz Wolvaardt
Associate Professor

Admission Requirements

Modules & Credits

Module Information

Fees

Admission Requirements and Closing Dates

Students can apply any time of the year to enrol for a UPOnline programme.
UPOnline programmes have 6 start dates throughout the year.
Applications must be submitted 2 weeks before a start date. Any applications received after this deadline will be considered for the subsequent start date.
A prospective student should complete only one online application per programme.
The relevant departments will process the applications as they are received.
Qualifications obtained outside South Africa will need to be ratified by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
Students must be able to dedicate about 15 hours a week to their studies as there are weekly engagements and commitments in each module.

Minimum admission requirements:

A relevant Bachelor’s degree
OR
A relevant qualification listed on the SAQA framework at NQF Level 7

Technical Requirements

To complete your studies successfully, you will need to:

Be computer literate
Own a laptop or desktop computer
Have access to a stable internet connection

Mavis van Wyk
Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health graduate

UPOnline Annual Increase

Module pricing is subject to change at the beginning of every year without prior notice.
UPOnline tuition fees will increase annually by approximately 5%.
The annual increase will apply from the March intake, which is the second intake of the year.
If the programme fee is paid in full upfront the student is still liable for the difference between the upfront payment and increased amount until the completion of the programme.
All-inclusive total programme cost.

Modules & Credits

Prerequisites:

PHM 710 Learning in public health 710 is a prerequisite for all other modules.
HME 711 Epidemiology and Biostatistics I 711 is a prerequisite for HME 712 Epidemiology and Biostatistics II 712.
These programmes are structured with 6 enrolment opportunities per year where a student will enrol for a single module of either 8 or 16 weeks at a time.

CPD/CEU points:

Postgraduate degrees, diplomas and certificates: 30 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points may be claimed at the end of each study year (not exceeding the normal duration of study) and an additional 30 CEUs may be claimed on successful completion of the qualification.

Please complete the CPD Application Form to request your points.

Module Code	Module Name	Credits	Weeks
CDC 710	Principles of disease prevention and control 710	10	8
EHM 710	Introduction to environmental health 710	10	8
SCM 710	Social determinants of health 710	10	8
HCM 710	Principles of health policy and management 710	10	8
HME 710	Introduction to research methodology 710	10	8
PHM 710	Learning in public health 710	10	8
HME 711	Epidemiology and Biostatistics I 711	15	8
HME 712	Epidemiology and Biostatistics II 712	15	8
AHM 710	Research Protocol 710	30	16
Total offering credits and weeks		120	80

An 8-week module typically consists of 7 weeks of teaching and 1 week of recess.
A 16-week module typically consists of 14 weeks of teaching and 2 weeks of recess.

Module Information

The full curriculum is displayed below.

PGDPH Research protocol 710
Module code	AHM 710
Qualification	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences
Module content	A formal protocol for study that is feasible and suitable for submission to the ethics and postgraduate committees for an MPH mini-dissertation project.
Module credits	30
Programmes	PGDip Public Health
Prerequisites	CDC 710, EHM 710, SCM 710, HCM 710, HME 710, PHM 710, HME 711 and HME 712

Introduction to environmental health 710
Module code	EHM 710
Qualification	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences
Module content	The principles of environmental health. The mechanisms behind the relationship between environmental exposures and the development of disease states. Environmental measures to prevent and control disease, both infectious and non-infectious diseases.
Module credits	10
Programmes	PGDip Public Health
Prerequisites	PHM 710

Social determinants of health 710
Module code	SCM 710
Qualification	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences
Module content	A range of factors that influence health from a social, environmental and economic basis; analysis of the determinants of health problems and related behaviours, their effect on the individual, community and the broader society. Health promotion approaches, strategies and actions to address social determinants. Planning, implementation and evaluation of public health interventions to address social determinants of health
Module credits	10
Programmes	PGDip Public Health
Prerequisites	PHM 710

Principles of health policy and management 710
Module code	HCM 710
Qualification	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences
Module content	The module provides introductory learning in Health Policy and Management, in a manner suitable for new managers or those who have not had formal management training, sufficient for you to undertake basic management tasks. Whatever field of public health a graduate enters they are likely to have to undertake some management responsibilities. This module aims to provide all graduates with the foundation of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values in health policy and management that they will need.
Module credits	10
Programmes	PGDip Public Health
Prerequisites	PHM 710

Introduction to research methodology 710
Module code	HME 710
Qualification	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences
Module content	This module introduces the learner to the history, philosophy, aims and types of research. The role of theory, specific approaches, designs and methods employed in research are explained. The module includes background to research, choosing a topic, selecting methods and prepares the learner for the process of writing a protocol.
Module credits	10
Programmes	PGDip Public Health
Prerequisites	PHM 710

Learning in public health 710
Module code	PHM 710
Qualification	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences
Module content	The history and scope of public health. The importance of self-motivated deep learning as opposed to passive learning. Learning the value of group work. The use of the internet and the library to research areas of study. The writing of literature reviews and assignments. The avoidance of plagiarism. Improving English writing skills. Elements of human rights and public health ethics. Students will be given assignments involving a short literature search and applied writing practice. They will also learn how to use the internet and its information with discretion, and also how to use the UPOnline learning platforms.
Module credits	10
Programmes	PGDip Public Health
Prerequisites	No prerequisites

Epidemiology and biostatistics I 711
Module code	HME 711
Qualification	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences
Module content	This module introduces learners to thinking “epidemiologically” and the principles of epidemiology including applied epidemiology. The module introduces software for questionnaire design and data collection. Basic principles such as rates ratios and proportions are explained. Key study designs used in epidemiology (include cross-sectional, cohort, case-control, ecological, randomised control trials and sub-groups are introduced. This module introduces learners to the development and application of statistical reasoning and methods addressing, analysing, and solving problems in public health-, healthcare-, and in biomedical-, clinical- and population-based research.
Module credits	15
Programmes	PGDip Public Health
Prerequisites	PHM 710

Epidemiology and biostatistics II 712
Module code	HME 712
Qualification	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences
Module content	This module introduces learners to the application of epidemiology and the statistical procedures and analysis of the most commonly used statistical tests in the field of biostatistics.
Module credits	15
Programmes	PGDip Public Health
Prerequisites	HME 711 and PHM 710

Principles of disease prevention and control 710
Module code	CDC 710
Qualification	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences
Module content	Students will be presented with an overview of health and disease followed by a set of tools for disease prevention and control. They will especially be encouraged to reflect on the importance of epidemiology and surveillance systems (for disease as well as health and for risk factors). They will be tasked with the application of these tools to the prevention and control of a number of important (for South Africa) health threats, both infectious and non-infectious. The scope will be all disease conditions including psychiatric, trauma, violence, etc in addition to the conventional inclusion of infectious diseases and diseases of lifestyle. There will be a link, too, to the concept of “implications for policy”.
Module credits	10
Programmes	PGDip Public Health
Prerequisites	PHM 710

Online Study Fees

Module Code	Module Description	Weeks	Credits	Total Module Cost SA/SADC students ZAR
CDC 710	Principles of disease prevention and control 710	8	10.00	R4200.00
EHM 710	Introduction to environmental health 710	8	10.00	R4200.00
SCM 710	Social determinants of health 710	8	10.00	R4200.00
HCM 710	Principles of health policy and management 710	8	10.00	R4200.00
HME 710	Introduction to research methodology 710	8	10.00	R4200.00
PHM 710	Learning in public health 710	8	10.00	R4200.00
HME 711	Epidemiology and Biostatistics I 711	8	10.00	R4200.00
HME 712	Epidemiology and Biostatistics II 712	8	10.00	R4200.00
AHM 710	Research protocol 710	16	10.00	R4200.00
Total Cost:		80	120	R37 800.00*

* Pricing may be subject to annual changes

Module Code	Module Description	Weeks	Credits	*Total Module Cost International**
CDC 710	Principles of disease prevention and control 710	8	10.00	R8400.00
EHM 710	Introduction to environmental health 710	8	10.00	R8400.00
SCM 710	Social determinants of health 710	8	10.00	R8400.00
HCM 710	Principles of health policy and management 710	8	10.00	R8400.00
HME 710	Introduction to research methodology 710	8	10.00	R8400.00
PHM 710	Learning in public health 710	8	10.00	R8400.00
HME 711	Epidemiology and Biostatistics I 711	8	10.00	R8400.00
HME 712	Epidemiology and Biostatistics II 712	8	10.00	R8400.00
AHM 710	Research protocol 710	16	10.00	R8400.00
Total Cost:		80	120	R75 600.00*

* Pricing may be subject to annual changes

Total Module Cost SA/SADC ZAR	R37 000*
Number of modules	9
Total offering credits	80

Module Code	Module Description	Weeks	Total * Module Cost SA/SADC ZAR
CDC 710	Principles of disease prevention and control 710	8	R4200.00
EHM 710	Introduction to environmental health 710	8	R4200.00
SCM 710	Social determinants of health 710	8	R4200.00
HCM 710	Principles of health policy and management 710	8	R4200.00
HME 710	Introduction to research methodology 710	8	R4200.00
PHM 710	Learning in public health 710	8	R4200.00
HME 711	Epidemiology and Biostatistics I 711	8	R4200.00
HME 712	Epidemiology and Biostatistics II 712	8	R4200.00
AHM 710	Research protocol 710	16	R4200.00
Total Cost:		80	R37800.00*

* Pricing may be subject to annual changes

Total Module Cost international	R71 000*
Number of modules	6
Total offering credits	80

Module Code	Module Description	Weeks	Total * Module Cost International
CDC 710	Principles of disease prevention and control 710	8	R8400.00
EHM 710	Introduction to environmental health 710	8	R8400.00
SCM 710	Social determinants of health 710	8	R8400.00
HCM 710	Principles of health policy and management 710	8	R8400.00
HME 710	Introduction to research methodology 710	8	R8400.00
PHM 710	Learning in public health 710	8	R8400.00
HME 711	Epidemiology and Biostatistics I 711	8	R8400.00
HME 712	Epidemiology and Biostatistics II 712	8	R8400.00
AHM 710	Research protocol 710	16	R8400.00
Total Cost:		80	R75 600.00*

* Pricing may be subject to annual changes

Postgraduate Diploma
in Public Health