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Master of Health Leadership and Management

Help us shape the future of health
You have reached the maximum of 6 degrees.
Grow your career and lead the future of health. With the UNSW Master of Health Leadership and Management, you’ll explore current and emerging influences on the health sector and gain the practical skills necessary to lead in your role. Drive change, enhance quality and execute management decisions to make an impact on health services.
Commencing Terms
Term 1, 2 & 3
Duration
1 Year(s)
Delivery Mode
Face-to-face (includes blended), Online
Campus
Kensington
Codes
CSP UAC code 910820
Full Fee Paying UAC Code 910821
Program code 8901
CRICOS code 059315E
Entry Requirements
View all admission criteria
Fees
Commonwealth Supported Places are available for this program
2024 Indicative CSP first year fee
$10,000*
2024 Indicative CSP fee to complete degree
$10,000*

International application pause for 2025 intakes

Applications for international students to study at UNSW in 2025 are currently paused. Please submit your expression of interest to join our application waitlist so we can contact you.

Overview

Prepare yourself for the future of health leadership and management in Australia and overseas with Australia’s longest-running and largest health management program. 

For more than 60 years, the UNSW Master of Health Leadership and Management has been producing leaders who drive positive change, inspire collaborative teams and execute well-considered management decisions. This program gives you the knowledge, skills and attributes you need to make a real impact on health services and systems.

Broaden your understanding of current and emerging influences on the health sector through a range of core and elective subjects. You’ll cover everything from health economics, policy development and clinical governance, to integrated care, patient safety and change management.

Key features

Gain industry accreditation
This degree is accredited by the Australasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM) and the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA).It also provides the core competencies required for individuals wishing to apply for RACMA Fellowship.

Add on a research component
Extend your knowledge through additional research methodology courses or an advanced research project, as part of the Master of Health Leadership and Management (Extension). As Australia's #1 university for research impact*, UNSW Medicine and Health research directly shapes health policy and practice to meaningfully improve health outcomes for communities. You could then progress from a coursework master’s degree that includes a research component to enrolment in a PhD.

Double your impact in a short time
Make the most of your studies by completing two master’s degrees within 1.7 years. Combine this degree with one of the master’s programs in public health, global health or infectious diseases intelligence for the opportunity to blend knowledge and skills from two related disciplines and enhance your career prospects.

Gain hands-on experience
Put your skills into practice with our internship program, where you’ll gain practical industry experience in relevant health organisations. This program has been carefully designed alongside industry for maximum relevance and impact, so you can explore a range of domestic and international internship placements in Australia, Asia and the Pacific.

Study the way that suits you
Study online or face-to-face, full-time or part-time. The UNSW Master of Health and Management provides flexible learning options and online learning spaces so you can complete the degree according to your needs and commitments. 

* QS World University Rankings, 2024.

Why study this degree at UNSW?

Study Australia’s first Master of Health Leadership and Management
For 60 years, UNSW has been equipping students with the knowledge and skills required to respond to the challenges faced by health managers and leaders. 

Build global connections through the PLuS Alliance
Move away from the traditional classroom to tap into the strengths of three leading universities of the PLuS Alliance: Arizona State University, King’s College London and UNSW. Take online courses and work alongside students from Australia, the United States and around the world to solve global challenges. 

Collaborate and research to make a real difference in healthcare
Join an international community of multi-disciplinary staff, alumni, practitioners and students as part of the School of Population Health. Be part of a dynamic community translating ground-breaking research into disease prevention and response strategies, and informing health policy, backed by the third highest grant funding in Australia*. Apply for research and collaboration opportunities in our internationally recognised research centres and institutes. 

Build your professional network
Join an engaged cohort of like-minded students and a successful alumni community. UNSW Master of Health and Management graduates currently hold leadership roles in public and private services spanning ministries/departments of health, local health districts, public service roles and non-government organisations across Australia and around the world.

* In 2022, Medicine & Health was awarded $210m in research funding (UNSW research figures, 2022).

Program Code
8901
CRICOS Code
059315E
Campus
Kensington
Total Units of Credit (UOC)
48
Indicative Enrolments
97.0
CSP UAC code
910820
Full Fee UAC code
910821

Want to see more from UNSW Medicine and Health?

Entry requirements

For entry into this program, you must have one of the following:

  • A three-year undergraduate degree, plus, an honours or postgraduate degree, in a field relevant to public health or health management.

OR

  • A three-year undergraduate degree in a field relevant to public health or health management, plus, two years full-time professional or volunteer experience. This may also include equivalent professional experience acquired as part of a degree of four or more years duration (e.g., MBBS, BMed, MD).

In exceptional circumstances, applicants with extensive relevant professional work experience (e.g., hospital-trained nurses, paramedics, Aboriginal health workers) may be considered. A minimum of five years full-time relevant professional experience is required and an interview with the School of Population Health may be conducted.

Relevant fields

Examples of relevant fields include, but are not restricted to:

  • medicine
  • nursing 
  • allied health
  • health sciences
  • biomedical sciences
  • dentistry
  • sociology
  • behavioural and social sciences
  • psychology
  • marketing
  • human services
  • emergency services
  • environmental health
  • veterinary science
  • health administration
  • business
  • management
  • engineering 
  • law 
  • science 
  • mathematics and statistics
  • economics
  • policy studies
  • development studies.

Indigenous Alternative Entry Scheme

Aimed at redressing the imbalance of access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to population health programs, this scheme provides entry to our postgraduate coursework degrees based on your interest in public health and relevant educational and/or professional experience.

Find out more

 

English language requirements

 

You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.

If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.

If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:

If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.

For entry into this program, you must have one of the following:

  • A three-year undergraduate degree, plus, an honours or postgraduate degree, in a field relevant to public health or health management.

OR

  • A three-year undergraduate degree in a field relevant to public health or health management, plus, two years full-time professional or volunteer experience. This may also include equivalent professional experience acquired as part of a degree of four or more years duration (e.g., MBBS, BMed, MD).

In exceptional circumstances, applicants with extensive relevant professional work experience (e.g., hospital-trained nurses, paramedics, Aboriginal health workers) may be considered. A minimum of five years full-time relevant professional experience is required and an interview with the School of Population Health may be conducted.

Relevant fields

Examples of relevant fields include, but are not restricted to:

  • medicine
  • nursing 
  • allied health
  • health sciences
  • biomedical sciences
  • dentistry
  • sociology
  • behavioural and social sciences
  • psychology
  • marketing
  • human services
  • emergency services
  • environmental health
  • veterinary science
  • health administration
  • business
  • management
  • engineering 
  • law 
  • science 
  • mathematics and statistics
  • economics
  • policy studies
  • development studies.

English language requirements


You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.

If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:

If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.

Check the specific English language requirements for this program

Program structure

If you’re a current or aspiring leader in health systems and services, the Master of Health Leadership and Management will give you the knowledge, practical skills and experience for a successful career in Australia or overseas. You must successfully complete a total of 48 units of credits (UOC) through a combination of core courses and electives. In addition, international students are required to complete an Academic Practice unit.

Full program structure

This program contains a total of 48 units of credit (UOC) and can be completed in 1 year with full-time study or 2 years with part-time study. Students must complete:

Future careers

Gain a qualification that ensures you're in strong demand as a health management professional, both within Australia and around the world. This program will help you develop transferable leadership skills that can be applied throughout your career in senior management positions at health service and health system levels. Many of our graduates occupy senior executive, general management, health ministry and other health leadership roles globally.

Here are some potential roles you might explore:

  • Health services general management
  • Health services C-suite roles
  • Government and non-government policy
  • Medical communications
  • Medical insurance management
  • Non-government health service management
  • Health economics
  • Health program management
  • Health care consultancy

Accreditation

This degree is accredited by the Australasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM) and the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA). It also provides the core competencies required for individuals wishing to apply for RACMA Fellowship.

Our alumni

“My degree has already proven immensely useful in my day-to-day managerial duties. It’s provided me with essential skills to be a caring and inspiring leader, and an effective and responsible manager. The degree has laid a strong foundation for my ongoing personal and professional development, which will ultimately contribute to safer and better care of my patients.”

Eva Wegner

Head of Department of Nuclear Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital and Community Health Services

“This degree will assist me in my endeavour to transition from clinical medicine to be a full-time researcher and public health practitioner. Through my degree I have developed communication skills, leadership skills and a global perspective which will allow me to look at issues in my own country through a new lens.”

Nikita Bathla

Research Assistant, The George Institute for Global Health

How to apply

Applications for domestic students (Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders and New Zealand citizens) are processed through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) Postgraduate.

Ready to start your application?

For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.

Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.

Ready to start your application?

Fees & Scholarships

Commonwealth Supported Places

2024 Indicative CSP First Year Fee

$10,000*

2024 Indicative CSP Fee to Complete Degree

$10,000*

There are limited Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available for this degree. Domestic students who receive a CSP will have a substantial proportion of their fees subsidised by the Australian government. CSP places are assessed on the basis of merit. CSP are offered to the most competitive applicants and the remaining eligible applicants will be offered a full-fee place. You should list both CSP and full-fee codes in your UAC preferences if you wish to be considered for both places. Start your postgraduate application today with our guide on how to apply

Commonwealth Study Assistance such as Ausstudy, and Youth Allowance is available for some Masters degrees. For the most up-to-date information and list of degrees visit UNSW Current Student Financial Support.

2024 Indicative First Year Full Fee
$36,000*
2024 Indicative Full Fee to Complete Degree
$36,000*

There are a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available for this degree/program. Your eligibility to receive a CSP will be automatically assessed when you apply.  To find out more about Commonwealth Supported Places visit Postgraduate Commonwealth Support.

*Fees are subject to annual review (or when required) by the University and may vary accordingly.

Indicative fees are a guide only and have been calculated based on the typical enrolment patterns of students undertaking the degree/program. The indicative fees listed here is an estimate for tuition only and excludes non-tuition fees and charges. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year of enrolment, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (48 units of credit (UOC) per year)

You should not rely on indicative fees as fee increases are assessed when required and may exceed the indicative figures listed here. Actual fees are calculated on enrolment. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.

2024 Indicative First Year Fee
$54,000*
2024 Indicative Fee to Complete Degree
$55,000*

*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only, other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).

Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.

Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.

Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.

Scholarships


At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.


Top 20
Worldwide

QS World University Rankings, 2025.

Most
Employable Graduates

AFR Top 100 Future leaders Award.

Leading
Innovation

#1 Australian uni attended by start-up founders.

This degree has laid a strong foundation for my ongoing personal and professional development.
Eva Wegner

Eva Wegner

Health Professional

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