Deakin’s Master of Health Management prepares you for a career in the health sector by developing skills in leadership, planning and health service management. You will learn how to manage people, resources and programs while contributing to better health outcomes for individuals and communities.
Gain the skills to apply business and management principles in a health context, taking a patient and community-focused approach to healthcare delivery. You can tailor your degree through a choice of specialisations, including public health, health economics, business administration, disability and inclusion, sustainability in healthcare and research. With flexible online and on-campus study options, and opportunities for work-integrated learning or international study, you will graduate with the skills to work across a range of roles in the health sector.
Indicative student workload
In the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Professional recognition
Deakin's Master of Health Management is now accredited by the Australasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM). As a graduate, you may apply for membership with the ACHSM. ACHSM is the peak body for health managers in the Asia Pacific, their accreditation not only ensures quality and industry relevance, but also enhances graduate employability and networking opportunities. The accreditations and professional recognition indicate the industry’s appreciation of the quality and relevance of the program to industry needs.
Career opportunities
The healthcare sector is projected to be Australia’s biggest and fastest-growing sector over the next five years.* With a Master of Health Management, you will have an incredibly important role to play in managing the new projects, services and jobs that emerge from this growth.
Your specialised skills combined with your practical experience will prepare you for management and leadership roles across a variety of areas including:
public health departments
hospital management
nursing home management
clinic management
medical practices
mental health organisations
community health centres
rehabilitation centres
skilled nursing facilities
healthcare associations
welfare and human service delivery organisations
policy roles within government
major healthcare infrastructure projects
Recent graduates have gone on to work in international agencies with a presence in public health, divisions of general practice, health administration departments, hospitals and associated networks.
* 2021 Employment Projections – for the five years to 2026, Jobs and Skills Australia
Mandatory student checks
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a National Police Record Check, a Working with Children Check or other check. Refer the relevant unit guide.
Apply a critical and advanced knowledge in the area of health and human services management including research and current professional practices in the areas of:
leadership and strategic planning
evidence-based decision making
health needs assessment and evaluation
program planning and monitoring
resource and project management
communication and negotiation.
Communicate effectively with a range of individuals and groups, using a variety of modes and methods in a health and human service context.
Select and use digital technologies to locate, evaluate and disseminate research to address complex health and human service management issues.
Critically evaluate and synthesise complex information, problems, ideas, concepts and theories within a health and human services context.
Apply creative strategies to address complex and ill-defined health and human services management problems.
Demonstrate critically reflective self-management with relevant workloads, commitments and timeframes while displaying a commitment to ethical health and human services management practice and lifelong learning.
Interact collaboratively and constructively with a diverse range of people across multiple teams and contexts to achieve targeted health and human services management outcomes.
Demonstrate a critical awareness and sensitivity to cultural, ethnic, religious, social and political issues in health and human service management contexts.
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Course rules
To complete the Master of Health Management you must pass 12 or 16 credit points. The number of credit points required may vary, depending on your entry point or how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous qualifications.
A 16-credit point Master of Health Management includes:
For students completing 16 credit points:
DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
2 credit points of elective units (taken from the list of specialisation units)
Students completing the 12-credit point course will not complete a specialisation.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
The Master of Health Management has six Specialisations: Public Health, Health Economics, Business Administration, Disability and Inclusion, Sustainability in Healthcare and Research. Students completing the 16 credit point pathway must choose one of the following Specialisations, in addition to the core units.
*Students who are eligible for the 12 credit point entry pathway will not complete a Specialisation, and instead must choose two credit points of units selected from any of the specialisations below, in addition to the core units.
NOTE: Completing the Masters within two years is dependent on the type of Specialisation selected.
NOTE: The Sustainability in Healthcare and Disability and Inclusion specialisations are not available to international students commencing in Trimester 3.
NOTE: Trimester 3 is a compulsory study period for students commencing in Trimester 3 who are interested in undertaking the Research specialisation (i.e. students will be required to complete units in consecutive T3 study periods).
Public Health Specialisation
The Public Health Specialisation helps students develop an understanding of global public health challenges. Students learn strategies and practical techniques to address these challenges, prevent disease and promote conditions that optimise population health.
* Limited places in this unit are allocated based on an interview process and academic merit.
Health Economics Specialisation
The Health Economics Specialisation enables students to further their understanding of health economics in Australia and internationally to support evidence-based decision making that improves the way healthcare systems and services operate.
The Business Administration Specialisation prepares students to lead and administer healthcare services including but not limited to hospitals, welfare, disability, aged care and other non-government organisations. Units in this Specialisation are delivered by the School of Health and Social Development within the Faculty of Health and the Business School within the Faculty of Business and Law (units coded Mxx).
The Disability and Inclusion Specialisation provides students with relevant, innovative, and critical experiences and approaches to understanding disability and inclusion, and policy and practice for inclusion. Much of the content of this Specialisation is taught by people with lived experience of disability.
Australian Aboriginal Holistic Health and Healing #
#NOTE: These units are only available online- International students intending to pursue this specialisation are encouraged to seek advice from Student Central to plan their enrolment and ensure they complete a sufficient number of units on campus.
Sustainability in Healthcare Specialisation
The Sustainability in Healthcare Specialisation addresses the growing need for health agencies to operate sustainably, supporting climate change ready policies and actions. Units in this Specialisation are delivered by the School of Health and Social Development within the Faculty of Health and the School of Life and Environmental Sciences within the Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment (units coded SLE).
Systems Thinking for Sustainability and Resilience
NOTE: The Sustainability in Healthcare specialisation is not available to international students commencing in Trimester 3.
Research Specialisation
The Research Specialisation provides students with the research skills and experience required to work in health-related research or to undertake a Higher Degree by Research. Students who complete this Specialisation may be eligible to enter Masters by Research and PhD programs at Deakin and other institutions. Note that considering HSH733 and HSH734 are assigned two credit points each, all four units are needed to complete this Specialisation, with no electives able to be completed.
^Students choosing this option must obtain approval from the Course Director and have a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 70 or more.
NOTE: Trimester 3 is a compulsory study period for domestic and international students commencing in Trimester 3 who are interested in undertaking the Research specialisation (i.e. students will be required to complete units in consecutive T3 study periods). International students are encouraged to seek assistance from Student Central to plan their enrolment and ensure they complete the course within their Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) course duration.
Work experience
Students who select the Business Administration Specialisation are required to complete a one credit point work integrated learning unit (eg. either HSH755 Postgraduate Health Practicum unit or one unit coded MWL *** within the Business Administration Specialisation) Students can also undertake HSH755 Postgraduate Health Practicum unit within the Public Health Specialisation.
Limited places are allocated based on an interview process and academic merit.
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Research and research-related study
The number of units dedicated to research-related study and independent research varies by elective group from a minimum of 2 units to a maximum of 8 units.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.
