120 hours of professional health experience
#36 in the world for public health
Top 3 business school in Melbourne
Why choose Deakin
Combine public health expertise with commercial insight in Deakin’s Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion/Bachelor of Commerce. This double degree prepares you to address complex health challenges while applying business strategy across the health, business and community sectors. Graduates can register with the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE), with Deakin the only Victorian university to hold this accreditation.
Build a strong understanding of the social and environmental factors that influence health while developing commercial skills in areas such as marketing, management, finance or economics. You will learn to design and evaluate health initiatives, analyse data to inform decisions and communicate effectively with diverse audiences. With practical experience and a globally recognised commerce qualification, you will graduate ready to drive better health outcomes in complex professional contexts.
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A leading business school in Melbourne
Study at a top 3 business school in Melbourne, recognised for strong career outcomes and industry relevance.
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Globally recognised and accredited
Study at a business school with dual accreditation from leading global bodies and graduate from a course accredited by the International Union for Health Promotion and Education.
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Gain practical experience
Complete a 120-hour professional placement in a health-related organisation, applying your skills in professional settings.
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Industry-ready skills
Develop your ability to analyse data, inform decisions and communicate effectively across health and business contexts.
Connected to industry
Deakin’s strong industry connections help shape your learning. Build practical experience in real workplace contexts through work-integrated learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. Industry advisory boards also help shape our degrees, which means what you study is current, relevant and aligned to what your future employers need.
Deakin puts employability first
Career outcomes
Combine health expertise with business know-how to pursue roles across health, government, community and commercial organisations, using your skills to improve services, shape strategy and respond to complex health challenges.
Health promotion officer
Develop and deliver initiatives that improve health and wellbeing across communities. Health promotion officers plan, coordinate and evaluate programs that address health priorities and support healthier communities.
- $93k
Typical annual salary in Australia
- 4.8/5
Job satisfaction
Financial analyst
Assess financial data, evaluate business performance and provide insights that support investment, budgeting and strategic decision-making across organisations.
- $110k
Typical annual salary in Australia
- 32.2%
Projected job growth in 5 years
Professional areas
- Community development
- Health education
- Health policy
- Partnerships and stakeholder engagement
- Program evaluation
- Social planning
FAQs
Deakin's campuses in Melbourne, Geelong and Warrnambool are set in vibrant, multicultural communities where it is easy to connect and feel at home. As the #1 university in Australia for international student happiness and student satisfaction, you will be supported at every step of your journey. You can join clubs and societies through the Deakin University Student Association (DUSA), attend social events, go on trips and live on campus to meet people from around the world. Each campus has fitness centres, cafes and 24-hour security, as well as prayer rooms and multifaith chaplains.
Deakin offers a range of merit-based scholarships that can reduce your tuition fees by 20%, 25%, 50% or 100% for the duration of your degree. Eligibility varies by scholarship and the degree you choose, but you will automatically be considered for most scholarships when you apply to Deakin. Use the Find a scholarship tool and filter by 'citizenship' to see what is available to you, or explore Australia Awards scholarships if you are from an eligible country.
As an international student at Deakin, you can work part time according to the conditions of your visa. On a Student Visa (Subclass 500), you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during trimesters. When you are on a trimester break you can work as much as you want. Compulsory work experience that forms part of your degree does not count toward this limit. Find part-time roles and internships through DeakinTALENT and learn more about working in Australia.
Most students studying full time at Deakin need a Student Visa (Subclass 500). You can apply for this visa after you accept your offer and receive your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). To apply, you will need a valid passport, your CoE, proof of Overseas Student Health Cover and any other documents required by the Department of Home Affairs. Apply as early as possible, but do not book travel until your visa has been granted. Find out more about student visas.
Australia is widely regarded as one of the safest and most welcoming countries in the world for students, with strong legal protections, reliable public services and a multicultural community. In fact, Melbourne is ranked the #4 student city in the world! At Deakin, you will be part of a supportive community, with 24/7 help, dedicated campus security and practical tools to help you feel safe, confident and connected. Deakin’s SafeZone app also connects you directly to campus security and support services if you ever need help. Find out more about studying in Australia.
Deakin offers a wide range of support to help you settle in and succeed throughout your studies – we are ranked the #1 university in Melbourne for student support. You can access 1:1 study support, English language support, career planning help, disability services and free counselling, as well as financial assistance if you need it. On campus, the SafeZone app and 24/7 security services mean help is always within reach. You can explore the full range of support services for international students or start an online chat with a student ambassador before you arrive.
To enrol in an undergraduate degree at Deakin, many degrees require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent). Some degrees require higher scores so check the entry requirements tab on the degree page for details. You may also meet the requirement through recent secondary or university study completed in English, or by demonstrating five or more years of living and working in an English-speaking country. Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis. If you do not yet meet the requirement, the Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI) offers pathway programs to help develop your English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Completion of DUELI’s English for Academic Purposes can give you the minimum English language requirements for most Deakin degrees.
Deakin is the #1 university in Melbourne for international student graduate employment. Our degrees are developed with industry insight, so you will gain career-ready skills from the beginning. Each Deakin student can access work-integrated learning through opportunities including placements, internships and projects with well-known industry partners. Our dedicated international student career support program helps you learn about the Australian workforce, make connections and build your network through placements. You will get support with your resume, help looking for an internship or a job after graduation and even advice about your career options overseas.
There is more than one way to study at Deakin. If you do not meet the academic requirements, Deakin College offers a guaranteed pathway to Deakin with small, supportive classes on campus. If you meet the academic requirements but not the English requirements, you can enrol in a Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI) English pathway program and progress to your chosen Deakin degree upon successful completion. Deakin also has formal pathway agreements with partner institutions in countries like China, India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and the United States, so you can start your studies locally before transferring to Australia to complete your degree.
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
What will I study in the Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion/Bachelor of Commerce?
Build a strong understanding of how health is shaped at individual, community and global levels while developing business skills to inform strategy and decision-making. You will learn to analyse data, design and evaluate health initiatives, and apply systems thinking to improve population health outcomes.
Build foundations in health and commerce
Understand health and disease prevention
Learn how social, environmental and behavioural factors influence health outcomes and how disease is prevented and controlled.
Begin your commerce major
Start your studies in areas such as marketing, management, finance, economics or accounting.
Work with data and information
Build your ability to interpret health and commercial data to support decision-making.
Develop applied knowledge and skills
Explore health environments and communication
Learn how local and global contexts shape health and how to design effective health messages.
Build analytical and management capability
Continue developing skills in areas such as analytics, management and marketing.
Apply professional practice
Strengthen your ability to work with evidence, communicate with stakeholders and apply your skills in practical contexts.
Build technical expertise and apply your skills
Analyse population health data
Develop technical skills in epidemiology and biostatistics to interpret health trends and inform decisions.
Plan and evaluate programs
Learn to design, manage and assess health initiatives using evidence and strategy.
Progress your commerce major
Build depth in your chosen discipline and apply commercial thinking in health contexts.
Complete your major and apply your skills in practice
Advance your commerce expertise
Consolidate specialist knowledge in your chosen discipline.
Apply policy and evaluation skills
Explore how policy shapes health outcomes and apply your knowledge to contemporary health challenges.
Gain industry experience
Complete a 120-hour professional placement in a health-related organisation, applying your skills in professional settings.
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion/Bachelor of Commerce, you must pass 32 credit points.
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.
Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
Level 1 - Trimester 1
Level 1 - Trimester 2
Level 2 - Trimester 1
Level 2 - Trimester 2
Level 3 - Trimester 1
Plus two commerce major units
Level 3 - Trimester 2
Plus two commerce major units
Level 4 - Trimester 1
Plus two commerce major units
Level 4 - Trimester 2
Plus two commerce major units
Refer to the Bachelor of Commerce (M380) course page for Commerce major sequences options.
Professional recognition
Gain the professional recognition you need to make your mark in health or business sectors, or where the two intersect.
Deakin’s Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion is fully accredited by the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE). This accreditation enables our health promotion graduates to register with the IUHPE as a registered Health Promotion Practitioner (HPP), securing you global as well as Australian recognition.
Graduates may also be eligible to become members of the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) and obtain professional accreditation as a Health Promotion Practitioner with the Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA).
Deakin Business School holds the prestigious and globally recognised AACSB and EQUIS accreditations, which attest to quality, academic and professional excellence, ongoing improvement, innovation and graduate employability.
- Deakin's accounting major enables students to apply for the:
- CA Program of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)
- Associate membership for the CPA Program
- IPA Program of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). - Students who complete the finance major are recognised through the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program.
- The financial planning major satisfies the Financial Adviser Standards (FAS) education standards, meaning students can provide financial advice in Australia and are eligible for financial planning certification programs including:
- the Financial Adviser Association of Australia (FAAA) CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®.
Students should consult the professional body or a course adviser to identify additional requirements for membership.
Note: All information regarding professional recognition is accurate at the date of publication. Enquiries regarding accreditation and professional membership should be directed to the School of Health and Social Development or Deakin Business School in order to ascertain the current status of accreditation at any future point in time beyond publication. Representations about accreditation apply only to the course, and the relevant professional body retains discretion as to whom they admit as members of their association. Deakin University cannot exercise any control over membership of an external body.
What to expect while studying
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.
Working with Children Check
Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) for the relevant state prior to undertaking placements as part of this course. Further information and guidance will be provided to students when they enrol into their placement unit. Learn more about the Working with Children Check.
Police record check
Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for placements as part of this course. Further information and guidance will be provided to students when they enrol into their placement unit.
As a student 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.
The course contains a core Health Practicum unit that aims to provide students with an in-depth, working understanding of public health-health promotion principles and approaches in the field. Students are required to undertake a minimum of 120 hours of work experience in a health-related agency. In addition to developing a practical understanding of public health and health promotion, this experience will help students further develop the professional and personal skills required to work in a public health and/or health promotion role.
Public Health and Health Promotion
The Health Practicum unit requires you to undertake a minimum of 120 hours of work experience in a health-related agency. In addition to developing a practical understanding of public health-health promotion, this experience will help you further develop the professional and personal skills required to work in a public health-health promotion role.
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Commerce |
|---|---|
| Apply evidence-based research and a determinants-based knowledge of public health and health promotion to advocate for social change, promote good health and wellbeing, prevent poor health and reduce inequalities for individuals and populations alike. | Evaluate broad knowledge of commerce, with depth in one or more business disciplines, and apply theoretical and technical expertise to inform financial, economic, and organisational decision-making. |
| Communicate effectively in oral and written forms with a range of stakeholders and promote positive, desired change. | Communicate knowledge and ideas clearly and effectively through written, spoken, and digital formats suited to the discipline and context, demonstrating the level of professionalism expected in business settings. |
| Use information technology to effectively communicate, locate information and analyse data. | Effectively use discipline-specific and general digital technologies to research, evaluate, synthesise, and communicate business-relevant information in a dynamic global environment. |
| Apply critical thinking and reflection to issues of contemporary health, related to policy and planning in public health and health promotion practice within an evidence-based framework. | Analyse and evaluate academic, professional, and commercial information using relevant theories and methods to form reasoned judgements and support ethical, evidence informed decisions in commercial contexts. |
| Apply an evidence-based learning framework to create solutions to diverse and complex health problems. | Apply creative, cognitive, and technical skills to identify, investigate, and solve complex, real world commercial problems using innovative and evidence-informed approaches. |
| Monitor and reflect on one’s own professional practice. | Engage in independent and continuous learning across business disciplines to support personal and professional growth in a dynamic business environment; effectively manage resources, time, and constraints to deliver high-quality, timely outcomes. |
| Develop knowledge and implement strategies in collaboration with others to build and enhance relevant partnerships and actions as a public health and health promotion practitioner. | Work and learn collaboratively with fellow peers, business professionals, and members of the wider community. |
| Support public health and health promotion practice within diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts and communities. | Develop an ethical awareness and a social responsibility by engaging respectfully and productively with Indigenous, local, national, and international stakeholders, and by applying knowledge and skills in ways that are culturally appropriate, inclusive, and informed by diverse worldviews and knowledges. |
- Award granted
- Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion / Bachelor of Commerce
- Year
2027 course information
- VTAC code
- 1400514253 - Burwood (Melbourne), International full-fee paying place
- Deakin code
- D379
- CRICOS code?Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students
- 031151F Burwood (Melbourne)
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7
Apply now
Apply directly to Deakin
Applications can be made directly to the University through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's International Student Application Service.
We recommend engaging with a Deakin Authorised Agent who can assist you with the process and submit the application.
Apply through VTAC
If you are an international student completing an Australian Year 12 in Australia or overseas, you must submit an application through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC). In addition, you may also apply directly to Deakin through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's international student application service.
Recognition of prior learning
We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.
Pathways
Upon graduation, you may go on to complete further study in health by applying for Deakin's Master of Public Health, Master of Health Promotion, Master of Health Economics or Master of Health Management. You may also be eligible for postgraduate study in business and commerce.