Our July intake for this programme is now closed.
Programme highlights
Learn how to identify the determinants of health and find solutions to health inequalities facing Māori, Pasifika and other population groups in Aotearoa.
Build practical skills to design, implement and evaluate public health initiatives by creating your own health promotion project.
Customise your coursework to focus on your specific area of practice or your particular community of interest.
Learning will be through a mixture of online learning resources, workshops and workplace experience, allowing flexibility for part-time study while still working. Applicants are invited to apply from anywhere in Aotearoa.
Click here for more information and to see full graduate outcomes for this programme.
You’ll be supported to succeed throughout your health journey. At the Manukau campus, you will have access to Kaiawhina, a Pasifika support person, a Whānau and an Mā Tātou room.
If you are Māori or Pasifika, find out how you could be supported on your MIT journey with Te Ara Oranga.
Scholarship opportunities. There are also several scholarships available to Māori and Pasifika studying towards a health qualification. Register with Kia Ora Hauora and get access to their comprehensive scholarship database.
Other programme information:
- IT requirements. To complete this qualification you will need to have access to a computer and the internet to retrieve course materials, undertake assessments and to participate in course online activities.
Please note: Vaccination for COVID-19 is no longer an expectation for workers (including student health and wellbeing support staff) in the public health system. Health NZ published a notice on 19 December 2024 stating the Pre-employment COVID-19 Vaccination Policy is withdrawn. This means that while getting vaccinated for COVID-19 is still highly recommended, it won’t be expected of students. Students in Health and Wellbeing programmes at MIT will no longer be required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or provide proof of vaccination to MIT. Other immunisation requirements are still in place (please see your programme information for details). To protect yourself and others, it is important to stay up to date with the latest COVID-19 vaccines as the virus changes, follow the latest immunisation recommendations, and be aware of any new infectious disease risks in your area.
Entry requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria for admission into the programme:
Entry for adult learners is open, subject to the learner meeting minimum literacy and numeracy requirements, sufficient to enable them to successfully complete the programme of study and/or training such as a level 4 qualification;
OR
Learners who have left secondary school within two years of enrolling in a programme that leads to the award of this qualification, are required to have achieved a minimum of 40 credits at NCEA level 3, or equivalent.
Applicants are required to attend an interview to determine their suitability for the programme. During the interview the applicant will be assessed against the requirements of the Faculty’s policy for students accessing placements in the health context in terms of their suitability for placement in the public health sector, working with vulnerable populations including children and their motivation and suitability for future work in the public health context.
English language entry requirements
Applicants must have sufficient competence in the English language to undertake this programme which is taught and assessed in English. This will be demonstrated by meeting the current NZQA requirements.
International students: English language entry requirements
For the minimum English language requirements refer to the requirements set out in the NZQF Programme and Accreditation Rules https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/providers-partners/qa-system-for-teos/english-international-students/
Have English language competence to undertake this programme which is taught and assessed in English. Any applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an-overall IELTS (Academic) band score of 6.0 (with no score below 6.0) or equivalent achieved within the preceding 2 years.
Applicants of this programme will need to undergo police vetting and safety review process to meet the requirements of the Vulnerable Children’s Act. Immune status requirements as per industry needs.
Special & discretionary admission
Any ākonga who is 20 years of age or older and has not reached the general admission requirements for their intended programme is eligible for Special Admission. Te Pūkenga works with the ākonga to ensure they are prepared for their intended programme. Any ākonga who is not yet 20 years of age and has not reached the general admission requirements for their intended programme may be eligible for Discretionary Admission. In assessing whether to grant Discretionary Admission, the delegated authority focuses on the applicant’s level of preparedness for their intended programme.
Give yourself credit with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Did you know you can use the knowledge and experience you already have to your advantage?
Your previous work experience and on-the-job skills, volunteering, professional development, and other providers’ qualifications can be recognised as prior learning, matched against credits in our courses, and put towards your qualification – potentially saving you money and possibly helping you to complete your qualification faster Learn more.
Programme structure
You will need to complete the below six courses (60 credits):
Do you want to study a single course, without enrolling into the full programme?
Courses within some of our programmes may be offered as an individual Certificate of Proficiency (COP). Programme entry requirements and course fees apply. For more information, please speak to our friendly Ask Me! team.
Career opportunities
Settings for public health and health promotion practitioners include:
- Regional public health and immunisation programmes
- Breast screening, cervical screening campaigns
- Youth Health
- Gambling and addictions
- Family violence
- Rainbow Health
- Environmental health
Graduates of this programme may choose to apply for entry to a bachelor’s degree in public health or health sciences.
For potential salaries visit careers.govt.nz.
See why more people choose Public health and health promotion at MIT
“The staff are amazing and actually care about your wellbeing and studies.”
“I made good use of the academic learning support services at MIT. The team of librarians, the Career and Employment Services (CES) and Te Ara Oranga were super helpful. They offer effective learning tools to help you manage your time and workload. Also, there are counsellors if you need advice or someone to talk to.
The staff are amazing and actually care about your wellbeing and studies.
It is the best learning institute in South Auckland.”
Elizabeth Manu
MIT student
MIT is the quality choice. Study health or counselling and graduate work-ready.
“Together, let us forge a healthier and more equitable Aotearoa.”
“I am honoured to serve as a Ministerial Adviser at Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand, and I credit my journey to the transformative power of studying public health and health promotion at MIT.
Public health and health promotion are important fields that focus on improving and protecting the health of populations. These areas of study aim to prevent diseases, promote healthy behaviours, and address various health challenges on a broader scale.
Embracing the principles of public health, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the New Zealand health sector. Through my studies, I have developed a keen understanding of health determinants and have actively worked towards addressing health inequalities faced by diverse communities, including Māori and Pasifika.
MIT offers an online study program that effectively enabled me to pursue full-time employment while simultaneously engaging in academic pursuits. The online format has proven to be highly conducive to my circumstances, allowing me to seamlessly integrate work and study. I found the teaching process to be exceptional, characterized by high-quality instruction and an effective learning environment.
This program provided me with the opportunity to engage in comprehensive learning while managing other commitments. I have also leveraged my learnings to create my own impactful health promotion project, which showcased my ability to innovate and apply evidence-based approaches.
The unwavering support I received from the Manukau campus, including the invaluable guidance of teachers, a dedicated Pasifika support person, and the nurturing environment of the whānau has played a pivotal role in my success.
The qualification from MIT not only bolstered my professional credentials but also instilled in me the confidence and expertise necessary to navigate the complexities of health governance and provide valuable advice to decision-makers in the ministry.
Use your education to advocate for equitable access to healthcare and work towards reducing disparities in health outcomes among different population groups. As I continue to tread this path, my commitment remains unwavering—to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and communities. I express heartfelt gratitude to MIT for providing me with the platform to realize my aspirations.
Together, let us forge a healthier and more equitable Aotearoa.”
Obaid Durrani
MIT graduate
“I have happily employed MIT graduates and watched them blossom in the workforce.”
“I wholeheartedly endorse the MIT certificate in public health and health promotion as supporting vital skills for the health and wellbeing of Aotearoa/NZ.
The skills and perspectives the certificate offered equip students to contribute across the range of activities that support communities.
As a leader in the sector, I have happily employed MIT graduates and watched them blossom in the workforce.
We will never solve health issues by waiting for people to become unwell and trying to ‘fix them’ one person at a time – we need strong connected communities based on fair equitable systems and the certificate in public health and health promotion supports students to help make that happen.”
Shaun Robinson
Chief Executive | Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
“I really liked that it was online study with some in person days.”
“I am now a peer support coordinator, coordinating peer group facilitators and a drop-in centre to help create a safe space for rainbow rangatahi. I support the planning and organising of events and activities, and community education on gender and sexuality.
I chose to study at MIT as the certificate was a convenient way to be introduced to the topics of public health and health promotion. It was part-time study that I could complete while working. I really liked that it was online study with some in-person days, the combination of flexibility with some face-to-face instruction was great. It is a very broad and valuable subject that introduces you to new perspectives on health that you may not have considered. The knowledge and skills you gain are widely applicable, the lecturers were all lovely and knowledgeable on the topics, and the assignments were varied and interesting.
Before the certificate, I was working as a receptionist at a holiday park. I was very interested in learning more about health promotion as I wanted to work in sexuality education and sexual health. I had no knowledge of the determinants of health or different models of health and wellbeing. What I learned has been extremely helpful in peer support and helping young people set goals and connect to services that will help them in all areas of wellbeing. It has also helped with the education and health promotion aspect of my job as a peer support coordinator. I also learned a lot of transferable skills such as writing and communication skills, improved my abilities with PowerPoint and Canva, and learned about effective evaluation of programmes and initiatives.
While studying I completed a work placement with Dear EM. MIT found the placement for me after asking what I was interested in. I learned valuable skills and gained insight into how organisations work. I was given the freedom to help out in a lot of areas including social media posts, research, briefing papers, and helping at a stall at a university event. It was very helpful in applying learned skills.
Having the knowledge I gained from studying at MIT has just helped me to feel more confident in my role. I have theoretical knowledge and practical skills to apply to different aspects of my role. This certificate in public health was a great foundation for this further study. In 5 years’ time, I’d love to be working for the Ministry of Health in a policy or advisory position to do with community wellbeing with a focus on rainbow communities, sexual health, and reducing sexual violence. Or in a planning/programme development role in sexuality/relationship education.
I say go for it! Make yourself a schedule and study plan, especially if you will be working while you study, and stick to it!”
Leanne Fry
MIT graduate
“The staff are amazing and actually care about your wellbeing and studies.”
“I made good use of the academic learning support services at MIT. The team of librarians, the Career and Employment Services (CES) and Te Ara Oranga were super helpful. They offer effective learning tools to help you manage your time and workload. Also, there are counsellors if you need advice or someone to talk to.
The staff are amazing and actually care about your wellbeing and studies.
It is the best learning institute in South Auckland.”
Elizabeth Manu
MIT student
MIT is the quality choice. Study health or counselling and graduate work-ready.
“Together, let us forge a healthier and more equitable Aotearoa.”
“I am honoured to serve as a Ministerial Adviser at Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand, and I credit my journey to the transformative power of studying public health and health promotion at MIT.
Public health and health promotion are important fields that focus on improving and protecting the health of populations. These areas of study aim to prevent diseases, promote healthy behaviours, and address various health challenges on a broader scale.
Embracing the principles of public health, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the New Zealand health sector. Through my studies, I have developed a keen understanding of health determinants and have actively worked towards addressing health inequalities faced by diverse communities, including Māori and Pasifika.
MIT offers an online study program that effectively enabled me to pursue full-time employment while simultaneously engaging in academic pursuits. The online format has proven to be highly conducive to my circumstances, allowing me to seamlessly integrate work and study. I found the teaching process to be exceptional, characterized by high-quality instruction and an effective learning environment.
This program provided me with the opportunity to engage in comprehensive learning while managing other commitments. I have also leveraged my learnings to create my own impactful health promotion project, which showcased my ability to innovate and apply evidence-based approaches.
The unwavering support I received from the Manukau campus, including the invaluable guidance of teachers, a dedicated Pasifika support person, and the nurturing environment of the whānau has played a pivotal role in my success.
The qualification from MIT not only bolstered my professional credentials but also instilled in me the confidence and expertise necessary to navigate the complexities of health governance and provide valuable advice to decision-makers in the ministry.
Use your education to advocate for equitable access to healthcare and work towards reducing disparities in health outcomes among different population groups. As I continue to tread this path, my commitment remains unwavering—to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and communities. I express heartfelt gratitude to MIT for providing me with the platform to realize my aspirations.
Together, let us forge a healthier and more equitable Aotearoa.”
Obaid Durrani
MIT graduate
“I have happily employed MIT graduates and watched them blossom in the workforce.”
“I wholeheartedly endorse the MIT certificate in public health and health promotion as supporting vital skills for the health and wellbeing of Aotearoa/NZ.
The skills and perspectives the certificate offered equip students to contribute across the range of activities that support communities.
As a leader in the sector, I have happily employed MIT graduates and watched them blossom in the workforce.
We will never solve health issues by waiting for people to become unwell and trying to ‘fix them’ one person at a time – we need strong connected communities based on fair equitable systems and the certificate in public health and health promotion supports students to help make that happen.”
Shaun Robinson
Chief Executive | Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
“I really liked that it was online study with some in person days.”
“I am now a peer support coordinator, coordinating peer group facilitators and a drop-in centre to help create a safe space for rainbow rangatahi. I support the planning and organising of events and activities, and community education on gender and sexuality.
I chose to study at MIT as the certificate was a convenient way to be introduced to the topics of public health and health promotion. It was part-time study that I could complete while working. I really liked that it was online study with some in-person days, the combination of flexibility with some face-to-face instruction was great. It is a very broad and valuable subject that introduces you to new perspectives on health that you may not have considered. The knowledge and skills you gain are widely applicable, the lecturers were all lovely and knowledgeable on the topics, and the assignments were varied and interesting.
Before the certificate, I was working as a receptionist at a holiday park. I was very interested in learning more about health promotion as I wanted to work in sexuality education and sexual health. I had no knowledge of the determinants of health or different models of health and wellbeing. What I learned has been extremely helpful in peer support and helping young people set goals and connect to services that will help them in all areas of wellbeing. It has also helped with the education and health promotion aspect of my job as a peer support coordinator. I also learned a lot of transferable skills such as writing and communication skills, improved my abilities with PowerPoint and Canva, and learned about effective evaluation of programmes and initiatives.
While studying I completed a work placement with Dear EM. MIT found the placement for me after asking what I was interested in. I learned valuable skills and gained insight into how organisations work. I was given the freedom to help out in a lot of areas including social media posts, research, briefing papers, and helping at a stall at a university event. It was very helpful in applying learned skills.
Having the knowledge I gained from studying at MIT has just helped me to feel more confident in my role. I have theoretical knowledge and practical skills to apply to different aspects of my role. This certificate in public health was a great foundation for this further study. In 5 years’ time, I’d love to be working for the Ministry of Health in a policy or advisory position to do with community wellbeing with a focus on rainbow communities, sexual health, and reducing sexual violence. Or in a planning/programme development role in sexuality/relationship education.
I say go for it! Make yourself a schedule and study plan, especially if you will be working while you study, and stick to it!”
Leanne Fry
MIT graduate
