Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Health

Healthcare systems are increasingly dependent on data, technology and digital solutions, while at the same time consumers expect to use personalised digital technologies to enhance their own individual health and well-being. Future roles for healthcare professionals will include the provision and transformation of services using digital technology, but there is an identified shortage of people with the right skills to meet the growing demand for professionals working in the specialty of Digital Health.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Health (PGDipDigHeal), offered by the Department of Information Science in partnership with the Otago Medical School, is designed for people working or planning to work in health sector management and leadership roles. Delivered online, the course will suit full-time students who are seeking a qualification in this area but who cannot physically be in Dunedin. Similarly, it will meet the needs of professionals who wish to upskill part-time or full-time, who may not be able to take leave from current employment, or those who are caring for dependents. Graduates of the PGDipDigHeal will have gained an understanding of the concepts and practical skills required to evaluate, select and implement health information systems and digital health products and services.

The DIGH 701 and DIGH 703 papers are foundational, introducing the fundamentals of digital health, including the underlying technologies, the place and future of digital tech in the healthcare system, the managerial, social and ethical implications of the use of technology in healthcare, and the selection and application of digital health solutions for/by consumers, groups and populations. The other papers complement these fundamentals by covering in detail issues of ethical and regulatory compliance as they apply to the use of digital health, as well as its governance in a range of organisational settings (from general practices through to larger-scale entities (e.g., hospitals and health boards)), and by a paper on research methods relevant to digital health. More specialist offerings will be available to cater to the particular capabilities and interests of groups of students – covering, for instance, the use of data science and data analytics in evidence-based healthcare, or the application of advanced interaction technologies (e.g., augmented reality) to telemedicine and in rehabilitation.

The PGDipDigHeal can normally be completed in a minimum of 12 months.

Postgraduate entrance requirements

Entrance requirements for postgraduate study vary by programme with most requiring a minimum bachelor-level qualification in the same field, and some having additional requirements such as relevant work experience and/or professional registration in New Zealand.

A postgraduate certificate or postgraduate diploma can usually be taken at any time after the completion of your bachelor's degree.

If you hold an honours degree or postgraduate diploma you may be able to eligible for master’s study by thesis only. In some cases if you hold a bachelor’s degree you may apply for a coursework master’s degree or for master’s study by coursework and thesis.

To study a PhD you usually require the completion of a master’s degree, or a first-class or upper second-class honours degree in the same area of study, or a related discipline, as your intended area of research.

Check the postgraduate students pages for specific information on the entrance requirements of the programme you are interested in.

IELTS (Academic module) (including IELTS Online) : Overall score of 6.5, no individual band below 6.0

TOEFL iBT : Overall score of 90 and a writing score of 21 The University of Otago TOEFL institution code is 9483 (Please note we do not accept MyBest TOEFL scores)

Pearson Test of English ( PTE ) Academic : Overall score of 58 with no communicative skills score below 50

Duolingo English Test : Overall score of 120 (with no Individual Subscore below 95)