Australian Catholic University

What you'll study

The double degree blends applied public health subjects with foundational and specialist business units. Public health study covers population health principles, epidemiology, biostatistics, health promotion and disease prevention, environmental and occupational health, Indigenous and community health, research methods and a supervised professional placement or practicum.

The business component covers core business disciplines: accounting and financial literacy, economics for business, organisational behaviour and human resource management, marketing, management and strategy, business law and ethics. The program typically includes a business capstone or integrative project and offers elective streams so you can tailor studies towards areas such as health management, social enterprise, or entrepreneurship.

• Core public health topics: epidemiology, biostatistics, health promotion, health policy, research methods, Indigenous and community health
• Core business topics: accounting, finance, marketing, management, economics, business law, strategy
• Practicum or workplace-based placement in a health or community setting
• Capstone or integrative projects that combine public health and business skills
• Electives to specialise or broaden skills (e.g. health services management, social marketing, sustainability)

Entry requirements

Admission generally requires completion of a recognised secondary qualification (for example an Australian Year 12 certificate with an ATAR or an equivalent overseas school-leaving credential) or completion of recognised tertiary study. ACU also accepts applicants through alternative pathways including recognised vocational qualifications, previous work experience and mature-age entry schemes.

Some applicants may be required to demonstrate competency in English; international applicants must meet ACU's English language requirements. While there are usually no strict subject prerequisites, mathematical literacy or studies in biology/health are advantageous for the public health units. Selection may be based on academic results, personal statements or other evidence of suitability for health and business study.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles that combine population health skills with organisational and managerial capability. Typical career pathways include health promotion officer, program coordinator for government or non-government health services, health policy analyst, community development officer, health services administrator, and roles in corporate social responsibility or workplace health and safety. The business component also opens opportunities in management, marketing, human resources and consulting across private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

The practicum and industry-facing projects help build workplace experience and employer networks, and provide pathways into entry-level professional roles or further study such as specialised honours, public health postgraduate degrees or business postgraduate qualifications.

Why study at Australian Catholic University

Australian Catholic University emphasises applied learning and social justice, combining classroom teaching with workplace placements and community partnerships. ACU's smaller class sizes support personalised learning and close interaction with academic staff who have research and professional links in public health and business.

The university has campuses in multiple Australian cities which facilitates local industry connections and placement opportunities. ACU programs focus on ethical practice, culturally safe care and community engagement — important strengths for careers that require working with diverse populations and cross-sector collaboration.

By studying this combined degree at ACU you gain multidisciplinary skills valued by employers across health services, government, NGOs and private industry, enabling graduates to lead programs, manage teams and contribute to population health improvement within organisational settings.