Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health
Examine how public-health programmes are planned, managed and evaluated.
About the course
Examine how public-health programmes are planned, managed and evaluated. The proposed diploma connects population needs with operational decisions in Southern African services. You will practise turning routine information and community evidence into a focused programme plan, while considering equity, resource constraints and the responsibilities of public institutions.
What you'll learn
Describe a population-health problem using appropriate descriptive evidence.
Apply public-health principles to a programme-management decision.
Develop a feasible monitoring and evaluation framework.
Evaluate implementation results and recommend justified improvements.
Requirements
Entry requires a relevant bachelor’s degree or an assessed equivalent. English Language is required. BMIT assesses any professional registration, prior practice or supervised-placement requirement specific to this postgraduate diploma.
African Kalanga is a compulsory graduation subject in every year of this programme. BMIT confirms the approved entry route, any recognition of prior learning and access to required practical facilities before enrolment.
Course Content
The subjects are grouped by learning stage, from foundations to specialist study and supervised application. Complete earlier foundations before the related advanced work. Clinical, laboratory, field and workplace subjects use approved facilities and supervision appropriate to the programme.
3 learning levels 17 subjects
Select a subject to read its learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment.
Level 1: Postgraduate disciplinary study
Africa Indigenous Language: African Kalanga 101Compulsory graduation subject · Year 1
Develop African Kalanga through foundations for medicine and other health sciences. Practise with authentic tasks, feedback and reflection across the programme year.
Learning outcomes
- Use African Kalanga accurately for Year 1 study and practice.
- Explain language choices to the intended audience.
- Revise your work using speaker and facilitator feedback.
Main topics
- Pronunciation
- Everyday vocabulary
- Listening
- Reading and respectful introductions
Practical task
Record a short introduction and explain its meaning to a peer.
Assessment
Submit the practical work, a brief reflection and evidence of language review. Assessment checks meaning, audience fit and improvement after feedback.
Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation 101Compulsory core module · Level 1
Identify a real need, study the people affected and develop a responsible idea for a product, service or process. Apply critical analysis and relevant research to a specialist setting. Apply this learning to Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health through an authentic brief and feedback from an appropriate audience.
Learning outcomes
- Investigate a defined opportunity and explain the evidence behind it.
- Develop and refine a creative response that fits the people and setting.
- Evaluate feasibility, ethical implications and the quality of the result.
Main topics
- Opportunity recognition
- Creative problem framing
- Community and user research
- Ethics and inclusion
- Idea generation and selection
Practical task
Investigate a need related to Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health. Interview or observe intended users with consent, compare possible responses and present one justified concept.
Assessment
Submit an opportunity brief, research notes, a concept sketch and a reflection on feedback. Support your decisions with current research and a critical account of limitations. Assessment considers the quality of the evidence, the response to feedback, feasibility and your individual explanation.
African History and Pan Africanism 101Compulsory core module · Level 1
Study African history through oral, written and archaeological evidence. Examine the diversity of African societies, knowledge and exchange, then trace the emergence of Pan African ideas about identity, solidarity and self-determination.
Learning outcomes
- Place selected African societies and events within a supported historical timeline.
- Compare historical sources and identify perspective, evidence and uncertainty.
- Explain the foundations of Pan Africanism and the contributions of Africans and the diaspora.
Main topics
- Historical inquiry, chronology, oral traditions and source evaluation
- African civilisations, states, trade, livelihoods and knowledge systems
- Southern African history, including Mapungubgwe and Great Zimbabwe
- Slavery, the African diaspora and changing ideas about identity
- Origins of Pan Africanism, solidarity, self-determination and cultural expression
Practical task
Create an annotated timeline or digital learning poster on a selected African society or historical development. Compare at least two credible sources and explain one connection with your field of study.
Assessment
Submit the timeline or poster, an annotated source list and a short explanation of the evidence. Assessment considers chronology, historical accuracy, source judgement and the clarity of your interpretation.
Learning resources
Public Health Foundations
Examine population health, social determinants and their relationship within public health foundations. The subject develops prevention and primary care, then examines health systems and equity. Analyse a regional population-health problem using approved public evidence.
Learning outcomes
- Explain population health and social determinants using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving prevention and primary care.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing health systems and equity.
Main topics
- Population health
- Social determinants
- Prevention
- Primary care
- Health systems
- Equity
Practical task
Analyse a regional population-health problem using approved public evidence.
Assessment
Submit a needs assessment and prevention proposal.
Epidemiology
Develop your understanding of epidemiology through population measures and study designs. The subject develops bias and confounding, then examines association and public-health interpretation. Analyse a de-identified population-health dataset.
Learning outcomes
- Explain population measures and study designs using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving bias and confounding.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing association and public-health interpretation.
Main topics
- Population measures
- Study designs
- Bias
- Confounding
- Association
- Public-health interpretation
Practical task
Analyse a de-identified population-health dataset.
Assessment
Submit calculations and a critical interpretation.
Health Systems and Policy
Study service organisation and governance as foundations for health systems and policy. The subject develops policy processes and access, then examines accountability and system performance. Map a health-service pathway and analyse a policy problem.
Learning outcomes
- Explain service organisation and governance using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving policy processes and access.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing accountability and system performance.
Main topics
- Service organisation
- Governance
- Policy processes
- Access
- Accountability
- System performance
Practical task
Map a health-service pathway and analyse a policy problem.
Assessment
Submit a systems analysis and justified policy recommendation.
Health Promotion
Examine health behaviour, communication and their relationship within health promotion. The subject develops community priorities and intervention design, then examines participation and evaluation. Develop a health-promotion activity with appropriate permission and review.
Learning outcomes
- Explain health behaviour and communication using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving community priorities and intervention design.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing participation and evaluation.
Main topics
- Health behaviour
- Communication
- Community priorities
- Intervention design
- Participation
- Evaluation
Practical task
Develop a health-promotion activity with appropriate permission and review.
Assessment
Submit the activity plan, materials and evaluation approach.
Level 2: Specialist analysis and application
Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation 201Compulsory core module · Level 2
Turn a promising idea into a testable proposal using evidence, creative methods and basic resource planning. Apply critical analysis and relevant research to a specialist setting. Apply this learning to Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health through an authentic brief and feedback from an appropriate audience.
Learning outcomes
- Investigate a defined opportunity and explain the evidence behind it.
- Develop and refine a creative response that fits the people and setting.
- Evaluate feasibility, ethical implications and the quality of the result.
Main topics
- Co-design and prototyping
- Value proposition
- Feasibility and costs
- Risk and responsible practice
- Testing and iteration
Practical task
Develop a small prototype or service model for a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health problem. Test it with relevant users, record feedback and revise the proposal.
Assessment
Submit a prototype, a feasibility note, user feedback and a record of revisions. Support your decisions with current research and a critical account of limitations. Assessment considers the quality of the evidence, the response to feedback, feasibility and your individual explanation.
African History and Pan Africanism 201Compulsory core module · Level 2
Examine colonial change, resistance and liberation across Africa, with attention to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Compare Pan African movements, organisations and debates, including contributions from women, workers and diaspora communities.
Learning outcomes
- Analyse the effects of colonial rule on land, labour, institutions and social relations.
- Compare liberation movements and Pan African arguments using contextual evidence.
- Explain how different groups shaped independence, solidarity and debates about freedom.
Main topics
- Colonial rule, land, labour, education and forms of resistance
- Nationalism, liberation and the end of colonial rule and apartheid
- Pan African congresses, organisations and contrasting interpretations
- Women, labour movements and diaspora participation
- The Organisation of African Unity and debates about unity, sovereignty and development
Practical task
Develop a comparative case study of a liberation issue or Pan African debate relevant to Southern Africa. Use a historical document alongside a scholarly account and explain differences in purpose and interpretation.
Assessment
Submit the case study, a source comparison and a reflection on your conclusions. Assessment considers context, evidence, recognition of different perspectives and the quality of your argument.
Learning resources
Health Financing and Resource Allocation
Develop your understanding of health financing and resource allocation through funding mechanisms and budgets. The subject develops cost information and allocation, then examines financial controls and equity. Compare resource decisions using an authorised health-service teaching case.
Learning outcomes
- Explain funding mechanisms and budgets using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving cost information and allocation.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing financial controls and equity.
Main topics
- Funding mechanisms
- Budgets
- Cost information
- Allocation
- Financial controls
- Equity
Practical task
Compare resource decisions using an authorised health-service teaching case.
Assessment
Submit a budget and resource-allocation appraisal.
Health Information Systems
Study clinical records and routine indicators as foundations for health information systems. The subject develops data quality and privacy, then examines reporting and decision support. Audit a synthetic health dataset and prepare an accurate report.
Learning outcomes
- Explain clinical records and routine indicators using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving data quality and privacy.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing reporting and decision support.
Main topics
- Clinical records
- Routine indicators
- Data quality
- Privacy
- Reporting
- Decision support
Practical task
Audit a synthetic health dataset and prepare an accurate report.
Assessment
Submit a data-quality review and service-information brief.
Programme Monitoring and Evaluation
Examine programme logic, indicators and their relationship within programme monitoring and evaluation. The subject develops routine information and process evaluation, then examines outcome evaluation and learning use. Build an evaluation framework for a public-health teaching programme.
Learning outcomes
- Explain programme logic and indicators using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving routine information and process evaluation.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing outcome evaluation and learning use.
Main topics
- Programme logic
- Indicators
- Routine information
- Process evaluation
- Outcome evaluation
- Learning use
Practical task
Build an evaluation framework for a public-health teaching programme.
Assessment
Submit an indicator matrix and evaluation design.
Community Psychology
Develop your understanding of community psychology through community context and participation. The subject develops prevention and social resources, then examines power and programme evaluation. Develop an ethical community-support proposal with suitable permissions.
Learning outcomes
- Explain community context and participation using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving prevention and social resources.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing power and programme evaluation.
Main topics
- Community context
- Participation
- Prevention
- Social resources
- Power
- Programme evaluation
Practical task
Develop an ethical community-support proposal with suitable permissions.
Assessment
Submit a participatory intervention and evaluation plan.
Level 3: Supervised research or applied integration
Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation 301Compulsory core module · Level 3
Plan and evaluate the practical introduction of an innovation in a relevant organisation or community. Apply critical analysis and relevant research to a specialist setting. Apply this learning to Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health through an authentic brief and feedback from an appropriate audience.
Learning outcomes
- Investigate a defined opportunity and explain the evidence behind it.
- Develop and refine a creative response that fits the people and setting.
- Evaluate feasibility, ethical implications and the quality of the result.
Main topics
- Implementation planning
- Stakeholder engagement
- Resources and finance
- Monitoring and impact
- Learning from a pilot
Practical task
Prepare and defend a pilot plan for an innovation relevant to Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health. Set measures of success, identify risks and explain how results will guide improvement.
Assessment
Submit a pilot plan, budget assumptions, evaluation measures and an individual rationale. Support your decisions with current research and a critical account of limitations. Assessment considers the quality of the evidence, the response to feedback, feasibility and your individual explanation.
Research Methods
Study research questions and literature review as foundations for research methods. The subject develops study design and data collection, then examines ethics and interpretation. Prepare a feasible investigation proposal with a defined evidence need.
Learning outcomes
- Explain research questions and literature review using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving study design and data collection.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing ethics and interpretation.
Main topics
- Research questions
- Literature review
- Study design
- Data collection
- Ethics
- Interpretation
Practical task
Prepare a feasible investigation proposal with a defined evidence need.
Assessment
Submit a proposal, methods rationale and ethics considerations.
Project Development and Feasibility
Examine problem definition, evidence review and their relationship within project development and feasibility. The subject develops requirements and method selection, then examines feasibility and evaluation criteria. Develop an approved discipline-specific project proposal with a supervisor.
Learning outcomes
- Explain problem definition and evidence review using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving requirements and method selection.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing feasibility and evaluation criteria.
Main topics
- Problem definition
- Evidence review
- Requirements
- Method selection
- Feasibility
- Evaluation criteria
Practical task
Develop an approved discipline-specific project proposal with a supervisor.
Assessment
Submit a proposal, evidence review and evaluation plan.
Integrated Project and Technical Report
Develop your understanding of integrated project and technical report through implementation and evidence collection. The subject develops analysis and verification, then examines limitations and communication. Complete the approved project and maintain an auditable evidence record.
Learning outcomes
- Explain implementation and evidence collection using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving analysis and verification.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing limitations and communication.
Main topics
- Implementation
- Evidence collection
- Analysis
- Verification
- Limitations
- Communication
Practical task
Complete the approved project and maintain an auditable evidence record.
Assessment
Submit the final project, report and individual oral defence.
Practical Learning
Authentic e-learning at BMIT
BMIT uses Authentic E-Learning to connect your studies with practical problems in your field. You use digital resources to investigate a realistic brief, make decisions and produce work for a defined purpose and audience. Your qualification's activities below put this approach into practice.
How you will learn
The approach draws on nine elements of authentic learning:
- Realistic contexts: Work with situations relevant to your profession or community.
- Purposeful tasks: Investigate a substantial problem with more than one possible solution.
- Expert examples: Examine demonstrations and examples of professional reasoning.
- Different perspectives: Compare sources and consider the needs of different people.
- Collaboration: Share ideas and review work with peers, while showing your own contribution.
- Reflection: Record what worked, what changed and what needs improvement.
- Explanation: Present your reasoning and support your decisions with evidence.
- Guidance: Use tutor feedback and structured support as you develop independence.
- Authentic assessment: Demonstrate learning through the task and its practical outcome.
From a brief to a practical outcome
Start by identifying the problem, intended audience and assessment criteria. Investigate relevant evidence, plan your response and develop an initial solution. Use discussion and feedback to test your ideas, then revise your work and explain your choices.
Digital tools support research, collaboration, simulation and the presentation of evidence. Your output depends on the module. Examples include a business proposal, technical design, tested program, investigation report or community resource. Keep drafts, calculations, test results and reflections to show how your work developed.
The module brief sets the required tasks, individual and group responsibilities, submission format and assessment criteria. The practical activities and supervision requirements for this qualification are set out below.
Research informing this approach
- Herrington, J. Authentic Learning: nine elements of authentic learning.
- Lombardi, M. M. (2007). Authentic learning for the 21st century: An overview. EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative.
- Parker, J., Maor, D. and Herrington, J. (2013). Authentic online learning: Aligning learner needs, pedagogy and technology. Issues in Educational Research, 23(2), 227–241.
Use guided online cases and simulations to practise decisions. Clinical or patient-facing tasks require approved facilities and supervision.
What you will practise
- Health Systems and Policy: Map a health-service pathway and analyse a policy problem.
- Programme Monitoring and Evaluation: Build an evaluation framework for a public-health teaching programme.
- Project Development and Feasibility: Develop an approved discipline-specific project proposal with a supervisor.
Applied project
Applied work should use permissioned service data or a clearly identified teaching dataset. Community engagement requires suitable consent and institutional arrangements. Learners should test whether proposed indicators are measurable and whether the findings support the recommendation. Clinical activities require separate professional authorisation.
Evidence and feedback
- A completed practical task with an explanation of the method, evidence and decisions.
- A coherent programme portfolio with needs assessment, intervention logic, resource plan and monitoring indicators.
- An individual evaluation report and presentation, with locally approved weighting and progression requirements.
Assessment considers the practical work you submit, the evidence behind your decisions and how you respond to feedback.
African History and Pan Africanism practical learning
- African History and Pan Africanism 101: Create an annotated timeline or digital learning poster on a selected African society or historical development. Compare at least two credible sources and explain one connection with your field of study.
- African History and Pan Africanism 201: Develop a comparative case study of a liberation issue or Pan African debate relevant to Southern Africa. Use a historical document alongside a scholarly account and explain differences in purpose and interpretation.
Career Prospects
These examples show work across this qualification pathway, from support roles to specialist and management posts. Your entry point depends on your study, experience and employer requirements. Regulated roles require separate recognition or registration.
Top Career Paths and Job Titles
- Health programme assistant: Maintains service data and supports outreach administration.
- Public health coordinator: Organises interventions and reviews delivery against local needs.
- Health systems specialist: Analyses service evidence and guides policy or quality improvement.
- Epidemiology assistant: Organises surveillance data and checks patterns with a public health team.
- Public health programme manager: Plans interventions, monitors outcomes and coordinates partners.
Growth and Leadership Trajectory
- Starting practice: After meeting entry and any registration requirements, begin with the work represented by Health programme assistant. Build supervised experience and keep a record of reliable work.
- Specialist progression: Relevant study and evidence from more complex projects support a move towards Public health coordinator or Health systems specialist.
- Leadership: With substantial experience, a role such as Public health programme manager adds responsibility for people, quality, budgets or service decisions.
Further Education to Boost Prospects
- Next study step: A relevant master’s degree in health administration and public health is a possible next step. Research preparation or bridging study may be required.
- Continue at BMIT: Master of Public and Environmental Health (MPH) Admission and any credit transfer are assessed separately.
Professional Certifications and Registrations
- Role-specific requirements: No single statutory credential covers every role in health administration and public health. Employers may require a relevant short course, supervised experience or role-specific licence. Check the requirements for the job and country before applying.
Potential Government and Industrial Employers
- Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management: Start or manage a small venture related to this field. Regulated work still requires the relevant professional registration or licence.
- Private and commercial organisations: Hospitals and health-service networks.
- Specialist employers: Health NGOs and development agencies.
- Research and community organisations: Health research and advisory firms.
- Government departments and public bodies: Health departments and public-health programmes.