Course details

Summary

The Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Health Care (PGCertPHC) is an interdisciplinary distance-taught programme available for those engaged in the delivery of primary and integrated health care (e.g. medical, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, management). It provides a formal nationally recognised primary health care qualification.

Students will gain an appreciation of team dynamics, interdisciplinary collaboration and cultural and ethical issues, oriented towards clinical practice, health delivery management, basic primary health care research or a combination of these.

The programme comprises a core paper (PRHC 701) plus further approved paper(s) to the value of 30 points which can be selected from a wide range of topics relevant to primary health care. At the completion of this qualification, graduates are able to continue to the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDipPHC), and then become eligible to apply to continue to the Master of Primary Health Care (MPHC).

Programme Requirements

Papers Required

PRHC 701 New Zealand Primary Health Care (30 points) is compulsory

Remaining paper(s) totalling 30 points, selected from elective papers listed in the Schedule for the Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Health Care and/or from other papers approved by the Board of Studies in Primary Health Care.

Entry criteria

Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) on the advice of the Academic Board of the Otago Medical School, which must be satisfied that the applicant has the ability and experience to proceed to the programme.
Every applicant shall:

• have been admitted to a degree or diploma of a university, or
• hold an appropriate qualification approved by the Academic Board of the Otago Medical School, or
• have been admitted ad eundem statum as entitled to proceed to the certificate.

English Language Requirements: IELTS score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); Internet-based TOEFL Score of 95 with a minimum writing score of 22; Paper-based TOEFL score of 587 (TWE 4.5); Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); APIEL Advanced Placement International English Language Examination - Grade 4 or higher; Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 64 with no communicative skills score below 57; University of Otago Foundation Studies Ltd: Completion of 'English for Postgraduate Academic Purposes' with a grade of C or higher.