Overview

The Graduate Diploma of Environmental Health Practice teaches students the skills to interpret, critically evaluate, prevent, and solve a range of environmental health problems. From managing food and safety risks to environmental health law, students will receive broad training across the field. Graduates will be able to seek professional careers in the environmental health field, either as a practitioner or officer.

View the Graduate Diploma of Environmental Health Practice course handbook
Want free, on-the-spot advice about courses, careers, and applying?

Whether you're just starting your career or switching it up, our experts at the Swinburne Skills and Jobs Centre are on hand to help you understand your career and study options.

Upgrade your skills

  • Critical evaluation of Environmental Health issues
  • Understanding of Legislative and Policy frameworks
  • Evidence-based practice in Environmental Health
  • Multidisciplinary problem-solving

Stretch your career further

  • Environmental health practitioner
  • Environmental health officer
  • Food and waste management consultant
  • Communicable disease control

Key codes

International student visa

International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.

Professional accreditations

The Graduate Diploma of Environmental Health Practice is professionally accredited by Environmental Health Australia. Graduates are eligible to apply for membership to Environmental Health Australia (EHA) and Environmental Health Professionals Australia (EHPA).

Why Swinburne?

Rated top 20% of Australian universities for PG Overall Experience

92.9% of PG graduates found full-time employment after graduating

Rated top 20% of Australian universities for PG Teaching Quality

Awarded 5-stars for PG teaching quality (overall)

  • SEAN LA FONTAINE, Business Development Manager, Kernow

    Kernow is the largest provider of environmental health services in Australia, and we’re constantly on the lookout for talented people. We count many Swinburne alumni in our ranks … in fact, I hold a Swinburne degree myself. At Kernow, we want to set our staff up for success – our graduate recruits become part of our Boost induction and training program.

    Sean La Fontaine , Business Development Manager, Kernow

Qualifications

A Bachelor degree (any discipline) including successful completion of at least four science units (e.g. chemistry, physics, microbiology, physiology, anatomy, life sciences). 

The Course Director may, under certain circumstances, admit others who hold a Bachelor’s degree and can show evidence of a combination of prior learning and experience in a related field. 

Admission requirements

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.

English language requirements

Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.

Credit transfer

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Finding your fit

At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.

How credit points work

The Graduate Diploma of Environmental Health Practice consists of a total of 8 units (100 credit points). Units normally carry 12.5 credit points (credit points). A standard annual full-time load comprises eight (8) units (100 credit points), and a standard annual part-time load comprises four (4) units (50 credit points).

8
Core units
=
Graduate diploma

Your units

Units of study Unit code
Core units
Environmental Health Concepts
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ENH60001
Managing Food Safety Risks
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ENH60003
Effective Planning and Evaluation in Environmental Health Contexts
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ENH70001
Dealing with Uncertainty in Complex Environments
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ENH70002
Becoming an Environmental Health Professional
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ENH70003
Environmental Health Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ENH70004
Behaviour in Organisations
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
HRM60016
Communicable Disease Control
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
PEH60001
Want to learn more about this course?

Learn more about the Graduate Diploma of Environmental Health Practice in the course handbook.

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$27,840

Total fee* ($AUD)

$27,840

Commonwealth Supported Yearly Fee* ($AUD)

$9,314

Commonwealth Supported Total Fee* ($AUD)

$9,314

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$0.00

Fees are estimates only

The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2025 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.

Fees are estimates only

The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.

How do I pay my fees?

Two types of loans are available to assist with student study fees. Depending on eligibility, you’re able to apply for one of the loans outlined below.

  • FEE-HELP is a loan that’s available for full-fee paying higher education students. Depending on your eligibility, the Commonwealth Government can help pay all or part of your loan directly to Swinburne.
  • HECS-HELP is a loan and discount scheme that’s available if you’re enrolled in a Commonwealth-supported place. Depending on eligibility, a HECS-HELP loan can cover all or part of your contribution amount.

International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.

To pay your fees:

  • log in to My Finances
  • check your Australian bank account details are correct 
  • check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe 
  • pay using your preferred payment method.

Eligibility for FEE-HELP

You’re eligible for a FEE-HELP loan if you are studying an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, or UniLink or OUA course at Swinburne, and you:

  • are an Australian citizen doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
  • hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
  • hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens
  • are undertaking bridging study for overseas trained professionals and will be living in Australia for the duration of this study
  • have not exceeded the new combined Help Loan limit.
     

The HELP limit is the maximum amount you can borrow from the government in your lifetime towards your education costs. It is fixed and cannot be topped up.

Eligibility for HECS-HELP

You are eligible for a HECS-HELP loan if you have been offered a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) for an undergraduate degree at Swinburne or a UniLink course, and you:

  • are an Australian citizen and doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
  • hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
  • hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens.

Student services and amenities fee

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

The fee shown in the capped amount for 2025.

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown is the capped amount for 2025.

Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$365

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$365

Scholarships

Scholarship applications for 2025 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals. 

Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.

When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 20 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.

Apply through an agent

Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.

Representatives and agents
GD-ENVHP
Search for agents

Apply directly

Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online! 

Note: For students applying mid-year, only part-time study is available 

Start dates
Location
Last date to apply
Start dates
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Last date to apply
26-February-2025
Start dates
03-March-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Last date to apply
30-July-2025
Start dates
04-August-2025
Start dates
Location
Start dates
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start dates
03-March-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start dates
04-August-2025
Upcoming events
Course and Career One-on-ones
25-November-2024
  • Kayla Croft, Graduate Diploma of Environmental Health Practice

    During my course, I really liked how accessible and facilitating the lecturers were. I enjoyed learning about environmental health law because it underpins a lot of what I do in my day to day work as a practitioner. Learning about food safety risks was also really valuable as I have been able to implement this knowledge to educate the local community and prevent public health risks.

    Kayla Croft , Graduate Diploma of Environmental Health Practice