Program Overview

Master of Healthcare Leadership

The Master of Healthcare Leadership is a postgraduate degree designed for healthcare professionals seeking to advance their careers in leadership and management. This engaging, flexible, and interactive online program provides opportunities for leadership in multidisciplinary and complex healthcare delivery.

Course Snapshot

• Start Date: January, March, May, July, August, October
• Duration: 2 years part-time (domestic), 3 years part-time (international)
• Location: SCU Online
• Placement: No
• ATAR: Not applicable
• Inherent Requirements: No
• Language Requirements: IELTS Overall Score 6.5
• Entry Requirements: View full entry requirements
• Course Abbreviation: MHlthLdr
• Course Code:
• Credit Points: 144
• Equivalent Units: 12
• Scholarships: Learn more
• Indicative Fee: Fee paying for domestic students, view in availability and fee details for international students

Overview

This master's program extends current knowledge in evidence-based care and teaches how to effectively lead teams of health professionals in Australia's public and private healthcare systems. The program allows students to start when it suits them, with the option to power through six units a year and complete the degree in two years. Advanced standing may be granted for up to eight units for those with a Graduate Diploma of Advanced Health Practice.

Understanding the Southern Cross Model

The Southern Cross Model is a revolutionary approach in higher education, featuring shorter, six-week unit structures designed around immersive and interactive learning experiences. This model enhances student success rates and course satisfaction by providing a greater sense of momentum as milestones are achieved quickly.

Learning Outcomes and Graduate Attributes

The program is designed to achieve specific learning outcomes aligned with graduate attributes, including:

• GA1: Intellectual rigour - Monitor professional learning, research capabilities, and performance with personal autonomy, accountability, resilience, and adaptability.
• GA2: Creativity - Apply highly developed sustainability frameworks to optimize health, social, and community care services.
• GA3: Ethical practice - Critically appraise the role of professional standards or competencies and ethical frameworks in advancing professional practice and professional learning in health, social, and community services.
• GA4: Knowledge of a discipline - Work independently and collaboratively to generate highly integrated and holistic frameworks in health, social, and community care services.
• GA5: Lifelong learning - Demonstrate a critical application of optimum leadership and management frameworks in the current health, social, and community care system.
• GA6: Communication and social skills - Demonstrate research skills to interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions, and professional decisions and communicate these to a variety of stakeholders.
• GA7: Cultural competence - Demonstrate critical application of cultural responsivity and respect for the identity, dignity, and diversity of all people.

Career Outcomes

Australia's healthcare system is one of the best in the world and is the country's largest employer, with evolving and growing employment opportunities. Graduates of the Master of Healthcare Leadership will be equipped for leadership roles within primary health care, community outreach organizations, area health services, professional associations, hospitals, private practice, and local, state, and federal policy-making agencies.

Requirements

• Entry Requirements: A three-year Bachelor qualification or equivalent in a health-related discipline, with evidence of at least one year's work experience in a health-related field.
• Language Requirements: IELTS Overall Score 6.5 for international applicants.
• Course Requirements: Completion of 12 units (144 credit points), comprising 11 core units and 1 elective unit.

Exit Awards

Students may be eligible to exit with a Graduate Diploma of Healthcare Leadership after completing 8 units (96 credit points) or a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership after completing 4 units (48 credit points).

Course Structure

The course progression is designed to be completed in a recommended order, with units available in multiple teaching periods throughout the year.

Core Units

• PBHL5016: Leading Change in Health Care
• PBHL5014: Strategic Planning and Management in Health Care
• PBHL5018: Envisioning Health Systems, Policies, and Practices
• PBHL5017: Governance and Accountability in Health Care
• PBHL5008: Social and Emotional Competence in Health Care
• PBHL5010: Contemporary Health Leadership
• PBHL5006: Building a Professional Portfolio
• PBHL5015: Effective Teaching and Supervision in Health Care
• PBHL6004: Leading Evidence-based Practice in Health
• PBHL6005: Critical Review in Health
• PBHL6006: Research Proposal for Health Innovation

Elective Units

• MHNS5001: Contemporary Mental Health
• MHNS5002: Mental Health Across the Lifespan
• MHNS6002: Mental Health in Community, Non-Government, and Primary Health Settings
• MHNS5003: Acute Mental Health
• MHNS6004: Physical Health Care in Mental Health
• MHNS5004: Supporting Behaviour Change in Mental Health Contexts
• MGMT5003: Organisational Behaviour (Online)
• HRMT6002: Human Resource Management (Online)
• MGMT6003: The Positive Leader (Online)

Fees and Scholarships

Domestic Students

• Commonwealth Supported Places: The Government pays some of the fees, and students pay the rest as the Student Contribution Amount (SCA).
• Full Fee-Paying Places: Students pay the full (unsubsidised) tuition fee for their course.
• Scholarships: Available for various backgrounds and achievements.

International Students

• Annual Course Cost: Found on the International Courses and Fees page or the course webpage under fees.
• Scholarships: Southern Cross University offers a range of scholarships for international students.

Why Study Health at Southern Cross University?

• Hands-on Learning: Health Clinics on campus provide safe and supervised environments for practicums.
• 5-star Health Ratings: Rated 5 stars in nursing and psychology by the Good Universities Guide 2026.
• Global Top 800: Rated in the top 800 universities worldwide for Medical and Health by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject (2025).