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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
Sections: 4
•Activities: 1
•Resources: 17
Subjects in this programme
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.
13 subjects are listed below, with a short description of each. The Subject descriptions tab contains the learning outcomes, topics, practical tasks and assessments.
Stage 1: Postgraduate disciplinary study
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Stage 2: Specialist analysis and application
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Stage 3: Supervised research or applied integration
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
African History and Pan Africanism
- African History and Pan Africanism 101 (Level 1, compulsory core module): 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.
- African History and Pan Africanism 201 (Level 2, compulsory core module): 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.
Assessment and practical learning
- Proposed assessment: descriptive data exercises, evidence reviews and programme-management case reports.
- 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.
Practical application
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.
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.
Subject descriptions
Each subject below includes its purpose, learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment approach.
Public Health Foundations
Stage 1: Postgraduate disciplinary study
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
Stage 1: Postgraduate disciplinary study
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
Stage 1: Postgraduate disciplinary study
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
Stage 1: Postgraduate disciplinary study
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.
Health Financing and Resource Allocation
Stage 2: Specialist analysis and application
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
Stage 2: Specialist analysis and application
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
Stage 2: Specialist analysis and application
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
Stage 2: Specialist analysis and application
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.
Research Methods
Stage 3: Supervised research or applied integration
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
Stage 3: Supervised research or applied integration
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
Stage 3: Supervised research or applied integration
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.
African History and Pan Africanism 101
Compulsory 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
African History and Pan Africanism 201
Compulsory 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
Instructors
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Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health
Course modified date: 13 October 2026
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.
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