This Postgraduate Diploma in Health Research (PGDHR) programme is designed to provide health workers the opportunity to develop and apply the core competencies for analyzing and reporting on a dataset from a health information system considered a national priority. Its purpose is to strengthen Health Information Systems in the Pacific and enabling health staff to engage in health research and generate the evidence base for strategic decision-making and for informing health policies, programme and practices. The PGDHR programme focuses on building essential research skills at all levels which will allow students to develop proficiency in health research methods. This programme is a one year programme that introduces epidemiological, biostatistical, data management and analysis, health research methods followed by application of these concepts in proposal development and a health research project. This programme attracts health department staff responsible for managing or utilizing data in health information systems, and could include data officers, nurses, doctors, allied health staff as well as programme and senior managers. Students can enroll online while based in hospitals, primary health care centres, community health centres, public health programme, pathology laboratories, pharmacies, or statistics offices. It is completed over a minimum of one year (full time study equivalent) and a maximum of 2 years (part-time study equivalent). The programme has 4 core courses and one elective course implemented across two semesters. 

1.	A bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4.5 and/ or out of 5.0; OR
2.	A minimum of three years’ experience in the health sector (demonstrated on their curriculum vitae) with three positive and written references from their supervisors; OR
3.	A health-related postgraduate degree which will be subject to FNU cross credit policies; OR
4.	Applicants may also be admitted to the programme who may not meet the requirement on the years of continuous education progression, but who are able to demonstrate their ability to succeed in programmes at these levels on the basis of their maturity, work experience or prior learning. The Dean may require such an applicant to sit for any specific or general examination as a prerequisite for any such enrolment or may restrict enrolment only to certain prescribed courses that must be passed to progress further.
5.	All admissions into the PGDHR programme must be endorsed by the HoD, and HoS of the SPHPC, CMNHS.