Outline

Overview

This unit provides students with an opportunity to draw together and apply their learning across the degree program by working on a public health project. The key aim is for students to undertake tasks they are likely to need to do during their public health career - undertake a project, prepare a summary of it, and communicate their findings to a wide audience. Students will undertake a focused project on a public health topic. This may be as part of a practical public health project or on area investigated primarily for the purposes of the Capstone unit. The projects will be identified by the unit coordinators; students will be able to choose from these projects depending on interests and eligibility. Students will produce a project outline, symposium abstract, symposium presentation with Q&A, and a report on their work.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Public Health
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	30 credit points from (PUBH5010 and (PUBH5018 or FMHU5002) and (FMHU5003 or PUBH5505 or BACH5255 or QUAL5005) and HPOL5000 and PUBH5033 and PUBH5036)
Corequisites ?	36 credit points from (PUBH5010 and (PUBH5018 or FMHU5002) and (FMHU5003 or PUBH5505 or BACH5255 or QUAL5005) and HPOL5000 and PUBH5033 and PUBH5036)
Prohibitions ?	PUBH5034
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Emily Saurman, emily.saurman@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written work	Major deliverable Written assessment - major deliverable	45%	Formal exam period Due date: 09 Jun 2026 at 23:59	4000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Project Outline Written assessment - project outline	10%	Week 04 Due date: 22 Mar 2026 at 23:59	2-3 pages	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Symposium abstract Written assessment - symposium abstract	10%	Week 09 Due date: 03 May 2026 at 23:59	250 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Q&A following presentation, submission or placement	Symposium presentation and Q&A Oral presentation - live on Zoom	35%	Week 13 Due date: 29 May 2026 at 09:00	10 minutes, plus ~ 5 minutes questions	AI limited - refer to Canvas
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Presentation slides Slides submitted before symposium presentation (assessed in presentation)	0%	Week 13 Due date: 27 May 2026 at 23:59	-	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment and Guidance for AI use can be found on Canvas.

Task 1: Project Outline

In close consultation with your Project Leader, write a 2-3 page outline (using the template provided) that clearly defines the details your Capstone Project.

You will send this to your Project Leader for feedback and approval and then upload the approved outline to the Canvas. This is to ensure you and your Project Leader are aligned on project focus, scope, deliverable and timeframes.

Task 2: Symposium Abstract

Your Capstone Symposium Abstract should mimic the real-life situation of applying to present your work at a public health symposium/conference.

Stay within the word limit of 250 words (excluding the title and headings). Students who exceed the word limit will lose marks - see marking guide for details. Please note that this word limit does not include the title or the headings (title, background, aim, methods, results, conclusion) - they are additional to the limit.
Include a title and structure your abstract with the following headings: Background, Aim, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
Submit your abstract in Canvas.

Task 3: Major Deliverable

The Major Deliverable is determined by your Project Leader. Most projects produce a formal report and so the marking guide has been developed with that in mind. Other outputs may be supplementary to a short report. The guide can be adapted by your project leader for project outputs if needed. This needs to be provided to the Unit Coordinators for the independent markers.

Please note that your project may require a report or final deliverable written differently or with a different structure, so please be sure to ask your Project Leader for their advice on writing your final deliverable.

The PRODUCT components of the output you produce will be marked by an independent marker. Please provide a note for the marker about your agreed deliverable and any approved modification, i.e. word count, structure. The PROCESS components of your work will be marked by your Project Leader. Together, these marks will represent 45% of your mark for the Capstone Unit.

Task 4&5: Capstone Presentation Symposium

Task 4 - Please submit your PowerPoint slides on the Wednesday before the Symposium. Please be aware these slides cannot be changed between submission and the Symposium day.

Task 5 - At this exciting Symposium, live mode students will give presentations of their work to their colleagues, judges, and symposium Chairs. The symposium will be run live face-to-face and live via Zoom. Presentations will be 10 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A. The Symposium will begin at 9am. Lunch is provided and is followed by a Careers Session. Students are encouraged to plan to attend for the whole day.

Generative AI

In this Unit, the use of generative AI is cautioned (see Generative AI Guidance Document for more information and the University site AI in Education).

Students are permitted to use generative AI in their unsecured written assessments (project outline, abstract, deliverable, presentation slide development) but any and all uses must be clearly acknowledged and must be in accordance with the guidance document (provided on Canvas). The use of generative AI should be ethical, productive, and uphold critical thinking. Students must use the provided coversheet for all written assessments. Failure to submit the coversheet as another document (even if you do not use generative AI) will result in a 5% deduction. Generative AI is not permitted for the delivery of your presentation or answering questions during the Symposium.

It is an academic integrity breach if a student uses generative AI in a secure assessment without approval or if a student uses generative AI to complete or contribute to an open assessment without appropriate acknowledgement. For advice go to: how to acknowledge AI use.

Be aware, if the team or organisation responsible for your project does not permit the use of generative AI for policy or other reasons, you must follow that guidance.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

If you are unable to submit on time, you have two options: You can apply in advance for an extension of up to five days through a simple extension. Granting a simple extension has no impact on eligibility to apply for special consideration. For longer extensions, in cases of illness or misadventure for example, you can apply for special consideration or special arrangements. According to the University’s website: If you experience short-term circumstances beyond your control, such as illness, injury or misadventure, which affect your preparation or performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration. You need to apply within 3 working days of the assessment. If you have essential commitments that will impact your preparation or performance in an assessment, it may be possible for you to make special arrangements to fulfil your responsibilities. If you are affected by long-term circumstances, such as a recurring medical condition, we encourage you to register with Disability Services. All applications for special consideration are submitted via MyUni and processed centrally. Late penalties Assignments have due dates (1) to ensure equity in that all students are given the same preparation time (2) to demonstrate that students are capable of producing the required standard of work within a set period of time (3) to allow staff to mark assignments and to submit marks to the University's examinations office by the required dates. Failure to submit assignments by the due date compromises these important goals. You should be aware that due dates will be strictly enforced. If you can't attend on the dates set you will need to discuss this with your unit coordinator and submit a special consideration form. Penalties for late submission will be applied in accordance with the Faculty of Medicine and Health resolutions. Failure to submit an assessment on time will result in late penalties as described in the Assessment Procedures 2011: “For every calendar day up to and including ten calendar days after the due date, a penalty of 5% of the maximum awardable marks will be applied to late work. The penalty will be calculated by first marking the work, and then subtracting 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date. For assessments more than 10 days late, the mark will be zero.”

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Progressive	Research Project Activity - regular engagement with the Project Leader - self-directed work	Fieldwork (120 hr)
Week 01	1. Welcome; 2. Overview: 3. Student support: 4. Literature search workshop and drop-in sessions; 5. Presentation skills; 6. Canvas sign-up; 7. Q and A; 8. Project leaders and projects. Online students can watch the workshop live on Zoom or watch a recording after the workshop.	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 02	Project Outline	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 03	Generative AI	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	Ethics	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 05	Open Session	One-on-one supervision meeting (1 hr)
Week 06	Abstract	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	Project Management (Guest Speaker)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	Open Session	One-on-one supervision meeting (1 hr)
Week 09	Report Writing (Guest Speaker)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	Open Session	One-on-one supervision meeting (1 hr)
Week 11	Major Deliverable	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	Presentation and Q&A	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 13	Capstone symposium - online students are expected to attend live via Zoom to present and answer questions. Further details are on Canvas.	Seminar (5 hr)
Week 13	Open Session	One-on-one supervision meeting (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: This Unit is normally offered as face-to-face, online, or a combination of both. The student workshop will be run face-to-face with the option to Zoom in and a recording offered to students who cannot attend live.
Interaction between Project Leaders and students may be face-to-face, online, or both, depending on the needs of the project and as specified in the project description prepared by Project Leaders. Contact time for the project may vary and will be determined by the Project Leaders.
It is expected the student symposium will be a combination of live face-to-face and Zoom presentations. The expectation is that all students will present at the symposium live in person or on Zoom.

Other: All students will complete online learning activities and training workshops. For their individual Capstone projects, all students will communicate with their Project Leaders via email/meetings as appropriate to the project.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Readings will be set for each project by the Project Leader.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Apply knowledge and skills to an authentic work-related task in public health
LO2. Write a detailed report or other deliverable that meets the project’s requirements
LO3. Write a succinct and persuasive conference abstract
LO4. Deliver a succinct and persuasive conference presentation
LO5. Work independently and engage in self-directed learning
LO6. Provide support to team members as appropriate.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Incorporation of student feedback is currently in progress for the upcoming semester.

Additional information

More information can be found on Canvas.

Special Consideration

Work, health and safety

There may be specific WHS requirements, depending on the project – these will be specified by the Project Leader.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

PUBH5134: Public Health Capstone

Semester 1, 2026 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links