MSc Public Health

• Normally, you'll have at least a lower second class (2.2) honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject that demonstrates applicability to public health practice.
• Appropriate work experience is desirable. This can include both paid and voluntary work, internships, etc.
• We'll also consider applications where appropriate work experience can be demonstrated in lieu of, or in addition to, the published academic qualifications in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures.
• You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
• If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.

Public health is a broad discipline that reaches across all aspects of health and social care, community work, physical activity, education and housing. It spans the life course from the cradle to the grave, offering interesting and challenging career opportunities for ambitious graduates with a background in areas such as health and social care, nursing, biological and medical sciences, education, sports or social sciences.

The MSc programme is aimed at those who want to work or are currently working in public health. This programme focuses on preparing you to translate your passion for improving the health of communities and individuals into actual outcomes. The public health sector provides real opportunities for a fulfilling career, making a difference to individuals and communities, and working to help people improve their lives and those of future generations through increased wellbeing and life expectancy.

This interdisciplinary programme offers essential knowledge for career progression in public health. The dissertation element of the course supports the development of specialist knowledge, and the optional experiential module allows you to gain valuable practical experience. In Greater Manchester, there is a real commitment to a multi-disciplinary approach to improve public health, connecting health and social care, the NHS, primary and secondary education, sport and physical activity. This offers significant opportunities for experiential learning and possible future employment.

Some employability skills you can develop by undertaking this programme include critical analysis of qualitative and quantitative evidence, problem-solving and independent research in a selected area of public health that interests you.

What can I do with this qualification?

Depending on your prior qualifications and experience, this MSc in Public Health can open up many career opportunities in various public health sectors, such as healthcare management, epidemiology, environmental health, global health and community health.

As a graduate of this MSc, you may find opportunities in a wide range of public sector settings – nationally in the UK and internationally. It opens up various employment opportunities such as local and national government organisations, the civil service, the NHS and higher education, working in schools, colleges, advocacy organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community development organisations, and human rights agencies. You may also seek work in the private sector with independent companies, organisations and consultancy firms. Charities and social enterprises also need professionals with a sound understanding of public health.

Roles specialising in public health include intelligence analyst and statistical assistant, research assistant, health improvement practitioner, health protection practitioner, and public health manager. Given the specialist nature of many of these roles, we recommend you research the job market and potential salaries for MSc Public Health graduates in your desired field.

When you successfully complete this MSc, you'll be able to apply for doctorate-level programmes focusing on public health-related research.

Alternative career options

Graduates can also use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Some possibilities include the following:

• Environmental health
• Teaching
• Research
• Consultancy

Useful information

Please note, in addition to the tuition fee, there may be additional costs for things like printing, textbooks, trips or RSPH professional body fees. Additionally, there may be other activities that are not formally part of your course and not required to complete your course but which you may find helpful (for example, optional field trips). The costs of these are additional to your tuition fee and the fees set out above, and you'll be notified when the activity is being arranged.

Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2023-2024 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.

The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.

Bursaries

Click here for more information on our Master's Bursaries.

The Faculty of Health and Wellbeing works across various sectors, offering professional and non-professional education and works to balance exposure to subject knowledge, theoretical perspectives and professional/practical skills. This master's degree is part of a suite of programmes offering a cross-curriculum and multi-professional ethos in the areas of community development and youth work, early childhood studies and health and social care.

We use a wide variety of teaching and learning methods. You can expect lectures, presentations, seminar discussions, small group workshops, small group tutorials and one-to-one tutorials, and using virtual learning environments (VLE) and e-learning packages. You'll also need to undertake a significant amount of personal study, including general background reading, preparing for seminar activities, working on assignments and revising for examinations.

Assessment methods are also varied, allowing you to develop and demonstrate your learning in a range of ways. For example, assessments may require you to complete essays, reports, presentations, seminar contributions and portfolios.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

• Postgraduate Preparation for Research Design
• Critical Reading and Writing Skills
• Leadership and Innovation
• Contemporary Issues, Policy and Practice
• Health Promotion and Behavioural Change
• Global Public Health and Local Interventions
• Epidemiology and Public Health Informatics
• Master's Project

Assessment methods

Learning activities

Disclaimer

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.