Applied Public Health Masters - MSc

The MSc Applied Public Health places a strong focus on health equity and social justice at local and global levels. Our aim is to develop reflective public health practitioners who apply a systematic and practical understanding of public health to improve and protect the health & well-being of the individuals, groups and communities that they work with. We will support you to develop and use a combination of leadership, innovation and technical skills to advocate for, influence and implement changes in policy and practice to reduce or eliminate unjust, preventable differences in health, and promote sustainable development.

The programme in Applied Public Health is aimed at anyone with an interest in improving the full range of social, economic and environmental determinants of health: for example, people working in public health, education, health promotion, housing, transport, leisure, environmental health, community development, health & wellbeing partnerships, planning, social services, school nursing, and health visiting (not an exhaustive list!). We welcome applicants from all sectors: public, private and the voluntary & independent sector. During your studies you will investigate public health issues and case studies from around the world, as well as Wales and in the UK.

Features of the programme:

Linked to professional standards: the programme is designed to meet UK and international public health competency frameworks, including UK Public Health Skills & Knowledge Framework and the UK Public Health Practitioner Standards. We use many international case studies in our teaching, as well as examples from the UK. We are currently applying for accreditation with two international public health organisations: the International Union of Health Promotion & Education, and the Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation.

Real-world application: The programme is devised to enable you to apply your knowledge to real-world situations. Assessments often designed to allow you to apply public health skills to the issues that you are currently facing in your own practice, or that you are most interested in investigating. We provide personalised academic and professional support, helping you to apply and develop your public health skills in your current and future practice.

Assessment strategy focused on public health skills: our assessments are designed to address the main programme outcomes, enabling you to develop, integrate and demonstrate yout public health skills across the programme. We use a wide range of assessment types, including reports, presentations, interviews and observed practice scenarios. There are no unseen written examinations. The programme contains an integrating 'Public Health Skills Assessment' at the end of the taught modules.

Work-based learning opportunity: you can elect to complete the portfolio assessment of the Health Equity Interventions module by undertaking work-based learning. This may be through your existing employment or activities, or by arranging a specific experience with a relevant employer.

Career

The promotion, protection and improvement of public health are key objectives for the Welsh Government, UK Government and internationally in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The MSc in Applied Public Health has been designed to meet and align with the requirements of UK and international public health competency frameworks and professional standards, including:

• UK Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework
• UK Public Health Practitioner Standards
• International Union for Health Promotion and Education – Competencies for Health Promotion
• Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation – Curriculum for Masters-level public health programmes
  
  

The programme provides the underpinning knowledge to enable you to pursue UK Public Health Practitioner registration (which requires completion of an assessed portfolio through a recognised development scheme, such as that operated by Public Health Wales. Find out more about practitioner registration at the UK Public Health Register website. Three members of the programme team are UKPHR portfolio assessors, giving us an excellent understanding of the knowledge and skills you need for successful practice. If you'd like to find out more about career development opportunities in public health, we strongly recommend the Health Careers website.

Your aspirations for professional development will be discussed during induction. Support and guidance will then be tailored throughout the programme to ensure that you are best able to fulfil your chosen professional development needs.  Part of the Public Health Skills Assessment will include delivery of a presentation reflecting on the development of your public health skills over the course of your studies and experiences, including identification of potential career development goals/opportunities, and actions they intend to take to achieve these. Throughout the programme, you will be able to work with your personal tutor to reflect on your skill development, career objectives, etc. which will support you to prepare and deliver this presentation, and plan and progress your public health career.

An opportunity for work-based learning is provided within the Health Equity Interventions module. You have the opportunity to fulfil the Portfolio assessment of this module by completing a work-based learning project where you investigate a public health issue and work to develop an intervention to promote public health and reduce health inequalities. This could be undertaken within an existing professional role, or via a specific opportunity arranged with a relevant organisation. Alternatively, you can fulfil the same assessment working in team with other students, working on a scenario-based public health intervention project.

Graduates from the programme have progressed to advanced positions in their chosen specialist career areas. Examples of roles our graduates have attained include:

• Public Health Fellow (American India Association) and Project Manager, Tata Steel Rural Development Society
• Senior Public Health Practitioner, Public Health Wales
• Environmental Health Team Leader, Welsh local authority
• Program Manager, Maternal and Child Health, Pakistan non-profit organisation
• Data and Information Officer, research funding organisation
• Programme Manager at Public Health Wales
• Transfer Co-ordinator at Springer Nature, India
• Digital Inclusion Officer at Cardiff Council
• Project Manager, e-learning at Diabetes UK
• Professional Lead Podiatrist at Cwm Taf University Health Board
• Junior Research Fellow at Public Health Foundation of India
• Programme Support Officer at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
• Research Assistant at Public Health Wales
• Project Co-ordinator at Gofal Cymru
  

Graduates have also progressed to further study on research degrees leading to MPhil and PhD qualifications.