A Masters designed to improve public health and develop the knowledge required to reflect on current concerns and practice issues within this field.

This MSc programme in public health studying in the UK will offer you the opportunity to demonstrate a systematic understanding of fundamental public health concepts and to critically approach a broad range of public health theories, concepts and frameworks that are fundamental to public health policy and practice in national and international contexts.

Popular with both UK-based and international students, the Master of Public Health course has been specifically designed for those who wish to develop their career within public health, in addition to those looking to promote the health of the public as part of their current professional role.

Upon successful graduation you will possess in-depth research and enquiry skills, and a critical understanding of their application in a public health employment context.

The practical application of these academic skills will equip you with the knowledge and approaches necessary to implement a broad range of interventions to improve public health outcomes in different employment contexts. For example, dealing with pandemic flu epidemics, increasing accessibility to health care services, reducing obesity or malaria rates and community development to enable disadvantaged communities.

Over the last few years we have worked on many collaborative projects with local, national and international partners, who see the tangible benefits that our vibrant and cutting edge programme can offer them. MPH students have gone on to a range of careers, including senior Public Health roles, Early Years Health Integration and academic / policy research careers.

This course is delivered on a full time basis, across a period of either 12, 18 months, or on a part-time basis over 28 months. The 12 month version starts in September and 18 month version starts in January.

We also offer a Public Health course with a nutrition focus - please click here to read more.

This course will provide you with the opportunity to explore and develop your skills and knowledge of leadership, engagement and collaborative working, public health intelligence and epidemiology, public health fundamentals and research.

Teaching will be delivered via a mix of lectures and seminars, which will be supported by case studies, enquiry-based learning exercises, skills development sessions and independent study.

This course will be assessed through written work, group presentations, essays and academic posters.

You will also produce an in-depth dissertation project around a subject area of your choice. Undertaken under the supervision of a dedicated supervisor, this project will form the final stage of the assessment process.

This course is taught by a team of experienced lecturers with a practice background in public health or education. We boast close links with local directors, commissioners and practitioners of public health, some of whom are employed as part of our teaching team to provide you with access to professionals that are actively working within public health.

All of our teaching staff possess the accreditation's and academic qualifications required to teach, in addition to professional registrations with the Nursing and Midwifery Council or Health Care Professionals Council where necessary.

We also welcome external visiting speakers from a variety of public health contexts to contribute to lectures, enabling you learn about the current issues that are defining the public health sector.

Our team have extensive experience of working with both UK and international students and will provide ongoing guidance to support you throughout every step of this course.

This course is based at our City campus and our facilities are some of the most advanced in the country and allow us to ensure your learning evolves in-line with the latest developments in the industry.

Technology is embedded throughout all aspects of your degree and you will receive ongoing support through our innovative e-learning platform, Blackboard, where you can access module handbooks, assessment information, lecture presentation slides and reading lists. Key lectures will also be recorded to allow you to listen again.

If English is not your first language you will also have access to the Academic Language Skills (ALS) programmes to help you develop your English language, academic writing and study skills.

Research-rich learning is central to the structure of this course and our research-active staff will use examples from the latest studies and their own research to develop your critical understanding and thinking.

You will be encouraged to critically examine and comment on the philosophical underpinnings, methodologies and methods applied to public health studies and begin to design a research proposal to form the basis for your dissertation - a project of self directed study that requires you to undertake independent enquiry around a subject area of your choice.

Northumbria University is ranked in the top quartile in the UK for its research power in Allied Health Sciences and Nursing.

More than 80% of research activity in Allied Health Sciences and Nursing is rated as world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2014).

The Public Health and Wellbeing department works in partnership with local and national services and organisations to produce independent public health and healthcare professionals who are competent, confident, compassionate and able to meet and exceed the professional, statutory and regulatory body standards required of them.

Our partnership with those actively involved in public health will enable you to interact and network with professionals who are currently working within public health, in addition to allowing you to further understand how the skills taught on this course apply to a real working environment.

The Master of Public Health course provides a good foundation for you to develop a portfolio at the level required for your particular role, if you so wish. For those pursuing the specialty training for registrars / supervisors the learning from the course will inform your portfolio development route (Faculty of Public Health 2015).

This course’s modules have been aligned to reflect the core and defined areas of the UK Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework (2013) and the Faculty of Public Health’s (2015) six domains of public health practice

Upon graduation you will possess the skills required for leadership, management and system-based thinking in public health, all of which will enhance your ability to lead and manage in a variety of public health organisations in the UK and worldwide.

The Master of Public Health qualification is a national and internationally renowned degree that will help you seek employment in public or government services, voluntary organisations, non-governmental organisations and research posts both in the UK and abroad.

Former alumni have gone on to work for non-governmental organisations, hospital management, voluntary and charitable organisations and health improvement posts.

Completion of this course also provides an excellent grounding for progression to PhD or professional doctorate studies.

96% of graduates from Public Health and Wellbeing courses are in work or further study within the first six months of graduation.