MSc Public Health

Key Facts:
This is a well-established and highly-regarded course that covers all areas of the ‘UK National Standards for Practice in Public Health’ agenda, with a particular focus on the social & interpersonal aspects of health. The course will enable you to strengthen your ability to work at an advanced level within the field of health promotion and public health as part of a multi professional team. It incorporates the National Occupational Standards for Public Health and will enable you to meet the expectations of the Public Health competency framework. You will develop a broad range of competencies alongside a mastery of your chosen health promotion /public health field.

Course overview:
The course is relevant to a wide range of workers, irrespective of job title, from various sectors (not necessarily restricted to healthcare). Each intake typically comprises of some people working in Health Promotion/Public Health Specialist roles, some healthcare workers seeking to move into more health promoting or disease preventing roles, practitioners from other parts of the statutory or voluntary sector and, occasionally, students straight from their degree. The course aims to develop confident and effective practitioners who have the knowledge and skills to commission, implement, manage and evaluate programmes that promote the public’s health.

The course provides:
• A platform for individual portfolio development aimed at registration with the UK Voluntary Register for public health specialists
• An opportunity for students to strengthen their ability to work at improving population health (as opposed to managing illnesses) at a more advanced level
• An opportunity to study alongside a range of health professionals, enriching the learning experience
• The skills and understanding to enable students to enhance or change their roles to include a greater health development focus.

Assessment:
Modules are continually assessed by a variety of means including essays, reports, reflective diaries and presentations.

Further study:
This is a well-established postgraduate course, particularly well-regarded by students for the support given by tutors. Following completion of the MSc you can progress your studies to doctoral level by PhD or Professional Doctorate.

Employability:
There is no single career pathway. The course benefits from attracting students from a range of backgrounds and, in turn, prepares people to go on to work in a wide range of areas (e.g. working directly with communities or individuals in the public, policy work, research, campaigns or management). Past graduates include a number of people now working in prominent roles regionally and nationally such as; National Mental Health Promotion Lead, Regional Commissioning Manager, Consultant in Public Health and Director of Public Health.

Degree plus experience preferred