MSc Public Health

at University of Bedfordshire

This course is for you if you seek a career in public health. There are a range of career opportunities within public health, including public health analyst, public health programme manager and public health specialist. The course can also act as a platform for postgraduate research (MPhil/PhD) study in public health and provides you with sufficient grounding for the UK Faculty of Public Health Part I examination. Upon completion of this course, all students become eligible to apply for fellow membership of the UK Royal Society for Public Health.

Why choose this course?
Study the principles of public health that are relevant to students from around the world, and boost your practical, critical and theoretical skills
Explore your potential on a course that commences with two foundation units before moving onto specialist units that enable you to explore contemporary issues relating to public health policy. A final unit enables you to undertake a research project
Develop an understanding of issues in public health principles and practice from local, national and international perspectives
Gain an insight into the global drivers of reform in health systems and their potential impacts on future public health policy
Benefit from a course that uses case-studies from around the world, and is based on the principle that medical professionals should improve health and prevent disease, not just provide treatment for those who are ill.
92% of our graduates are in work or PhD studies in different countries around the world. (DLHE, 2014).
All of our research is recognised as internationally excellent in impact, and the majority is world-leading (2014 Research Excellence Framework).

This course will help you to develop a critical understanding of how public health policy is developed and implemented in developed and developing countries and how the research process is applied in the study of public health. In addition, this course:
Highlights the importance of public health and public health practice worldwide.
Provides an in-depth understanding of health issues from local, national and global perspectives.
Focuses on delivering research informed teaching.
Supports students in developing specialist expertise in public health which will enable them to improve public health and prevent disease, thereby bringing lasting change to the population’s health status.

Unit Information - What will I learn?
Units
Dissertation (PUB010-6) Compulsory
Epidemiology In Public Health (PUB002-6) Compulsory
Ethical And Legal Issues In Healthcare (PUB014-6) Compulsory
Health And Social Care Inequalities (PUB013-6) Compulsory
Healthcare Commissioning (PUB012-6) Compulsory
Principles, Policies And Issues In Public Health (PUB017-6) Compulsory
Public Health Intelligence (PUB015-6) Compulsory
Public Health Protection (PUB008-6) Compulsory
Public Health Research Methods (PUB016-6) Compulsory

How will I be assessed?
The assessment strategy is designed to assist you in identifying, reflecting on and meeting your own learning needs in relation to your working environment. Each unit is further designed to develop your public health skills in ways which are directly relevant to your workplace. In order to assist in your future professional and career development, each assignment will require you to identify and develop a competency from the UK Faculty of Public Health framework which forms the basis of your learning and underpins your assessment. As you undertake the course units, you are given the opportunity to develop your skills in a range of public health techniques via the assessments. For example, you will be required to develop an Action Plan; write a newspaper article summarizing a complex public health issue into layman's terms; write a public health report; develop a public health research proposal; develop a public health presentation; and design a public health poster. Each of these assessments will enable you to demonstrate the ability to critically understand and evaluate complex public health issues and communicate these effectively to a range of audiences.

To apply for a postgraduate degree (MA/MSc/MBA/LLM) at the University of Bedfordshire you should have a good honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in an appropriate subject from a recognised university or HE institution.

We will also consider candidates with other relevant qualifications or appropriate work experience.

English language requirements
The University accepts the following qualification as satisfying the English Language requirements for entry to a Bachelor or Master's degree.

UKVI Academic IELTS overall score of 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each element

Please note: some courses may require higher levels of English 

Students should hold a relevant health or social care degree (grade 2:2 or higher).
It is also highly desirable that candidates have some experience of working within a health (preferably in public health) or social care sector.
A minimum IELTS score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each band or equivalent for EU and international applicants.
 

The Scholarship scheme for international students enrolling in the academic year 21/22 at one of our UK campuses is as follows:

An automatic £1,000 Vice Chancellor's Scholarship for new international applicants (undergraduate and postgraduate).
A £500 Prompt Payment Discount for applicants who pay their first year fees in full, before or at registration (undergraduate and postgraduate).
A further £500 for applicants who are also University of Bedfordshire alumni