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Public Health (Health Technology Assessment) MPH/PGDip/PGCert

Start date
September
Duration
Full-time, part-time, flexible
Course Type
Postgraduate, Taught
Fees

Tuition fee for 2023/24:
UK: £10,170 full-time
International: £26,640 full-time
More details on fees and funding

Master in Public Health

The MPH (HTA) is a strand of the Master in Public Health (MPH) programme for those students who wish to specialise in public health with health technology assessment.  

 

 

 

 

Programme withdrawal

This programme has been withdrawn. Please see the information below for the Public Health programmes that are available.

 

This multidisciplinary MPH provides firm grounding in the range of skills and disciplines essential to public health and health technology assessment. This programme will allow you to combine the benefits of completing an MPH degree with the specialism of health technology assessment and evidence-based healthcare. Health technology assessment is a rapidly expanding area, and employment prospects are good. 

The MPH (HTA) is an exit qualification from the MPH programme.  Candidates access this strand by applying for the Master in Public Health programme. If you wish to study this programme to Postgraduate Diploma level then you will need to complete the taught elements of the programme but will not need to complete a dissertation.

We also offer the following Public Health programmes:

  • The Master in Public Health, designed to provide academic training to professionals currently working in, or who wish to work in, the public health field, students attend compulsory modules then choose from a wide range of approved modules.
  • The MPH (Global Health) programme. This course aimed at professionals already working in low- and middle-income countries or those aiming in the future to work in health care in such setting. It builds upon the well-established and successful Master in Public Health.
  • The MPH (Statement of Extra Accredited Learning) programme - this programme provides a broader version of the current MPH programme (230 instead of 180 credits). By being formally assessed and accredited in more modules, the MPH (SEAL) allows students to demonstrate their wider competency range.

This programme is for anyone who wishes to develop their career by acquiring skills in using health information and making evidence-based policy within the healthcare field. It is particularly suitable for professionals who wish to develop their skills in evidence-based healthcare and health technology assessment. This includes those working in public health, health services research (including medical statisticians, health economists and epidemiologists), or information departments in the health service, university, government or health care industry settings in the UK or abroad.

The programme will allow you to combine the benefits of completing an MPH degree with the specialism of health technology assessment and evidence-based healthcare.

Why study this course?

This programme equips professionals with a range of skills and abilities to be able to critically appraise and use healthcare evidence to improve health service policy. You will learn how to ask challenging questions, understand the nature of research and evaluate evidence in an informed and unbiased way.

Modules

Core modules

Introduction to Public Health (not assessed)
Epidemiology Statistics and Research Methods (20 credits)
Practical Epidemiology and Statistics* (20 credits)
Health Information and Health Informatics* (10 credits)
Principles of Health Technology Assessment* (10 credits) 
Health Economics* (10 credits)
Systematic Reviews and Evidence Synthesis* (20 credits)

Option modules (Tier 2)

You will choose 20 credits from the modules below:

Introduction to Leadership and Management in Health* (10 credits)
Health Care Evaluation and Commissioning* (10 credits)
Health Protection* (20 credits)
Sociology and Social Policy* (10 credits)
Health Promotion (MPH)* (10 credits)
Global Health* (10 credits)

Option modules (Tier 3)

You will choose 20 credits from the modules below.

Qualitative Research Methods* (20 credits)
Advanced Statistical Methods* (20 credits) - Please note this module has been suspended for the 2020/21 academic year due to disruption relating to the COVID-19 situation
Further Global Health* (20 credits)

You will carry out a systematic review for your dissertation (60 credits)

Postgraduate Diploma

You will take the taught modules as per the MPH choices but will not need to complete the dissertation.

Postgraduate Certificate

You will take the following modules and will not need to complete a dissertation.

Epidemiology Statistics and Research Methods (20 credits)
Principles of Health Technology Assessment* (10 credits) 
Health Economics* (10 credits)
Systematic Reviews and Evidence Synthesis* (20 credits)

*These modules are available on a stand-alone basis. For more details click on the module title.

Fees

2023/24

MPH

  • UK: £10,170 full-time; £5,085 part-time
  • International: £26,640 full-time

PGDip

  • UK: £6,780 full-time; £3,390 part-time
  • International: £17,760 full-time

PGCert

  • UK: £3,390 
  • International: £8,880 

Please note: there is a £50 non-refundable application fee for the full time course. 

Applicants will need to pay a £500 non-refundable deposit at the point of accepting an offer to study on a public health programme. The deposit is put towards payment of fees when students join the course.

Learn more about fees and funding.

 

Postgraduate Loans for Masters students

As a UK resident you can apply for a government loan for postgraduate Masters study. This is a contribution towards the costs of study and whether the loan is used towards fees, maintenance or other costs will be at the discretion of the student.

Find out more about the Postgraduate Loan

How To Apply

How to apply for our taught postgraduate programmes

Application deadlines

The deadline for international students (including EU) to apply is 7 May 2024. The deadline for UK students is 30 August 2024.

Making your application

Applications must be made through the general Masters of Public Health programme.

Our Standard Requirements

An upper second-class degree (or equivalent) in Medicine, a life science or another relevant subject; an interest in public health or epidemiology; experience of working in public health or a related field would be an advantage. Recent graduates with limited relevant experience may apply if they can demonstrate an interest in public health. Students seeking entry to the Certificate or Diploma programmes can also be considered if they have a relevant professional qualification, for example RGN, or experience of working in a health protection, public health or related field.

The University accepts Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL). For further details see www.marketing.bham.ac.uk/admissions/apl-introduction.htm

Learn more about entry requirements

International Requirements



International Students

Academic requirements

We accept a range of qualifications, our country pages show you what qualifications we accept from your country.

English language requirements

You can satisfy our English language requirements in two ways:

English to IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component).

If you need help with your English language skills then support is available. 

The English for Academic Purposes Presessional course is for international students who have a conditional offer to study at the University, but who do not currently meet the English language requirements. The course is tailored to your level of English and allows you to meet the English language requirements for your programme without retaking IELTS. The EAP programme runs throughout the year and offers different programme lengths ranging from 42 weeks to 6 weeks. The length of course you need depends on your future course, your existing IELTS score and the English level you need for your university degree.

Find out more about the English for Academic Purposes Presessional course.

As a Birmingham student, you will be joining the academic elite and will have the privilege of learning from world-leading experts, as well as your peers. From the outset you will be encouraged to become an independent and self-motivated learner. We want you to be challenged and will encourage you to think for yourself.

Teaching takes place in one-week blocks, and you will participate in a range of teaching styles such as lectures, small group tutorials, presentations, peer group learning, self-study etc.

You will have access to a comprehensive support system that will assist and encourage you, including personal tutors and welfare tutors who can help with both academic and welfare issues.

Assessment Methods

Assessment is via a mixture of examination and assignment.

MPH students complete their Master's degree by also undertaking a research project and writing a 10,000 word dissertation. This provides an opportunity to pursue a specific area of public health in depth, and to demonstrate the knowledge and skills acquired during the taught part of the course. It is therefore undertaken only once the taught part of the course has been successfully completed.

What are our students doing now?

So you can get an idea of what some of our students have to say about the programmes we have been in touch with them and compiled some of their comments into student profiles for you to have a look at:

Information for employers

There are a number of potential benefits to employers:

  • Evidence-based healthcare is a new and rapidly growing area. It is likely that all employers in the health care sector will require their staff to be knowledgeable in this area in the coming years
  • This course equips students to understand the work of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) which is having a major impact on the NHS in the UK.
  • Similar health care decision-making bodies are being set up in numerous other countries around the world and the impact on purchasing decisions is considerable. Students will be equipped with the tools and abilities to be able to interact successfully with these decision-making bodies.
  • The course includes studying cost-effectiveness so it is likely that the students could apply their knowledge within the employment context
  • This is a well regarded course both with the HTA community and wider and is one of only a few such courses in the world.
  • Teachers of this course are actively involved in HTA nationally and internationally. Many undertake HTAs for leading organisations such as the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and other national decision making bodies.

Careers Support for Postgraduate Students

Careers Network – We can help you get ahead in the job market and develop your career

We recognise that as a postgraduate student you are likely to have specific requirements when it comes to planning for your next career step. Employers expect postgraduates to have a range of skills that exceed their subject knowledge. Careers Network offers a range of events and support services that are designed for all students, including postgraduates looking to find their niche in the job market. The Careers Network also have subject specific careers consultants and advisers for each College so you can be assured the information you receive will be relevant to your subject area. For more information visit the Careers Network website