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Public Health MPH/PGDip/PGCert

Start date
September
Duration
1 year full-time, 2 years part-time, up to 5 years flexible
Course Type
Postgraduate, Taught
Fees

Tuition fee for 2024/25:
UK: £10,530 full-time
International: £29,340 full-time
More detail on fees and funding

Master of Public Health

This modular, multidisciplinary programme in public health is designed to provide academic training to professionals currently working in, or who wish to work in, the public health field.

The programme covers most aspects of population health and the disciplines underlying the practice of public health: epidemiology, applied health research methods and statistics; health economics; health information and informatics; healthcare public health and health service management; health improvement and health protection; and global health. As well as practising clinicians and those working in public health roles, the course may be of considerable value for those involved (or thinking about becoming involved) in planning and commissioning roles in health services, and life sciences industries, where a knowledge of population health and research methods is highly valued. Its modular nature allows you the flexibility to shape the programme to fit your needs. The programme also covers many of the areas necessary for sitting the Part A examination of the Faculty of Public Health.

You will study compulsory modules, then choose from a wide range of optional modules. You will also attend a non-assessed introductory week at the beginning of the course which provides an introduction to key concepts in public health.

Scholarships for 2024 entry

The University of Birmingham is proud to offer a range of scholarships for our postgraduate programmes. With a scholarship pot worth over £2 million, we are committed to alleviating financial barriers to support you in taking your next steps.

Each scholarship has its own specific deadlines and eligibility criteria. Please familiarise yourself with the information on individual scholarship webpages prior to submitting an application.

Explore our scholarships

We also offer:

  • The MPH (Global Health) programme, which is aimed at professionals already working in healthcare settings in low- and middle-income countries or those aiming to work in this area. The course is an exit qualification of the MPH Public Health.
  • The MPH (Statement of Extra Accredited Learning). This programme provides a broader version of the MPH Public Health (230 instead of 180 credits). By being formally assessed and accredited in more modules, the MPH (Statement of Extra Accredited Learning) allows you to demonstrate your wider competency range.

The MPH programme can be studied either full-time, part-time or by flexible learning up to five years in duration. International students may only study the MPH full-time. Teaching takes place in one-week blocks.

MSc intercalation

Please note that this programme can be taken as an intercalated option for those studying MBChB Medicine and Surgery at another Institution. To apply for the Intercalated Public Health please fill in this registration form and we will be in touch with details about how to apply. For more information, please contact us on mdsintercalationenquiries@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

I thoroughly enjoyed the MPH at Birmingham and found the course really fascinating. I would recommend it to anyone considering a highly rewarding career in public health.

Hamira, Speciality Registrar in Public Health and MPH graduate

Why study this course?

Our programme is an internationally recognised qualification in public health. It will equip you with a broad range of skills that are invaluable for:

  • the planning, management and evaluation of health services for disease prevention, health protection and for health promotion.
  • developing a career in a wide range of professional settings, both within and outside of public health and epidemiology.

The course also covers many of the areas necessary for sitting the Part A examination of the Faculty of Public Health.

Modules

Masters students will take 120 credits from the lists below and complete a 60-credit dissertation. Postgraduate Diploma students will take modules from the taught options below but will not undertake a dissertation. Those studying for a Postgraduate Certificate will take the Epidemiology Statistics and Research Methods module along with 40 credits from tiers 2/3.

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)
Dissertation (60 credits)

Optional modules (Tier 2)

You will choose 30 credits from the list below:

Health Economics* (10 credits)
Introduction to Leadership and Management in Health* (10 credits)
Healthcare Public Health* (10 credits)
Health Protection* (20 credits)
Sociology and Social Policy* (10 credits)
Health Improvement* (20 credits)
Global Health* (10 credits)                                                                                                                                             

Optional modules (Tier 3)

You will choose 40 credits from the list below or any other Tier 2 modules not already studied:

Systematic Reviews and Evidence Synthesis* (20 credits)
Qualitative Research Methods* (20 credits)
Clinical Trials (MPH)* (20 credits)
Advanced Statistical Methods* (10 credits)
Further Global Health* (20 credits)
Building Foundations for Primary Care Team Effectiveness (20 credits)
Principles of the Delivery of Primary Health Care (20 credits)   

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

Fees

2024/25

MPH

  • UK: £10,530 full-time; £5,265 part-time
  • International: £29,340 full-time; £14,670 part-time

Intercalation option:

  • UK: £10,530
  • International: £29,340

PGDip

  • UK: £7,020 full-time; £3,510 part-time
  • International: £19,560 full-time; £9,780 part-time

PGCert

  • UK: £3,510
  • International: £9,780

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.


Are you an international applicant?

All international applicants to this course will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of £2,000 on receipt of an offer, to secure their place.

Find out more about the deposit >>.

 

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

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

2:1 Honours degree in a subject relevant to public health, including most biological sciences.

Applications are also welcome from medical students in the UK who wish to intercalate.

For the Postgraduate Diploma, applications are also considered from those without a relevant Bachelors degree but who hold a relevant professional qualification or have sufficient public health experience.

If you are unsure about your suitability for the programme, please get in touch with us at mph@contacts.bham.ac.uk

International Students

Academic requirements

We accept a range of international qualifications - use the dropdown box below to select your country and see the equivalencies to the above UK requirements.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band.

If you are made an offer of a place to study and you do not already meet the language requirement, you have the option to enrol on our English for Academic Purposes Presessional Course. If you successfully complete this, you will be able to fulfil the language requirement without needing to take a further qualification.


  • IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band
  • TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: PTE Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced – minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component

International Requirements


As a Birmingham student you will learn 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 exams and assignments. If a module is assessed by assignment, you will usually have approximately four to five weeks to complete it after the module has finished. If a module is assessed by examination these will take place at the end of May except for the module 'Epidemiology and Statistics' which takes place before Christmas.

MPH students complete their Masters 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 modules have been successfully completed.

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