Public Health - MPH
Every individual deserves the opportunity to enjoy a long and healthy life. Acquire the necessary skills to advance to a senior role by studying on our Master of Public Health course; this will enable you to play a pivotal role in protecting the health and wellbeing of populations and communities worldwide. Gain the strategic, critical, and creative thinking skills, alongside a comprehensive understanding of key public health disciplines, preparing you for a wealth of career opportunities.
Month of entry
- September, January
Mode of study
- Full time
Fees for 2025/26 academic year
- UK - Full time £9,100 per year.
International - £17,700 per year.
Duration of study
- 1 year full time
Why study Public Health at Keele University?
Course summary
There’s global demand for public health practitioners who are capable of devising solutions for protecting and improving the health and wellbeing of people and communities worldwide. This may involve assisting those affected by conflict or poverty, developing approaches to improving policy, or generating innovative ideas to tackle inequality and enhance quality of life.
Our Master of Public Health programme is structured to provide you with a strong foundation in the field’s key areas and to examine the wide range of issues that impact global health and wellbeing. Using scientific methods and established approaches, combined with the utilisation of data, you’ll learn how to make informed decisions about improving public health. You will study important disciplines such as epidemiology, health promotion, health protection, improving health services, leadership and global health, understanding how they are all connected.
The programme aligns with the core competencies expected of public health practitioners, fostering the advancement of your critical thinking skills and the development of transferable skills and knowledge essential for advancing your career and practicing as a senior public health professional, both within the UK and internationally.
What you’ll learn
Our programme has been designed to align with internationally recognised frameworks, including the UK Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework and the WHO-ASPHER Core Competency Framework for Public Health in the European Region. This provides employers with the confidence that you have successfully gained the professional skills and knowledge necessary to be an effective public health practitioner.
At Keele, we have an international reputation in public health research, and the teaching on the Master in Public Health programme is deeply informed by this expertise. You will build essential research skills, including interpreting and understanding pivotal research areas, and applying findings to shape public health policy. Additionally, your understanding of applied epidemiology will be enhanced by exploring various effective methods to improve health and address health inequalities.
Our programme offers a global perspective on public health, allowing you to deepen your understanding of the challenges that affect health and wellbeing across diverse cultures, climates and economies. This includes considering issues such as hostilities, natural disasters, and varied political contexts.
Focusing on health protection, you will critically examine the impact of communicable diseases and environmental hazards on public health, spanning from disease transmission and prevention to international disaster management. Responses to outbreaks and their management, along with addressing the key communicable diseases that pose challenges to global health, are also explored.
Your skills in marketing health and wellbeing will be developed as you gain valuable competencies for careers linked to public health promotion. This includes exploring the enablers and barriers to public health promotion by examining various factors that contribute to the success of campaigns."
Quantitative data analysis can provide important insights into improving population health, and you will gain experience in working with data, exploring various statistical methods that can be applied in the field of epidemiology.
Progression to senior careers in public health and related fields requires knowledge and understanding of strategic leadership. How will you manage change or find solutions to leadership problems? Through insights from your own work experience and studying management theory will provide you with the necessary skills to navigate contemporary leadership.
You will explore the significance of community engagement and various interventions aimed at promoting health among diverse populations, ultimately working towards reducing health inequalities. Through this, you’ll develop a critical approach to innovatively tackling a spectrum of health issues, ranging from common risk factors like smoking and drinking to combatting diseases such as cardiovascular disease.
Course structure
Modules
The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.
Master of Public Health module structure
Semester 1
Compulsory modules:
- PCS-40024 Applied Epidemiology
This module explores the role of epidemiology in improving public health practice and focuses on the need for evidence-based public health. You will study the relevant research methods in public health practice and develop skills to interpret and use epidemiology in the field. - PCS-40030 Global Health
Examines the nature and scope of global health concerns and the different ways they are managed. It enables you to gain a global perspective on contemporary population health issues by investigating matters such the political economy of health and wellbeing, trade, different health care systems and global poverty. - PCS-40028 Health Protection Function of Public Health
Introduces you to infectious disease and environmental hazards and how these can be controlled at an individual and population level. It focuses on themes such as international disaster management, surveillance and outbreak investigation and communicable disease transmission and prevention. - PCS-40026 Health Promotion
This module allows you to critically evaluate and analyse health promoting activities and develop your skills and knowledge in the marketing of health and wellbeing. You will design a project based on your choice of a population health intervention, detailing how you would implement your plan.
Semester 2
- PCS-40036 Statistical Methods and Epidemiology
You will investigate how skills and knowledge in quantitative data analysis can be applied to improving population health. It explores the various methodologies and perspectives that are used to study public health. - PCS-40038 Leadership and Complexity in Global Healthcare
Examines strategic leadership and how to manage change. It focuses on the needs of leaders, and analyses the relationship between leadership, diversity and ethics in today's complex and challenging business environment. - PCS-40034 Control of Communicable Disease and Environmental Hazards
Building on the skills and knowledge developed in the Health Protection Function of Public Health module you will enhance your ability to respond to and manage outbreaks of communicable disease or environmental hazards and protect populations. - PCS-40032 Community Action Targeting Health Inequalities
Develop your ability to take a critical and multidisciplinary approach to generating opportunities and interventions that focus on promoting health in different populations and diverse communities. You will consider the various issues such as the environment, risk factors like smoking, non-communicable health conditions and target groups such as those living in deprived areas.
Semester 3
- PCS-40044 Dissertation
This module provides the opportunity to carry out a public health research project. It will develop your research skills and application of the implications of research evidence for public health theory and practice; these are important skills for a practicing as a public health practitioner. These skills are also useful when considering progressing within public health research.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don't see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications.
Typical offer
Please ensure that you read the full entry requirements by selecting your qualifications from the dropdown menu below. This will include any subject specific, GCSE/Level 2 Maths, and English language requirements you may need.
Please select your country from the drop-down list below for the full entry requirement information
UK
2:2 degree in any subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Bangladesh
60% in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in any subject from a public university or CGPA 2.8 in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in any subject from a private university
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
We don’t accept degrees from certain universities, please see our Bangladesh Country Page for more information
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Canada
70% or C or a GPA of 2.5 in a degree (Ordinary or Honours) in any subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
China
70% in a degree in any subject or 65% in a degree in any subject from a '211' university
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Ghana
Second class degree in any subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
India
55% or CGPA 6/10 in any degree of three years or longer
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Kenya
Second class degree in any subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Nepal
60% / 2.4 in a 4-year Bachelor's degree in any subject
or
65% / CGPA 2.8 in a 3-year Bachelor's degree in any subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Nigeria
Second class degree in any subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Pakistan
We accept a range of qualifications from Pakistan. Please visit our Pakistan Country Page for more information
or we will consider demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need an English language qualification (see below)
South Africa
Second class division 2 / 60% in a Bachelor's degree with Honours in any subject
or
Second class division 1 / 70% in an Ordinary Bachelor's degree in any subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Sri Lanka
55% in a Special Bachelor's degree in any subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Uganda
Second class degree in any subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Zimbabwe
Second class degree in any subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
English language requirements
All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from Group B.
References
Normally, you will need to provide at least one academic reference to support your application unless you have been out of study longer than two years. If it has been more than two years since you last studied on a degree-level programme, you will normally need to provide an employment reference instead. For more information about Academic References, please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages.
Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose
Please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages for guidance on what to include in your personal statement.
Recognition of Prior Learning
The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which enables applicants to receive recognition and formal credit for learning acquired in the past through formal study or work and life experiences.
RPL can also be requested for admission onto the start of a programme in lieu of the admission requirements. For more information, see our Recognition of Prior Learning web pages.
General information
The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.
Funding
Please note, if your course offers a January start date, the January 2025 start date falls in the 2024/25 academic year. Please see the January 2025 fees for the relevant fees for starting this course in January 2025
Planning your funding
It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses and not all students are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in some cases, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.
For continuing students, fees will increase annually by RPIX, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.
Your career
If you are passionate about making a difference in the world and are interested in working in the health sector, this master’s level programme can lead to many different types of careers and opportunities here in the UK and internationally.
Post degree employment opportunities could include roles as a health promoter or sexual health advisor, or you could progress to further academic development as a registrar, consultant or pursue a professional doctorate.
The expertise gained on this programme can be applied to roles in the voluntary or third sector such as with UNICEF, the British Heart Foundation, or in the social care sector.
Teaching, learning and assessment
How is the programme taught?
Our programme is delivered using a variety of learning methods which may include interactive sessions, case studies, virtual group discussions, PowerPoint presentations, videos, podcasts, group discussions, self-evaluation tasks, external speakers, and assessment guidance.
Supplemented by independent study using both provided materials and materials you research for yourself, you will undertake practical tasks related to the theory you are studying. Each week there will be activities to support your progress.
You will be introduced to different concepts through videos, in-situ lectures and self-study materials. Group activities and practical tasks that allow you to apply taught concepts to real-world problems will enable you to consolidate your subject knowledge and its application in today’s public health environment.
How is the programme assessed?
We use a wide variety of assessment methods on this programme, reflecting the breadth of knowledge and skills you will develop on the Master of Public Health, depending on the module being studied. Assessment methods may include completing a portfolio of work that assesses your knowledge and understanding of the material studied, or using short papers and reviews to assess how you interpret and apply evidence from research into practice.
We also use written assignments, videos, case studies and poster presentations to enable you to demonstrate your skills in communicating to different audiences about improving population health.
Facilities
The School of Primary Community and Social Care is co-located with the highly regarded School of Medicine, which is located in the David Weatherall building on Keele University's main campus and provides a state-of-the-art learning environment.
Our expertise
You will be taught by academics who have extensive experience of teaching public health. They are registered with the appropriate professional body (e.g. Faculty of Public Health, General Medical Council, Health and Care Professions Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council) and are actively encouraged to hold honorary contracts with health care provider organisations, ensuring they stay up to date with contemporary issues in their own field.
Several of our team have additional roles or memberships with external organisations such as the Faculty of Public Health Educators in Medicine and the European Public Health Association.
Teaching team