Public Health (Taught)

Our Public Health students are actively enhancing the world around them. Designed with forward-thinking health professionals in mind, this course will provide you with the complete tools and foundations to evolve as a leading public health professional.

Throughout the course, you’ll gain a critical understanding of the key fundamentals underpinning global public health. You’ll explore a variety of subjects and global perspectives, whilst building on the skills required to confidently discuss current diseases and trends.

The MPH gives you the opportunity to explore a diverse range of topics, including:

• the demands facing public health on a global scale

• techniques for assessing population health needs

• contemporary strategies that support health promotion

• principles of epidemiology from public health perspectives

• theory and practice of personal development skills relevant to healthcare

Following this, you’ll also get the chance to put key learnings into practice when you undertake an independent research project in your dissertation.

Royal Society For Public Health (RSPH) Membership
As a leading voice in public health, RSPH provides students with exclusive access to educational resources, networking opportunities with like-minded people and gives industry-wide recognition as a committed public health professional.

All Master of Public Health students will be provided with a 1-year student membership with the RSPH following the completion of their first module. Upon completion of their postgraduate programme with UoEO, students will be eligible to apply for the prestigious Fellowship of RSPH. If applying before their Student Member status expires, they can upgrade without being charged the upgrade fee.

Core modules: health promotion (20 credits); topics in public health (20 credits); health needs assessment and priority setting (20 credits); epidemiology (20 credits); advanced practice in healthcare (20 credits); research methods (20 credits); dissertation (50 credits).

Teaching methods
Studying online gives you the freedom to study when and where it suits you – at home, during your lunch hour or anywhere else you have internet access.

Our courses are delivered through a virtual learning environment (VLE) instead of a traditional campus. This means you will have access to your study materials 24/7, including:

multimedia lecturecasts made up of written content, short videos, animation, audio recordings, infographics, short tests and mini-assignments
discussion forums for you to chat about the course content with fellow students
live Q&A sessions with your tutors
a comprehensive eLibrary of textbooks and academic journals
support from academic staff and your Student Support team
To ensure you receive the support you need from your tutor, we cap our class sizes at 20 students.

Assessment methods
Rather than fretting about exams, you will be assessed exclusively through assignments. This can be by engaging in discussion forums throughout your modules, completing reflective journal entries, or by submitting longer written pieces.

We are committed to providing frequent and transparent feedback through the following ways:

Our assessment criteria are designed to be simple and transparent.
You will always be aware of your current provisional grade, right from the start of the programme.
You will be able to view your marks clearly in your gradebook whenever you log onto the learning platform.
There is a 7-day turnaround for marking and feedback of assessed work.
You will have regular contact with your Student Support team, with whom you can discuss any concerns as soon as they arise.

Study duration
Our Master of Public Health (MPH) has an indicative study duration of 2 years, which is a guide to how long your course will take to complete. The actual duration may be longer or shorter depending on your speed of study, study options chosen and module availability.

It’s possible to complete your studies faster than the indicative course duration by doubling up on modules at certain times; however, minimum study durations do apply.

Our academic year is organised into modules, typically with a one- or two-week break between modules and a structured three-week break for the Christmas period. Students will receive a course timetable during the application process.

All of our courses have regular start dates throughout the year.

On successful completion of your degree, you will be invited to attend a graduation ceremony at the University of Essex, Colchester Campus.