Program Overview

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Public Health (Online)

Course Fact File

• Code: MPHOL
• Duration: 22 Months Part-Time
• Teaching Mode: Part-Time
• Qualifications: MPH
• NFQ Level: Level 9
• Closing Date: We are now closed for applications for this course.
• Non-EU Closing Date: We are now closed for applications for this course.
• Course Delivery Method: Online
• Start Date: 8 September 2025

Course Outline

To meet the increasing demand for highly trained public health specialists, we are offering this online version of our Master of Public Health programme. It is designed to prepare you to investigate, evaluate and address public health challenges, whatever your professional background. The programme will equip you with the core knowledge and specialised skills necessary to make a real difference in public health.

The online MPH is a fully asynchronous, 22-month part-time programme and students can self-pace within the structure of a given 4- or 8-week module.

Learning Outcomes for Master of Public Health (Online)

Both the campus-based version and the online version have similar learning outcomes on successful completion of the programme. These include:

• Critically analyse theories and issues related to public health;
• Construct arguments around the social, political, and economic factors determining the health of populations;
• Demonstrate competence in the key underpinning disciplines and theories of public health including epidemiology, communicable diseases including healthcare-associated infections, biostatistics, global health, screening, social and behavioural sciences, and social policy;
• Analyse and synthesise evidence and apply it to public health;
• Demonstrate enhanced knowledge in specific Public Health areas, e.g. health promotion, health protection, global health, epidemiology, and biostatistics in public health;
• Demonstrate logical reasoning in written work and discussion;
• Employ a range of appropriate research and analysis methods with confidence and expertise;
• Critically reflect on their own and others' learning and practice.

Course Content

In total students take modules to the value of 90 credits as follows:

Part I - Year 1

Students take 50 credits of core modules and may select up to 5 credits of electives.

Core Modules

• EH6088 Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (5 credits)
• EH6094 Public Health Core Principles and Overview (10 credits)
• EH6132 Health Economics for Public Health (5 credits)
• EH6150 Introduction to Health Protection (5 credits)
• EH6153 Quantitative Research and Epidemiology (10 credits)
• EH6154 International Perspectives on Global Health (5 credits)
• EH6157 Qualitative Research in Public Health (5 credits)
• EH6158 Health Promotion I (5 credits)

Elective Modules

• EH6063 Tobacco Control: National and International Approaches (5 credits)

Part I - Year 2

Students choose modules to the value of 20 credits (or 15 credits if EH6063 was taken in Year 1) from the following groups. A maximum of one module per group can be chosen.

• Group A: EH6141 Psychosocial Epidemiology (5 credits) or EH6155 Migration and Public Health (5 credits)
• Group B: EH6152 Principles and Practices of Screening (5 credits) or EH6156 Public Health in Humanitarian Crises (5 credits)
• Group C: EH6000 Implementation Science in Health (5 credits) or EH6130 Critical Appraisal of Publications for Research and Practice (5 credits)
• Group D: EH6140 Environmental Health: Principal Aspects and Burden of Disease (5 credits) or EH6151 Advanced Health Protection (5 credits) or EH6159 Health Promotion II (5 credits)
• Group E: EH6101 Microbiology, the Environment and Infectious Diseases (10 credits) or EH6133 Advanced Quantitative Research (10 credits)

Part II - Year 2

• EH6115 Master of Public Health Dissertation (20 credits)

Exemptions at point of entry

Applicants may be eligible for exemptions. If eligible, the relevant exemption paperwork must be completed immediately upon entering the programme. This application will be reviewed by the School of Public Health's Executive Committee. Please request an application form from the programme administrator.

• Holders of UCC's Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection or UCC's Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health will be exempt from certain modules if the MPH is undertaken within five years from the date of award of UCC's Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection or UCC's Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health.
• Holders of UCC's BSc in Public Health/Promotion or UCC's BSc in Public Health Sciences will be exempt from EH6094 Principles and Practice of Public Health if he/she undertakes the MPH within five years from the date of award of one of the above-mentioned degrees.

Why Choose This Course

The Master of Public Health is a multi-disciplinary programme that will provide students with skills in health promotion, health protection, epidemiology, biostatistics and global health - in preparation for a career in public health practice or research.

Our modules are developed and taught by a dedicated team of staff, who are experts in a variety of public health areas. Students will experience a wide range of teaching styles using the most up-to-date technology-enhanced learning methods.

Our online MPH builds on the success of our campus-based MPH programme, the largest programme of its kind in Ireland. Studying for an MPH online with UCC offers a dynamic, innovative and structured learning experience. Our online programme allows students to continue their professional careers while interacting and connecting with the curriculum that includes:

• Real-life case studies
• Video lectures
• Interactive assignments
• Digital tools and resources

Research Projects

At the School of Public Health we are involved in major national research projects, including focusing on nutritional epidemiology, looking at causes and prevention of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease, tobacco control and health services research. Most recently we were awarded significant funding to research the impact Covid-19 public health measures have had on the people of Ireland.

Available Scholarships

At UCC we support our student community by offering scholarships and prizes to prospective and current students. Please see the Scholarships & Prizes page for more information.

Skills and Careers Information

Our graduates are currently employed in a range of careers in Ireland, Europe and in other developed and developing countries in diverse public health roles including health services, public health research, surveillance, environmental health and public health agencies.

Requirements

1. All applicants will be required to write a 500-word statement demonstrating suitability to undertake a Master of Public Health.
2. All candidates are required to meet one of the following:
   • Possess a minimum Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in a relevant subject area
   • Possess a minimum Second Class Honours Grade I in a postgraduate diploma (NFQ, Level 9) in a relevant subject area

Relevant subject areas are biological sciences, medical and health sciences, public health, and social sciences.

Technical Requirements

This programme will be delivered wholly online. As such, there are specific technical requirements that you need to meet:

• You will need access to a laptop or desktop (either Mac OS or Windows) running a relatively recent operating system (Windows 8, 8.1, 10 or Mac OSX 10.8, 10.9, 10.10). UCC supports access to the Canvas Virtual Learning Environment through IOS and Android apps, which are available from the respective App stores.
• You will need access to a reliable broadband connection with at least 2MB download speeds. You can test your broadband or 4G speeds by visiting
• You must have a modern web browser installed. The most reliable options for use with UCC online learning are Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. Download and installation instructions will be provided. Safari is not suitable.
• You will require an Office suite of software (Microsoft Office 2003 or later or equivalent) and a PDF reader (preferably Adobe Acrobat Reader XI or later). Please note that registered UCC students have access to discounted software from Microsoft and Adobe.

Fees and Costs

Postgraduate EU and International Fees 2025/2026

See our Postgraduate EU and Non-EU (International) Fee Schedule for the latest information.

Deposits

If your course requires a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January.

Fee payment

Fees are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration and the balance usually by the end of January.

How can I pay?

See different options on our How Do I Pay My Fees? page.

Any questions? See the 'Contact Us' section on the Fees Office page.