Public Health MPH

Program Overview

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MPH Public Health

Overview

This programme aims to develop your interest in, and knowledge and understanding of, Public Health Theory and Practice in a Global context. By global health we mean health issues impacting across the world including locally, regionally and nationally in Scotland and the UK.

The programme is relevant to UK and international students aiming to develop careers within public health as well as for those wishing to promote the health of the public as part of their current professional role. The programme takes a practical and applied approach and will equip you with the relevant transferable academic skills, professional/practical skills and knowledge to practice in a manner that achieves the purpose of public health i.e., dealing with pandemics, epidemics, reducing health inequalities and prolonging life through the implementation of a broad range of interventions to improve public health outcomes.

Mode of Study:

• Full-time

Duration:

• 1 year

Start date:

• January

Course details

The programme has been designed to be relevant to UK and international students aiming to develop careers within public health as well as for those wishing to promote the health of the public as part of their current professional role.

Subjects include:

• Principles and Theory of Public Health for Health Improvement (20 credits)
• Applied Epidemiology (20 credits)
• Leadership and collaborative working in Public Health (20 credits)
• Contemporary Global Issues in Public Health (40 credits)
• Research Methods (20 credits)
• Dissertation (60 credits over 2 Trimesters)

Lead academics:

• Dr Janette Pow is Programme Lead for the MPH. Janette has been a lecturer within the School of Health and Social Care for 12 years. Her teaching and research interests are in public health, young people’s health and wellbeing, health improvement evaluation and complex interventions. Janette has published extensively in peer reviewed Journals in this area. As well as being a reviewer for a number of healthcare journals she is reviewer/assessor for Carnegie Trust, HISES and NIHR. She was also recently elected to the editorial board for the Scottish University Press.
• Dr Martin Sharp is Deputy Programme Lead for the MPH and Research Degrees Lead for the School of Health and Social Care. Martin is an experienced academic, lecturing in endocrinology, public health and epidemiology. His research interests centre around the endocrine reactivity to social defeat, female reproductive health (precocious puberty/contraception//menopause), and most aspects of social epidemiology. Martin has published extensively in peer reviewed journals, is reviewer for high impact endocrine journals, external examiner, and grant reviewer.
• Dr Yvonne Greig has been a midwife for over 30 years. She is passionate about maternal, fetal and public health issues and has a particular interest in developing professional practice and optimising maternal health for those who live with obesity. Yvonne has delivered education to communities in Kenya, East Africa as part of the World Millennium Goal project to improve maternal health and in turn population health where both maternal and infant mortality are high. Yvonne has also been advisor to the British University of Egypt and has supported colleagues in Athens to develop a midwifery BSc programme. She joined Edinburgh Napier in January 2021 having previously combined academic and clinical work. She looks forward to supporting you during your MPH programme.
• Dr Andrew Maine is a lecturer and researcher. He is also responsible for mentoring and supporting early career researchers within School of Health and Social Care. Dr Maine lecturers on the Bachelor of Learning Disability Nursing programme at Edinburgh Napier University. His areas of research/teaching expertise include critical perspectives of learning disability nursing, systematic reviews, and quantitative methodological approaches.
• Dr Mary Abboah-Offei is a lecturer, researcher, and a nurse by profession. Mary’s teaching and research interests are in global health, quality improvement in health and social care, health and wellbeing across the lifespan, palliative care and developing and evaluating complex interventions using the Medical Research Councils’ framework, with a particular interest in person-centred interventions. Mary also has expertise in systematic, intervention and policy reviews, with special interest in policy issues relating to early childhood development in the context of the Nurturing Care Framework. Mary has published in peer reviewed Journals in the areas of expertise mentioned and has been a reviewer for a number of journals including reviewing a grant application for NIHR.

How you’ll be taught

The programme adopts an authentic approach with emphasis on meeting real-world challenges such as, health improvement initiatives and complex interventions, multi/interdisciplinary working with a strong focus on implementation and evaluation for health improvement. This aims to support future practice that is underpinned by a sound understanding of relevant theory and evidence-based knowledge.

Assessments

Formative and summative assessments are used to evaluate your learning against the module learning outcomes. Formative feedback is provided to guide you on how you are progressing and to give constructive guidance to inform development for your final summative assignment.

Summative assignments take the form of authentic assessments and include editorials, literature review protocols, posters and presentations and briefing documents.

Modules

Modules that you will study* as part of this course

Applied Epidemiology Taught/Blended MPH (HSC11161)

This module aims to enable you to critically appreciate the interdependencies between public health policy drivers (including epidemiological evidence and other public health intelligence information) and the varied dimensions of resultant health policy responses; critically explore the principles, practice and context of epidemiological research applications in public health policy and intervention contexts; critically evaluate aspects of the knowledge transfer process in relation to public health policy formation, including the creation, organisation, function and diffusion of public health responses.

Contemporary Global Issues in Public Health Taught/Blended Programme (HSC11163)

This module aims to examine contemporary global health issues as identified by the World Health Organization (WHO 2020). Its aim is to equip you to develop critical understanding and in-depth knowledge of the issues that impact on global health. By global health we mean health issues impacting across the world including locally, regionally and nationally in Scotland and the UK.

Dissertation Module MPH Taught/Blended (HSC11165)

The master’s dissertation is a cumulation of your learning and knowledge gained from undertaking the modules during your master’s journey to independently carry out a piece of research, either through conducting a literature review or piece of original primary research (small scale study) or the writing of a substantial research proposal (that can potentially be taken forward for doctoral study) on a topic aligned to public health and your research interests.

Leadership and Collaborative Working in Public Health MPH Taught/Blended (HSC11167)

This module aims to enhance your knowledge and understanding in relation to the theories and models of leadership and management relevant to public health. You will explore theories of leadership, collaboration and partnership and their implications for health improvement in public health settings.

Principles and Theory of Public Health for Health Improvement MPH Taught/Blended (HSC11169)

This module aims to enhance your knowledge and understanding in relation to the key principles and theories underpinning public health and how these apply to public health practice for health improvement.

Research Methods MPH Taught/Blended Programme (HSC11171)

The module aims to enable you to critically appreciate the value of empirical literature, research design and data interpretation, relating to public health.

Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for Public Health?

To apply you will need a Bachelor (Honours) Degree at 2:2 or above in a Health or Health Sciences related subject.

Other qualifications/experience which demonstrate through our recognition of prior learning process that you have appropriate knowledge and skills may be considered on an individual basis.

Can I get admission into Public Health based on my working experience in this sector?

This course has academic entry requirements which are assessed alongside relevant work experience. Full details of any relevant work experience, including references should be submitted with your application and may be considered for entry where the minimum academic entry requirements are below those required.

English language

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test. The English Language requirements for this programme are IELTS (Academic) with an overall score of 6.5 with no individual component score of less than 6.5.

International students

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Admissions policies

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2024/25

• Students from Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £7,280
• Overseas and EU: £20,395

Tuition fees for 2025/26

• Students from Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £7,650
• Overseas and EU: £21,430

Careers

What can you do with a public health degree?

By studying public health at Edinburgh Napier University, you will gain the skills and practical knowledge to work in public health at local, national and global level. The course will prepare you for a range of public health roles as well as doctoral level study.

What does an epidemiologist do?

As an epidemiologist you will have strong report writing, analytical and communication skills, with the ability to collect and analyse complex data. You will be responsible for understanding how disease is spread and the risk it poses to the public. You will create strategy to reduce spread and control the spread of disease and current viral outbreaks.

Daily tasks and responsibilities in this role may include:

• Collecting data
• Data analysis
• Fieldwork
• Report writing
• Outbreak surveillance
• Advising on public health policy with government and local health authorities