Health Promotion and Behaviour Change

Program Overview

Health Promotion and Behaviour Change

Deepen your understanding of health behaviours and learn behaviour change strategies to improve public health.

Key Facts

• Module code: NURP026
• Start date: 19 Jan 2026
• Application deadline: 5 Jan 2026
• Duration: 11 weeks
• Credit value SCQF: 20
• SCQF level: Level 11
• Fees: £1,289
• Mode of study: part time
• Delivery: online

Overview

Our health-related behaviours and choices (for example, what we eat and drink, how much we exercise, whether we take vaccinations or health screening etc) play an important role in determining our overall health outcomes. It is important that we understand and learn strategies to change these behaviours with the goal of improving public health.

In this module, you will explore:

• the key health behaviours that affect the health of the population across the life-course;
• the role of health behaviours in relation to other determinants of health;
• key theories of health behaviour and theory-based behaviour change techniques;
• current public health policies and strategies that aim to change health behaviour.

The module is suitable for both novice and experienced public health practitioners or those looking to work in the area of health behaviour change. It is taught by experienced researchers in public health and public health policy. It will be delivered through online lectures and webinars, with opportunities to speak with experts in the area and apply your learning.

Flexible Learning

This short course forms part of the MPH Public Health (Online). You can study other stand-alone continuing professional development (CPD) short courses from this degree:

• Applied Epidemiology
• Public Health Policy
• Public Health Practice
• Public Health Research

Entrance Requirements

A minimum of a second-class honours degree (2:1 preferred) or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

• IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
• IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.

Funding

A flexible payment scheme is operated by the University for students who are self-funding.

Objectives

By the completion of this module students should be able to:

• evaluate the role of different health behaviours as determinants of population health;
• analyse current policy relating to health behaviour;
• synthesise and critically appraise the evidence on public health interventions to change health behaviour;
• critically examine the role of health behaviour theory in explaining and changing health behaviours.

Structure and Content

The module consists of 10 units across 12 weeks. In each unit, you will explore a different topic through pre-recorded lectures, reading and discussion boards. There will also be a live webinar for each unit, to discuss any questions that have emerged.

Delivery and Assessment

This module will be taught online using a mixture of brief, recorded podcasts, guided study activities, group discussion boards, live tutorial sessions and independent reading.

The assessment for this module is composed of two parts to address the learning outcomes:

1. Assessment 1: Students will be assessed on health behaviours, policy and public health strategies addressing health behaviour, behaviour change theories and techniques.
2. Assessment 2: Students will select one health behaviour and evaluate the evidence for a public health intervention that aims to change this behaviour. Students will identify and critique the role of behaviour change theory in the intervention.

Module Coordinator

Dr James Nicholls

Employability

You will develop an understanding of public health in a real-world context which will be directly applicable to the working environment.