Program Overview

Master of Public Health, MPH

Introduction

Our Master of Public Health (MPH) provides a flexible programme that students can tailor to meet their own needs across a broad range of professional accreditation standards in public health and/or to pursue an academic career.

Study Information

Study Options

• Learning Mode: On Campus Learning
• Degree Qualification: MPH
• Duration: 12 months, 24 months or 36 months
• Study Mode: Full Time or Part Time
• Start Month: September or January
• Location of Study: Aberdeen

Programme Fees

Stage 1

Compulsory Courses

• Applied Statistics (PU5017)
• Epidemiology (PU5030)
• Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5006)

Optional Courses

• Evidence - Based Health (PU5031)
• Health Economics (PU5032)
• Designing Real - World Trials (PU5038)
• Health, Well Being and Behaviour Change (PU5040)
• Fundamentals of Research Design (PU5052)
• Key Concepts in Global Health (PU5056)
• Introduction to Health Data Science (PU5058)

Stage 2

Compulsory Courses

• Public Health in Action (PU5552)

Optional Courses

• The Leadership Challenge (BU552X)
• Health Systems and Policy Research (BU5594)
• Systematic Reviewing (PU5526)
• Qualitative Health Research (PU5529)
• Health Informatics (PU5532)
• Challenges in Global Nutrition (PU5547)
• Women’s Health in A Global Setting (PU5549)
• Understanding and Applying Regression Models (PU5559)
• Sustainable Diets and Global Food Systems (RN5506)

Stage 3

Compulsory Courses

• Masters Research Project (PU5922)

Available Programmes of Study

• MPH
  • Qualification: MPH
  • Duration: 12 months or 24 months
  • Learning Mode: On Campus Learning
  • Study Mode: Full Time or Part Time
  • Start Month: September
  • Location: Aberdeen
• MPH
  • Qualification: MPH
  • Duration: 12 months or 36 months
  • Learning Mode: On Campus Learning
  • Study Mode: Full Time or Part Time
  • Start Month: January
  • Location: Aberdeen

Programme Fees

Scholarships

• All eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Masters students starting in September 2025 will receive an £8,000 scholarship.

Related Programmes

• Global Health and Management
• Health Psychology
• Research Methods For Health

How You'll Study

Learning Methods

• Individual Projects
• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Workshops

Assessment Methods

• A variety of different approaches (e.g. essays, exams, poster presentation in mini conference style, oral presentation) are used to assess student understanding, progress and performance throughout the programme.

Why Study Master of Public Health?

• The MPH will help you develop the knowledge and the skills to tackle Public Health challenges by providing a multi-disciplinary approach to health care and is set within the traditional strengths of an ancient Scottish University and a leading UK Medical School.
• You will experience a supportive collegiate learning environment that offers interaction with both leading academic researchers and experienced public health practitioners.
• The programme covers core topics in public health from a broad range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives that will set you up to respond to the needs of communities and populations around the world.
• You can create a tailor-made programme by selecting from a broad range of elective courses that include the traditional and emerging public health domains such as health informatics, challenges in global nutrition and public health ethics.
• Co-ordinators will work with you to guide the selection of elective courses and topic area/length for your public health project at an early stage to ensure your MPH is aligned to your career aspirations.
• Flexible options include projects based in academic and work-based settings; and extended research projects which provide career insights and opportunities for networking.
• Real life research projects in public health issues will provide you with opportunities to apply the skills gained from the taught elements of the course to influence policy and practice.
• Full and part-time flexible study will help you navigate your learning effectively and have a good work-life balance.
• Dedicated student support with ‘SUCCESS PLUS’ programme (with matched mentors) consistently achieves a successful completion rate of over 90% among enrolled students.
• The Foresterhill Health Campus at the University is one of the largest clinical complexes in Europe which includes a Medical School, large teaching hospital, maternity and children's hospitals, and the Rowett Institute.
• Programme has APHEA Validated Curriculum, APHEA is the leading global accreditation agency for public health schools, programmes and training courses.

Entry Requirements

• Completion of our PgCert in Research Methods for Health allows you to enter the PgDip stage of the programme.
• Qualifications: The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
• Applicants will usually possess a health-related Honours degree (at a 2:2 level or at least 60%) or be able to demonstrate evidence of equivalent experience in health care practice or research.
• Students from non-health backgrounds who have Honours degrees (as above) in science, social science or humanities subjects and who are interested in a public health related career will also be considered for the programme.

English Language Requirements

• To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently.
• The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:
  • IELTS Academic: OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 6.0; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
  • TOEFL iBT: OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 21; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
  • PTE Academic: OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
  • Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 169; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Document Requirements

• You will be required to supply the following documentation with your application as proof you meet the entry requirements of this degree programme.
• CV: an up-to-date CV/Resumé
• Degree Certificate: a degree certificate showing your qualifications
• Degree Transcript: a full transcript showing all the subjects you studied and the marks you have achieved in your degree(s) (original & official English translation)
• Personal Statement: a detailed personal statement explaining your motivation for this particular programme

Careers

• Completing the MPH at the University of Aberdeen will equip you with a cutting-edge knowledge of Public Health and essential research skills relevant for application in both academic and workplace practitioner environments across the globe, including:
  • Career in Public Health Sector: Pursue a career in world ranking academic research institutions for projects commissioned by coordinating authorities of health such as WHO, Ministries of Health and NGOs.
  • Influence Public Health policy: Influence public health policies through independent research with publication in peer reviewed journals; and contribute to translating research evidence to practice in professional and health authority settings.
  • Become an independent researcher: Identify research priorities and goals set by global and national health authorities.
  • A pathway to a PhD and/or Public Health role: With its emphasis on a knowledge of relevant research disciplines, skills in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, critical thinking and scientific writing - an MPH is a common entry pathway to undertaking further research including a health-related PhD.

Industry Links

• The University has excellent links with NHS Grampian and the City Council which is responsible for providing health and social care to a population of just over 500,000 in the Northeast region of Scotland and employs around 17,000 staff.

Facilities

• Health Sciences Building: The Health Sciences building, located on the Foresterhill Health Campus, houses the purpose built Clinical Research Facility, researchers from the Institute of Applied Health Sciences and the Imaging Department which boasts state-of-the-art equipment
• Foresterhill Health Campus: The Foresterhill Health Campus is one of the largest clinical complexes in Europe which includes the Medical School, large teaching hospital, the Institute of Medical Sciences and the Rowett Institute.