Program Overview

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Applied Public Health

MSc/PGDip/PGCert

Attendance

• Full-time
• Part-time

Campus

• Preston Campus

Start

• September 2025
• January 2026

Duration

• 15 months

Delivery

• In-person

Our MSc/PGDip/PGCert in Applied Public Health is an innovative course. It will strengthen your capacity to meet varied and diverse demands of public health work and reduce health inequalities.

Why study with us

• You'll cover a range of public health disciplines including health protection, healthy settings, epidemiology, media and communication, along with issues relating to public health.
• You’ll look at planning, strategies and public health in action. This will include key themes such as diet and nutrition, children and young people, healthy settings and the media.
• We use action learning and case studies to underpin theory and the need to work in partnership and engage in reflective practice.

What you'll do

• You’ll examine local, national and international examples of public health initiatives, and assess their relationship with social circumstances and policy priorities.
• The learning outcomes of the core modules are mapped against the Royal Society for Public Health standards and the NHS Knowledge and Skills Competency Framework.
• You’ll learn about research methods, epidemiology and informatics to inform evidence-based approaches to public health.

Modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Advanced needs assessment for Primary Care
  • Module code: HI4034
• Introduction to Postgraduate Research
  • Module code: HI4050
• Global Public Health Challenges
  • Module code: MW4042
• Public Health and Wellbeing: Strategies and Interventions
  • Module code: MW4043
• Risk Management in Health Protection
  • Module code: PG4113
• Healthy and Sustainable Settings: Theory, Policy and Practice
  • Module code: PG4114
• Applied Public Health Project
  • Module code: PG4115

Optional modules

• Quantitative Methodology for Health Research
  • Module code: HI4002
• Qualitative Methodology for Health Research
  • Module code: HI4003
• Organisational Leadership and Management
  • Module code: MW4036
• Social Prescribing
  • Module code: MW4045

Entry requirements

• Applicants should hold a degree or equivalent in related subject
• Applications from all candidates will be considered on their merits in the light of the nature and scope of the programme and if they have experience followed by an initial advisory interview

Fees and funding

2025/26

• UK:
  • Full-time: £9,450 per year
  • Part-time: £1,050 per 20 credits
• International:
  • Full-time: £17,900 per year

Additional costs

As part of your course there may be additional costs to consider that are not included in your tuition fees. Most of these will be optional, but some courses have essential additional costs.

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer many scholarships, bursaries and funds to support you during your studies. Select your country or region to see if you are eligible and how to apply.

Learning and assessment

We use a range of teaching and learning strategies including lectures, seminars, workshops, action learning, student centred discussions, problem based learning and online learning activities.

Our assessment strategy includes course work and assignments, with a focus on practice related competencies and skills, and the development of transferable skills in public health.

Assessments are all designed to have real world and workplace relevance, and to directly inform your future work practice in public health.

As part of the course you will have the opportunity to hear about the experiences of service users, carers, patients and public members via our community engagement and service user support groups (Comensus).

Future careers

A postgraduate qualification in Applied Public Health can lead to rewarding careers in health community work, health promotion, sport and leisure, environment, and education.

With an MSc/PGCert/PGDip in Applied Public Health, you can work as a Public Health Practitioner and advance your career by progressing towards registration as a Specialist Practitioner in Public Health.

Career opportunities also exist in management, strategic and educational, as well as practitioner posts.