MSc Public Health
Course overview
Start date
September 2021
Subject area
Public Health
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Learning
On campus, dual delivery
Course summary
The MSc Public Health degree will develop your management competencies and research techniques, equipping you to develop your career as a health professional.
Whether you are a podiatrist, a speech therapist or a nurse – if you work in any kind of clinical setting you will reach a point at which you cannot progress without some kind of additional training and demonstrable management competency.
The skills you will develop on this course will put you in a good position to progress in your career and take on leadership roles. The course will focus on hot topic within health and cover core modules on epidemiology, health promotion and global health. Our health students often organise local health campaigns within the community, so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved and make a difference.
Whatever sector you are working in – the NHS, private health or social care services, community health organisations or a related commercial sector – you will benefit from studying in a superbly resourced environment which is producing research internationally recognised as being of the highest quality.
Return to campus: dual delivery
In a Covid-secure environment, enjoy learning on our state-of-the-art campuses and flex between online delivery
Find out moreTop
Health Studies made a big contribution to the 86 per cent of our Allied Health research that was rated either ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ by the 2014 Research Excellence Framework. This makes us the top modern university in London for our area of research and places us eighth overall in the country.
Leadership quality
UEL’s Public Health course is unique in London . The skills you will develop on this course will put you in a good position to progress in your career and take on leadership roles, essential for working in the healthcare sector.
Strong public health links
UEL research institutes, staff and students have researched, developed and delivered programmes to improve health and wellbeing, particularly in some of London’s poorest communities.
What we're researching
Health studies played a significant part in UEL’s research submission in Allied Health Professions (Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy) that was such a big winner in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework – the six-yearly national review of research quality in higher education.
An expert panel rated 67 per cent of the research as ‘internationally excellent’ and 19 per cent of it as ‘world-leading’, the highest possible accolade.
Our research into public health links in with UEL’s internationally renowned Institute for Health and Human Development (IHHD), which regularly carries out research across the UK and overseas.
The IHHD has been heavily involved in more than 50 significant projects since its foundation in 2006. UEL staff and students have researched into and developed programmes to improve health and wellbeing, particularly in some of London’s poorest communities.
Making a difference
UEL is one of the UK’s leading modern research universities. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF), 17 per cent of our overall research submission was classified as ‘world-leading’ for its quality and impact – almost double our previous REF score. A further 45 per cent of our work was considered ‘internationally excellent’.
Fees and funding
£10,280 to fund your Masters Programme under the Postgraduate Loans (PGL) scheme
Postgraduate Loans (PGL)
The Postgraduate Loan (PGL) provide non means-tested loans of up to £10,906 to taught and research masters students. It will be paid to students as a contribution towards tuition fees, living costs and other course costs.
Applications are made directly through Student Finance England
Eligibility
Whether you qualify depends on:
• if you’ve studied on a postgraduate course before
• your course
• your age
• your nationality or residency status
Full eligibility can be found here
Please take a look at the Postgraduate Loans for an overview of the new funding.
The scholarship is open to full-time and part-time UK and EU students of taught postgraduate courses. *Exclusions apply.
Find out more about full eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Terms and conditions apply.How we can help you
Did you know that with a postgraduate qualification you can expect to earn more than someone who only holds an undergraduate degree?If you want to build new skills, change career paths, or further your career prospects, a postgraduate degree can help you. Our range of scholarships and bursaries will make financing your education that much easier. Below is some of the funding available to support you in your studies:
- Alumni Discount – up to 15% fee waiver *exclusions apply. Please see Alumni Discount page for information.
- Early Payment Discount – 5% fee waiver
- Asylum Seekers scholarship – 100% fee waiver
- Civic Engagement – £1,000
- Hardship Bursary – up to £2,000
- Sport Scholarships – Up to £6,000
Terms and conditions apply.
• By telephone
• In person at our Docklands or Stratford campus
• Bank transfer
- Apply for a Postgraduate Loan
- Take advantage of UEL scholarships and bursaries
- Ask your employer to sponsor your study
- Study part-time so you can work at the same time (applicable to courses that have a part-time mode)
- Look at UK Research and Innovation funding options
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate
your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and
university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals starting a course in September 2021, will no longer be eligible for Home fees. However, such nationals benefitting from Settled Status or Citizens' Rights may become eligible for Home fees as and when the UK Government confirms any new fees regulations. Further information can be found at UKCISA.
£10,280 to fund your Masters Programme under the Postgraduate Loans (PGL) scheme
Postgraduate Loans (PGL)
The Postgraduate Loan (PGL) provide non means-tested loans of up to £10,906 to taught and research masters students. It will be paid to students as a contribution towards tuition fees, living costs and other course costs.
Applications are made directly through Student Finance England
Eligibility
Whether you qualify depends on:
• if you’ve studied on a postgraduate course before
• your course
• your age
• your nationality or residency status
Full eligibility can be found here
Please take a look at the Postgraduate Loans for an overview of the new funding.
The scholarship is open to full-time and part-time UK and EU students of taught postgraduate courses. *Exclusions apply.
Find out more about full eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Terms and conditions apply.How we can help you
Did you know that with a postgraduate qualification you can expect to earn more than someone who only holds an undergraduate degree?If you want to build new skills, change career paths, or further your career prospects, a postgraduate degree can help you. Our range of scholarships and bursaries will make financing your education that much easier. Below is some of the funding available to support you in your studies:
- Alumni Discount – up to 15% fee waiver *exclusions apply. Please see Alumni Discount page for information.
- Early Payment Discount – 5% fee waiver
- Asylum Seekers scholarship – 100% fee waiver
- Civic Engagement – £1,000
- Hardship Bursary – up to £2,000
- Sport Scholarships – Up to £6,000
Terms and conditions apply.
• By telephone
• In person at our Docklands or Stratford campus
• Bank transfer
- Apply for a Postgraduate Loan
- Take advantage of UEL scholarships and bursaries
- Ask your employer to sponsor your study
- Study part-time so you can work at the same time (applicable to courses that have a part-time mode)
- Look at UK Research and Innovation funding options
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate
your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and
university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
Per 30 credit module
EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals starting a course in September 2021, will no longer be eligible for Home fees. However, such nationals benefitting from Settled Status or Citizens' Rights may become eligible for Home fees as and when the UK Government confirms any new fees regulations. Further information can be found at UKCISA.
As part of the Tier 4 student visa requirements, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) estimate that you will need £1,265* per month to cover your living costs. It includes expenses for accommodation, food and drink, travel within London, text books, entertainment, clothing, toiletries and laundry. Most Tier 4 students are required to show they have sufficient funds to cover the first nine months of the course before they start- a total of £11,385- in addition to the tuition fees. You can find more information about the specific requirements of the Tier 4 student visa here. The amount that you will spend can vary depending on your lifestyle. The UKCISA International Student Calculator can help you plan and manage your money.
* Please note the Immigration Rules are subject to change and this figure is likely to be increased by UKVI year on year. Please therefore check our ISA page for more information at the time of preparing your visa application.International students are required to pay a deposit prior to being issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Your remaining balance will be paid in five monthly instalments over your first term. The first of these instalments must be paid when completing your enrolment on arrival at UEL. Please follow the payment instructions here.
After the required payment has been made, you will be asked to complete the online International Student Reply Form to confirm your acceptance of our offer and of our terms of admittance and fees policy.
Our International team at UEL are available for advice and guidance on studying in London, fees, scholarships and visa requirements.
Email: international@uel.ac.uk
EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals starting a course in September 2021, will no longer be eligible for Home fees. However, such nationals benefitting from Settled Status or Citizens' Rights may become eligible for Home fees as and when the UK Government confirms any new fees regulations. Further information can be found at UKCISA.
Entry requirements
We would normally expect you to have Grade C in GCSE English and Maths.
Applicants must have at least minimum of One year full-time professional experience in a health related subject.
Applicants who have a lower second-class honours degree but have relevant employment experience in the health sector may be considered by the admissions tutor and the programme leader on an individual basis.
Applicants whose qualifications do not conform to these criteria may be admitted to the programme at the admission tutors’ and programme leaders’ discretion.
Overall IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in Writing, Speaking, Reading and Listening (or recognised equivalent).
If you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol onto a pre-sessional English programme. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and an 11-week pre-sessional course.
All applicants for the MSc Public Health program will be interviewed. Interviews can be conducted in person at UEL, via telephone or skype. Interviews are designed to give the applicant an opportunity to explain in greater detail the relevance of their experience and their suitability for the programme, including levels of knowledge and communication skills.
Please note that some courses require applicants to meet the entry requirements outlined on the course page. Our pre-entry Information Advice and Guidance Team are able to provide further advice on entry requirements and suitability for study.
What you'll study
We consistently review and develop our courses and modules to ensure they are up-to-date with sector and industry graduate skills demands. Course structure, modules and options are subject to change.
- Public Health Theory and Policy
- Principles and Methods of Epidemiology
- Research Methods in Public Health
- Behaviour change and Health Promotion
- Global Health
- Health Economics
- Leadership in Public Health (Mental Wealth)
- Public Health Ethics and Law
- Public Health Project
How you'll be assessed
We use a variety of assessment procedures, including unseen exams, essays and presentations as well as peer and self-assessment. Each taught module will be assessed and the various forms of assessment are outlined in the module guide. The assignments are also designed so that you can pursue your interests and specialist areas of practice.
Course specificationHow you'll learn
The modules offer strong underlying knowledge and skills development. This emphasis supports you to relate theory to practice in a classroom setting, in all module components and in the dissertation.
We consider employability to be a crucial element in the knowledge gained and skills assessed in each module. The course will enable you to deal with complex issues within your workplace and display sound judgment, personal responsibility and initiative.
You might be working with nurses, or podiatrists, or speech therapists. They might be from the UK or elsewhere. The interdisciplinary nature of the course gives you the opportunity to work and learn with peers from different cultural and professional backgrounds.
Recently, UEL MSc students carried out a ‘Small c’ campaign, running a cancer awareness programme at a nearby shopping mall in Stratford. Such ‘learning by doing’ initiatives engage with local people and provide valuable work experience for students to include in their CVs.
You may also have the opportunity to work on one of the research programmes being run by the UEL’s world-renowned Institute for Health and Human Development.
What you'll learn
This course is designed to give you a systematic understanding of your specialist field of public health, taking in the most up-to-the-minute research. You will gain a comprehensive range of techniques applicable to your own research.
You will also gain a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge, developing a range of transferable skills essential to a career in public health.
The course as a whole is based on the principles of the multi-dimensional nature of health.
You will complete a dissertation, and four core modules – Research and Epidemiology for Health Professionals; Public Health: Theory and Practice; Public Health: Policy and Strategy and Health Promotion: Theory and Practice.
Your dissertation is a self-directed, semi-taught, core module of independent research and is undertaken with the guidance of a supervisor and supported by group sessions with the module leader.
Your future career
This unusual and carefully tailored course will help you progress your career – by developing your research skills and by enhancing your managerial abilities. It will also encourage you to think broadly.
For example, while you are treating someone with an obvious ailment such as a broken arm, you might consider whether there are underlying mental health issues which brought about the injury.
This aligns with the growing emphasis in the health care sector on the integration health care services to meet complex health needs.
The Public Health MSc course offers you enhanced employability prospects within the public health sector. This may involve working as a public health specialist or as a practitioner within the directorates of public health in NHS Foundation Trusts or Clinical Commissioning Groups.
Our graduates have returned to careers within NHS or other healthcare sectors with the skills required to take up new levels of responsibility. After completing this course you will be well placed to advance to senior roles, such as director of public health.
“We’ve got an NHS at the moment that’s going through enormous changes,” says Dr Matthew Almond, Field Leader in Health Studies.
“What people need is a workforce that understands the need to be resilient, that understands service design and transformation and understands there are processes involved in transforming a service like the NHS – and that until the process is mature, there are going to be problems.”
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal
