Public Health Practitioner Apprenticeship BSc (Hons)
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Overview
What is public health like at UEL?
Our public health practitioner degree apprenticeship is an interdisciplinary programme, which broadens students' horizons to explore health needs and the links between theory and practice in relation to the concepts and principles of public health. Your course will be delivered at the Stratford campus, combining academic study with the practical workplace learning central to the apprenticeship model. Our teaching team brings experience from public health practice and research across a wide range of settings, and we are excited to work with you as you develop into a confident and capable public health professional.
This course will:
Equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to enable them to work in the areas of Public Health and related practice.
Provide students with a set of transferable academic and personal skills, relevant across disciplines and employment sectors; and
Provide students with a rigorous, enjoyable, and diverse teaching and learning environment and experience where academic knowledge and diversity is encouraged and valued.
Course modules
As part of this apprenticeship, you will complete the following modules.
Year 1
- Promoting health together
- Foundations of public health
- Professional development (mental wealth)
- Anthropology of health
- Evidence based public health
- Statistics for public health
Year 2
- Public health: policy and systems
- Contemporary public health challenges
- Epidemiology and population health
- Research methods
- Health protection and sustainability
- Co-production of community health (mental wealth)
Year 3
- Introduction of health economics and finance
- End Point Assessment Module - Applied public health
- Leadership and professional practice (mental wealth)
- Public health ethics and law
- Public Health Project
- End Point Assessment Module - Applied public health
What makes this course different
Highly rated by our students
100 per cent of students surveyed on this course responded positively to questions on “Academic Support” in the 2025 National Student Survey. (National Student Survey 2025, Results published 9 July 2025)
1st in the UK
Our Environmental and Public Health courses ranked 1st in the UK for three categories, including “Academic Support” and “Assessment & Feedback” in the 2025 National Student Survey. (National Student Survey 2025, Results published 9 July 2025)
Your future career
Our comprehensive public health course is designed to equip future health professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to address complex health challenges in today's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.
As the need for projects to deliver good health globally becomes more urgent, the more we see that public health is not just everybody's business - it's a growth business, too.
That's why it needs graduates as well-schooled as you will be in these crucial issues. Public health employment opportunities are only growing.
Industry links
We're closely connected with top industry figures in health, policy and practice. These connections are invaluable as we involve you in real-life situations in these fields.
Graduate employers
Our public health degree graduates have continued to work for public health departments, local authority employers and national government bodies. They have become public health educators or specialists. Others go onto further research at Masters and Doctoral level.
Further study
Graduates can also choose to pursue a career in a relevant field which requires extra training. This includes roles within healthcare such as medicine, allied health, nursing and midwifery.
Careers Guarantee
The UEL Careers Guarantee is our commitment to help every student build the skills, confidence and connections they need to enter rewarding, future-proofed careers. Our Careers Guarantee isn’t an empty promise. It’s driving a transformation in education, employment and the economy, powered by our incredible graduate success.
The Careers Guarantee is driving our incredible transformation. We are now the fastest-rising university in London for graduate employability (Graduate Outcome Survey 2025), we are ranked 2nd in the UK for student startups, and our students rate us 2nd in London and 4th in England for Overall Positivity (National Students Survey 2025).
As one of the UK’s most socially inclusive universities, we’re not only shaping our graduates’ futures, but shaping a more equitable society.
Experience and Skills guaranteed.
Gain industry experience from day one in our practice-based learning centres.
Study a future-proofed curriculum that gives you the interdisciplinary skills that employers need.
Support and Enterprise guaranteed.
Benefit from lifelong career support through our global network.
Get support for startups, scaleups and your enterprising potential.
Impact guaranteed.
See proven results that lead to a real impact on our communities.
How you'll learn
Our innovative Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) approach enhances face-to-face learning by providing students with scheduled on-campus contact hours and additional learning opportunities. Through our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), students can access course materials and resources beyond their scheduled hours. We offer access to industry-standard technology and specialised spaces to prepare students for their future careers. Dedicated time for activities and development, along with a holistic approach to learning, fosters academic, personal, and professional growth. Students benefit from career support through on-campus and virtual Career Zones, personalised support services, and a dedicated online portal, Track My Future (TMF).
Guided independent study
When not attending timetabled public health lectures you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve skills development through online study, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects and preparing coursework assignments and presentations. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, and specialist facilities, such as game labs, the library, the full Microsoft Office software, including MS Teams, and Moodle: our Virtual Learning Environment.
Academic support
Students are supported with academic or subject-related queries by a programme director, module leaders, academic advisors (you’ll have an academic advisor from the teaching team as soon as you arrive with us), and university central support services.
Dedicated personal tutor
If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing, English, maths, or statistics, academic tutors offer workshops, drop-in sessions, and one-to-one appointments to help you achieve your potential.
You can receive advice and guidance on all aspects of the IT systems provided by the university from our IT Service Desks located on all three campuses. Our Student Support hubs feature centralised helpdesks.
UEL provides support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs).
Workload
Over the course of your public health degree, you will undertake lectures, workshops, seminars, placements and individual and group tutorials - all as part of your public health training. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.
The modules are split over three terms across the three years + 3 months for the End Point Assessment Module - Applied Public Health.
The Public Health Practitioner Apprenticeship Degree is structured primarily around 20-credit modules, with some larger 30 - and 40- credit modules where broader projects and deeper exploration of practice are required. The content of each module and its learning outcomes are designed to align with both academic expectations and the professional Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) of the apprenticeship standard.
Your timetable
Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment in your public health course. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as accommodating as possible, scheduled teaching usually takes place on Thursday between 10.00am and 5.00pm. On occasions, this changes during Semester 3 (Summer semester).
Class sizes
The approximate size of classes on this course is 10 – 15.
How you'll be assessed
- Year 1 = Assignment (42%), Portfolio (33%), Presentation (25%)
- Year 2 = Assignment (50%), Presentation (12%), Report (12%), Proposal (12%), Exam (10%), Exercise (4%)
- Year 3 = Assignment (50%), Public Health Project (35%), Presentation (10%), + End Point Assessment
You'll always receive detailed feedback outlining your strengths and how you can improve. We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 14 working days. However, this may take longer if external assessment is required.
Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, apprentices will meet the requirements of the Public Health Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard and will be eligible to apply for registration with the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) at practitioner level. This provides formal recognition of their professional competence and supports future career development within the public health workforce.
The apprenticeship has given me the chance to deepen my understanding of public health, from the complexities of data and evidence to the practicalities of designing services and support for residents. I’ve been able to apply new skills directly to my role, whether that’s shaping local strategies, evaluating programmes, or advocating for prevention with decision‑makers.
Shanie-Louise Dengate, Public Health Apprenticeship student
Contact us
Email: degreeapprenticeships@uel.ac.uk
Tel: 020 8223 2337
University of East London
Academic Partnerships Office
Docklands Campus, University Way
London E16 2RD
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Jake McMahon talks about being an apprentice at UEL
Watch this video to see Jake McMahon talking about being an apprentice at UEL