Overview
What is public health like at UEL?
Our public health degree 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.
- Gain the skills to make public health better for individuals, communities, and big groups of people.
- Learn to tackle big health problems and make things fairer in health for everyone, everywhere.
- Work in public health jobs like analysing data, training in public health, or helping communities. Plus, you get real work experience by doing a placement in a local authority or organisation.
This course is in Clearing
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UEL’s LLM programme has been recognised as a top choice in the latest PTES survey, achieving 1st place rankings for satisfaction, teaching and more.
What makes this course different

Highly Rated By Our Students
100% of students surveyed on this course responded positively to questions on 7 themes including “The Teaching on my Course” & “Learning Resources” in the 2024 National Student Survey.
(National Student Survey 2024, Results published 10 July 2024)

Top nationally
Across several metrics including teaching, academic support, and learning resources, our public health offerings came out on top nationally with students praising the organisation and management of the courses. - NSS 2024

Prepare for future employment with our careers events
Your course will have embedded career opportunities, including our industry panel where 10 nationally recognised organisations come to share their expertise. These include East London NHS Foundation Trust, Newham Council, and Diabetes UK.
Course modules
Our public health foundation year equips you with the skills and knowledge to address global health challenges and improve community well-being. Through a mix of core modules, you'll learn essential research methods, explore healthcare systems, and understand human health and disease. Practical experiences, such as optional placements, enhance your professional skills and prepare you for a rewarding job in public health.
We'll start in your first year by giving you a thorough understanding of health and healthcare in the UK. You'll study epidemiology, the cornerstone of public health. It's the science that studies the patterns, causes and effects of health and disease conditions in populations. Professional development opportunities ensure you're prepared for a successful career in the dynamic field of public health.
In your second year, you'll take a practical module, using our computer labs to access and analyse health data before presenting an epidemiological report on it. You will develop a critical approach to the selection of appropriate research processes, methods, and analytical skills to address appropriate research problems, preparing you for real-world challenges in public health.
In year 3, you'll choose your own final-year project. It could be anything from the evaluation of a public health programme to a focus-group study analysing an important local health issue. This project will allow you to apply your knowledge of public health principles to real-world challenges. It's a chance to explore how public health initiatives can impact communities and contribute to improving health outcomes.
NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.
Download course specification
Your future career
As the need for projects to deliver good health globally becomes more urgent, the more clearly 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.
Our public health degree graduates have gone to work for employers including Public Health England, local authorities, national government, the civil service, the NHS, charities and social enterprises. They've become public health educators or specialists. They've worked in voluntary organisations in the UK and abroad, advised on policy, or gone on to study epidemiology. Others go into further research. Anything is possible – including, if you want, further public health training,
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 graduates have been employed by organisations such as the NHS, Public Health England, Bupa, Look Ahead Care, Support and Housing Ltd, Alliance Medical and various local hospitals.
Job roles
Our graduates have gone on to careers in public health jobs such as social support workers, mental health rehabilitation support workers, healthcare epidemiologists and health promotion research officers.
Explore the different public health employment opportunities you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.
Further study
Graduates 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. You could study for an MSc in Public Health at UEL.

As a university committed to your career growth, we've curated dedicated Career Zones across all of our campuses with practical services tailored to your success. From internships, personalised coaching, and employability workshops to volunteering, mentoring, placements, and enterprise opportunities, we offer a diverse range of support."Rema Khatun
Career Zone
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 or workshops, 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 spend around 480 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be 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 approximate amount for this course is:
- Year 1: scheduled teaching - 114 hours; guided independent study - 50 hours Assessment preparation and 36 hours student-tutor interaction = 200 total hours
- Year 2: scheduled teaching - 150 hours; guided independent study - 50 hours student-tutor interaction and assessment preparation = 200 total hours
- Year 3: scheduled teaching - 226 hours; guided independent study - 974 hours
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 student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9.00am and 6.00pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.
Class sizes
The approx size of classes on this course is 45.
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%), Dissertation (35%), Presentation (10%), Reflective Diary (5%)
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.
Campus and facilities
Statford Campus, London, E15 4LZ
Our historic Stratford campus is located in one of the best-connected areas of London: close to Stratford's thriving town centre, the 2012 Olympic Park, just 15 minutes from London's West End and 20 minutes from Canary Wharf.
Stratford’s facilities include a state-of-the-art library and learning centre, the majestic great hall and specialist laboratories and computing services. The School of Childhood and Social Care, and Centre for Clinical Education in Podiatry, Physiotherapy and Sports Science are housed in new buildings. There is also a campus restaurant and bookshop, and a Students' Union café-bar.
Westfield Stratford City - Europe's largest indoor shopping mall - is just one of Stratford's attractions, alongside many other shops, cafés, bars, restaurants and cinemas. Stratford is fast becoming London's new cultural quarter, with Sadler's Wells East and V&A East moving in.
Who teaches this course
This course is delivered by School of Health, Sport and Bioscience
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
- Course leader
Tracey Lemay
Department of Allied and Public Health, School Of Health, Sport And Bioscience - Course leader
Manizha Hadi
Department of Allied and Public Health, School Of Health, Sport And Bioscience - Course leader
Stephanie Messner
Department of Allied and Public Health, School Of Health, Sport And Bioscience - Course leader
Dr Andrew Barnfield
Department of Allied and Public Health, School Of Health, Sport And Bioscience
What our students and staff say

It was only when I got the chance to put it all into practice on this course that it started to make sense. I never believed in myself but now I think I can achieve something good. Public health is my passion."
Marina Haque
Public Health, BSc (Hons)

I am always inspired as an educator when students have that light bulb moment and say “ Ahh, now I get it, now I understand!”. It motivates me to continue the work of helping students achieve their academic and career goals."
Dr Patricia Smith
Senior lecturer in Allied and Public Health