Public Health Practice

A minimum of a second-class honours degree (2:1 preferred) or equivalent in any subject. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

• IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 56 overall with a minimum of 51 in each sub-skill.
• IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.

The learning outcomes of this module are:

1. Summarise the key theories and principles within public health.
2. Critically reflect on the evidence for the various health outcomes and determinants of health across the life course.
3. Synthesise and critically apply research evidence to the design of complex public health interventions.
4. Critically examine different evaluation methods for complex interventions.
5. Critically appraise the evidence used to develop national and international public health policies and programmes.

You will be expected to participate in online discussions/problem-solving sessions. Students access electronic learning resources such as podcasts.

Students will be introduced to concepts including, but not limited to, the current physical and mental health burden across various countries, population health vs. public health, the determinants of health and health inequalities, and the design and evaluation of public health interventions.

Indicative content:

• Key principles of public health.
• Public health approaches (e.g. epidemiology, surveillance, evaluation etc).
• Physical and mental health and multimorbidity.
• Determinants of health.
• Health across the life course.
• Design and evaluation of complex interventions.
• Evidence hierarchies and evidence-based public health policy.

The module will be delivered using a range of online approaches including pre-recorded lectures, webinars, reading, quizzes, discussion boards, group work and student presentations.

To pass the module you must pass both assessments A1 (short answer exam) and A2 (essay) with at least 50% for each.

Agi McFarland

The module will help you develop an understanding of current public health priorities and areas of work which will be directly applicable to the working environment, either within policy, practice or research settings.

The majority of our students are already working in health or social care prior to commencement and remain employed throughout the duration of their studies.

Our students develop a wide range of transferable skills during their study that makes them attractive to other employers e.g.

• team working,
• IT skills,
• literature searching,
• critical appraisal,
• presentation skills,
• writing and data analysis.