Master of Public Health

(Now enrolling for January 2026)

Overview

This programme aims to equip students with real knowledge and skills fit to achieve changes in practice relevant to contemporary public health challenges in a global context. The programme applies a practical and applied approach to explore how public health problems (for example health inequalities, pandemics, epidemics etc.) can be analysed and understood, solutions designed, evaluated, and implemented. This is very much about transforming practice and getting evidence into practice. To support this four key themes run through the modules on the programme.

Evidence based public health practice
Interdisciplinary and inter-professional working – geared towards joint working
Impact/outcomes driven including the reduction of global heath inequalities
Implementation and evaluation of services.

The learning outcomes for this programme have been mapped to the Faculty of Public Health’s competency framework (2015), the Royal Society of Public Health’s Standards which in turn maps to the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework and Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework (Department of Health 2016).

Earn a world class Masters for under $10,000.

Modules (ALL COMPULSORY)

Trimester 1 (15 weeks)		Trimester 2 (15 weeks)
Epidemiology for Public Health 20 Credits	Principles and Theory of Public Health for Health Improvement 20 Credits	Globalisation and Public Health 20 Credits	Leadership and Collaborative Working in Public Health 20 Credits
Trimester 3 (15 weeks)		Trimester 4 (15 weeks)
Statistics for Public Health 20 Credits		Research Methods 20 Credits
Trimesters 5 and 6 (15-30 weeks)
Dissertation 60 Credits

Learn more about our Virtual Learning Environment here

MODULE OVERVIEW

Globalisation and Public Health

This module introduces you to key contemporary challenges in global public health, drawing on priorities identified by the World Health Organisation and other international bodies. It aims to foster a critical understanding of the social, political, economic and environmental determinants that shape health outcomes worldwide. You will develop in-depth knowledge of pressing global health issues, while also examining how these challenges manifest at regional, national and local levels, including within Scotland and the wider UK. Through this lens, the module highlights the interconnectedness of health across borders and equips you with the analytical skills to evaluate global health problems and responses in diverse contexts.
Principles and Theory of Public Health for Health Improvement

This module aims to enhance your knowledge and understanding in relation to the key principles and theories underpinning public health and how these apply to public health practice for health improvement. This will include an overview of the history of public health and the current theoretical frameworks. The principles of health needs assessment will be examined. The importance of public health policies as well as factors influencing the formulation of public health policies will be explored. Additionally, you will critically explore the impact of social determinants of health and reflect upon the extent to which public health practice is evidence-based.
Epidemiology for Public Health

This module introduces the fundamental principles and applications of epidemiology as the core science of public health. You will develop a critical understanding of measures of health and disease, study designs, and approaches to describing and analysing patterns of health in populations. The module emphasises how epidemiological evidence is generated, interpreted, and applied to public health challenges. Through exploring case examples, you will consider how epidemiology contributes to understanding risk factors, health inequalities, and the evaluation of interventions, providing a foundation
for more advanced study and practice in public health.
Leadership and Collaborative Working in Public Health

This module aims to enhance student knowledge and understanding in relation to the theories and models of leadership and management relevant to public health. Students will explore theories of leadership, collaboration and partnership and their implications for health improvement in public health settings. Different public health contexts including community development, health-promoting projects, health services and emergency planning will be explored. Students will reflect on their learning needs in relation to skills for collaborative leadership for service improvement. Students will also critically consider other models for planning, implementing, leading and evaluating public health projects in a range of contexts. The module will include the following content: theories and models of leadership, management, and collaborative working; differing contexts within public health leadership such as community development, health promotion projects, working with health services and other agencies and emergency planning; the challenges and benefits of working with stakeholders such as service users, community groups and policy makers when leading public health initiatives; models and frameworks for public health implementation; negotiation and influencing skills; professional boundaries and identities and implications for inter-professional and inter-agency working in public health.
Statistics for Public Health

This module brings together the foundational concepts and methods in statistics crucial for evidencebased public health practice. This module will equip you with the quantitative skills necessary to navigate and contribute to this data-rich field. You will explore various types of public health data, learn how to effectively summarise them, and understand the fundamental principles of their presentation in public health. The module will delve into the core of descriptive and inferential statistics and will enable you to gain experience in interpreting results and communicating findings clearly and accurately. Upon completion, you will be able to critically appraise statistical information in public health literature, identify and quantify disparities in health outcomes across different populations, and provide evidence needed to develop targeted interventions and contribute to data-driven decision-making processes to improve population health.
Research Methods

This module aims to enable you to critically appreciate the value of empirical literature, research design and data interpretation, relating to public health. The module will provide further knowledge on the critical appraisal of evidence from published literature, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, structured literature reviewing, ethics, data collection and analysis. The intention is for you to be able to discriminate between different research methodologies suitable to answer specific pertinent public health questions.
Dissertation

The master’s dissertation is a cumulation of your learning and knowledge gained from undertaking the modules during your master’s journey to independently carry out a piece of research, either through conducting a literature review, original primary research (small scale study) or writing of a substantial research proposal (that can be taken forward for doctoral study) on a topic aligned to public health and your research interests.

Assessment

Assessments are completed and submitted through the secure learning environment. The schedule for assessments is published in advance. There are no formal exams – assessment is by end of unit quizzes and end of module assignments.

Duration

The Master of Public Health is comprised of five “taught” modules and a Dissertation to a timescale that matches your requirements, but can be completed in a minimum of 24 months.

Admissions Criteria

Ideally, you will hold a first degree at 2:2 or above, or an equivalent qualification in a subject related to health or health sciences for entry into this programme.
Alternatively, you may have an equivalent professional qualification, or public health experience which demonstrates through our recognition of prior learning process that you have appropriate knowledge and skills at SCQF level 10.
People who do not possess a first degree may be enrolled in the first instance as an Associate student for the first trimester. Satisfactory performance from two modules may then result in registration on the Master of Public Health programme.
Holders of the ENU BSc Nursing Studies degree will be eligible to apply.

If you have any questions, please contact us on (1) 239 444 4399. We are here to help.

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Master of Public Health