The one year MSc in Public Health is available to those who have successfully completed the Public Health Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits). This can be from Diploma MSc, the University of South Wales or from another UK university (having completed similar modules).

For those who have not completed the Postgraduate Diploma, you can apply for the Public Health MSc as a two year course, consisting of eight modules (180 credits) with the first 120 credits deriving from the Postgraduate Diploma.

The Public Health MSc course starts with an initial 10 week online module that will develop skills in critical appraisal and knowledge of research methodologies. Students then progress to module 2 where they undertake the professional project, which consists of a 1,500 word proposal and 10,500 word professional project (dissertation).

2 year MSc:

Module 1 – Contemporary issues in public health

• To provide an overview of the introduction to public health and explore relevant definitions.
• To critically use relevant data and evidence to understand contemporary issues within the public health arena.
• To develop an understanding of evidence-based interventions, to prevent contemporary issues or to protect the population’s health.

Module 2 – Environmental/geopolitical determinants of health

• To critically use relevant data and evidence to understand the impact of environmental/geopolitical issues and interventions to protect the population’s health.

Module 3 – Data and intelligence

• To critically use relevant data collected by a variety of methods and techniques to survey and assess a population’s health.

Module 4 – Dealing with complexity

• To develop knowledge of a range of effective strategic leadership, organisational and management skills in a variety of complex public health situations and contexts, dealing effectively with uncertainty and the unexpected to achieve public health goals.

Module 5 – Protecting the public’s health

• To critically apply the evidence base to address issues within public health care systems.
• To develop an understanding of needs assessment and health impact assessment to support evidence-based interventions.
• To develop skills in pathway development for integrated services.

Module 6 – Public health within health and care systems

• To critically apply the evidence base to address issues within public health care systems.
• To develop an understanding of needs assessment and health impact assessment to support evidence-based interventions.
• To develop skills in pathway development for integrated services.

Module 7 – Research Methodologies and Critical Appraisal

• To prepare students for an independent research-based project by developing skills in selecting, appraising, discriminating, using evidence and appropriate research/investigative methods to address relevant topics for investigation.

Module 8 – Professional Project

• To formulate the research question that you seek to answer.
• To develop an ability to critically evaluate areas of professional practice.
• To critically appraise specific areas of clinical, research and organisational practice.
• To develop skills in independent research and study.
• To develop skills relevant to scientific publications.

1 year MSc

Module 1 – Research Methodologies and Critical Appraisal

• To prepare students for an independent research-based project by developing skills in selecting, appraising, discriminating, using evidence and appropriate research/investigative methods to address relevant topics for investigation.

Module 2 – Professional Project

• To formulate the research question that you seek to answer.
• To develop an ability to critically evaluate areas of professional practice.
• To critically appraise specific areas of clinical, research and organisational practice.
• To develop skills in independent research and study.
• To develop skills relevant to scientific publications.

Once you have secured your place on the course, you will be invited to our online Orientation and Study Skills week. This will give you the opportunity to participate in study skills workshops on Harvard Referencing, scientific and reflective writings, and levels of evidence in preparation for your studies.

Our courses are conducted entirely online through self-directed distance learning. You’ll receive guidance throughout your course with tutor-stimulated academic discussions, which are based on clinically-rich case scenarios. These usually occur within groups of 10-15 students, allowing you to clearly communicate with both your tutor and fellow students.

You will also participate in a combination of module activities that may be group and/or individual based, dependent on the module. These innovative teaching methods enable you to envisage the translation of your studies into your every day work and practice.

Due to the online nature of the course, you will be expected to regularly login and participate in the course – ideally on a daily basis. Students are recommended to spend around two hours per day on their studies.

Support

Our dedicated Student Support Team are available to help with any problems you may face. From navigating our online platform to advising you on deadlines, our team can assist with any questions or challenges you may have along the way.

Each of the six modules have the same assessment format:

• Academic Forum – 40%
• Reflective Journal – 10%
• Module activity – 20%
• Case based examination – 30%