MSc Public Health
The MSc Public Health creates professionals who can advocate, enable and mediate change in public health across the world stage.
It supports the development of public health practitioners by enabling them to negotiate, plan, implement and evaluate policy and practice initiatives.
The Public Health Masters recognises that health challenges can be more global than a single country’s population, but that local policy and regulation responses will vary from country to country.
Modules include relevant theoretical and ethical concepts to encourage students to reflect critically on questions and decisions that arise in the field of public health, as well as some practical elements, including undertaking a research project and using simulations.
At the end of the course, students will develop as responsive professionals who can negotiate, plan, implement and evaluate public health policy and practice.
Please note, due to the high volumes of applications received, we are no longer accepting new applications from international students who wish to start this course in January or February 2023. Applications from students in the UK or EU are still being accepted. For more information, please visit our International website. Any new international applications received for the January/February 2023 intakes will be withdrawn.
However, International students can apply to study this course from September 2023. Whilst there is no set deadline to apply, we would recommend making an application as soon as possible.
The Public Health course is structured through the academic year, and students can start the course in either September or February. The majority of modules have seven to eight weeks of teaching one day a week, with assessments to complete after the teaching has concluded. You will need to study eight modules (totalling 180 credits) to achieve the MSc Public Health.
The core modules of study are: Sustainable Public Health, Leading Change, Research methods and evidence based public health, Protecting Health in diverse environments, epidemiology and biostatistics and the public health project. Students choose one optional route with two optional modules depending on the area of interest.
As a full time student, you will be on campus for two or three days a week. Part-time students will be on campus one or two days a week. Students also have the opportunity to utilise practical health promotion skills with on campus health promotion activities around a number of health awareness days e.g. World's HIV Day and student-staff health promotion stands.
You will study the following modules:
- Sustainable Public Health
- Research Methods and Evidence Based Public Health
- Protecting Health in Diverse Environments
- Leading Change
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Public Health Project
You will also choose one optional route from this list, and your award will still be for an ‘MSc Public Health’ regardless of your optional module choice.
- Option route 1 (Health Promotion): Health promotion and International family health
- Option route 2 (Public Health): Health promotion and Governance and Economics for Public Health
- Option route 3 (Disaster healthcare): Planning for Disasters and Humanitarian Emergencies
& Health, disasters, and humanitarian emergencies. This option is only available for February entry students, or part-time students.
Teaching
The teaching and learning methods we use are designed to support the motivation, interactivity and development of future graduates in public health practice.
The MSc Public Health course will be delivered using a blended learning approach, predominately using interactive lectures that integrate a wide variety of learning formats. A typical lecture includes a mix of tutor-led lecture content alongside structured activities and tasks to allow students to gain and share theoretical knowledge and apply this new knowledge to practical public health examples.
All of our modules are supported by Blackboard (the online learning environment), where weekly lecture notes and wider reading are available to students.
You will be expected to manage your own enquiry-based learning and read and research extensively about Public Health theory and practice. Learning takes place alongside students from a wide range of disciplines and from a wide range of countries.
Assessment
Each module is assessed at the end of the module using two pieces of assessment. All modules are assessed using a range of methods, and usually have one coursework element and one practical or exam element.
The coursework element uses written formats that you might use in public health practice and includes including a project, a portfolio, a community profile, an oral presentation, a poster presentation, a literature review, a report, a briefing paper and a protocol.
The exam elements include a mix of exams and include short answer, practical tasks, essay style exams.
Lecturers
- Dr Nova Corcoran, course leader
- Dr Joseph Sunday
- Teresa Filipponi
- Dr Anne-Marie Coll
- Precious O'Driscoll
We also have five casual lecturers who are working in Public Health Practice who are part of our module teams.
We regularly revalidate courses for quality assurance and enhancement
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
As Public health is a multidisciplinary course, we accept a wide range of undergraduate degrees onto our MSc Public Health with a minimum entry criteria of a 2.2. In addition, applicants require a minimum of one year relevant work experience. In your personal statement we therefore expect you to show a strong interest in Public Health, and to describe any relevant work experience you have in the health field. This might include current or past employment, voluntary work experience, undergraduate research projects or internships.
International applicants whose first language is not English require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in Writing and 5.5 in each component.
Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee will remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course.
August 2023 - July 2024 Fees
Full-time UK: £9500
Full-time International: £15100
Part-time UK: £1055 per 20 credits
August 2024 - July 2025 Fees
Full-time UK: TBC
Full-time International: £16000
Part-time UK: TBC
Student Perks
At the University of South Wales, you’re investing in so much more than a degree. We strive to provide our students with the best possible experience, no matter what you chose to study. Whether it’s access to top of the range mac books and PCs, state-of-the-art facilities packed with industry-leading equipment and software, masterclasses and events led by industry experts, or a wide range of clubs and societies to meet likeminded people, better tomorrows start with extra perks.
Each course also has their own unique student benefits to prepare you for the real word, and details of these can be found on our course pages. From global field trips, integrated work experience and free course-related resources, to funded initiatives, projects working with real employers, and opportunities for extra qualifications and accreditations - at USW your future, is future-proofed.
Click here to learn more about student perks at USW.
Additional Costs
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
Funding
Funding to help pay for (or cover) course tuition fees and living costs
Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
To learn about course fees, funding options, and to see if you are eligible for financial support, visit our Fees and Funding pages.
This Public Health course opens up a variety of employment opportunities in the UK and internationally, and across the public and voluntary sectors, e.g, in schools, colleges and universities, advocacy organisations, international non-government organisations, consulting firms, local and national government organisations, health delivery organisations and community development organisations.
Please note, the MSc Public Health does not lead to registration on any professional register but can contribute towards preparation for Part A of the Faculty of Public Health examinations.
Graduates could also progress to a postgraduate research and pursue a career in research or academia. We welcome applications from self-funded students for postgraduate research degrees, including Masters by Research and PhD, in a range of topics around public health. Please see our Graduate School website for more details. For the first time in 2022, two international students were allocated funding from the faculty to commence a PhD with Dr Nova Corcoran and Dr Joseph Sunday to explore 'International student Health and Well-being'.
The Pontypridd Campus is made up of two sites; Treforest and Glyntaff. Our students love the community atmosphere. It’s quieter than the cities, with green open spaces and views across the valley.
It’s the community and friendships you’ll build that make this place special. Outside your studies you can experience our amazing sport facilities and Students’ Union.
Living in Halls is a great way to meet new people and make friends. We have high quality accommodation in Treforest, Cardiff and Newport.