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Public Health

Our Master's in Public Health (MPH) course is an interdisciplinary degree, drawing upon expertise across a wide range of subject areas, and seeks to explore the complexity of Public Health issues in the UK and internationally.

The course aims to provide relevant qualifications to meet national and international needs for a skilled public health workforce and to prepare students for further academic study with a view to academic careers.

The course provides students with the opportunity to develop and demonstrate systematic knowledge and understanding in a wide range of public health areas, which is reinforced with the wide range of optional modules offered on the course, allowing students to pursue their own health-related interests.

Master's in Public Health ranked 3rd in the UK and 14th in the world

We're delighted that our Master's in Public Health has been ranked 3rd in the UK and 14th in the world in the Eduniversal Best Master's Ranking 2022.


Who is the course for?

The course is particularly aimed at:
  • Those wishing to pursue a career in public health
  • Those currently involved in the practice of aspects of public health or who are working in health promotion
  • Those seeking membership of the UK Faculty of Public Health

Why study Public Health at Warwick?

  • Wide range of modules
We offer a wide range of modules, meaning you can choose to study the areas of Public Health which are of most interest to you. There are four core modules which everybody has to take, which cover core public health content:

In addition all students will take the postgraduate induction module.

Students then have a free choice of three out of 10 optional modules, including the module 'Public Mental Health and Wellbeing: Measurements, Determinants and Promotion' which is unique to Warwick. You can see our full selection of modules here.

If you wish, you can choose a defined pathway for your optional modules, depending on your career plans. For example:

  • Research project tailored to your interests
All students choose to complete either a Professional Project or a larger Dissertation on a topic of their choice to reflect their interests. Examples of students’ previous projects include the following:
• An exploration of the perceptions of food business operators of the ‘Eat Out Eat Well Award’ scheme
• Prevention of childhood obesity in China: A systematic review
• Investigation of models of primary care for homeless patients
• An evaluation of flu vaccination uptake in care home workers
• Hypertension in antiretroviral-treated and naïve people living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
One of our Public Health students, Helen Sanderson, recently had her professional project published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine - a fantastic achievement! Read it here,

Public Health student, Sarah Bates has also had her project published - a great achievement! Read it here.

To complement the health education effort of health agencies in Nigeria during the Coronavirus pandemic, one of our Public Health graduates, Eze Nwamaka started a podcast series called Coronavirus Logues. The aim was to dispel public misconceptions about Coronavirus and to share information about measures to stop the spread of the virus in Nigeria. Notable among their sessions was the Covid-19 MythbustersLink opens in a new window podcast where they adopted the content from the WHO guidelines and recruited volunteer frontline health workers from different parts of Nigeria to deliver it in Pidgin English.
  • Possibility of work experience
For students not currently working in public health, Pathways to the Public Health Workplace is a popular optional module, giving you practical experience of working in public health, either internationally or in the UK.
  • Alignment with UK Faculty of Public Health
Our modules are mapped to the content of the Part A syllabus of the UK Faculty of Public Health.

  • Input from external Public Health professionals
In addition to input from professors and lecturers in Public Health from Warwick Medical School, our modules include input from consultants in Public Health from Public Health England and local authorities, and other external agencies.
  • Choice of full- or part-time study

  • Highly ranked course

    We're delighted that our Master's in Public Health has been ranked 3rd in the UK and 12th in the world in the Eduniversal Best Master's Ranking 2021.

Course structure

Part time structure (1-3 years)

At the start of Year 1, students choose to pursue route 1 or route 2. The route they choose is then continued into Year 2.

  Route 1 Route 2
Year 1 (Postgraduate Certificate) Three Core Modules (60 CATS)
(For details of modules see box below)

Two Core Modules and One Option Module (60 CATS)
(For details of modules see box below)

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  Route 1 Route 2

Year 2

(Postgraduate Diploma)

Remaining One Core Module and Two Option Modules (60 CATS) Remaining Two Core Modules and One Option Module (60 CATS)

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Year 3 (MSc)

Professional Project (40 CATS) and One Option Module (20 CATS)

Or

Dissertation (60 CATS)

Full time structure (1 year):

Route 1

Four Core Modules (80 CATS)

Three Option Modules (60 CATS)

Professional Project (40 CATS)

Route 2

Four Core Modules (80 CATS)

Two Option Modules (40 CATS)

Dissertation (60 CATS)


  Module List
Module name CATS Core/Option Pre-requisite modules
MH900 Epidemiology and Statistics 20 Core N/A
Disease Prevention and Health Protection (previously called 'Practice of Public Health') 20 Core N/A
Health Improvement and Management for Public Health (previously called 'Issues in Public Health') 20 Core N/A
MH903 Social Determinants of HealthLink opens in a new window 20 Core N/A
MH933 Health ScreeningLink opens in a new window 20 Option N/A
MD913 Design, Analysis and Interpretation Epidemiology ResearchLink opens in a new window 20 Option Epidemiology and Statistics
MH910 International Health PolicyLink opens in a new window 20 Option N/A
MD990 Introduction to Health Economics (for non–economists)Link opens in a new window 20 Option N/A
MD941 Public Mental Health and Wellbeing: Measurements, Determinants and Promotion 20 Option N/A
MH930 Qualitative Research Methods in HealthLink opens in a new window 20 Option N/A
MH928 Introduction to Leadership and Management in Health Care Contexts
Link opens in a new window
20 Option N/A
MH923 Understanding Research and Critical Appraisal in HealthcareLink opens in a new window (UReCA) 20 Option N/A
MD915 Understanding Research and Critical Appraisal in Healthcare (Distance Learning)Link opens in a new window  20 Option N/A
Global Health 20 Option N/A
MD90A Pathways to the Public Health Workplace 20 Option N/A
MH940 Improving Safety and Quality in Healthcare (not available in 2021-22) 20 Option N/A
PC950 Professional Project 40 Optional Core N/A
ME914 DissertationLink opens in a new window 60 Optional Core Epidemiology and Statistics OR UReCA

Entry requirements

We welcome applications from graduates with at least a 2:2 degree (or international equivalent) in an appropriate subject. Those without formal qualifications should demonstrate relevant work experience and the ability to study at postgraduate level.

International students will also be required to show sufficient competence in English (IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in the reading and writing components and no component below 6).

Teaching methods

Teaching is generally organised within one week intensive study blocks. Teaching methods include lectures, seminar and group work, and students will have opportunity to draw on their academic and work experience.

Parts of the course are taught by visiting or guest clinical or academic lecturers.

Assessments

There is a range of assessment styles, reflecting what is needed when working in public health, such as statistical reports, briefing papers, press releases, action plans, reflections, portfolios, verbal presentations (group and individual) and poster presentations.

Student opinions:

Student profile: Aleena
Student profile: Nidhi
Student profile: Louise

Key Facts

Contact: Melissa Parkes/Anna Scott

Course Director: Saran ShantikumarLink opens in a new window

Qualifications: MPH, PGCert, PGDip or PGA

Duration:

MSc Full time: 1 year

MSc Part time: 1-3 years

Location of Study: University of Warwick

How to Apply

FeesLink opens in a new window

Scholarships