MRes Public Health (Web-based Learning) / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course description

"The MRes course and the experience I gained with an external partner organisation through The University of Manchester was excellent.

This was a big factor in me being accepted onto a fully funded PhD. Also, the staff are very encouraging and supportive here."

Lorna Flintham / MRes Student

Our MRes Public Health course is an innovative distance learning research degree that meets the need of researchers in all public health settings, from local authorities to non-governmental organisations in both the UK and worldwide.

The course provides an introduction to research development, mainly for those currently in the healthcare workforce who wish to become researchers or pursue a research pathway within their profession.

You will learn through a combination of coursework and research training, with the modular nature enabling you to design the taught component around your own training needs. The teaching and supervising staff are international experts in public health, primary care and related disciplines.

After completing the taught component, you will be supported in carrying out your own research project or a full systematic review.

We offer three MRes courses, in Public Health, Primary Care and Dental Public Health. Distinction between the three is based on the course units and research topics you choose.

Our course is ideal for Academic Clinical Fellows (ACFs) who wish to gain research experience in the field of primary care and public health.

PhD with integrated master's

If you're planning to undertake a PhD after your master's, our Integrated PhD programme will enable you to combine your postgraduate taught course with a related PhD project in biology, medicine or health.

You can also visit this page for examples of projects related to integrated master's courses.

Special features

Expert teaching

You will be taught by professionals working in the field of local, national and international public health. There is an emphasis on applying your learning to real life public health issues.

Flexible learning

All of the course content is delivered online, enabling you to fit study around other commitments. If possible, a face-to-face induction is held in Manchester at the start of the course, but attendance is not compulsory. There are both fully online and blended options where face-to-face sessions are planned.

Learn with students from around the world

You will be able to mix with students from a range of disciplines from all over the world. We have over 1,500 alumni from more than 80 countries.

Specialisation options

If you have an interest in a specialised approach to public health, you may choose to specialise in Primary Care or Dental Public Health .

Additional course information

We run induction sessions for all new students starting our Public Health and Primary Care courses.

Face-to-face induction (If possible)

A face-to-face induction is normally held at the University at the beginning of the academic year.

The course is designed to introduce you to the content and technology used throughout the programmes. It is also an opportunity for you to meet academic and support staff.

You are encouraged to attend the face-to-face induction, when it is running, and many students find it very beneficial.

However, due to the international nature of our programmes, attendance is not compulsory and an online induction is also offered.

 The residential course includes:

  • an introduction to the course units
  • an opportunity to meet tutors and administrators
  • an introduction to the online learning environment
  • an introduction to the library and e-resources at Manchester
  • an opportunity to present your work and hear about work undertaken by other students

You will be required to provide your own transport and accommodation for the face-to-face induction.

Confirmation of attendance on the face-to-face induction will be sought once you have applied for the course.

Online induction

Our online induction will offer a similar programme to the face-to-face induction but will be delivered entirely online. Attendance is not compulsory but the induction can help to introduce you to the programme, the team and provide you with the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.  

Teaching and learning

Most of our course units are delivered completely online. A learning structure with a recommended pace is in place throughout the course unit, with specific deadlines for all summative assessments.

Some course units require your participation throughout and some of the optional units are blended, which require a mandatory face-to-face element. Please check whether your chosen course unit includes any face-to-face teaching days, as this is clearly stated in the Course Unit Overview. If you unable to attend a face-to-face component due to mitigating circumstances, you may be permitted to repeat this unit in a subsequent year. However, if you are unable to attend the face-to-face sessions, please do not choose one of the blended units. Please contact mph.admin@manchester.ac.uk if this is likely to be a problem.

Coursework and assessment

You will use a number of assessed and non-assessed activities to develop key skills and expand your knowledge base. There are no written exams; assessment is based on assignments and other activities such as moderated discussion boards and group work.

Course unit details

This course has one core unit that you must complete: Evidence Based Practice.

You are then able to select your remaining five units from a pool of more than 20 optional units, including some blended learning and face-to-face study options.

After completing all of the taught units, you will progress to your dissertation project.

You will be able to choose from a range of dissertation models designed to cater for different work situations and interests. The master's dissertation is a focused, critical and reflective body of writing that seeks to add to the understanding of a particular problem or question. It is an opportunity to expand knowledge and expertise in an area of study, through in-depth, critical and reflective thinking, relevant to the focus of the dissertation.

We advise you to informally contact the dissertation tutor early on in your course to discuss research ideas and plans. Following these discussions, you will then submit a proposal. If this is approved, you will be assigned a supervisor from the University.

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Evidence Based Practice POPH60041 15 Mandatory
Dissertation for Masters of Research (Public Health and Primary Care) POPH63160 90 Mandatory
Introduction to Public Health POPH60001 15 Optional
Health Promotion Theory & Methods POPH60021 15 Optional
Creating Equitable Services for Health and Wellbeing POPH60062 15 Optional
Working with Communities POPH60072 15 Optional
Economic Evaluation in Healthcare POPH60092 15 Optional
Applied Epidemiology POPH60112 15 Optional
Practical Statistics for Population Health POPH60982 15 Optional
Fundamentals of Epidemiology POPH60991 15 Optional
Communicable Disease Control POPH62051 15 Optional
Health Systems Challenges in Low and Middle Income Countries POPH62212 15 Optional
Global Health into the 21st Century POPH62311 15 Optional
Global Women's Public Health POPH62411 15 Optional
Primary Health Care POPH63111 15 Optional
Qualitative Research Methods POPH63121 15 Optional
Emergency Planning, Response & Resilience POPH64132 15 Optional
Implementation Sciences POPH64551 15 Optional
Health Services Management POPH64662 15 Optional
Intercultural Public Health POPH64772 15 Optional
Arts and Public Health POPH65011 15 Optional
Digital Public Health POPH65022 15 Optional
Public Health Benefits of Green and Blue Space POPH65031 15 Optional
Climate Change and Health POPH65042 15 Optional
Introduction to Health Policy POPH65052 15 Optional
Behaviour Change and Public Health POPH65062 15 Optional
Public Health and the Antibiotic Crisis POPH65072 15 Optional
Business, Media & Health POPH65092 15 Optional
Infection Prevention & Control POPH65552 15 Optional
Nutrition and Public Health POPH66662 15 Optional
Evidence Synthesis: Systematic Reviews POPH68001 15 Optional
Oral Health & Disease in Populations POPH76061 15 Optional
Implementing Strategy in Dental Services POPH76072 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 33 course units

Scholarships and bursaries

For the latest scholarship and bursary information please visit the fees and funding page.

What our students say

'Even though I have already completed a PhD, I found the optional units available on the MRes course broadened my research knowledge and skills. This course has been a positive learning experience, strengthening my research capability and benefitting my clinical-academic practice.' Dr Richard S Bourne.

This course shares some units with our Master of Public Health (MPH) course. See what our Student Ambassadors have to say about our MPH course and visit our blog .

Facilities

This course is delivered through online distance learning. You will have normal access to online library facilities.

Disability support

Online learning resources are designed with accessibility as a priority, using the latest web accessibility technologies.

Further practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service .

CPD opportunities

We offer a number of our units as standalone credited CPD courses through our Personal Professional Development programme in public health and primary care.

We also run monthly public health journal clubs, the annual Festival of Public Health , an International Summer School , CPD events and our free open-access courses.