Coronavirus information for applicants and offer-holders
We understand that prospective students and offer-holders may have concerns about the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The University is following the advice from Universities UK, Public Health England and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Overview
- Degree awarded
- MPH
- Duration
- Distance learning - 1 yr FT, 2 yr PT, 3-5 yr PT
- Entry requirements
-
We require a minimum of an Upper Second honours degree or the overseas equivalent .
Significant relevant research or professional experience may be considered in place of an academic qualification lower than an Upper Second.
If you fail to meet the above entry criteria you will be considered on an individual basis, but may be required to enrol initially on another route, such as a PGCert or PGDip before being considered to progress onto the MPH course.
Intercalating students
This course is also available for intercalating medical students, both from The University of Manchester and other UK universities, upon completion of their third year. - Number of places/applicants
- 200 places
- How to apply
- Please apply via our online application form . See the application and selection section for details of the supporting documents we require.
We recommend that you apply as early as possible. Late applications may be considered.
We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.
Course options
| Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPH | N | N | Y | Y |
| PGDip | N | N | N | Y |
| PGCert | N | N | N | Y |
Course overview
- Learn the skills and knowledge you need to understand health services at local, national and international level. This specialism will allow multi-professional training for those interested in the skills needed to provide a seamless, holistic service to patients, communities and individuals.
- Study when it suits you through online delivery, extensive support and an optional face-to-face induction.
- Specialise in a highly topical subject area with consequences of relevance to all aspects of public health.
- Open up a career in health science research if you progress to a PhD.
- A number of units are available as CPD courses through our Public Health Professional Development programme.
Open days
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2022, the tuition fees are as follows:
-
MPH (full-time distance learning)
UK students (per annum): £10,500
International, including EU, students (per annum): £20,500 -
MPH (part-time distance learning)
UK students (per annum): £1,050 per 15 credits and £2,100 for dissertation
International, including EU, students (per annum): £2,050 per 15 credits and £4100 for dissertation -
PGDip (part-time distance learning)
UK students (per annum): £1050 per 15 credits
International, including EU, students (per annum): £2,050 per 15 credits -
PGCert (part-time distance learning)
UK students (per annum): £1050 per 15 credits
International, including EU, students (per annum): £2,050 per 15 credits
Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.
All fees for entry may be subject to a yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year.
For general fees information please visit postgraduate fees .
You may be eligible for a postgraduate loan if you choose the one-year full-time or two-year part-time course. Please check the government's eligibility criteria .
The course fees include all the tuition, technical support and assessments required for the course.
Costs may be incurred for travel, subsistence and accommodation charges during the following optional events or units:
- the face-to-face induction course for first year students
- the Arts and Public Health blended learning unit
- the Intercultural Public Health blended learning unit
- the Infection, Prevention & Control blended learning unit
- the Engaging the Hard to Reach for Health Gain blended learning unit
- the Geneva Winter School
This course has previously included options for blended learning. For 2020/21 our residential and blended units were fully online. The Geneva Winter School did not run in 2020.
In 2020/21 our face-to-face induction and blended units were online. The Geneva Winter School did not run in 2020, but special WHO webinars were arranged instead.
We hope to offer blended units, induction and the Geneva Winter School face-to-face in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years, but this will be dependent on relevant legislation and guidance.
Additional expenses
Cost of AP(E)L
The University permits applicants with comparable previous experience to submit an application for consideration of Accreditation Prior (Experiential) Learning (AP(E)L). The maximum AP(E)L is 15 credits to a certificate, 45 credits to a diploma and 60 credits to a master's. If an AP(E)L application is successful, the University charges £30 for every 15 credits of AP(E)L. The overall tuition fee is adjusted and administrative charges applied.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
Commonwealth Scholarships
There may be an opportunity to offer Commonwealth Scholarships to excellent young nationals who are resident in Commonwealth countries. Please see the CSC website for further details.
Equity and Merit Scholarships
We offer Equity and Merit Scholarships to academically excellent students from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Manchester Alumni Scholarship Schemes
If you are a current or recent undergraduate at The University of Manchester and plan to start a master's course, you may be eligible for our Manchester Alumni Scholarship Schemes.
For the latest scholarship and bursary information please visit the fees and funding page.
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
- Contact name
- Postgraduate Admissions Team
- Telephone
- (+44) 0161 543 4699
- pgtaught.cbm@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/public-health-data
- School/Faculty
-
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
Significant relevant research or professional experience may be considered in place of an academic qualification lower than an Upper Second.
If you fail to meet the above entry criteria you will be considered on an individual basis, but may be required to enrol initially on another route, such as a PGCert or PGDip before being considered to progress onto the MPH course.
Intercalating students
This course is also available for intercalating medical students, both from The University of Manchester and other UK universities, upon completion of their third year.English language
Specifically, we require a minimum of:
- IELTS : minimum 6.5 overall with 6.0 in writing
- TOEFL: 90 internet-based (with 22 in each component)
See further information about requirements for your country .
If the language of instruction of your first degree was English, but you obtained the degree from a university of a non-majority English-speaking country, the English language requirement may be waived for applicants on our Personal Professional Development CPD programme only, provided written evidence is submitted.
The Personal Professional Development CPD programme is not award-bearing and allows you to complete up to three units from the MPH syllabus. After successfully completing this level of the course, students could then be considered for progression to the award-bearing levels of our course, through re-application.
English language test validity
Application and selection
How to apply
We recommend that you apply as early as possible. Late applications may be considered.
We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.Advice to applicants
- two academic references on letter headed paper or sent from work emails. Professional references can be provided in instances where you have been out of university for more than 3 years. We do not contact referees directly so please inform them yourself
- copies of official degree certificates (with translations if not in English) if you have already graduated
- copies of official university transcripts (with translations if not in English)
- a personal statement (approximately 300-500 words) about why you wish to take this course and how it will affect your personal and professional development. This statement should try and refer to your current role
- full CV including any voluntary experience
- proof of English language proficiency (if required)
Supporting documents can be uploaded with the online application form or sent directly to pgtaught.cbm@manchester.ac.uk
After applying, please do not submit documents in any other way without telling us first so we can provide you with the most efficient service.
Please make sure you include your University ID number on any correspondence and do not send any documents before you have submitted your application.
How your application is considered
Interview requirements
Deferrals
Re-applications
If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful, you may apply again.
Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application, you should demonstrate how your application has improved.
We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.
Course details
Course description
Contemporary public health practice requires practitioners to be adaptable and flexible, with a broad experience of a range of subject areas.
As public health is a rapidly changing and interdisciplinary field, our programme is constantly evolving with new course units and topics being introduced regularly to ensure that you are at the forefront of contemporary public health practice. We also have additional learning opportunities through our research and CPD programme that deal with the hot topics in public health and primary care.
This course will equip you with:
- the skills and knowledge to apply to public health concerns at local, national and international level
- the ability to apply relevant theory and scientific principles to practical situations
- the capability of meeting core-competencies in public health
You can see what our Student Ambassadors have to say about our MPH course and contact them with any questions.
PGCert, PGDip and MPH awards are available.
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.
Additional course information
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 programme. 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 face-to-face induction 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
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 are 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
Course unit details
In addition to the compulsory course unit, for the award of:
- PG Cert students must choose three other course unit available from the MPH and other SHS programmes as they become available
- PG Dip students must choose seven other course units available from the MPH and other SHS programmes as they become available
- MPH students must choose seven other course units available from the MPH and other SHS programmes as they become available plus the dissertation, or nine other course units from the MPH and other SHS programmes as they become available plus the critical review
If completing the MPH through the dissertation route, you will be able to choose from a range of dissertation modules 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.
If completing the MPH through the critical review route, you will have the opportunity to conduct a detailed critical reflection and evidence based review relating to a public health question or topic. It shares some similarities to the preliminary sections of a dissertation, but with a smaller word count. If choosing this option, you will be required to take 10 course units in addition to the Critical Review.
A dissertation/critical review supervisor will be allocated based on the topic you would like to investigate.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.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evidence Based Practice | POPH60041 | 15 | 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 |
| Displaying 10 of 36 course units | |||
| Display all course units | |||
What our students say
Read stories from Emily Christopher and Ogochukwu Okoye about their experience of the course.
You can also see what our Student Ambassadors have to say about our MPH course and contact them with any questions.
Facilities
Disability support
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.
Careers
Career opportunities
Most of our students complete the course part-time while working in a wide variety of jobs and sectors, and many (eg GPs, hospital doctors, health promotion staff, managers and researchers) take the course to give them public health skills and expertise to apply within their own profession and/or setting.
Intercalating medical students from Manchester and elsewhere often take the MPH if they are interested in careers in public health or general practice, or work in low and middle-income countries.
Some of our students use their experience and qualification to help them move into predominantly public health-related roles. You can see the occupations that some of our MPH students and graduates work in on the student ambassadors' page . You can also get in touch with them to ask questions about the course.
There are a range of resources offered by the University and the Faculty of Public Health , a membership organisation for public health professionals in the UK and around the world, to help you think about how a Master of Public Health can aid your career path.
- Healthcare careers (University Careers Service)
- Finding international jobs - information for students looking for opportunities outside the UK (University Careers Service)
- Public Health training scheme (Faculty of Public Health)