MPH Master of Public Health (on campus)

Year of entry: 2024

Overview

Degree awarded
Master of Public Health
Duration
1 year full-time (on campus)
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.

BSc Public Health students

This course is available to you following successful completion of your BSc with an Upper Second classification, or if equivalent experience can be demonstrated.

Full entry requirements

Number of places/applicants
80 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 Y N N N

Course overview

"The team at Manchester exposed me to a highly effective manner of teaching and made learning worthwhile.

"The skills and knowledge that I have acquired are already impacting on my professional and personal development. I am definitely a better teacher, doctor and researcher as a result!"

Ogochukwu Okoye / Master of Public Health (2016 graduate)
  • Learn the skills and knowledge you need to understand the concept of public health in the context of globalisation.
  • 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 undertake a PhD after completing this course.
  • Some units can be taken as credited CPD through our Public Health Professional Development programme.
  • This is an on-campus, full-time course.

Open days

Come along to the next open day webinar on Wednesday 4 October 3pm-4pm. Prof Arpana Verma will take you through how the course is structured, its content, main themes and what it's like to study master's at Manchester. In the final part of the session, you will be able to ask Prof Verma any outstanding questions. Book your place here .

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MPH (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £12,000
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £26,000

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition and administration costs during your studies.

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 optional Geneva Winter School.

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

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're a current or recent student 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 (0)161 529 4563
Email
Website
https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/public-health-data/masters/
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

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.

BSc Public Health students

This course is available to you following successful completion of your BSc with an Upper Second classification, or if equivalent experience can be demonstrated.

English language

International students must demonstrate English proficiency through a secure and approved testing system. We ask for English language proof from applicants from non-majority English-speaking countries (a list of majority English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Home Office ).

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

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Application and selection

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.

Advice to applicants

Your application form must be accompanied by the following supporting documents:

  • 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

The Programme Director will review your application on receipt of all required supporting documentation.

Applicants are considered on an academic and relevant professional experience basis, based on all information provided.

Interview requirements

We do not normally interview applicants, but reserve the right to do so in certain circumstances.

Deferrals

Deferrals are considered on an individual basis. Successful applicants may defer entry to the course for up to one year.

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

Our face-to-face, campus-based Master of Public Health course meets the training needs of health professionals around the world who are interested in a career in public or global health, or those seeking new skills in this area.

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 course is constantly evolving with new 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;
  • an understanding of health, disease and health systems in a wider global context.

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.

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

The course is delivered through a mixture of face-to-face and online seminars and lectures, enabling you to fit study around other commitments.

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 2,000 alumni from more than 80 countries.

Additional course information

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

Face-to-face induction

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

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

You are required attend the face-to-face induction.

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

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

Online induction

Our online induction materials will supplement the face-to-face induction and will be available throughout the course for you to refer to.

Teaching and learning

Our course units are delivered using a mixture of online content supplemented by face-to-face seminars and lectures. 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, which require a mandatory face-to-face element.

If you are unable to attend a face-to-face component due to mitigating circumstances, you may be permitted to resit as a first attempt in the next semester. 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

You will be required to take ten compulsory 15 credit units and a critical review for 30 credits, across the three semesters. This is to allow you to benefit from the full breadth of public health practice.

All face-to-face activities will be planned in advance and will be compulsory, including the induction.

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 lower word count.

A 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.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Health Promotion Theory & Methods POPH60021 15 Mandatory
Evidence Based Practice POPH60041 15 Mandatory
Creating Equitable Services for Health and Wellbeing POPH60062 15 Mandatory
Practical Statistics for Population Health POPH60982 15 Mandatory
Communicable Disease Control POPH62051 15 Mandatory
Critical Review - Master of Public Health POPH63150 30 Mandatory
Intercultural Public Health POPH64772 15 Mandatory
Health Improvement POPH65012 15 Mandatory
Climate Change and Health POPH65042 15 Mandatory
Infection Prevention & Control POPH65552 15 Mandatory
Nutrition and Public Health POPH66662 15 Mandatory
Displaying 10 of 11 course units

What our students say

See blog posts from our students about public health on the Biology, Medicine and Health Student Blog .

You can also see what our student ambassadors have to say about our MPH course and contact them with any questions.

Facilities

You will be able to access a range of facilities throughout the University.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

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 the Geneva Winter School, 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

A career in public health offers diverse opportunities in a variety of settings. If you take this specialism, you will be prepared to pursue a career in a diverse range of settings. This course will allow you to understand health systems in different contexts and settings, providing you with an understanding of global health that will prepare you for careers around the world.

Most of our students complete the course part-time while working in a wide variety of jobs and sectors, and many (such as 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 take the MPH if they are interested in careers in public health or general practice, or want to work in low and middle income countries.

Some of our students use their expertise and qualifications 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.

International resources