BSc Public Health (on campus)

This unit will focus on the different study designs used  to investigate population health and well-being and inform public health practice.  Students will develop skills in critically appraising research, selecting appropriate methodologies, and applying findings to real-world public health challenges. 

The aim of this unit builds on the students’ understanding of measuring the health and well-being of populations, to understand and apply different study designs used in public health practice to real world scenarios.

Academic engagement includes lectures, seminars, workshops and other face to face activities. To achieve the intended learning outcomes for this course unit, we have created a range of activities. Your course unit leads and teaching team will support you including access to the Student Development Programme including peer-support (PASS) and the Programme Director Seminar Series. We will consult with students to identify any additional needs and further academic engagement activities will be provided. Assessments, preparation for assessments, reading time and independent study are also included within you timetabled activities.

Students will be able to: 

A1. Understand key epidemiological study designs (e.g., ecological, cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, intervention) and their application in public health research and decision-making.

A2. Assess the strengths, limitations, and appropriate contexts for each study design in relation to public health practice.

A3. Evaluate traditional and contemporary models of population health and well-being research, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and their relevance to public health practice.
 

B1. Identify, compare, and evaluate different epidemiological study designs based on research questions and population health and well-being needs.

B2. Justify the selection of appropriate study designs for specific health and well-being research scenarios, considering ethical, practical, and methodological factors.
 

C1. Locate and synthesise relevant evidence from diverse epidemiological studies to address clinical and non-clinical health questions.

C2. Apply critical appraisal tools to assess the quality, validity, and applicability of published research across various study designs.
 

D1. Reflect on the principles and challenges of implementing population health and well-being research in real-world settings.

D2. Communicate research findings and evidence-based recommendations effectively to diverse audiences, including professionals, policymakers, and the public.
 

Assessment task/type	Length	Weighting within unit
Formative: Seminars and Discussion boards will provide consolidation exercises to provide feedback for the ILO's and summative assessment	N/A	0%
Summative: Written protocol of the study proposal	2500 words	100%

Students will receive written feedback.
 

 

 

• Somerville, M. (2016) Public health and epidemiology at a glance . Second edition. Chichester, [England] :, Wiley Blackwell.
• Rychetnik, L. et al. (2002). Criteria for evaluating evidence on public health interventions. Journal of epidemiology and community health (1979), 56(2), pp.119–127.
• Kemm, J. (2006). The limitations of ‘evidence-based’ public health. Journal of evaluation in clinical practice, 12(3), pp.319–324.
• Coggon, D. (David), Rose, G. and Barker, D.J.P. (David J.P. (2003). Epidemiology for the uninitiated. London: BMJ. 
• Muir Gray, J.A. (2000). Evidence‐based Public Health. In Evidence-based Practice: A Critical Appraisal. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Science Ltd, pp. 89–110. (Book Chapter)
• Rychetnik, L. et al. (2004). A glossary for evidence based public health. Journal of epidemiology and community health (1979), 58(7), pp.538–545.
• NICE (2018). Principles for putting evidence-based guidance into practice.
  Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP)
• Titler MG. (2008). The Evidence for Evidence-Based Practice Implementation. In: Hughes RG, editor. Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); Chapter 7.
• Trisha M. Greenhalgh, Paul Dijkstra. How to Read a Paper : The Basics of Evidence-Based Healthcare. Vol Seventh edition. Wiley-Blackwell; 2025.
   

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2027 will be £10,050 per annum. Tuition fees for international students will be £30,300 per annum.

For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

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).

The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability, and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances. For information about scholarships and bursaries, please visit our undergraduate finance page: Student finance for undergraduates at Manchester.