MSc

Public Health

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Are you keen to engage with contemporary challenges and opportunities in public health? The field of public health is expanding globally, in the context of increased migration, conflict, natural disasters and pandemics. The market therefore requires increased numbers of public health professionals.

A nurse assisting with a procedure

Course overview

Our dynamic course considers the impact the social determinants have on population health, the range of effective interventions and the ethical implications when working in public health promotion.

What you need to know

Course start date

September

Location

On campus, Winchester

Course length

  • 1 year full-time
  • 2 years part-time

Apply

Apply online

Typical offer

A first or second-class honours degree or professional experience in the area of study

Fees

From £9,775 pa

Course features

  • Gain knowledge and skills to work in public health environments
  • Learn from an experienced and approachable teaching team with wide ranging professional and academic backgrounds
  • Make a positive contribution to public health provision and the growing need for a trained, effective workforce of public health professionals
  • Benefit from excellent networks and practitioners with extensive experience of working in public health promotion
  • Learn about key public health issues and diseases in relation to the UK population as well as international public health policy and priorities

Course details

Suitable for applicants from:

UK, EU, World

Learning and teaching

Start date:

September

Assessment

A wide variety of assessment types are used. These include written assignments (including essays and case studies); presentations (including oral and poster presentations); projects; and research proposals. Students also complete a substantial independent research project.

Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.

We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes.

Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found by attending an open evening or contacting our teaching staff.

Feedback

We are committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to you on your academic progress and achievement in order to enable you to reflect on your progress and plan your academic and skills development effectively. You are also encouraged to seek additional feedback from your course tutors.

Further information

For more information about our regulations for this course, please see our Academic Regulations, Policies and Procedures section.

 

Modules

Please note the modules listed are correct at the time of publishing. The University cannot guarantee the availability of all modules listed and modules may be subject to change. The University will notify applicants of any changes made to the core modules listed. For further information please refer to winchester.ac.uk/termsandconditions

Modules

Aetiology of Disease in Public Health 15 Credits

Improving public health, underpinned by the evidence-based approach, requires continuous development of the key determinants of health, disease, and wellbeing. This module will provide you with opportunities to reinforce your understanding of key concepts associated with the complex influences on human health and disease, delving into the multifactorial causes of diseases affecting public health. It explores the biological, environmental, social, and behavioural factors contributing to disease onset and progression. Emphasising a holistic understanding, the module integrates epidemiological studies, public health policies, and emerging global health challenges. The course encourages critical analysis of current research and case studies, fostering skills in identifying disease patterns and risk factors. You will be offered an opportunity to learn to design effective prevention strategies, considering the complex interplay of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental determinants. This module will support aspiring public health professionals, contributing to their growing expertise in tackling diverse health issues in varied populations.

Public Health Global Perspectives 15 Credits

This module provides students with opportunities to develop a global perspective on public health, emphasising the diverse public health topics in developing countries in relation to maternal and child health, nutrition, prevalence of major communicable and infectious diseases and increasing health inequalities. This module also provides an insight into the historic roots of public health to the contemporary development, looks at influences upon health outcomes and healthcare services and particular public health challenges as they relate to pandemics, climate change and conflicts in the global context and considers the economic and social dimensions of these challenges and examining the impact of gender, religion, and culture on health. This module also looks at the roles played by different agencies and stakeholders in addressing global health concerns and is grounded in key international frameworks, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This module offers a rich learning experience, featuring guest speakers with practical expertise to deepen understanding of real-world applications in public health. Collaborative partnerships with organisations also provide hands-on experiences, allowing students to put theoretical concepts into practice.

Epidemiology and Research Methods 30 Credits

This Epidemiology and Research Methods module provides the student with an introduction to the principles and key characteristics of primary and secondary research in public health.  Research in this area helps determine population and measure inequalities which informs demand for health care, use and resources.  Before moving onto how to undertake research, the student will learn to interpret and critique existing studies.

The module covers the foundations of epidemiological research and provides an overview of different statistical measures, sources of data and study designs drawing on real-life examples. It also teaches the interpretation of results of epidemiological studies and highlights data interpretation issues.

The student is introduced to participatory / action research in public health. Consideration is given to developing research questions and appropriate data collection techniques.  Handling and reporting both qualitative and quantitative data robustly is taught and rehearsed.  The role of the researcher in participatory /action research is explored. 

The content of this module will be enriched by using relevant case studies in public health, guest speakers with knowledge of the field, practical sessions, peer learning, opportunities for discussion and small group work.

Strategic Leadership and Management in Health 30 Credits

This module explicitly addresses students’ personal and/or professional development with a view to enhancing competence for service improvement in a rapidly changing health and healthcare environment. By building an in-depth awareness of their own preferences, values and behaviours, they will learn to exercise influence across a wide range of situations in public health, leading teams, engaging staff, expanding social capital and communicating with diverse stakeholder groups all in an ethical and responsible manner.   Students are inspired to reflect critically upon their individual learning needs as well as their organisations’ practices, to appraise and apply concepts from the literature on leadership and strategic management, to issues of relevance for their role, organisation and overall programme of study.

Health Promotion and Education 15 Credits

This module examines a variety of issues in the field of health promotion so you can see the ways that health promotion and education can be used to help populations. You will explore a range of factors that influence the health of individuals and groups, and learn about how to use relevant theories, models and approaches of health promotion and health education to reduce inequalities. Students will learn about the importance of assessment and applying appropriate strategies rather than on fragmented intervention measures.  Students will develop a working knowledge tailored to addressing non-communicable diseases through engagement with activities on the module with practical application.

Health Protection 15 Credits

This is an introductory module to health protection in the overall function of public health. This area of practice focuses on the protection of the public’s health from communicable and environmental hazards by the application of a range of methods including hazard identification, risk assessment and the promotion and implementation of appropriate interventions to reduce risk and promote health. Students will be introduced to the key basic concepts and principles of health protection as well as gain insights into some of the key communicable diseases, environmental hazards, outbreaks, surveillance systems and the inter-relationship between the protection of public health and the improvement of public health through various strategies.

Dissertation 60 Credits

The dissertation is the culmination of a student's studies on the programme. This is demonstrated through an independent investigation in the field of public health. It allows an aspect of the student’s practice to be examined through research in significant depth, and the findings of the study to be communicated effectively in scholarly writing, building on their learning over the year(s) of study. Students are encouraged to disseminate their results more widely through conference presentation and publication in impactful peer review journals.  In this way students will make a significant contribution to the field.  The student is supported in this module by tutor supervision and through peer feedback.

Entry requirements

A first or second-class honours degree or professional experience in the area of study

Applicants are normally working in a public health-related role already or are ambitious to enter the field. In either case this course will provide a wealth of valuable content, taught by expert tutors and researchers. 

 

Course enquiries and applications


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International points required

If English is not your first language you require IELTS 6.0 (including 5.5 in academic writing) or equivalent.

Applications need to be submitted before the published deadline on our website. Late applications can be accepted throughout the remainder of the application year, for more information see our How to Apply section. 

If you are living outside of the UK or Europe, you can find out more about how to join this course by emailing our International Recruitment Team at International@winchester.ac.uk.

2025/2026 Course Tuition Fees 

  UK / Channel Islands /
Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland

International

Full-time £9,775 £18,300
Part-time £4,888 £9,150
Total £9,775 £18,300

 

Additional tuition fee information

If you are a UK student starting your degree in January / September 2025, the first year will cost you £9,775**.

If finance is a worry for you, we are here to help. Take a look at the range of support we have on offer. This is a great investment you are making in your future, so make sure you know what is on offer to support you.

**The University of Winchester will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year.

Additional costs

As one of our students all of your teaching and assessments are included in your tuition fees, including, lectures/guest lectures and tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions and specialist teaching facilities. You will also have access to a wide range of student support and IT services.

There might be additional costs you may encounter whilst studying. The following highlights the mandatory and optional costs for this course:

 

SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES AND AWARDS

We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course. To see if you’re eligible, please see our Scholarships and Awards section.

CAREER PROSPECTS

The programme provides the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and values which are essential for careers working in public health in the NHS. 

 

OUR CAREERS SERVICE
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"The tutors and the facilities around me have helped me gain that driven ambition; I've never felt alone in my journey." - Mandip, Postgraduate student

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