Public Health MSc at University of Bedfordshire

When you join this MSc course you will join a supportive and nurturing ‘community of inquiry’.

Along with your peers you will develop a critical awareness of how research processes can be applied to the study of public health, an insight into the global drivers behind health system reform, and an appreciation of policy development and implementation in developed and developing nations.

This course is for you if you seek a career in public health. There are a range of career opportunities within public health, including public health analyst, public health programme manager and public health specialist. The course can also act as a platform for postgraduate research (MPhil/PhD) study in public health and provides you with sufficient grounding for the UK Faculty of Public Health Part I examination. Upon completion of this course, all students become eligible to apply for fellow membership of the UK Royal Society for Public Health.

Why choose this course?

• Study the principles of public health that are relevant to students from around the world, and boost your practical, critical and theoretical skills
• Explore your potential on a course that commences with two foundation units before moving onto specialist units that enable you to explore contemporary issues relating to public health policy. A final unit enables you to undertake a research project
• Develop an understanding of issues in public health principles and practice from local, national and international perspectives
• Gain an insight into the global drivers of reform in health systems and their potential impacts on future public health policy
• Benefit from a course that uses case-studies from around the world, and is based on the principle that medical professionals should improve health and prevent disease, not just provide treatment for those who are ill.

92% of our graduates are in work or PhD studies in different countries around the world. (DLHE, 2014).

All of our research is recognised as internationally excellent in impact, and the majority is world-leading (2014 Research Excellence Framework).

This course will help you to develop a critical understanding of how public health policy is developed and implemented in developed and developing countries and how the research process is applied in the study of public health. In addition, this course:

• Highlights the importance of public health and public health practice worldwide.
• Provides an in-depth understanding of health issues from local, national and global perspectives.
• Focuses on delivering research informed teaching.
• Supports students in developing specialist expertise in public health which will enable them to improve public health and prevent disease, thereby bringing lasting change to the population’s health status.

Unit Information – What Will I Learn?

• Epidemiology in Public Health
• Ethical and Legal Issues in Healthcare
• Health and Social Care Inequalities
• Healthcare Commissioning
• Principles, Policies and Issues in Public Health
• Public Health Intelligence
• Public Health Protection
• Public Health Research Methods
• Research Project – Dissertation

Teaching for each of the eight core unit is based on a series of weekly lectures and workshops. Between lectures, your learning will be underpinned by the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (BREO) which is used to provide access to additional guided learning materials and e-learning resources. After you have completed the eight core units, the dissertation unit will provide an opportunity to develop your public health research skills.

How will I be assessed?

Each unit is designed to develop your public health skills in ways which are directly relevant to the workplace. This is designed to help you in identifying, reflecting on and meeting your own learning needs.

In order to assist your future professional and career development, each assignment will require you to identify and develop a competency from the UK Faculty of Public Health framework which forms the basis of your learning and underpins your assessment. As you undertake each unit, you will be given the opportunity to develop your skills in a range of public health techniques via the assessments.

• Formal examination (8%)
• Course work, essays (57%)
• Presentation, posters (2%)
• Dissertation (33%)