Public Health MSc

• Overview

  This course has been designed to provide you with an integrated, coherent and multidisciplinary approach to public health activity. Our MSc Public Health places particular emphasis on advancing your critical awareness and problem solving skills in order to develop innovative, reflective and pro-active approaches to meeting challenging and complex health needs. Examples of our pro-active approach to teaching and learning include; the analysis of contemporary non-communicable health issues such as obesity, diabetes and mental health, as well as those linked with public protection such as infectious disease surveillance and control.

  Postgraduate Event

  Course

  Highlights

  • Voluntary Placement module available.
  • Flexible modules for Part Time study.

  Apply Now Open Days

  
• Course Details

  Our MSc Public Health will be delivered by a range of teaching methods such as core lectures, group work, online activities, use of case studies and directed learning approaches. Shared learning with other professionals will be a focus of this course and you will be encouraged to develop a critical, evaluative approach to the knowledge which underpins present-day public health practice.

  This postgraduate award prepares you for a career in Public Health at both strategic and operational levels. The full MSc consists of six compulsory modules, which include:

  • Research Methods: Philosophy and Design
  • Leading Public Health Practice
  • Health Protection and Prevention* (subject to approval)
  • Principles and Practice of Health Promotion
  • Epidemiology
  • Professional Project.

  You will need to study all of the compulsory modules on this course as well as choosing from one designated module from the following subject areas:

  • Voluntary Sector Placement
  • Therapeutic Communication Interventions
  • Comparative Health Care Systems
  • Advancing Public Health Leadership* (subject to approval).

  These designated modules have been identified as offering a range of public health topics which you can choose dependent on your experience. All modules (except the Professional Project) incorporate 200 hours of learning, which includes taught sessions as well as self-directed independent study and assignment preparation. Furthermore, (included in the 200 hours) are six study days, in which you are expected to either attend lectures or work online on electronic activities via the online learning environment, NILE.

  The teaching team have created a flexible and challenging Public Health programme, which incorporates face to face teaching, workshops and tutorials, as well as three of the core modules having an extensive self-directed online component. Opportunities exist to undertake a volunteering post within a Public Health environment and to gain experience of working within a Non-Governmental Organisation whilst ‘giving back’ to the vulnerable in society. This reflects the University’s Changemaker ethos which strives to identify and respond to societal issues in a proactive, sustainable and ethical manner.

  Embedded within the course are sessions from the Changemaker Hub, who offer support and advice in cohort groups and on a one-to-one basis for CV writing, interview techniques and help with locating a volunteer placement. These skills are invaluable when it comes to applying for employment or PhD study.

  Teaching Team

  Programme and Module Leader: Mrs Kirsty Mason

  Kirsty Mason has been a Programme Leader of Masters Level Courses in the Faculty of Health and Society for numerous years and has 14 years’ experience of working as a Senior Lecturer in Public Health. Prior to working in academia, Kirsty worked as a Specialist Public Health Practitioner within Primary Care and has extensive experience of working with individuals, families and communities to improve their health and wellbeing. Kirsty is interested in teaching Public Health and Health Promotion as well as supervising Public Health Masters Dissertations. Her MSc in Public Health and Primary Health Care was gained from the University of Warwick and Kirsty has a keen interest in undertaking research using a phenomenological approach, her recent research activity includes researching non-medical prescribing in public health and how Children’s Centres enhance health outcomes for families.

   Module Leader: Lewis Waterfield

  Lewis Waterfield’s teaching background originates from working within Further and Higher Education, where he gained a PGCE and invaluable experience teaching from level two all the way to degree level as an associate lecturer with the University.

  Lewis Waterfield has a BSc Biology degree which he studied here at The University of Northampton and worked on various biology based projects, but my most interesting research carried out was during his undergraduate dissertation which looked at how essential oil vapours can be used as a natural antimicrobial prevention of infection. Lewis tested the effects of the essential oils on the hospital superbug MRSA and found citrus fruits were most effective at preventing bacterial growth. Lewis Waterfield further looked at how this could then be applied in the clinical and food environments (to prolong shelf life of food products). His current PhD research – in collaboration with The University of Leicester, aims to address the questions of how pneumonia bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae) uses metals to cause invasive disease in the body and how the bacteria circumvent oxidative stresses. Lewis hopes that my teaching experiences and microbiological knowledge can help to inspire you as public health students.

  Subject Specialist and Marker: Mrs Helen Kimble

  Helen Kimble joined the University of Northampton in 2012 as a member of the Primary Health Senior Lecturer team and is Programme Leader for Specialist Community Public Health Practice in the Faculty of Health and Society. Prior to working in academia, Helen worked as a Specialist Community Public Health Practitioner within Primary Care for over ten years and gained extensive experience of working with individual children and young people, families and communities during that time. Helen has interests in teaching Public Health and supervising Public Health Masters Dissertations. As well as her Postgraduate Diploma in SCPHN, Helen holds a Master’s in Education and values promoting learning as a lifelong skill within public health practice.

  Read more

  Additional

  Information

  Voluntary Placement module

  You will have the opportunity to undertake a designated Voluntary Placement module and engage in a minimum of 50 hours of volunteering in a placement relevant to Public Health.

• Careers and Events
  • Open Days

    See for yourself

    Our Open Days offer you a fantastic opportunity to get a real taste of university life at Northampton and discover how studying here will be a life-changing experience.

    Each Open Day has a postgraduate stall, where you can speak with tutors about the postgraduate courses that interest you, to give you all the information you need about studying at the University of Northampton.

    To find out more about the day, please feel free to have a look at our Open Day Guide.

    
  • Careers

    Career Opportunities

    Public Health is a growing field of study, therefore there is an abundance of job opportunities to suit a variety of interests and skills. A Master’s degree will help your career advancement within a variety of organisations and professions such as health and social care, local authority, and voluntary organisations.

    Our Public Health students develop excellent communication and analytical skills and have entered a diverse range of jobs, such as working as Vaccine Logistic Experts for UNICEF, Medical Consultants with the WHO, Governmental Public Health Researchers and Infection Control Practitioners. Students have also entered further study and are undertaking PhDs.

    
• Requirements

  You will need to hold a recognised First or Second-class Bachelor’s degree in Public/Community Health, or in a specific Health Profession, to be eligible to apply for this programme.

  If you are a home student and do not have a First or Second-class Bachelor’s degree but can demonstrate its equivalence in terms of experience relevant to the course, you may be able to access the course as an associate student.

  For more information regarding this please contact the course leader, Kirsty Mason.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • Overall IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) with no less than 6.0 in any one band for study at postgraduate level.

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

  Contacts

  Course enquiries
  study@northampton.ac.uk

  Application status enquiries
  admissions2020@northampton.ac.uk

  Online enquiry form

  Current student enquiries
  SID@northampton.ac.uk

  International student enquiries
  international@northampton.ac.uk

  Applying for 2020
  Facebook Applicant Group

  Office hours:
  Mon – Thu: 9am – 5pm
  Fri: 9am – 4.30pm

  Phone Call

  0300 303 2772

  +44 (0)1604 892134

  +44 (0)1604 892546

• Course Content
  • Level 7

  • Leading Public Health Practice (20 Credits)
    Module code: NURM009

    Core Module Y
  • Epidemiology (20 Credits)
    Module code: NURM105

    Core Module Y
  • Research Methods - Philosophy & Study Design (20 Credits)
    Module code: NURM106

    Core Module Y
  • Principles and Perspectives of Health Promotion (20 Credits)
    Module code: NURM018

    Core Module Y
  • Professional Project (60 Credits)
    Module code: OTHM010

    Core Module Y
  • Therapeutic Communication Intervention (20 Credits)
    Module code: NURM008

    Core Module N
  • Voluntary Sector Placement (20 Credits)
    Module code: NURM029P

    Core Module N
  • Health Protection and Prevention (20 Credits)
    Module code: NURM112

    Core Module Y
  • Comparative Health Systems (20 Credits)
    Module code: NURM107

    Core Module N
  • Advancing Public Health Leadership (20 Credits)
    Module code: NURM113

    Core Module N

  • Reading List
    • Although many of the books that you will need for your course will be available at no cost from the library, should you wish to purchase your own texts then the following would be suggested:
    • Health Promotion: Planning and Strategies (2015) 3rd edition - Jackie Green, Keith Tones, Ruth Cross and James Woodall - £28.00 (approximately)
    • Practical Health Promotion (2013) 2nd edition - (2013) 2nd edition John Hubley, June Copeman and James Woodall - £18.00 (approximately)
    • Essential Public Health: Theory and Practice (2012) 2nd edition - Stephen Gillam, Jan Yates, Padmanabhan Badrinath - £63.00 (approximately)

  Facilities &

  Special Features

  You will have the opportunity to undertake a designated Voluntary Placement module and engage in a minimum of 50 hours of volunteering in a placement relevant to Public Health. This course will also:

  • develop and enhance your current knowledge and skills regarding public health practice
  • extend and apply both your knowledge and practical skills to current circumstances
  • identify your learning needs and develop your independent learning skills to meet these needs
  • encourage inter-professional learning
• Further Studies
  • Student Stories

    Jane Petch

    “I came to the MSc Public Health with modules to carry across which the university managed without a problem. I was given support to return to studying the course by Kirsty Mason, as I took a break from study for two years. The MSc Public Health course was very supportive with all lecturers giving excellent feedback and advice so that you could improve. Learning was flexible with a mix of teaching methods and assessment which made for interesting learning. It was a real place of opportunity where the hard work and support from lecturers could lead to great things. The MSc Public Health has given me a love of research and study which enabled me to return to the job market.” 2016 MSc Public Health graduate

    
  • Research

    We are committed to delivering outstanding research that makes a difference to society. Our Research Institutes and Centres work closely with external partner organisations, locally, nationally and internationally. We produce internationally renowned and relevant research and disseminate knowledge on an international scale.

    Visit our Research Hub page for more information.

    
  • Business and Enterprise

    We are committed to supporting and encouraging business growth and we are involved in a variety of initiatives which seek to benefit the wider community as well as students and staff of the University.

    Discover what businesses we work with and what opportunities may be available to you on our Business and Enterprise pages.

    
• Fees & Funding
  • UK & EU
  • International

  20/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £7,425
  Part Time: £825 per 20 Credit Module

  Postgraduate Loans

  If you are starting a postgraduate Master’s course in 20/21 you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan Student Finance England.

  Additional costs

  There are no additional costs for this course for students beginning their studies in September 2020. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.

  19/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £7,300
  Part Time: £810 per 20 Credit Module

  Additional costs

  There are no additional costs for this course for students beginning their studies in September 2019. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.

  20/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  International: £13,750

  Additional costs

  There are no additional costs for this course for students beginning their studies in September 2020. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.

  19/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  International: £12,750

  Additional costs

  There are no additional costs for this course for students beginning their studies in September 2019. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.

  Scholarships

  EU and International Scholarships

  We’re committed to offering the opportunity to study in the UK to the best and brightest students from around the world.

  TD Lewis Scholarship

  The T D Lewis Scholarship provides both undergraduate and postgraduate students with financial awards of up to £1,000.  This scholarship is awarded on educational excellence…

  The Chancellor's Fund

  The Chancellor’s Fund is a bi-annual fund providing students with awards of between £100 and £1,000. You must be a current student to apply.  The…

• Part Time Study

  Courses offered on a part time basis are an excellent way of gaining a qualification around a busy home life or job. The University of Northampton recognises that many of our students have family and work commitments and offer various courses on a part time study basis, working flexibly around your requirements.

  A lot of our courses can be completed part-time, so you can fit your studies around your life. The majority of part-time and professional courses start in October. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure we have your details before your course starts.

*Course data provided by Unistats