International Health Promotion MA (PGDip)
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Overview
Our International Health Promotion MA is one pathway of study from our suite of four related health promotion masters courses (Health Promotion, Health Promotion and Management, Health Promotion and Education) which share core modules.
All of the courses are to enable students to develop and extend their knowledge and skills in relation to internationally recognised core competencies in health promotion and public health so that on completion of the course, students can operate effectively in local, national and international contexts. International Health Promotion provides a distinctive opportunity for self-directed study through a work-based placement in a country other than your own, with the aim of developing a wider awareness of health promotion practice through comparative learning.
Students are encouraged to reflect and evaluate their own values and practices, and are supported to better understand the complex and dynamic nature of health promotion processes and public health policy, and their relationship with underlying themes of social and health inequalities. During the course we will expect you to question, innovate, evaluate, advocate, experiment and put into play your critical and problem-solving skills within the supportive student environment.
Our health promotion courses attract students from a wide variety of professional and voluntary backgrounds ranging from those who are already working in health (eg nurses, midwives, health visitors and other professions allied to health) who want to improve their existing health promotion practice; people working in non-health settings who want to develop a health promotion aspect in their role (eg teachers, social workers, environmental health and probation staff); through to recent graduates from a variety of disciplines who want to broaden their undergraduate education by taking a health-related course. International students tend to take the courses full-time, many UK-based students study part-time and continue to work and take time off for study leave. For those who are working, the dissertation provides an opportunity to conduct a work-based learning project (if you wish), for example, evaluating or developing a particular aspect of your organisation's work from a health promotion perspective.
The multidisciplinary and international student mix provides a lively and stimulating classroom experience with plenty of interactive learning and sharing of experience. Contributors include local public health and health promotion practitioners, international health promotion academics and researchers and staff from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Institute of Postgraduate Medicine (IPGM) and Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS). The course benefits from educational exchanges with Health Promotion specialists at the University of Toronto and Hong Kong University.
Global health issues are considered throughout the teaching making the course relevant to participants from all types of economies. UK students value gaining a better understanding of international health for working with diverse communities in Britain, preparing them for working internationally and raising awareness of the challenges to public health in our globalised world. International students appreciate studying on a programme where their experiences were embraced in the classroom and further explored in private study assignments.
Formal teaching is supported by a series of extracurricular seminars both within the school, and through the Global Health Network which operates across University of Brighton, Brighton and Sussex Medical School and University of Sussex.
The course has a long-standing links with the International Union of Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) and previous students have volunteered at IUHPE international conferences.
Course duration
Full-time: 1 year
Part-time: 2 years (max 6 years)
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Course content
Course structure
After the induction day at the end of September, students usually begin their study programme at the start of October with the Foundations of Health Promotion module. Students on the international masters undertake a placement in a country other than their own, (minimum 15 days), pursuing objectives which they identify in a personal learning contract drawn up during the module induction. Non-UK students typically conduct their placements with local partners in south-east England, others are supported to arrange placements in other countries.
After completing a research methods module, you will undertake a dissertation examining an aspect of health promotion of your choice through a literature review, small-scale prime research or a work-based learning project. The dissertation is supported through monthly optional discussion groups in addition to formal dissertation supervision.
Teaching and assessment strategies vary across different modules but most allow at least six weeks after the taught component before submission of written assignments. The pattern of delivering the taught component also varies; some modules run intensively for five consecutive days, others are spread out with attendance for five days over a couple of months. Dates are arranged well in advance so that you can plan ahead.
Areas of study
We use a health promotion approach in our teaching, seeking to stimulate and encourage independent learning and enquiry by creating a reflective and mutually supportive learning environment for each student group. We begin by exploring the interface between health promotion and the new public health considering topics such as health inequalities, ethics, evidenced-based practice, behaviour change communication and salutogenesis, and the application of health promotion theory to practice. We draw on the unique background and experience of each student cohort, challenging you to consider how what we discuss in the classroom is relevant to your particular area of work or interest.
Modules on Global Health Promotion and/or Community, Culture and Wellbeing develop these themes in more depth, in preparation for the Health Promotion Practice module which involves problem-based learning. Each module assessment gives you the chance to apply the formal learning to particular topics that interest you, eg prevention of HIV, obesity, diabetes Type 2, smoking cessation, mental health. We take the broadest definitions of public health, so that our discourse on policy embraces subjects such as climate change and health, international trade, UN organisations, conflicts of interest. We ask you to think local-to-global, and back again.
Throughout the course special emphasis is given to transferable skills such as critical analysis, information processing, communication, leadership, teambuilding and collaborative work. You will explore the effectiveness of interventions, and how we frame judgements on what works.
Syllabus
Students take a total of 180 credits for the masters award, comprising four 20-credit taught modules, a 40-credit placement module and a 60-credit dissertation. Twenty-credit modules have approximately 30 hours classroom-based lecturer contact or group work and we expect this to be backed up by approximately 170 hours of individual study and work on assignments.
Core modules
Foundations of Health Promotion
Global Health Promotion OR Community, Culture and Wellbeing
Health Promotion Practice
International Dimension of Health Promotion (placement module)
A research methods module from the GPHSS
Dissertation -
Entry requirements
Typical entry requirements
individual offers may varyFor non-native speakers of English:
Students whose first language is other than English must provide evidence of relevant levels of proficiency as recommended by the university for postgraduate study, ie IELTS 6.5 overall and 6.0 in writing. Students with lower scores can enter through our extended masters programme (usually on the same visa), or register for pre-sessional English tuition. Further information at http://www.brighton.ac.uk/international.Other:
Applications are accepted throughout the year and prospective candidates are usually interviewed by telephone or Skype. Early application is recommended, particularly for international students, as time needs to be allowed for the IELTS and visa requirements. Offers will be made depending on the following criteria: academic qualifications; professional experience; personal profile, and academic writing skills. Claims for the Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning will be considered up to a maximum of 30 level 7 credits.Degree and/or experience:
Normally a good UK honours degree or equivalent recognised award from an overseas institution. Candidates with professional qualifications (eg nursing certificate) and/or directly relevant experience, and/or record of active involvement in civil society organisations will also be considered, although they will need to demonstrate ability to study and write at Level 7. English-speaking students from overseas are particularly welcome. -
Location
Location
Falmer -
Career opportunities
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Fees and costs
The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2012-13. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study.
The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take. Different rules apply to research degrees - please contact the Doctoral College for advice.
To help you plan for your time here we will be providing further information about what is included in your tuition fee, and any optional costs you may need to budget for, later in the autumn.
Our website wwww.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.
International Health Promotion (MA) (Full time) [L3BD034] UK/EU (Full Time) 5,400 GBP Island Students (Full Time) 8,100 GBP International (Full Time) 11,500 GBP -
Apply online
You should not apply unless you can meet all the entry requirements for this course. Please contact the course team before applying if you are unsure about any of the specific entry requirements.
Entry requirements
For non-native speakers of English:
Students whose first language is other than English must provide evidence of relevant levels of proficiency as recommended by the university for postgraduate study, ie IELTS 6.5 overall and 6.0 in writing. Students with lower scores can enter through our extended masters programme (usually on the same visa), or register for pre-sessional English tuition. Further information at http://www.brighton.ac.uk/international.Other:
Applications are accepted throughout the year and prospective candidates are usually interviewed by telephone or Skype. Early application is recommended, particularly for international students, as time needs to be allowed for the IELTS and visa requirements. Offers will be made depending on the following criteria: academic qualifications; professional experience; personal profile, and academic writing skills. Claims for the Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning will be considered up to a maximum of 30 level 7 credits.Degree and/or experience:
Normally a good UK honours degree or equivalent recognised award from an overseas institution. Candidates with professional qualifications (eg nursing certificate) and/or directly relevant experience, and/or record of active involvement in civil society organisations will also be considered, although they will need to demonstrate ability to study and write at Level 7. English-speaking students from overseas are particularly welcome.
01273 644076
nam.pg@brighton.ac.uk
Graduate Programme in Health and Social Sciences
This course is part of our Graduate Programme in Health and Social Sciences. The programme allows you to sign up for one module at a time and build your qualification as you go. It also gives you access to a range of interdisciplinary modules across a broad selection of health and social science subjects. Find out more
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