Public Health MSc (PGCert PGDip)
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Overview
This course meets the educational and career developmental needs of health, environmental and social care professionals and managers working in settings across the spectrum: NHS, local authority and non-statutory sectors. The course is designed to give grounding in public health theory and practice, provide a mechanism for analysing and instituting change in practice, and to support public health leadership and registration.
The forum for learning and practice provided by this course is particularly pertinent in a time of change. The delivery of public health in England will be radically altered as the result of recent government white papers such as Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS with its proposals to establish a national public health service, Public Health England, and the consultation document Transparency in Outcomes: NHS Outcomes Framework. The white paper Healthy Lives, Healthy People, Our Strategy for Public Health in England describes plans for a radical transformation of the public health service in England with the shift of organisational responsibility for framing and delivering the public health strategic agenda at a local population level moving from the NHS to local authorities, through the appointment of joint directors of public health and the establishment of local health and wellbeing boards.
The course is designed to cover much of the ground required for the Faculty of Public Health Part A examination and the UK Public Health Register, but does not offer exemption from those processes.
Course duration
Full-time: 1 year
Part-time: 3 years
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Course content
Course structure
The course requires 120 taught credits and a 60-credit dissertation.
Most modules are delivered intensively over one week. In addition, it is recommended that students allow approximately 165 hours of private study time for reading, research and assignment writing for each of the modules.
Students studying the MSc are required to undertake a 16,000-word dissertation on a subject which reflects the professional and scientific nature of the course, demonstrates the depth of study achieved in the modules completed, and is located within the student?s sphere of practice.
Students on the programme experience lectures, large and small group discussion, and individual tutorials. Staff provide direction within the lectures and seminars with much learner autonomy evident in group work and assessment. Learning is supported further by the use of studentcentral, visual aids and handouts. Students are expected to support their learning by the use and critical appraisal of primary sources of information.
As the course has been designed as an inter-professional, modular framework, it is intended that participants will share their occupational experiences, thereby breaking down professional barriers, which hinder successful team working. In so doing, a sense of the true multidisciplinary nature of public health, with respect for differing profiles and contributions, is fostered. Participants, therefore, gain an understanding of public health issues and the various roles of all of the professionals involved in both the statutory and non-statutory sectors.
Areas of study
Study includes the techniques required to undertake epidemiological studies, mechanisms of partnership working, and issues relating to health inequalities, health gain and measurement of health outcomes.
Syllabus
Core modules (20 credits each)
Meeting the Challenges: Public Health in Practice
Research Methods and Critical Appraisal
EpidemiologyOptions, three 20-credit modules from:
Health Protection
Essential Statistics in Health and Medical Research
Nutrition in Public Health
Global Health Principles
Global Health Burden
Qualitative Research Methodology
Social Marketing
Global Health Promotion
Evidence-based Practice
Other options may be chosen in consultation with the course leaderDissertation (60 credits)
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Entry requirements
Typical entry requirements
individual offers may varyFor non-native speakers of English:
IELTS 7.0 overall, 7.0 in writing.Degree and/or experience:
The course is open to all professionals and managers who are in a position to deliver improvements in population health. A first degree is not essential, but evidence of at least three years work experience in an environment broadly related to public and environmental health, and capacity to study at masters level are required. It would be useful if you maintain relevant employment throughout the course at a minimum of 15 hours per week. If you do not fulfil the above criteria you may still apply after discussion with the course leader. You may also apply for individual modules as part of continuing education without undertaking a degree pathway.Minimum entry requirements:
EITHER a degree and evidence of (i) a capacity to study at masters level and (ii) substantial interest and/or experience in an area of public health
OR, evidence of (i) a capacity to study at masters level and (ii) at least three years work experience in an environment broadly related to public and environmental health
OR, for intercalating medical students: successful completion of at least three years basic medical science at a UK medical school (having gained at least 360 credits) with a guaranteed place to continue medical studies on completion of the MSc.
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Location
Location
Falmer -
Career opportunities
The courses provide a strong platform for professional development and enhanced career progression. They also open opportunities for research at PhD and MPhil level.
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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.
Public Health (MSc) (Full time) [L4BH024] UK/EU (Full Time) 6,390 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:
IELTS 7.0 overall, 7.0 in writing.Degree and/or experience:
The course is open to all professionals and managers who are in a position to deliver improvements in population health. A first degree is not essential, but evidence of at least three years work experience in an environment broadly related to public and environmental health, and capacity to study at masters level are required. It would be useful if you maintain relevant employment throughout the course at a minimum of 15 hours per week. If you do not fulfil the above criteria you may still apply after discussion with the course leader. You may also apply for individual modules as part of continuing education without undertaking a degree pathway.Minimum entry requirements:
EITHER a degree and evidence of (i) a capacity to study at masters level and (ii) substantial interest and/or experience in an area of public health
OR, evidence of (i) a capacity to study at masters level and (ii) at least three years work experience in an environment broadly related to public and environmental health
OR, for intercalating medical students: successful completion of at least three years basic medical science at a UK medical school (having gained at least 360 credits) with a guaranteed place to continue medical studies on completion of the MSc.