Public Health
MSc (PGCert PGDip)
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Course summary and entry requirements
Course duration
Full-time: 1 year
Part-time: 3 years
About the course
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.
Typical entry requirements
Individual offers may vary.
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.
For equivalent international qualifications
We can help you meet our English language entry requirements
For help meeting English language requirements contact our
Language Institute.We can help you meet our academic entry requirements
For help meeting academic entry requirements contact our
International College.If you cannot find your country listed, please email admissions@brighton.ac.uk
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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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Fees and costs
The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2013-14. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.
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.
What's included in the fee?
When costs such as health or criminal record checks, field trips or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.
You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply please check with the school that provides your course using the contact details on the left of this page for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.
Our website www.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 -
Location
Location
Falmer Our Falmer campus is located on the edge of the South Downs National Park on the outskirts of Brighton. Approximately 7,000 students are based here.
View campus maps and directions
Living in Brighton
Brighton’s rich mix of historic architecture, lively arts scene, varied shopping and cosmopolitan community make it a vibrant, enjoyable place to live. It is no wonder that many Brighton graduates choose to stay here.
Social scene
Alongside the traditional seaside attractions, Brighton is famed for its exciting social scene with a wide choice of pubs, clubs and restaurants.
Arts
The highlight of the city’s cultural year is the Brighton Festival. The event is held each May and is England’s biggest arts festival, which showcases arts and performance from around the world. Brighton is also home to the UK’s oldest working cinema, the Duke of York’s, which shows alternative and mainstream films. The city is also well known for its exciting music scene and hosts The Great Escape music festival.
Sports
Whether you take your sport seriously or just want to keep fit, Brighton offers all kinds of sports opportunities and facilities, on and off campus. You can also make the most of the location, and play volleyball, basketball and windsurfing down by the beach. The seafront is also the finishing point for the famous London – Brighton bicycle ride and the quirky veteran car run.
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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.