Health Promotion MSc (PGCert PGDip)

Course structure

All pathways share two core modules, providing a sound foundation in health promotion and public health systems thinking as well as an opportunity for you to get to know other health promotion students.

The combination of other modules depends on the pathway you choose and will be selected in consultation with the course leader – for information on the pathways, look at the other tabs on this page and the course structure diagram (pdf).

The multidisciplinary and international student mix provides a lively and stimulating classroom experience with plenty of interactive learning and sharing of experience.

Many UK-based students study part-time, alongside their work and home-life. This helps them incorporate their work into their studies through the course's dissertation/work-based project.

Academic contributors include local public health and health promotion practitioners, international health promotion academics and researchers and staff from the university's School of Health Sciences, and Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS). The course also benefits from educational exchanges with health promotion specialists at the University of Toronto and Hong Kong University.

School of Health Sciences postgraduate education
This course is part of our School of Health Sciences postgraduate education programme. 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 interdisciplinary modules across a broad selection of health and social science subjects.

Core syllabus 

You will take these two core modules no matter which pathway you choose.

• Principles of Health Promotion
• Strategy and Project Planing

The masters award
You need to earn a total of 180 credits for the masters award, consisting of six 20-credit taught modules 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.

Teaching and assessment 

The course team are active in public health research particularly around healthy weight, inequalities, mental health, sexual health, infant feeding, diabetes prevention and young people and we provide dissertation research opportunities in these areas. 

You will experience formal teaching alongside a series of extracurricular seminars both within the school and through forums such as the Brighton and Sussex Universities Food Network, or the Global Health Network which operate across University of Brighton, Brighton and Sussex Medical School and University of Sussex.

The assessment and teaching methods are varied, including problem based learning in response to public health triggers, and assessments by presentation, vivas as well as formal written critical reports.

Dissertation
The dissertation consists of a literature review, small-scale prime research or a work-based learning project.

You will be supported through your dissertation via monthly optional discussion groups in addition to formal dissertation supervision. If you 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.

Health promotion pathway  

As well as the two core modules you will take:

• two option modules chosen from our postgraduate education programme. The course leader can advise you about which modules would be suitable based on your background, experience and interests.
• a research methods module
• a community placement module.

And complete a final dissertation.

Typical option modules

• Nutrition in Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Social Marketing
• Managing Change
• Contemporary Issues in Health and Wellbeing in Older People 
• Community Psychology Theory and Practice
• Health Protection

International pathway 

As well as the two core modules, if you choose the international masters pathway you will take:

• a global or cross-cultural module
• a community placement module in a country other than your own, and
• complete a research methods module
• research and write a dissertation on an aspect of health promotion of your choice with an international dimension.
• one option module.

Typical option modules

• Nutrition in Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Social Marketing
• Managing Change
• Contemporary Issues in Health and Wellbeing in Older People 
• Community Psychology Theory and Practice
• Health Protection

Community placement module 
This is a minimum of 65 hours of placement, working towards objectives which you 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.

Management pathway 

Students following the management pathway choose to expand their capacity to work at a managerial level in health promotion.

As well as the two core modules, you will: 

• take the community placement module
• take two management modules from the university's School of Health Sciences postgraduate education programme
• complete a research methods module
• write a dissertation on an aspect of health promotion of your choice which includes a management perspective.

Education pathway 

As well as the two core modules, if you choose the education pathway you will:

• take three education modules from the university's School of Health Sciences postgraduate education programme.
• complete a research methods module
• write a dissertation on an aspect of health promotion of your choice which includes an education perspective.

Facilities

Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite
Our Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite is among the best equipped in the country, and is an invaluable tool for assessment and monitoring students' progress throughout the course.

You will benefit from practising nursing skills in an environment that simulates real-life professional experiences. Provided by the NHS’ South East Coast Ambulance Service, you may have access to our Simbulance, enabling you to work alongside paramedic students in an interprofessional learning environment. On board is a high fidelity manikin with multiple uses, and a child-size manikin for paediatric scenarios. 

Learning by simulation means you will be confident in your ability to apply your knowledge and skills in your professional life.

International requirements

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Course fees

For up-to-date details of fees, contact fees@brighton.ac.uk.

NHS funding is available and may vary depending on individual circumstances.

If you require funding via NHS Trust Health Contract (formally the PTD contract) you may need to submit your application to a panel and/or need a designated signatory before you send it to the university. The forms for Health Education Contract or other sponsorship funding are available from the School of Health Sciences postgraduate education programme webpages.

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

The Forward Bound Scholarship (up to £25,000) is exclusively for Health Promotion MSc applicants from low or lower-middle income countries.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2019–20.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

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-time 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 DBS checks, 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 check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Local area

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Falmer campus