Intro

The Health Promotion MSc will equip you with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge to work in health promotion and public health at local, national or international levels.

The course is modular, so you will study the essential core modules and then be able to choose one of four pathways to match your previous experience, future ambitions, and if you wish to study full-time or part-time.

The four courses are:

Health Promotion MSc
International Health Promotion MSc
Health Promotion and Management MSc
Health Promotion and Education MSc.

During the course you will explore the environments and social conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age in relation to health, and the factors that influence our health behaviours.

You will have the opportunity to combine your health promotion study with complementary disciplines by choosing relevant modules from the Brighton Business School and Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

The course will benefit you if you are working in a role with a health promotion component and want to deepen your knowledge, or if you want to develop skills for working in a public health-related field. Our students include health and social care professionals, school teachers, voluntary workers and those changing career.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

Full-time 1 year
Part-time 2–6 years

We are a top 10 university for world-leading research impact in allied health professions, nursing and pharmacy (REF 2014)

Book your place: Postgraduate virtual open event

See all of our online events

Apply online

Please review the entry requirements carefully and if you have any questions do get in touch with us.

Apply now for your place

Course content

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.

Please enable targeting cookies in order to view this video content on our website, or you can watch the video on YouTube.

Health sciences postgraduate education
This course is part of our 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 our 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 our 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

Clinical skills and simulation rooms provide an invaluable tool for assessment and monitoring students' progress throughout the course.

You will benefit from practising nursing skills in an environment that simulates nurses’ real-life professional experiences. Learning by simulation with state-of-the-art mannequins enables you to practice in a safe environment under supervision, so you can apply your knowledge and skills in professional practice with confidence.

We have skilled technicians on every campus to support you.

How this course is delivered

How will my course be taught?
For the academic year that starts in September 2022 we’re planning for all students to be taught face-to-face on campus, enhanced by some online learning.

Students who started their course with us in 2021 are on campus for some face-to-face learning including tutorials, workshops, laboratory classes and studio sessions. They are also taking part in off-campus learning activities such as placements, field trips and study visits. And all of our campus facilities – libraries, learning spaces, restaurants, gyms and more are open.

Like all universities we are following government guidance and we are monitoring the pandemic very closely. Should Public Health advise it we have robust plans in place for additional safety measures to be introduced to enable everyone to continue learning on campus, and, as a last resort, for students to continue their learning remotely.

We will update you regularly on our teaching plans for the next academic year as you progress your application with us.

When does my course start?
The 2022 academic year begins on Monday 26 September 2022. Teaching for most courses starts the following week.

Many education courses, some health science courses including Medicine, and some postgraduate business courses have an earlier start date. Check your offer letter for the start date of your course.

Careers

On graduation, you will be prepared for a career as a health promotion specialist working in public health practice in the public, not-for-profit, voluntary or commercial sector.

Our students often find employment in public health, or change their job role to include more public health, part way through their masters and may shift from full-time to part-time study to complete their MSc.

Typical roles include, programme coordinators or commissioners for local public health, health project coordinators for voluntary sector organisations, young peoples’ welfare or sexual health advisers in a college or primary prevention setting.

Global health issues are considered throughout the teaching, making the course relevant to participants from all types of economies.

If you are a UK student, you will graduate with a better understanding of international health for working with diverse communities in Britain, preparing you for working internationally and raising awareness of the challenges for public health in our globalised world. The course has long-standing links with the International Union of Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) and local public health departments and organisations.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course if you wish to begin studying with us in 2022. They should be used as a general guide.

Degree and experience

Normally a good UK honours degree or equivalent recognised award from an overseas institution in a relevant subject, for example health, social sciences, education, or in another subject with additional relevant experience (professional or voluntary).
Candidates with professional qualifications (for example, health, teaching diploma and/or directly relevant experience, or record of active involvement in civil society organisations) will also be considered, although you will need to demonstrate ability to study and write at postgraduate level.
English-speaking students from overseas are particularly welcome.

Other

Applications are accepted throughout the year and prospective candidates may be 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.

English language requirements
IELTS 7.0 overall and a minimum of 6.5 in the other elements, or equivalent qualification.

International students whose language skills do not match the IELTS scores set out here should consider applying for this course through our Extended Masters programme.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

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

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 7,866 GBP

International (full-time)13,842 GBP

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.

Forward Bound scholarship for 2021-22 academic year

We are pleased that the Forward Bound Scholarship is going ahead for 2021-22. Application is by invitation only.

If you are interested you should first apply to the Health Promotion MSc indicating in the additional information section of the online form that you wish to be considered for the Forward Bound Scholarship. The scholarship closes on 23 June 2021 and applications to the course need to be submitted by 20 June 2021.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. 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. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Sport and Health Sciences in the 2021–22 academic year are listed here.

Where health course includes a placement, travel costs which are over and above your daily journey to university and dual accommodation costs may be reimbursed by the NHS learning support fund. Overseas students are not covered by the NHS scheme and travel costs for this course will be your responsibility. Find out about the NHS learning support fund.
An initial set of specialist clothing and uniforms, where required, are included in the course fees.
DBS checks and occupational health checks, where required, are included in the fees.
Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £100 if buying your own copies.
In sport courses, UK-based field trips are available in some option modules in the final year. You do not have to take these option modules to complete the degree programme. Where a field trip is present costs are covered but you are expected to make a contribution towards food. Typically this is £50.
For sports courses which require a placement, you’ll be expected to pay for your living costs and travel. Physical Education (QTS teacher training) students can claim travel costs to their school placement.
The school runs a number of day trips which students do not pay for. There may be some food and drink costs and you should budget around £30 per year.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2022–23.

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 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.

Location

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Set in the South Downs, our Falmer campus is around four miles from Brighton city centre. 7,000 students are based here taking subjects including criminology, English, education, nursing and medicine, paramedic science, psychology and sociology. Brighton and Hove Albion's Amex stadium and beautiful Stanmer Park are right next door.

Specialist learning facilities at Falmer include the curriculum centre used by teaching and education students, which houses over 30,000 teaching resources and clinical skills and simulation suites used by health students. Psychology students learn in our applied cognition and flexible creative method labs.

Falmer campus has two halls of residence on site, as well as a library, restaurant, cafes, and a students' union shop and bar.

The campus sports centre has a fitness suite, activity studios and a sports hall. There is also a floodlit astroturf football pitch, netball and tennis courts.

Cycle lanes link Falmer with our other campuses and the city centre and there is a BTN BikeShare hub on site. There are regular bus services to the city centre and other campuses. Falmer train station is right next to campus and a nine minute journey to central Brighton.

Newly refurbished atrium in the Checkland Building

Accommodation

Brighton: Falmer

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students who apply by 30 June.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
Falmer campus is linked to the halls on Falmer campus and at Varley Park. All halls are self-catered.
- Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls are on Falmer campus and offer a range of rooms
- Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent.

Private renting
There's plenty of support if you opt for private renting. This is an option which offers choice and flexibility – enabling you to choose where you live and who with. We manage our own studenthomes database of properties. This lists accommodation offered by landlords who have signed up to our code of standards. Every summer we provide online events and resources, as well as other advice services, for students looking for a place to live and people to share with.

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Students dining at Westlain

Local area

About Brighton

The University of Brighton is at the heart of our city's reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking place which leads the way when it comes to the arts, music, sustainability and creative technology. Brighton is home to a thriving creative community and a digital sector worth £1bn a year to the local economy, as much as tourism.

Many of the work-based learning opportunities offered on our courses such as placements and guest lectures are provided by businesses and organisations based in the city.

You can also get involved with city festivals and events such as the Brighton Festival, the Fringe, Brighton Digital Festival, Brighton Science Festival, the London to Brighton bike ride, and the Great Escape festival of new music to name but a few. Other annual highlights include Pride, the Brighton Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice.

You'll find living in Brighton enriches your learning experience and by the end of your course you will still be finding new things to explore and inspire you.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Maps

Falmer campus

Loading maps...

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition.

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Cricket Academy

New for September 2023, our Cricket Academy offers aspiring players the opportunity to continue their cricket development alongside studying for a degree. The programme offers a world-class training environment with the highest quality coaching.

Find out more about the Cricket Academy.