The University of Edinburgh – College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Public Health (Online Learning, part-time) MPH, PgCert, PgDip
Online, United Kingdom
Master of Public Health
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
21 Aug 2026
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 6,370 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
* estimated annual tuition for Public Health MPH I PgCert I PgDip I PgProfDev
Key Summary
About: The University of Edinburgh offers a part-time, fully online Master of Public Health (MPH) with PgCert and PgDip exit routes. Students from medicine, laboratory science, journalism, computer science and mathematics study a curriculum covering epidemiology, statistics, health promotion and public health policy via an interactive platform. The programme holds full APHEA accreditation, delivers practical skills and supports flexible, career‑oriented learning with international recognition and qualification transferability.
Career Outcomes: Graduates access roles in public sector (epidemiology, health education, policy analysis, programme management), non-profit and community health, academic research posts, private sector (consultancy, pharmaceutical, health technology), or further study including PhD.
The University of Edinburgh offers a transformative Master of Public Health (MPH) programme, delivered entirely online and around your schedule. Our students come from around the world and from various educational and professional backgrounds, such as:
- medicine
- laboratory science
- journalism
- computer science
- mathematics
Whether you are looking to upskill or change your career direction entirely, this part-time online programme offers a flexible learning pathway, tailored to your career and academic goals.
You will study a rigorous curriculum that covers essential public health topics - from epidemiology and statistics to health promotion and public health policy. Our interactive online platform fosters a rich learning environment where you can connect with peers and faculty experts, ensuring you not only gain comprehensive theoretical knowledge but also practical skills applicable to a wide range of public health challenges.
Programme benefits
Globally recognised accreditation
Achieve a qualification accredited by the Agency for Public Education Accreditation (APHEA), ensuring your education meets rigorous global standards and enhances your professional credibility.
Career versatility
Equip yourself with a broad set of skills in public health theory and practice, preparing you for diverse roles in government, non-profit organisations, academia or the private sector, and opening doors to leadership positions in global public health.
Flexible and supportive learning environment
Benefit from a curriculum tailored to fit around full-time employment or other responsibilities, coupled with a supportive community of international students and tutors that will enhance your learning and give you new perspectives.
Accreditation
The MPH online program has successfully achieved 'Full Accreditation' with the Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation (APHEA).
APHEA represent the five leading associations of public health in the European Region and is committed to assuring and improving the quality of educational activities throughout the European Region and the globe.
Why APHEA accreditation is important?
Accreditation is aimed at supporting the continued improvement of education and training for public health workforces throughout the world. It recognises a programme's quality beyond the borders of its home country, allowing for the transferability of qualifications and potentially providing graduates with better opportunities for employment internationally.
Awards: MPH, PgCert, PgDip, PgProfDev
Our online MPH programme is structured to provide a comprehensive understanding of public health issues and practices over three years, with the flexibility to exit after one or two years with a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma, respectively.
Year 1: Core public health foundations
These foundational courses will equip you with essential public health knowledge, critical appraisal and analytical skills:
- Introduction to Public Health
- Introduction to Health Promotion
- Introduction to Epidemiology and Statistics
- Epidemiology for Public Health Practice
- Public Policy for Health
You can exit after Year 1 with a Postgraduate Certificate.
Year 2: Advanced studies and electives
Year 2 starts with the following compulsory courses:
- Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods
- Research Design for Public and Global Health
- Systematic Reviews
In the second part of Year 2, you can further tailor your learning to your career goals by selecting from a variety of option courses on topics such as:
- data analysis
- global mental health
- leadership in public health
- maternal and child health
You can exit after Year 2 with a Postgraduate Diploma.
Year 3: Specialisation and project work
In Year 3, you can choose whether to:
- Undertake a nine-month research project, culminating in a dissertation, or
- Integrate your MPH learning and apply it to public health-related problems and challenges in the real world with a Student-Led Individually Created Course (SLICC)
- You will be awarded an MPH degree after completing Year 3.
Option courses
Delivery of option courses is subject to demand and availability, and our list of available courses may change from year to year. Below are some examples of option courses from the past academic year.
Subject-specific courses
- Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in a Global Context
- Public Health Approaches to Declining Health, Dying and Bereavement
- Migration and Health
- Foundations of Nutritional Epidemiology
- Noncommunicable Disease in a Global Context
- Global Challenges in Healthy Ageing
- Fundamentals of Health Economics
Advanced methods courses
The following courses will further your knowledge of the methodologies taught in the compulsory courses:
- Applied Epidemiology
- Qualitative Interviewing and Data Analysis for Public Health
- Data Analysis for Epidemiology
- Statistical Modelling for Epidemiology
Transferable skills courses
These courses are highly rated by our alumni as they lay the foundation for key skills essential for many career opportunities in public health:
- Innovative Approaches to Health Challenges Across Disciplines
- Leadership and Management in Public Health
- Governance and Financial Management for Public Health Projects
The Master of Public Health (MPH) online programme aims to equip students with evidence-based conceptual and practical tools to take a critical, interdisciplinary, and ethical approach to global public health challenges and their determinants.
You will:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the theories, concepts and interdisciplinary principles that underpin public health practice, policy and research.
- Apply critical analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of qualitative and quantitative evidence to develop effective, evidence-informed responses to contemporary public health challenges.
- Apply critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to develop effective responses to contemporary public health challenges.
- Effectively communicate complex public health concepts and issues to both public and professional audiences using a variety of approaches.
- Demonstrate leadership and collaboration skills in addressing complex public health issues.
Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.
Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:
- Borrowing money
- Taking out a loan
- Family support
- Personal savings
- Income from work
- Employer sponsorship
Scholarships
Online Learning Scholarships
The University of Edinburgh offers a small number of scholarships to outstanding candidates. These are very competitive. We publish data on the success rate for scholarship applications to help you understand the level of demand.
Scholarships will be awarded to outstanding candidates who are citizens of and resident in low- and middle-income countries, and will be applied toward tuition fees.
Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
The Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are funded by the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission (CSC), and are dependent on the UK government's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. These are very competitive.
They are aimed at candidates from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries who would like to undertake part-time, distance learning study on eligible postgraduate programmes offered at universities in the UK.
Each scholarship will cover full tuition fees and will be tenable for up to five years of part-time study.
The Glenmore Postgraduate Scholarship
The Glenmore Medical Postgraduate Scholarship will be awarded to applicants who are accepted on one of the listed eligible Human Medical programmes. This scholarship is highly competitive and would particularly welcome applications from students from Africa.
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.
The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:
- Your programme
- The duration of your studies
- Your tuition fee status.
Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.
Graduates of our online MPH programme find themselves well-equipped to pursue a variety of impactful careers in diverse sectors.
Each sector offers unique opportunities to apply the skills and knowledge gained through the MPH programme to real-world challenges, enhancing health outcomes on a global scale.
Public sector
Within government agencies and international health organisations, take on roles in:
- epidemiology
- health education
- policy analysis
- programme management
Non-profit organisations
Work on initiatives that address health disparities and deliver community health programmes.
Academic and research institutions
Contribute to public health knowledge through research or take up teaching roles to educate the next generation of public health professionals.
Private sector
Engage with health consultancy, pharmaceutical companies or healthcare technology firms to drive innovation in public health solutions.
Further study
After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.
Study options
You can complete a:
- Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) (60 credits) after one year of study
- Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) (120 credits) after two years of study
- Master of Public Health (MPH) (180 credits) after three years of study
We also offer a Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) scheme, which will allow you to take up to 50 credits over two years and then continue to the Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, or MPH.
Intermittent study (ICL)
You can choose an intermittent study (ICL) route, which allows up to six years to complete the MPH, four years for the PgDip and two years for the PgCert. This option is also suitable for those who wish to spread their costs.
How online learning works
This degree programme is taught entirely online. There is no need to come to Edinburgh or the University campus.
Our online students work on a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Blackboard LEARN. On this interactive, user-friendly online platform, you will access course content, reading lists, discussion forums and assessment activities 24/7, and you will interact with the programme teaching and administration teams. You will upload your assignments here and receive marks and feedback.
You will be part of our global community and learn from and with other professionals working across the world, enhancing your learning and giving you new perspectives.
Teaching
Our pre-recorded lectures and teaching materials are released at the start of each five-week block.
There are a number of learning activities within each course. These include weekly discussion boards that you can contribute to in your own time. In addition to discussion forums, there may be other online activities such as blogs and group work that will augment your student experience, as well as optional live and interactive online tutorials.
Assessment
Each course has its own assessment pattern and criteria, based on the coursework and course learning outcomes. Information on the various methods of assessment will be provided in individual course handbooks.
There are no written or practical examinations within the programme.
Assessment during Years 1 and 2 will be based on coursework. Our courses will usually have at least one formative assessment, and one or more summative assignments.
Formative assessments may include:
- discussion board contributions
- blogs
- journals
- group projects
You will receive formative feedback on these, which will help you prepare your summative assessment(s) at the end of the course.
Summative assessments may include:
- essays
- presentations
- posters
- reports
group work tasks
Further examples of types of assessment include:
- writing a policy brief or an outbreak report
- conducting a group literature review
- keeping a blog to record your learning and activities throughout the course
Time commitment
We have designed the programme to be flexible, requiring 10–15 hours per week, which allows you to continue with your existing responsibilities.
Our modules are released at the start of each five-week block with lectures available to view on demand and discussion boards you can contribute to in your own time.
We also have occasional online events where we might need to organise a fixed day or time, such as our induction events, but these will always be recorded for those who cannot take part.