University of Southampton

MPH in Public Health

Your studies will run for one year, from September through to the following September.

This information refers to the full-time MPH Public Health course. Your modules and fees may vary if you choose a different study option.

Modules

The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

You must study the following modules:

• Basic Epidemiology
• Dissertation by Research/Professional Project
• Foundational Statistical Methods
• Foundations in Public Health
• Foundations of Qualitative Research for Health
• Improving Population Health: Theory to Action
• Professional Development

You must also choose from the following modules:

• Advanced Epidemiology
• Advanced Statistical Methods in Epidemiology
• Applied Qualitative Research for Health
• Behavioural Operations
• Communicable Disease Control
• Core Skills in GIS
• Critical Issues in Global Health: Concepts and Case Studies
• Engaging and involving the public with your science
• Evaluation for Public Health
• GIS for Analysis of Health
• Managing Complexity, Uncertainty and Subjectivity
• Methods and Analysis of Global Health Trends and Differentials
• Nutrition and Health
• Population, Poverty & Policy

Semester 1 Overview

In semester 1, you'll study 5 compulsory modules:

• Basic Epidemiology
• Foundations in Public Health
• Foundations of Qualitative Research for Health
• Foundational Statistical Methods
• Professional Development

You'll also be able to choose from a wide range of optional modules.

At the end of semester 1, you'll decide whether to follow the practice or research pathway. You'll have plenty of support to ensure you make the right decision for your future career.

As well as the taught modules, you'll have the opportunity to engage in a focused package of activities aimed at developing your learning and preparing you for your future career, at whatever level. This includes:

• professional one-to-one mentoring
• seminar series
• internships and work experience

Semester 2 Overview

In semester 2, you'll study 2 compulsory modules:

• Improving Population Health: Theory to Action
• Professional Development

You'll also be able to choose from a wide range of optional modules.

From May, you will work on your dissertation.

Dissertation

The dissertation module, towards the end of your programme, is a great opportunity to put everything you have learned into practice by doing your own research.

You'll work with one-to-one support from an expert supervisor. Your supervisor might be based at the University, or in the NHS, local authority, public health or another organisation, such as the voluntary sector or the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Your research project will be one of the following types:

• systematic, scoping, policy or other review
• professional project, such as a needs assessment, service evaluation or audit
• qualitative or quantitative data analysis

Our dissertation projects cover a wide range of local, national and global public health topics. We are very flexible and happy to work with you to make sure you are working on an area of public health research you are passionate about.

Flexible Study

If you prefer, you can apply to study this course as:

• a 2-year part-time master's (study the same course content over 2 years), or a 3 year + part-time master's (study the same course content over 3 to 5 years)
• a postgraduate certificate (PGCert) - study full-time over 1 year, or part-time over 2 years
• a postgraduate diploma (PGDip) - study full-time over 1 year, or part-time over 2 to 4 years

Learning

In our master's in public health, we take a variety of approaches to accommodate all learning styles. We'll teach you through a combination of:

• small group-facilitated learning
• interactive and practical sessions
• seminars and tutorials
• lectures

We have an emphasis on integrated learning, with theory and practical application of concepts embedded in our approach to teaching. Modules take a bespoke approach to their teaching methods, and are designed to maximise interaction and learning. These approaches are supported by our assessment strategy, as well as your integration with the wider research work in Population Health Sciences.

Teaching takes place in 10-week blocks for semesters 1 and 2, followed by a 6-week period for you to work on your assessments.

Assessment

Your assessments differ by module, but are all carefully designed to test the concepts you'll learn in the module in an authentic way. This means that these assessments require you to apply your knowledge, skills and understanding to real-world situations or problems.

We use a variety of assessment methods across the programme, including:

• written assignments, such as a research proposal or a health needs assessment
• group work
• oral presentations
• online tests

We have built formative assessments with individual feedback into each module. These assessments will develop your learning and act as a stepping stone to help you achieve your best in your final assessments.

Assessments take place after teaching in semesters 1 and 2, and you'll have 6 weeks to prepare your assessments. We have put robust quality assurance processes in place for the marking and moderation of assessments, including external oversight.