MSc Public Health
Course Overview
The vital work of public health professionals at the local, national and international levels impacts society’s wellbeing. A career in public health offers interesting and fulfilling opportunities to protect and improve the health of communities through education, policy-making and research into disease and injury prevention. By studying for your MSc Public Health degree with the University of Bolton, you can develop broad and interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of public health principles and practices while experiencing life at our supportive, student-focused, multicultural campus.Public health is a multidisciplinary science that reaches across all aspects of health and social care, community work, physical activity, education and housing. It draws together concepts and methods from health policy and management, epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, and the social and behavioural sciences to promote and protect the health of people where they live, work, learn, grow, and play. Our expert team will guide you as you explore the key principles of and interconnections between the various disciplines that underpin public health. We'll support you in building your understanding of the unique experiences of communities and individuals that shape their health and help you develop core skills in areas such as epidemiology and health informatics.
As well as a strong foundation in the social determinants of health and health equity, we'll focus on developing your research and enquiry skills. Combined with a critical understanding of the public health evidence base, this will prepare you to apply your knowledge professionally, as well as prime you for doctoral-level study or to contribute meaningfully to research projects undertaken by others.
If you're not already working in the public health sector, we offer specialist modules that allow for experiential learning so that you can gain practical experience and a greater knowledge of the sector and its demands. We'll also help you build lifelong learning skills so that you can take ownership of your professional development for the future, maximising your potential for success.
Highlights
- Our students are drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds – sharing the individual and unique educational insights and perspectives of your peers helps to enrich your learning experience.
- We promote research and critical enquiry, helping you learn to make sound, evidence-based independent judgements.
- We have an excellent record of working with NHS, social care and community-based services, enabling us to offer postgraduate programmes that are responsive to employer and service user needs.
- Modules of this programme combine concepts and knowledge from across the divisions of health care, social care, community and early years, fostering a dynamic multi-professional approach.
- Upon successfully completing this course, you'll receive the award of MSc Public Health from the University of Bolton.
Key Features
- Face-to-face sessions and one-to-one support are offered by our team of highly experienced, enthusiastic and dedicated experts.
- Staff and students from across our Faculty of Health and Wellbeing work closely together. By studying alongside people from related specialisms and sectors, such as youth, community and early years, you can benefit from a wider range of knowledge and experience that supports cross-disciplinary thinking and inter-professional working.
- Our academic team is actively involved in social care, health and wellbeing research, helping you to explore issues from a robust research-informed knowledge base.
- Specialists in the field of public health will be invited to join us as guest speakers and lecturers, offering you first-hand live examples of current practice.
- Our highly experienced team will support you as you develop critical thinking and research evaluation skills and apply these during your independent master's-level project.
- By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.
Entry Requirements
- Normally, you'll have at least a lower second class (2.2) honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject that demonstrates applicability to public health practice.
- Appropriate work experience is desirable. This can include both paid and voluntary work, internships, etc.
- We'll also consider applications where appropriate work experience can be demonstrated in lieu of, or in addition to, the published academic qualifications in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures.
- You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
Public health is a broad discipline that reaches across all aspects of health and social care, community work, physical activity, education and housing. It spans the life course from the cradle to the grave, offering interesting and challenging career opportunities for ambitious graduates with a background in areas such as health and social care, nursing, biological and medical sciences, education, sports or social sciences.
The MSc programme is aimed at those who want to work or are currently working in public health. This programme focuses on preparing you to translate your passion for improving the health of communities and individuals into actual outcomes. The public health sector provides real opportunities for a fulfilling career, making a difference to individuals and communities, and working to help people improve their lives and those of future generations through increased wellbeing and life expectancy.
This interdisciplinary programme offers essential knowledge for career progression in public health. The dissertation element of the course supports the development of specialist knowledge, and the optional experiential module allows you to gain valuable practical experience. In Greater Manchester, there is a real commitment to a multi-disciplinary approach to improve public health, connecting health and social care, the NHS, primary and secondary education, sport and physical activity. This offers significant opportunities for experiential learning and possible future employment.
Some employability skills you can develop by undertaking this programme include critical analysis of qualitative and quantitative evidence, problem-solving and independent research in a selected area of public health that interests you.
What can I do with this qualification?
As a graduate of this MSc, you may find opportunities in a wide range of public sector settings – nationally in the UK and internationally. It opens up various employment opportunities such as local and national government organisations, the civil service, the NHS and higher education, working in schools, colleges, advocacy organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community development organisations, and human rights agencies. You may also seek work in the private sector with independent companies, organisations and consultancy firms. Charities and social enterprises also need professionals with a sound understanding of public health.
Roles specialising in public health include intelligence analyst and statistical assistant, research assistant, health improvement practitioner, health protection practitioner, and public health manager. Given the specialist nature of many of these roles, we recommend you research the job market and potential salaries for MSc Public Health graduates in your desired field.
When you successfully complete this MSc, you'll be able to apply for doctorate-level programmes focusing on public health-related research.
Alternative career options
Graduates can also use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Some possibilities include the following:
- Environmental health
- Teaching
- Research
- Consultancy
Professional Recognition
We'll be seeking Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) accreditation for our public health modules. This will not be a full degree programme accreditation nor an accreditation of individual learners. Once achieved, this accreditation will certify that RSPH has reviewed the content of the programme modules and learning objectives and confirm that our modules meet the dimensions of the RSPH Professional Practice Framework, making learners relevant and up-to-date with public health practice.
Please note, the MSc Public Health does not lead to registration on any professional regulatory body register but can contribute towards preparation for Part A of the Faculty of Public Health examinations.
Fees & Funding
Please note, in addition to the tuition fee, there may be additional costs for things like printing, textbooks, trips or RSPH professional body fees. Additionally, there may be other activities that are not formally part of your course and not required to complete your course but which you may find helpful (for example, optional field trips). The costs of these are additional to your tuition fee and the fees set out above, and you'll be notified when the activity is being arranged.
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Click here for more information on our Master's Bursaries.
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2025-26 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
You may apply directly to the University using the University's online application form. Please select your chosen start date from the list below:
You should have to hand:
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Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
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Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
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Details of any employment history including name, address, dates and role
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Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
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Details including e-mail addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already input.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions-team@bolton.ac.uk
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Apply online: University of Bolton MSc Public Health - 27 January 2025
International Applicants
Thank you for your interest
In order to determine your suitability for this course as an international student and also to confirm you meet any initial eligibility criteria, we need you to answer a few short questions.
Teaching & Assessment
The Faculty of Health and Wellbeing works across various sectors, offering professional and non-professional education and works to balance exposure to subject knowledge, theoretical perspectives and professional/practical skills. This master's degree is part of a suite of programmes offering a cross-curriculum and multi-professional ethos in the areas of community development and youth work, early childhood studies and health and social care.
We use a wide variety of teaching and learning methods. You can expect lectures, presentations, seminar discussions, small group workshops, small group tutorials and one-to-one tutorials, and using virtual learning environments (VLE) and e-learning packages. You'll also need to undertake a significant amount of personal study, including general background reading, preparing for seminar activities, working on assignments and revising for examinations.
Assessment methods are also varied, allowing you to develop and demonstrate your learning in a range of ways. For example, assessments may require you to complete essays, reports, presentations, seminar contributions and portfolios.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Postgraduate Preparation for Research Design
- Critical Reading and Writing Skills
- Leadership and Innovation
- Contemporary Issues, Policy and Practice
- Health Promotion and Behavioural Change
- Global Public Health and Local Interventions
- Epidemiology and Public Health Informatics
- Master's Project
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 100% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 76% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 24% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
