Overview
Public health protects communities — not just individuals. This MSc trains practitioners to design surveillance systems, evaluate interventions, and influence policy. You will study epidemiological methods, environmental health, health economics, and programme evaluation using cases from the NHS, WHO frameworks, and community health networks in Africa and Asia. The dissertation addresses a real population-health question for a partner organisation.
MSc Public Health is taught as one award, not a list of unrelated modules. The published length is 24 months, and the credit total is 36. Students move from Principles of Public Health through Principles of Public Health; Epidemiology & Biostatistics; Health Promotion & Behaviour Change; Environmental & Occupational Health; Health Systems & Policy; Global Health & Inequity, and finish on MSc Public Health Dissertation.
Each course has a question, a method, and a submission. In this field, students describe how people, records, and decisions move through one service, and separate cause from harm. Reading is a pathway description, an incident summary, and an information standard. The artefact a marker expects is a brief a service manager could use, with the evidence attached.
The award is built so that a graduate can do the following in practice: Design and interpret cohort and case-control studies Conduct health needs assessments for defined populations Evaluate public-health programmes using economic and outcome metrics
Teaching assumes the student can read a source, attempt a problem before the seminar, and revise after feedback. Attendance at live seminars is part of the design. The capstone or final course must use the methods of the earlier courses; a project that ignores them does not pass.
This course does not confer a licence to practise nursing, medicine, or any other clinical profession.
The pages for each course name the topics that are examined. Those topics are the syllabus. A brochure line is not a substitute for them.
Who This Programme Is For
- ✦Clinicians moving into public-health leadership
- ✦NGO programme managers in health and development
- ✦Government health officers and epidemiologists
Faculty spotlight
Dr. Aisha Okonkwo leads epidemiology modules; Professor Daniel Mensah specialises in health systems strengthening in low-income settings.
Programme Structure & Delivery
Coursework
Interactive modules, weekly readings, recorded and live seminars, and collaborative discussions with peers worldwide.
Assessment
Module assignments, proctored examinations, and capstone projects designed to demonstrate mastery of the field.
Learning Outcomes
- ✦Design and interpret cohort and case-control studies
- ✦Conduct health needs assessments for defined populations
- ✦Evaluate public-health programmes using economic and outcome metrics
- ✦Draft policy briefs for ministers and donor agencies
- ✦Apply WHO and national surveillance standards
Career Pathways
- ✦Public Health Consultant
- ✦Epidemiologist
- ✦Health Policy Advisor
- ✦NGO Health Director
- ✦Environmental Health Officer
Assessment
Modules are assessed through a published mix of coursework, applied projects, and examinations. Exam windows are announced in advance so students in other time zones are not forced into overnight sittings. Alternative arrangements are available where documented.
Curriculum
Year 1 — Foundations
PH501Principles of Public Health- PH501-M1 · Pathway, payment, records, and the bottleneck — Principles of Public Health
- PH501-M2 · Incident, harm, cause, and the change that prevents a repeat — Principles of Public Health
- PH501-M3 · Indicators, privacy, and misuse of a report — Principles of Public Health
- PH501-M4 · Quality, safety, and the limit of the data — Principles of Public Health
- PH501-M5 · Service design for a named population — Principles of Public Health
- PH501-M6 · A service or informatics brief with evidence and a recommendation — Principles of Public Health
3 creditsPH502Epidemiology & Biostatistics- PH502-M1 · The question, the unit of analysis, and data quality — Epidemiology & Biostatistics
- PH502-M2 · Features, baselines, and error — Epidemiology & Biostatistics
- PH502-M3 · Validation, leakage, and what the model must not decide — Epidemiology & Biostatistics
- PH502-M4 · Monitoring, drift, and human review — Epidemiology & Biostatistics
- PH502-M5 · Interpretation for a non-technical decision maker — Epidemiology & Biostatistics
- PH502-M6 · A supervised project with method, result, and limitation — Epidemiology & Biostatistics
3 creditsPH503Health Promotion & Behaviour Change- PH503-M1 · Pathway, payment, records, and the bottleneck — Health Promotion & Behaviour Change
- PH503-M2 · Incident, harm, cause, and the change that prevents a repeat — Health Promotion & Behaviour Change
- PH503-M3 · Indicators, privacy, and misuse of a report — Health Promotion & Behaviour Change
- PH503-M4 · Quality, safety, and the limit of the data — Health Promotion & Behaviour Change
- PH503-M5 · Service design for a named population — Health Promotion & Behaviour Change
- PH503-M6 · A service or informatics brief with evidence and a recommendation — Health Promotion & Behaviour Change
3 creditsPH504Environmental & Occupational Health- PH504-M1 · Pathway, payment, records, and the bottleneck — Environmental & Occupational Health
- PH504-M2 · Incident, harm, cause, and the change that prevents a repeat — Environmental & Occupational Health
- PH504-M3 · Indicators, privacy, and misuse of a report — Environmental & Occupational Health
- PH504-M4 · Quality, safety, and the limit of the data — Environmental & Occupational Health
- PH504-M5 · Service design for a named population — Environmental & Occupational Health
- PH504-M6 · A service or informatics brief with evidence and a recommendation — Environmental & Occupational Health
3 creditsYear 1 — Systems
PH505Health Systems & Policy- PH505-M1 · Pathway, payment, records, and the bottleneck — Health Systems & Policy
- PH505-M2 · Incident, harm, cause, and the change that prevents a repeat — Health Systems & Policy
- PH505-M3 · Indicators, privacy, and misuse of a report — Health Systems & Policy
- PH505-M4 · Quality, safety, and the limit of the data — Health Systems & Policy
- PH505-M5 · Service design for a named population — Health Systems & Policy
- PH505-M6 · A service or informatics brief with evidence and a recommendation — Health Systems & Policy
3 creditsPH506Global Health & Inequity- PH506-M1 · Pathway, payment, records, and the bottleneck — Global Health & Inequity
- PH506-M2 · Incident, harm, cause, and the change that prevents a repeat — Global Health & Inequity
- PH506-M3 · Indicators, privacy, and misuse of a report — Global Health & Inequity
- PH506-M4 · Quality, safety, and the limit of the data — Global Health & Inequity
- PH506-M5 · Service design for a named population — Global Health & Inequity
- PH506-M6 · A service or informatics brief with evidence and a recommendation — Global Health & Inequity
3 creditsPH507Health Economics- PH507-M1 · Pathway, payment, records, and the bottleneck — Health Economics
- PH507-M2 · Incident, harm, cause, and the change that prevents a repeat — Health Economics
- PH507-M3 · Indicators, privacy, and misuse of a report — Health Economics
- PH507-M4 · Quality, safety, and the limit of the data — Health Economics
- PH507-M5 · Service design for a named population — Health Economics
- PH507-M6 · A service or informatics brief with evidence and a recommendation — Health Economics
3 creditsPH508Research Methods in Public Health- PH508-M1 · Pathway, payment, records, and the bottleneck — Research Methods in Public Health
- PH508-M2 · Incident, harm, cause, and the change that prevents a repeat — Research Methods in Public Health
- PH508-M3 · Indicators, privacy, and misuse of a report — Research Methods in Public Health
- PH508-M4 · Quality, safety, and the limit of the data — Research Methods in Public Health
- PH508-M5 · Service design for a named population — Research Methods in Public Health
- PH508-M6 · A service or informatics brief with evidence and a recommendation — Research Methods in Public Health
3 creditsYear 2 — Applied
PH601Programme Evaluation- PH601-M1 · Statements: income, position, and cash — Programme Evaluation
- PH601-M2 · Recognition, ratios, and what the numbers cannot show — Programme Evaluation
- PH601-M3 · Cash flows, discount rates, and sensitivity — Programme Evaluation
- PH601-M4 · Market, credit, and operating risk — Programme Evaluation
- PH601-M5 · Controls, exceptions, and reporting — Programme Evaluation
- PH601-M6 · An investment or operating recommendation — Programme Evaluation
3 creditsPH602Public Health Leadership- PH602-M1 · Pathway, payment, records, and the bottleneck — Public Health Leadership
- PH602-M2 · Incident, harm, cause, and the change that prevents a repeat — Public Health Leadership
- PH602-M3 · Indicators, privacy, and misuse of a report — Public Health Leadership
- PH602-M4 · Quality, safety, and the limit of the data — Public Health Leadership
- PH602-M5 · Service design for a named population — Public Health Leadership
- PH602-M6 · A service or informatics brief with evidence and a recommendation — Public Health Leadership
3 creditsPH603MSc Public Health Dissertation- PH603-M1 · Pathway, payment, records, and the bottleneck — MSc Public Health Dissertation
- PH603-M2 · Incident, harm, cause, and the change that prevents a repeat — MSc Public Health Dissertation
- PH603-M3 · Indicators, privacy, and misuse of a report — MSc Public Health Dissertation
- PH603-M4 · Quality, safety, and the limit of the data — MSc Public Health Dissertation
- PH603-M5 · Service design for a named population — MSc Public Health Dissertation
- PH603-M6 · A service or informatics brief with evidence and a recommendation — MSc Public Health Dissertation
6 creditsAdmission requirements
Academic entry
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution (minimum 2:2 or GPA 2.5/4.0)
English language
- English proficiency: IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 46, or equivalent (waived for prior English-medium study)
Documents
- Statement of Purpose (500 words minimum) outlining your goals and fit for the programme
- Two academic or professional references with contact details
- CV or résumé documenting relevant education and professional experience
Programme questions
How long is the MSc Public Health?+
The published duration is 24 months. Teaching language: English. Actual time-to-complete depends on mode and any recognised prior learning.
Can I study this from my country?+
This is a fully online award. You study from your country. No student visa and no campus relocation are required.
What does it cost?+
Degree tuition for this award is published as £0 / tuition-free on the online pathway. Examination or administrative fees may apply at checkout — never an annual tuition invoice. Check the Fees page for any extras.
What are the entry requirements?+
Requirements are grouped on this page (academic, English, documents). Equivalent qualifications are considered. English may be waived after prior English-medium study.
How is the programme assessed?+
Assessment is typically a mix of coursework, projects, and examinations. Doctoral awards include a thesis or dissertation and an oral examination. Details sit in the programme specification and module outlines.
Will this award be recognised where I live?+
Recognition of the award for local employment, professional licence, or ministry attestation is decided by your employer or regulator. Durham University publishes verification pages for certificates. We do not claim automatic equivalence in every country.
How do I apply?+
Start an application on this website. Progress is saved from the first step. Admissions: admissions@durhm.co.uk.
