Public Health MPH

Studied in-person, at our campus in the heart of Birmingham, this Master of Public Health (MPH) programme will introduce you to a range of public health approaches. The programme is suited to both professionals currently working in the field of public health, and those looking to enter the profession. 

Whether you're a practising clinician or looking to develop your career as a senior manager within the health services, studying the MPH programme will provide you with additional skills and knowledge to help you manage a healthcare team and navigate the challenges of the global health environment. 

You will build an in-depth understanding of local, national and global public health concerns, health policies and their sociological and epidemiological implications. You will gain skills in epidemiology, health promotion, critical appraisal and the evaluation of public health initiatives.

Throughout the MPH programme, you will be supported by staff who are public health experts in both local and global contexts. Teaching is informed by current and impactful research taking place within Aston University's Centre for Health and Society.

Modules

Our comprehensive and interdisciplinary syllabus spans low, middle and high-income countries, and reflects local, national and international public health agendas. Throughout a series of core and optional modules, students will engage with academics, researchers and practitioners to explore and understand a range of in-depth public health issues.

Core modules

Research Methods (15 credits)

This module introduces you to the general nature of research in Public Health, and the necessary skills to carry out research, providing you with a foundation for your dissertation.

The Social Determinants of Health (15 credits)

This module examines the social determinants of health and illness and their relationship with the health of a population, explaining how health and society are connected.

Epidemiology (15 credits)

This module introduces students to the basic concepts and methods of epidemiology to help them understand, interpret, and apply basic epidemiological methods.

Health Promotion (15 credits)

This module examines the role that health promotion plays in population level and individual level health and healthcare. It develops students’ critical understanding and application of health promotion theory and practice.

Dissertation (60 credits)

You will demonstrate your ability to design, conduct and report the results of a research project in Public Health. You will work independently, under the guidance of a supervisor.

Optional modules

You will choose four of the following modules, totaling 60 credits.

Economic and Commercial Determinants of Health (15 credits)

The module aims to develop students’ critical understanding and application of social scientific, economic, legal, and business-related concepts to understanding population health and illness.

Public Health Ethics (15 credits)

This module will introduce students to healthcare ethics approaches used in public health and integrate key concepts, theories, methods and topics on the major issues in health ethics.

Global Health (15 credits)

This module will introduce and integrate key concepts, theories, methods and topics on the major issues in global health.

Digital Health (15 credits)

This module will introduce students to the major issues in digital health including data and data visualisation, artificial intelligence and health technologies, the digitalisation of hospitals, patient data and remote health monitoring, and automation and digitalisation in therapy development.

Managing Projects (15 credits)

The overall aim is for students to develop an understanding of project management processes and use of various tools and techniques for effective management of projects.

People and World Organisations (15 credits)

This module will explain how models, theories and concepts relating to organisational behaviour can be used in practice in different workplaces so that students can critically assess and engage with business and management problems to design tailored interventions for promoting individual, team and organisational effectiveness.

Strategic Management (15 credits)

This module will focus on the theory, concepts and frameworks associated with competitive and corporate strategy and the strategy development process. Students will have the opportunity to apply their learning in analyses of contemporary business case studies and in contributing to management decision-making in a strategy simulation.

Business Analytics and Practice (15 credits)

The main aim of the module is to introduce students to predictive business analytics techniques that will facilitate a better-informed decision-making process. Students will familiarise themselves and explore advanced statistical methods as well as marketing models and financial analytics that will help undertake advanced data analysis and enhance their understanding of business analytics techniques while improving the decision-making process.

Data Mining and Web Analytics (15 credits)

In this module several case studies of well-known data mining techniques are used; e.g. shopping basket analysis such as Tesco club card, credit card fraud detection, predicting stock market returns, risk analysis in banking, web analytics and social network analysis including Facebook and Twitter.

Availability of any optional modules will be subject to staff availability and a minimum number of students who express an interest in studying the optional modules.

Post-study work visa

Graduate Immigration Route

Aston University welcomed the creation of a new Graduate Immigration Route which enables international students to remain in the UK for two years after you complete your studies to find work. This new post-study work visa applies to international students completing full-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Find out more information about the Graduate Immigration Route.

Entry Requirements

One of the following:

• A UK Upper Second honours degree or equivalent (2.1)
• Equivalent overseas degree recognised by Aston University    
• Medical students from Aston Medical School

Subject specific requirements: 

All applicants for Master of Public Health must provide evidence of ability in mathematics, post-16 year education. Evidence may include: 

• GSCE Maths 5 or higher
• Or equivalent, such as:
  • A module that includes mathematics within an undergraduate degree (for ex. quantitative methods, epidemiology, or statistics)
  • Statistics or quantitative methods studied as part of a research methods course. 

A preference will be given to applicants with relevant work experience. This can be paid, voluntary work, internships etc.

Significant relevant research or professional experience will be considered where applicants do not meet the required academic qualification threshold. Applications which do not meet the required academic entry criteria will be considered on an individual basis, and may first be required to complete a PGCert or PGDip to enable progression to the MPH programme.

As well as:

• Two professional references - at least one must be from an academic referee
• An official academic transcript of your university grades to date
• A completed application form

International students

• An official academic transcript, with an official English translation, of your university grades to date.
   
• Students whose native language is not English will also need to satisfy our English language requirements. Pre-sessional English language programmes are available for good applicants whose English qualification falls just short of these requirements.
   
• Aston University provides a range of opportunities for international students to join our community and study on our campus. A key part of our strategy is our relationships with teaching partners, providing multiple pathways to Aston.
   
• For more information about qualifications, view our Aston in your country webpage.

Extensive work experience

Preference will be given to applicants with relevant work experience (e.g. paid work, voluntary work, and internships).

Significant relevant research or professional experience will be considered where applicants do not meet the required academic qualification threshold. Applications which do not meet the required academic entry criteria will be considered on an individual basis and may first be required to complete a PGCert or PGDip to enable progression to the programme.

The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications. Applicants with alternative qualifications may wish to enquire with the relevant admissions teams prior to application whether or not their qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the academic admissions tutor.

Learning and teaching

The Master of Public Health (MPH) has been developed using the Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation’s European Core Competencies for Masters in Public Health Education.

You will experience a range of teaching methods including lectures, tutorials, workshops, and both individual and group presentations. Traditional teaching is supported by a virtual learning environment that is used to host a range of electronic supporting materials.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a combination of written and oral examinations, class tests, individual and group coursework, projects, presentations and practical assessments. There will also be a dissertation component of 10,000 words.

Assessments have been designed to help prepare graduates for professional membership and accreditation (e.g. Faculty of Public Health DFPH and MFPH).

Programme Director

Dr Frances Thirlway

The United Kingdom government has confirmed that European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals commencing academic courses in England from August 2021 will no longer be charged the same tuition rates as home students. Further information can be found here.

Tuition fees for students are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. Any such increase shall always be in accordance with the law. When undertaking a placement year, a placement year fee applies.

More information on fees and funding

UK postgraduate loans

If you're thinking about studying a masters course with us, you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan to help with course fees and living costs. Find out more here.

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs. Find out more about our scholarships here.

Cost shouldn't limit your career aspirations, which is why we are delighted to offer all Aston University graduates (including exchange students) a 20% loyalty scholarship in standard taught MA, MSc and Full-time MBA course fees. Students who have completed their first degree at Aston University will receive an automatic scholarship when applying for their course. If you are not an Aston University graduate there is still a range of UK and international scholarship that you can apply for.

This means that as an Aston University graduate applying to our Master of Public Health course, you could save...

As an Aston University graduate you will automatically qualify. For more information visit our webpage.

Students will be given the opportunity to interact with local health projects and initiatives, an experience which can be used to build your CV. A career in public health is wide, exciting and varied. MPH graduates can seek employment in local council and government, with the healthcare services (e.g. NHS), and with third sector and NGOs across the world.

Aston University was recognised as the 'Best University Placement Service'.

The Careers and Placements team at Aston University won the 'Best University Placement Service' category at the National Undergraduate Employability (NUE) Awards 2022. This was achieved by launching Virtual Employability Festivals and recognising the power of peer-to-peer communication by pairing 500 students looking for placements with 500 students who had completed placements.

Why should I study the Master of Public Health (MPH) at Aston University?

As one of the top-ranking universities for health professions in the UK (Guardian, 2022), Aston University is at the heart of innovative healthcare initiatives locally and nationally. Aston’s close connection with the healthcare community in Birmingham means that as an MPH student, you will be learning from public health practitioners and experts working directly in the field. Lectures and dissertations will be research-led, based on cutting edge projects with real-world application. With opportunities to interact with local and national public health bodies, as an Aston MPH graduate, you will enter (or return to) the workforce with a strong grounding in the current issues and key challenges in public health.

For our Aston Medical School students, the MPH is offered via the intercalated year, allowing you to hone key public health skills before graduation. These skills are vital for those with an interest in public health or who wish to pursue a career as a Public Health Consultant.

Why should I study my postgraduate degree at Aston University?

There are lots of benefits of studying a postgraduate degree at Aston University.

Watch this video from MBA student, Monique, who talks about just a few of them: