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Master of Public Health MPH

Distance learning programme

Build the foundations of a meaningful career in public health with this innovative online Master’s degree. Taught by a university with a world-leading reputation in health, you’ll get to grips with global challenges and be ready to deliver solutions. A career focused programme integrating flexible online learning by design, this MPH equips you with essential in-demand skills that can help you solve some of the most pressing issues in public health today.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2023/24)
£18,000
£9,000
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)
£18,000
£9,000
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2023
Applications accepted
All applicants: 17 Oct 2022 – 30 Jun 2023

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of upper second-class degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant subject (social, life, biomedical or clinical sciences). All applicants must show evidence of numeracy (e.g. AS/A level Mathematics/Statistics or at least one mathematical/statistics/quantitative module with a first class or 2:1 mark in the module or overseas equivalent). Candidates who do not meet the academic standard and/or subject backgrounds but who have more than two years relevant professional experience (can be a combination of voluntary and paid work) may be considered for admission.

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree


A programme sitting at the leading edge of public health, our MPH degree will equip you with the skills to make a difference to public health in a multitude of contexts.

Taught from a global top 10 university also ranked 7th in the world for public health (Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022), this programme harnesses the expertise of public health academics, leaders, practitioners, and people with lived experience. Enabling you to bring world-class learning to your future employment, the MPH degree blends classical epidemiology with an innovative interdisciplinary approach. This is rooted in the recognition that our health is shaped by the world around us. Where we live, learn and work, the food we eat, the way we travel, and even the way our taxes are spent, all affects our health. That’s why this programme brings together different disciplines, from social sciences to the built environment, to help you explore the big picture.

With public health in the global spotlight due to the Covid-19 pandemic, now is an important time for you to carve out a meaningful career in this field. This programme offers a unique opportunity for you to interact with and learn from renowned academics, practicing public health professionals, and the populations most affected by public health issues. Health inequalities, citizen voice, practitioner voice, core public health skills, implementation, action, and impact form key themes for this degree programme, integrated across the modules. 

As a graduate of this programme, you will take forward a practical, comparative and creative approach to solving public health issues in high-, middle-, and low- income countries, with the ability to make a tangible and purposeful difference to public health.

Who this course is for

This degree is for new or recent graduates looking for a career focused Master’s that will enable you to bring knowledge and expertise to your future public health careers. The programme is also suitable for individuals already working in the public health field, ideal for your career progression, learning and development.
Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

The UCL Faculty of Population Health Sciences is a community of world-leading academics, researchers and students that embraces UCL’s interdisciplinary focus. Becoming part of this community through our flagship online MPH programme, you will become equipped with the knowledge and skills to work effectively in public health settings. Together, we will address some of the world’s greatest public health challenges.

You’ll come away from this programme with insights into the effectiveness of public health interventions, programmes and policies. By learning a combination of statistical and qualitative public health evaluation methods, you’ll become skilled at using evidence to support decision making. Gaining unique exposure to different fields that relate to public health, our inherently interdisciplinary approach will give you important practical skills in health improvement, protection, systems, and leadership. Through this, you will also acquire a crucial aptitude for ‘big picture’ thinking and considering how different systems that affect health interact.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Created directly from the competency frameworks of the world’s most prestigious healthcare organisations, our MPH programme curriculum has real world value to employers. These frameworks include the UK Faculty of Public Health Specialist Training Curriculum 2015, the UK Faculty of Public Health Part A Exam Curriculum, and the WHO-ASPHER Core Competency Framework for Public Health in the European Region. As such, this MPH programme offers a strong signal to employers that you have the sought-after skills necessary to work as an effective public health practitioner.

As a graduate of this programme, you can expect to gain employment in local, regional or national governments, in the healthcare sector or in non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Roles include public health practitioners, policy analysts, intelligence officers and advisors. In particular, you may find yourself working on health improvement programmes, in health protection remits such as preventing outbreaks of infectious diseases, or on initiatives to ensure equal access to health services and medicines. As public health is relevant to many other sectors, ranging from engineering to urban planning, you can also apply your learning across a variety of other roles.

Employability

As a graduate of the UCL MPH programme, you will come away with a variety of in-demand skills that employers working on public health issues need. You will gain an in-depth understanding of the meaning of health and its distribution across individuals and populations, providing an important basis to the public health field. Learning epidemiological, statistical and public health evaluation methods adds to a robust skill set for assessing the health of the public, health inequalities and interventions.

A key element of this programme is collaborative working with multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural stakeholder groups, including communities and patients. With opportunities to hone personal leadership style, produce an original piece of project work, and develop evidence-based recommendations about policy, practice and research – you will take away an abundance of transferable skills that are ideal for many workplace settings.

Teaching and learning

This programme has been specifically designed to be delivered wholly online, providing greater flexibility for those who have work, family and lifestyle commitments. As such, each week of learning allows you to undertake much of the required work flexibly. This includes watching pre-recorded presentations by topic experts and public health practitioners, as well as independent review of reading materials and other activities. Learning is pulled together in weekly interactive live online sessions, which includes seminars with guest speakers and small-group tutorials.

There is also regular group work throughout the programme, to enhance learning and to develop team working skills. Group projects are designed to simulate real world multi-agency working groups or project committees, providing insights and hands-on practice relating to the actual work of public health practitioners.

An independent capstone dissertation project brings together all strands of learning from the degree, focused on a specific subject area you are interested in. Supported by a project supervisor, the dissertation is an opportunity to further develop research skills, evidence synthesis and data interpretation to support public health decision making.

The overall contact and self directed study hours is 150 hours for a typical 15 credit module which includes 1.5hours live online seminars per week.

Modules

You will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits over one academic year.

The programme consists of seven compulsory modules (120 credits), two optional modules (15 credits each) and a dissertation (30 credits).

Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a Master of Public Health (MPH).

You will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits over two academic years.

The programme consists of seven compulsory modules (120 credits), two optional modules (15 credits each) and a dissertation (30 credits).

Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a Master of Public Health (MPH).

You will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits for up to a maximum of five academic years.

The programme consists of seven compulsory modules (120 credits), two optional modules (15 credits each) and a dissertation (30 credits).

Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a Master of Public Health (MPH).

Compulsory modules







Optional modules






Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MPH in Master of Public Health.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Visit us

All open days and events

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Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care

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UCL's Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care addresses major 21st-century health challenges such as health equity, obesity, tobacco and alcohol, ageing and the organisation of healthcare. Join our Virtual Postgraduate Open Events to find out more about our postgraduate programmes, such as MPH Master of Public Health, MSc Dental Public Health, MSc Health Psychology, MSc Humanitarian Policy and Practice, MSc Population Health and MSc Social Epidemiology.

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Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) Health

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The UCL DBA Health is a professional doctorate degree designed for leaders in health-related fields who want to apply research skills to tackle health sector challenges. Studying flexibly over 5 years, you'll develop research skills for evaluating, assessing, and overseeing health projects and research, enabling you to apply strategic decision-making. Attend this open day to learn more about the UCL DBA Health, the admissions process and ask any questions you may have about the programme.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2023/24) £18,000 £9,000
Tuition fees (2023/24) £18,000 £9,000

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this programme.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria. For further information on funding opportunities specific to this programme, please see the Institute webpage.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study public health at graduate level
  • why you want to study public health at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to the MPH programme
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree.
Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2023-2024

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care Department
Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care Department

IEHC.public-health-mph@ucl.ac.uk

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