Public Health
MPH or PGDip or PGCert
Key facts
Start dates
January 2023 / September 2023 / January 2024 / September 2024
Course length
Full time: MPH: 12 months
Part time: is available
Overview
Our successful and innovative MPH in Public Health welcomes UK, EU and international applicants from a wide range of professions. It is ideal if you are seeking to broaden your knowledge and skill set, or are preparing for advancement in your field or career.
The course focuses on the health of communities as a recognised concern to a wide group of professionals. We will show how good health can be a right, not a privilege. And you will discover how health is related to:
- individual biology
- genetics
- behavioural factors
- social factors
- environmental factors.
This course is suitable for those seeking a career in public health, people from clinical backgrounds and allied health professionals. If you have a non-health-related degree but have relevant work experience, you are welcome and encouraged to apply.
We offer a range of opportunities to gain work experience with local public health organisations.
We also offer a similar course through distance learning.
How to apply
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
You will need a UK or overseas degree from a recognised institution.
You will need at least six months work experience in a public health related field.
See also our English language requirements.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
For applicants whose first language is not English, an Academic IELTS score of 6.5 (with 6.5 in Reading and Writing, and 6.0 in Listening and Speaking) is required.
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Application process
International applicants will need to apply early to allow enough time for obtaining visas.
If you are offered a place you may be asked to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure a place on the course.
Applications are dealt with on a first come, first served basis, so please act early to avoid disappointment.
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year your fees will increase each year.
Financial support and scholarships
Please contact the Programme Administrator to find out whether funding is available to assist with costs. Self-funding applicants are also welcome to apply.
General sources of information about finance and financial support for international applicants can be found at: www.brookes.ac.uk/international/finance
All applicants (UK, EU and international) will be required to provide details of their funding arrangements prior to enrolment on the course.
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Learning and assessment
You will study the following modules:
- Foundations in public health
- Data analysis and interpretation
- Applied research methods
- Epidemiology
- Advanced health promotion
- Public health policy
And a choice between either:
- Leadership and management in health and social care
- Communicable diseases for public health
Assessment is through written assignments, presentations, one examination and a dissertation (for the MPH only).
Part-time students can start in either September or January.
If you enter the programme in January, you will start the programme with the epidemiology and applied research methods modules. You'll study foundations in public health and data analysis and interpretation in September.

Start this course in January
You have the option to start this course in January. You will study a range of modules between January and May. During the summer months of June, July and August you will study further modules and begin work on your dissertation. Between September and December you will complete your final modules and focus on your dissertation.
Study modules
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from that shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Learning and teaching
You will learn through the following methods:
- lectures
- directed reading
- workshops
- seminars
- virtual learning environment activities
- project work.
Many of the core competencies identified in the UK Public Health specialist training curriculum from the UK Faculty of Public Health are met through this study programme.
You will be taught on a module-credit basis, through blended learning or face-to-face contact. Each module requires 200 hours of study.
You will learn to work at an advanced level within public health and interprofessional teams. Focus on developing critical self-reflection and interpersonal skills.
Effective use of blended learning will help you to achieve digital and information literacy.
You will be taught by staff actively engaged in public health research. And receive insight from visiting lecturers within key domains of public health, including:
- health improvement (NICE)
- health protection (Oxfam)
- service improvement (Local Authorities).
Research
Our research areas include:
Children and Families
Prevention Science Research Group
OxMater

After you graduate
Career prospects
You will be expertly equipped to move forward in assessing health impact, planning appropriate interventions and understanding public health policy in general. Our modular based system allows you the flexibility to study at a pace to suit you and your current professional commitments, enabling you to open up the boundaries of your career without taking a break.
Student profiles
Related courses
Programme Changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website.For more information, please visit our Changes to programmes page.