Master of Public Health

The Level 7 Master of Public Health is designed to develop confident, skilled, and future-focused public health professionals through a blend of academic excellence and practical, hands-on learning. The programme prepares students to address complex global and local health challenges and is mapped to the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) and Public Health England (PHE) competency frameworks, supporting professional recognition. An interdisciplinary curriculum covers key areas including epidemiology, health economics, artificial intelligence in health, global health, and related fields, alongside optional specialist modules that allow focused study aligned with individual academic and career interests. Research-led teaching is delivered by experienced public health academics and practitioners from diverse professional backgrounds, with a strong emphasis on real-world application to develop the ability to design, implement, and evaluate effective public health interventions. The programme is particularly relevant for those working in public health roles such as community nursing, environmental health, health promotion, and community health work, as well as for individuals with medical or health-related backgrounds seeking to progress into leadership roles within multidisciplinary public health environments.

The course adopts a strong global perspective, enabling the exchange of knowledge between home and international students and drawing on best practices from across the world. Students examine the underlying causes and mechanisms of ill health alongside public health intervention strategies aimed at reducing health inequalities. Course content incorporates global, environmental, and public health issues to develop an international outlook, while also addressing UK-specific public health contexts where relevant.

Teaching is delivered by a multidisciplinary and highly experienced academic team that includes public health specialists, environmental health practitioners, biomedical scientists, health promotion and physical wellbeing experts, and epidemiologists. This diverse expertise ensures that learning is informed by contemporary professional practice and current public health challenges. Teaching is supported by real-world case studies, enabling the direct application of theory within professional contexts. Mentorship and academic support may be provided by public health specialists, alongside opportunities to contribute to ongoing research projects within the teaching team. It should be noted that the programme does not provide preparation for the Faculty of Public Health examination (Part A).

The Master of Public Health programme is formally mapped to the Public Health England Skills and Knowledge Framework, the Practitioner Competencies of the United Kingdom Public Health Register (UKPHR), and the nine overarching competency areas of the Functions of the Local Public Health System. Successful completion enables eligibility to apply for registration with UKPHR training schemes.

Students engage with a multi-professional team of lecturers drawn from public health, health sciences, environmental health, and medical disciplines, supported by strong employer partnerships, particularly with Derby City Council’s Public Health Department. Each student is allocated an academic personal tutor from the programme team at the start of the course to provide ongoing academic guidance and support throughout the programme.