Ever since the waves of the Covid pandemic hit, public health has become a major point of interest for students and employers alike. Public health officials are now highly regarded and are paid well too. To become a public health worker in the UK, you need to hold a degree in public health courses in the UK. The UK can be an ideal destination for you to study master’s in public health as the country hosts three of the world’s top 10 universities for life sciences. Through this blog, we will guide you through the details about public health as a profession and studying for master’s in public health UK degrees.
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Masters in Public Health (MPH or MSc in Public Health)
Public health is a subject concerned with the day-to-day care of patients and raising general awareness among the public about diseases and hygiene practices. Public health graduates work in close collaboration with healthcare-providing corporations or government agencies in the UK. A master’s in public health is a postgraduate course that qualifies students to work in the public health field. It is a multidisciplinary course that teaches students how to handle leadership roles. The course focuses on vocational learning, as well. Completing a master’s degree in public health qualifies you for senior roles in the public health field.
Why Study Master’s in Public Health in the UK?
The United Kingdom has always been an attractive destination for international students. It is one of the countries attracting the highest number of international students in Europe. Let’s look at the reasons for this:
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Shorter course duration
The length of a master’s in public health course in the UK spans from 10 months to 2 years. This is shorter than the courses offered in other countries, like the USA and Canada. The length of these public health courses is 2 years minimum. Pursuing a shorter-length course in the UK can help you save on time and get a degree faster.
Placement opportunities
The UK is well known for its healthcare sector and facilities. With high regard and respect for healthcare workers, the UK offers attractive placement opportunities to its public health graduates. With many universities already associated with the healthcare sector, finding jobs becomes much easier.
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High-ranking universities
The UK houses a number of high-ranking universities within its borders. These universities are known for imparting world-class education to students. In the field of public health, the UK has 3 of the top 10 universities in the world, namely, The University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and University College London (UCL).
Also read: Why study in the UK.
Course Structure for Masters in Public Health UK
In the UK, you get the option to study a master’s in public health in various modes. You can pursue the course full-time, part-time and online. The courses are divided into core modules and optional modules. Public health comprises a few specialisations that applicants can choose from, but the overall structure of the course is similar in most universities, as seen below:
- Epidemiology
- Biostatistics
- Health research methods
- Public health skills
Specializations in Masters in Public Health in the UK
Master’s programmes in most fields of education allow you to specialise in a specific field during your degree. This applies in terms of public health as well. Various colleges offer various specialisations that you can choose from according to your interest and the field you choose to build your career in. In general terms, the following specializations can be done in master’s in public health in the UK:
- Epidemiology
- Health Education
- Health Economics
- Mental Health
- Occupational Health Safety
Universities Offering Public Health Courses in the UK
The following is a list of top-ranked universities in the UK offering degrees in public health:
The University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Life Sciences & Medicine: No. 2
- Research areas: Introduction to Global Health Science, Principles of Epidemiology, Principles of Statistics, International Research Ethics, Clinical Trials and Meta-analysis, Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Genetic Epidemiology, Health Economics, Maternal and Child Health, Non-communicable Diseases, Nutritional Epidemiology, Principles and Applications of Data Science
- Average annual tuition fees: INR 22.97 lakh
- Scholarship and funding: Clarendon Fund, CHK Charities Scholarship, The Duke Of Cambridge Scholarship, Felix Scholarships, Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Life Sciences & Medicine: No. 4
- Research areas: Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Applied Data Analysis, Public Health and Research Skills, Epidemiology, Global Health, Health Data Science, Infectious Diseases, Public Health, Primary Care Research
- Average annual tuition fees: INR 28.19 lakh
- Scholarship and funding: Gates Cambridge Scholarship, HDRUK funded scholarships, The Lucy Cavendish – Trinity Global Health Studentship, The Malati Kanbur Fund (Lucy Cavendish College)
UCL, London, United Kingdom
- QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Life Sciences & Medicine: No. 10
- Research areas: Fundamentals of Interdisciplinary Public Health, Applied Epidemiology, Statistics for Public Health, Health Improvement Theory and Practice, Health Systems Organisation, Economics, and Policy, Health Protection, Leadership and Management for Public Health, Applied Quantitative Methods for Public Health, Qualitative, Mixed, and Participatory Research Methods, Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Policy, Urban Health
- Average annual tuition fees: INR 24.99 lakh
- Scholarship and funding: University College London Alumni Scholarship, UCL Global Masters Scholarship
Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Life Sciences & Medicine: No. 12
- Research areas: Health Services and Systems Stream, Global Health Stream, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health research methods with public health skills.
- Average annual tuition fees: INR 34.35 lakh
- Scholarship and funding: Social Impact Scholarship, Chevening Scholarship
King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Life Sciences & Medicine: No. 23
- Research areas: Public Health Dissertation, Basic Epidemiology & Statistics for Public Health, Prevention & Control of Communicable Disease, Social Research Methods for Public Health, Health Promotion and Health Improvement, Healthcare Public Health, Health Economics
- Average annual tuition fees: INR 25.57 lakh
- Scholarship and funding: King’s International Scholarship, King’s Scholars of Tomorrow
The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Life Sciences & Medicine: No. 24
- Research areas: Epidemiology & Statistics for Public Health, Foundations of Public Health, Health Promotion, Qualitative Research for Public Health, Systematic Reviews for Public Health, Research Design for Public Health
- Average annual tuition fees: INR 22.04 lakh
- Scholarship and funding: The Glenmore Medical Postgraduate Scholarship, Chevening Scholarships
The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Life Sciences & Medicine: No. 42
- Research areas: Global Health into the 21st Century, Health Systems Challenges in Low and Middle-Income Countries, Global Women’s Public Health, Working with Communities, Economic Evaluation in Healthcare, Applied Epidemiology
- Average annual tuition fees: INR 36.66 lakh
- Scholarship and funding: British Chevening Scholarship, Commonwealth Scholarships
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Life Sciences & Medicine: No. 44
- Research areas: Environment & Health, Health Economics, Health Promotion, Health Services Management, Health Services Research, Public Health (General stream)
- Average annual tuition fees: INR 23.33 lakh
- Scholarship and funding: Jeroen Ensink Memorial Fund Scholarship, 2022-23 Wellcome Trust Masters Scholarship
University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Life Sciences & Medicine: No. 49
- Research areas: Epidemiology: Principles, Application and Evaluation in Practice, Social Action Approaches in Public Health, Health Economics, Applied Statistics and Data Analysis for Public Health, Advanced Research Methods
- Average annual tuition fees: INR 21.71 lakh
- Scholarship and funding: University of Glasgow International Leadership Scholarship,
- Common Good Scholarships
Public Health Courses in UK Program Entry Requirements
The eligibility criteria for studying master’s in public health in the UK are as follows:
- A bachelor’s degree with more than 60% to 70% in science, medicine, MBBS or health sciences.
- Professional qualification in a health-related area is an important requirement in most British universities.
- Work experience can improve your application and chances of selection.
- English proficiency test scores like IELTS or TOEFL.
Documents Required
To successfully apply to a master’s in public health program in the UK, the following documents are required:
- Transcripts of your bachelor’s degree or previous academic qualifications. Some universities might ask for transcripts certified by the university you studied in.
- Photocopies of all official documents
- English translation of certificates and transcripts may be asked if your transcripts are in another language.
- Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
- Letter of Reference
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- A copy of the passport or photo page of the passport
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Student visa
Cost of living in the UK
The cost of living in the UK is slightly higher than in countries like Canada. The cost of living in the UK depends upon a number of factors like your lifestyle, accommodation, transportation expenses and academic materials issued by the university. On average, the cost of living for a student studying for a master’s in public health in the UK is £12,000 to £15,200 per annum.
How to Apply for a Masters in Public Health UK?
To apply to a master’s in public health in the UK, you can refer to the following steps:
- Research and study about the university you want to study in.
- Check the program requirements.
- Fill out the application form
- Upload the required documents.
- Pay the application fees.
- Submit the application.
- If selected, you can apply for a student visa using the offer letter.
Job Prospects after Public Health Course in UK
Public health is a growing profession in the UK. With a booming healthcare sector and several companies and agencies to work for, the UK is a very good choice for public health MSc graduates to work in. According to Payscale, the average salary for an MPH graduate in the UK stands at £33,000 per year. Some of the highest-paying roles in the public health sector in the UK are as follows:
- Scientist – £31,805 per year
- Social and Health Program Consultant – £92,214 per year
- Locum Consultant – £89,627 per year
- Scientist – £31,805 per year
- Senior Scientist – £43,875 per year
- Environmental Scientist – £37,580 per year
- Deputy Director – £90,980 per year
- Wellbeing Manager – £51,743 per year
- Chief Information Officer – £29,506 per year
Ever since the pandemic, the demand for public health professionals has risen, and their employability has increased. Several companies in the UK offer good pay packages to public health postgraduate students. Some of them are as follows:
- Global Data – £26,000
- Greenwich Council – £22,000
- London Borough of Islington – £36,000
- National Health Service (NHS) – £35,000
Conclusion
Public health service in the UK is an attractive and satisfying career option. Completing your master’s in public health from one of the top universities in the UK can help you get better placements in the country and more exposure. Along with this, public health stands as one of the high-paying professions in the UK. This makes studying for a master of public health degree in the UK a lucrative option. The path to getting into a top university for public health in the UK is not easy. LeapScholar works to fulfil students’ dreams of studying abroad.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does the course structure of a master’s in public health in the UK throughout the academic year look like?
The course is usually 10 to 24 months long. In a general view, the semesters and dissertation periods look like this;
a. Semester 1 – September-December
b. Semester 2 – January-April
c. Dissertation – May-August
2. What are other job opportunities available to MSc public health graduates in the UK?
MSc public health graduates in England can also work in the following jobs with appropriate certifications:
a. Nursing
b. Social care
c. Pharmacist
d. Public health specialist
e. Dentistry
f. Nutrition
3. How long does a part-time course in master’s in public health in the UK last?
The length of a full-time course is usually from 1 to 2 years. In the case of a part-time course, the course can take 3 to 4 years.
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