Overview
Public health policy and decision-making has an impact on all aspects of our lives. This was seen clearly during the Covid-19 pandemic. Informing and acting on those decisions are highly trained and skilled people working in public health roles. Public health professionals work across community, national and worldwide initiatives, in health improvement, disease prevention and health services planning. Some engage directly with communities to promote health and deliver services. Others work behind-the-scenes, supporting the overall functioning of public health programmes, policies and research. What they share is a passion for supporting the health and wellbeing of communities, and a strong commitment to social justice.
This course can help you become part of that powerful workforce, helping to find solutions to community and global health issues. Your reasons for choosing a career in public health will be as individual as you are. Whatever your starting point, and wherever your ambitions lie, this Masters course will help you to develop specific skills and competencies in public health practice, as well as key ‘boundary crossing’ competencies like leadership, communication and systems thinking. You will emerge not only with a comprehensive understanding of public health theories but also with the ability to effect positive change in communities.
You will be taught by world-leading public health academics from the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport and the Institute for Social Marketing and Health (ISMH) - an award-winning Institute with more than 40 years of experience in research leading to improvements in population health and wellbeing. We are passionate about public health, and we want to share that passion with you.
Our curriculum is validated by Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation (APHEA) recognising our commitment to excellence. As a Stirling student, you will benefit from a curriculum that prepares you for real-world challenges, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to make a difference in public health.
Our MPH Master of Public Health course is:
- 100% online, taking advantage of what digital delivery can offer, and providing flexibility in when, where and how you study.
- Modular, with options that allow you to create a bespoke course tailored to your career goals.
- Grounded and practical, including real-world case studies and projects that allow you to apply your knowledge and skills to authentic public health challenges.
Top reasons to study with us
Course objectives
This course aims to produce highly skilled public health practitioners and leaders. It will allow you to develop your own specialisms and areas of interest, while reflecting on the role of public health in improving the lives of communities and populations. Through your studies, you’ll learn how to:
- analyse and apply public health theory and approaches to a range of key areas;
- gain first-hand insight into the skills and methods used by researchers, practitioners and policymakers;
- develop practical and transferable skills, including communication, research methods, critical appraisal, and the development of recommendations for policy and practice.
A distinctive MPH Masters course
This multidisciplinary course is founded on the belief that improving population health and reducing health inequalities is vital to creating a better society. It combines theoretical knowledge and practical skills, working in collaboration with global experts and third sector partners, to develop your expertise and understanding of public health practice, research and policy.
Our course has a strong focus on the social impact of public health policy: investigating how society can tackle health inequalities, exploring the role of public health advocacy in driving change, and considering the relationship between grassroots experiences and the policies that shape interventions. There is also a strong focus on public health practice, helping you develop the discipline specific skills and boundary-spanning competencies that are most relevant to current and future careers in public health, through individual study and collaborations with other students and staff. Our curriculum is aligned with both the UK Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework and the European Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation.
Professional accreditation
The course is awarded curriculum validation by Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation (APHEA), signifying alignment with international standards and assuring our students and stakeholders that our course is of the highest quality.
Flexible learning
We would love you to register for the full MPH Master of Public Health (Online). However, we realise this isn’t always practical, so you can also study many of the modules as standalone CPD courses, which can link into appraisal systems such as the UK Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework to help you record your professional development as you study.
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.
Research overview
The MPH course is delivered with close support from Stirling University’s Institute of Social Marketing and Health (ISMH). For over 40 years, the ISMH has provided world-leading research on public health policy with a particular focus on the role of commercial drivers in shaping public health outcomes. You will benefit from being taught by researchers working closely with this highly regarded and influential research unit.
Our research is world-class and is recognised for its quality and innovation. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) analysis 100% of our research environment, 80% of our research impact and 83% of our overall research in Allied Health Professions and Nursing is classed as world-leading or internationally excellent.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
A minimum of a second class Honours degree (2:1 preferred) or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.
International entry requirements
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 80 overall with 18 in reading, 23 in writing, 19 in listening and 21 in speaking.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Course details
This innovative course integrates a wide range of digital methods and platforms to create an engaging and balanced online learning environment. You’ll be supported throughout by the course director and your dedicated personal tutor.
To earn your MPH Master of Public Health, you’ll be required to complete four core modules, two optional modules and a research project. You can graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma by completing four core modules and two optional modules in two years, or a Postgraduate Certificate by completing three core modules in one year.
Modules
Course Details
Teaching
How you'll learn online
We use a wide range of teaching digital methods, including:
- online videos and recorded lectures;
- webinars and online discussions;
- podcasts with external experts;
- online discussion forums that enable you to post text, graphics, audio and video;
- a wide range of digital resources to download or read on screen.
All students get access to the full Office 365 suite, including Teams and access to a range of downloadable apps to improve their online learning experience.
You're expected to complete no more than one module each semester.
Assessment
Our authentic assessments are designed to help you develop the practical skills that you will need to apply in your career as a public health specialist.
You’ll be assessed using a variety of methods, including essays, short-answer exams, project plans, objective test questions, posters, presentations, policy briefs and academic journal manuscripts.
We have also developed a unique final year project module where instead of a traditional 12,000-word dissertation following your research project, our students write a draft journal article manuscript (with a real submission possible and encouraged), a policy brief and a presentation.
Classroom hours
All our modules have scheduled live online discussion sessions which typically take place in the evening (UK time). The exact day and time will vary depending on the module, but these sessions are recorded and can be viewed later.
Course director
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
| 2024/25 | 2025/26 | |
|---|---|---|
| Students from the UK and Republic of Ireland | £11,025 | £11,600 |
| International (including EU) students | £11,025 | £11,600 |
Fees shown are for a full-time, one-year Masters course.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Fees shown are for a full-time, one-year Masters course.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
If you complete this course in 36 months or less, you may be eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Scholarships and funding
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
You’ll graduate with the skills needed for a successful high-impact career as a public health professional across the public, private, voluntary, community and not-for-profit sectors.
- Increase your value to employers by expanding your public health knowledge and research skills.
- Continue your career as you study through our distance learning approach.
- Expand your knowledge and opportunities in multiple aspects of public health.
Public health roles differ in the work they focus on and in their specific job titles. Some examples of the types of roles you’ll be qualified for include:
- community health worker,
- public health or health improvement practitioner,
- health promotion specialist,
- health policy analyst or advocate,
- senior public health officer (for example, for mental wellbeing),
- behavioural insights lead,
- public health researcher or academic,
- public health intelligence analyst.
Employability skills
We offer a comprehensive employability and skills programme to help you maximise your time at University and develop the graduate attributes required by employers. We have a dedicated Faculty Employability and Skills Officer and a Careers Service that works in partnership with academic staff to ensure you get the best out of your University experience, and ensures you are given the right opportunities to make you ready for the world of work.
Students have access to advice, information and career opportunities in the UK and worldwide.
Companies we work with
This course has a multidisciplinary focus, teaching and delivering both practical skills and theoretical knowledge in collaboration with public and third sector partners such as the NHS.
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