You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in Anthropology, Biology, Biomedical Science, Dentistry, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Geography, Global Health, Health Economics, Health or Social Policy, Health Services Management, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, other Allied Health professionals, Pharmacology, Physiology, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Sociology, Statistics, and Veterinary Science. This programme is also open to those successfully appointed to the Public Health training scheme in the UK; evidence to support your appointment should be included in your application.
You will also need a quantitative unit/module at a minimum of 55% or an international equivalent such as Epidemiology or Statistics. Or A-Level Mathematics Grade C or above. Or AS-level Mathematics grade B or above. Or GCSE Mathematics Grade B or above.
If you are currently completing a degree, we understand that your final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades you have achieved during your studies to date.
We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. Specific module requirements would still apply.
We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement. If your achieved grade is lower than our entry requirements, your application may be more likely to receive an offer if you have additional relevant work experience or qualifications. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing:
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
We're ranked 7th globally in the Times Higher Education subject rankings for research quality in medical and health subjects ( THE 2026), and our Department of Population Health Sciences leads the field in research methods and health protection interventions.
Our researchers are part of the Centre for Public Health at the University that works in collaboration with several prestigious funded public health research programmes, including the National Institute of Health Research's School for Public Health and Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation and Behavioural Science. We are a top 10 UK university ranked 57th globally (QS World University rankings 2027). You'll learn from researchers solving real public health challenges - from disease prevention to healthcare policy - that matter in the UK and internationally.
This programme develops your expertise across three core domains: health improvement, health protection, and healthcare services. There are six compulsory taught units. You'll study epidemiology, statistics, research methods, health economics, ethics, and policy analysis - all informed by cutting-edge research and real-world practice. The programme covers sections of the Faculty of Public Health's Diplomate Exam. Learning combines lectures, seminars and workshops giving you practical experience from day one.
This is a campus-based course, with face-to-face teaching supplemented by learning directed by tutors done at your own pace (asynchronous teaching). Teaching is structured in two teaching blocks (September to December and January to April). Teaching is delivered by academics leading research in the field and colleagues from UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), National Health Service (NHS) and Local Government actively working in public health roles.
For your dissertation you will undertake an independent research project supervised by world leading academics, chosen by you, in the final term and over the summer. Your research project can take the form of quantitative analysis of previously collected data (either applied or methods development), an evidence synthesis project or qualitative study. You will write this up as a journal article and can choose whether to take this further to publish your work as a peer-reviewed publication.
All taught units are compulsory, as is the dissertation.
Visit our programme catalogue for full details of the structure and unit content for our MSc in Public Health.