Gain an enhanced public health qualification, ideal for those pursuing an academic career in the field, or for those preparing to sit the Part A of the Membership of the Faculty of Public Health (UK) examination.
Shape your future in the practice of public health at Birmingham. Take our MPH (Statement of Extra Accredited Learning), a qualification sought after by employers in the field, and demonstrate a wider competency range in the subject. The course offers practicing public health clinicians and those in senior management roles in health services more in-depth knowledge of the subject.
I thoroughly enjoyed the MPH at Birmingham and found the course really fascinating. I would recommend it to anyone considering a highly rewarding career in public health.
The MPH SEAL course is available for part-time study only. You’ll study compulsory modules, then choose from a wide range of optional modules. Along with a 60-credit dissertation, you’ll complete 170 credits of taught modules as opposed to the usual 120 credits taken on an MPH.
This course begins with a non-assessed Introductory Week ensuring you have a firm grasp of key concepts in public and population health. Further modules will provide you with a detailed understanding of applied health research methods (including health economics), develop your quantitative skills, and apply these to health service planning and evaluation. There is also the opportunity to learn about the principles of global health and decide on your dissertation project with support from supervisors and the programme team.
Covering all main domains of public health, as well as the theoretical underpinnings of current practice, this course will cover the subject in the depth you need to gain a higher level of professional qualification in this area. You’ll cover most aspects of population health including epidemiology, statistics, health economics, and health service management. The one-week blocks of intensive teaching will give you the benefit of both the expertise of our teaching staff as well as that of your peers who come from a wide range of backgrounds and workplaces.
Gain an internationally recognised qualification that will equip you with a broad range of skills that are invaluable for anyone working in or aspiring to work in the public health field.
The University of Birmingham is also ranked as the first choice for leading graduate employers in the UK.
Well-established programme that has been training public and global health specialists, practitioners and researchers for over 25 years.
in the world for Life Sciences and Medicine
QS World Rankings, 2025
Learn from world-leading academics and researchers.
We are creating a new generation of innovative professionals ready to play their role in advancing modern cutting-edge healthcare.
You’ll learn from world-leading academics and researchers, as well as from your peers on the course. From the outset, you’ll be encouraged to become an independent and self-motivated learner. Our Public Health (Statement of Extra Accredited Learning) MPH course includes a wide variety of learning and teaching:
The course is taught in one-week blocks to fit around your other commitments.
You’ll have access to a comprehensive support system that will assist and encourage you, including personal tutors and welfare tutors who can help with both academic and welfare issues.
Masters students on the SEAL programme will complete at least nine core and optional modules, totalling 170 credits, and will undertake a 60 credit dissertation. You can also transfer to the Statement of Extra Accredited Learning programme from the standard MPH or Diploma programme based appropriate performance.
The modules listed below are an indication only and may be subject to change. Occasionally, it may be necessary to make changes to modules, for example, to ensure they remain current and relevant.
As a research-intensive University, our teaching is informed by the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff. For more information on the circumstances in which the University may need to make changes to modules, please refer to the Terms and Conditions for applicants.
2025/26 Session
The following must be taken:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Health Information and Health Informatics | 10 | Semester 2 |
| Practical Epidemiology and Statistics | 20 | Semester 1 |
| Dissertation (Master of Public Health/Health Research Methods) | 60 | Full Term |
| Epidemiology, Statistics and Research Methods | 20 | Semester 1 |
Choose 30 credits worth of modules from the following:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Health Economics | 10 | Semester 1 |
| Introduction to Leadership and Management for Health | 10 | Semester 2 |
| Building Foundations for Primary Care Team Effectiveness | 20 | Semester 1 |
| Global Health | 10 | Semester 1 |
| Health Improvement | 20 | Semester 2 |
| Healthcare Public Health | 10 | Semester 1 |
| Principles of the Delivery of Primary Health Care | 20 | Semester 1 |
| Principles of Health Technology Assessment | 10 | Semester 2 |
| Sociology and Social Policy | 10 | Semester 2 |
Select 90 credits worth of modules. Acceptance for some modules in this list is dependent on modules selected from the other list. Students can choose modules not already chosen in the other list.
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Statistical Methods | 10 | Semester 2 |
| Clinical Trials | 20 | Semester 2 |
| Further Global Health | 20 | Semester 2 |
| Health System Policy, Planning and Programming in Global Health | 20 | Semester 2 |
| Qualitative Research Methods | 20 | Semester 2 |
| Systematic Reviews and Evidence Synthesis | 20 | Semester 1 |
In addition students may also take 20 credits of modules offered by the Department of Applied Health Sciences, subject to availability, timetable constraints and approval of the module and programme leader.
To gain a place at Birmingham you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.
This course is open to those with a 2:1 Honours degree in any subject of relevance to public health; this includes most biological sciences but also most clinical, life sciences, and other quantitative degrees relevant to the practice of public health. This also includes geography, sociology, economics, psychology, and many other relevant first degrees.
If you're unsure about your suitability for the course, please get in touch with us at mph@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
Please note that applications are considered as they are received throughout the year with places awarded to candidates meeting the entry requirements on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
For international students, there is an English language requirement to have an IELTS score of 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band.
If you are made an offer of a place to study and you do not already meet the language requirement, you have the option to enrol on our English for Academic Purposes Presessional Course. If you successfully complete this, you’ll be able to fulfil the language requirement without needing to take a further qualification.
Part-time. This programme consists of 230 credits in total. The programme is charged per credit to allow for students taking between 2-5 years to complete their studies.
International applicants will need to pay a £2,000 non-refundable deposit to secure their place to study on a public health programme. The deposit is deducted from the fee balance when students join the course.
Home students will need to pay a £500 non-refundable deposit to secure their place to study on a public health programme. The deposit is deducted from the fee balance when students join the course.
To help with the cost of studies, this loan is available to all UK students. You can use this loan towards fees, maintenance or other costs at your own discretion. It’s available for all full-time, part-time and distance learning Masters programmes, as long as you don’t already have a Masters qualification (or equivalent).If you’re a student from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can apply for Masters loans from your country’s government.
To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.
We want to welcome the brightest talent to our postgraduate community. That’s why our Birmingham Masters Scholarships award £3,000 to more than 300 students each year.
To apply for a postgraduate programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online.
Select whether you are a UK student or an international student for relevant application deadlines.
Application deadline for UK and non-tier 4 applicants. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full. Early applications are encouraged.
Find out how to apply to our postgraduate taught programmes. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.
If you have a question about our admissions process, including how to apply, your offer and how to track your application, please visit our admissions portal.
We are creating a new generation of innovative professionals ready to be part of advancing modern cutting-edge healthcare. The course is suited to both practising and future public health professionals, leading to and furthering careers in planning and commissioning in health services and life sciences industries, where knowledge of population health and research methods is highly valued.
Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.
Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.
Find out why we are the most targeted UK university by top graduate employers (High Fliers report, The Graduate Market 2024) by meeting some of our successful alumni.
