Public Health - Statement of Extra Accredited Learning (SEAL) MPH

Duration
2 years part-time up to 5 years flexible
Course Type
Postgraduate, Taught
Fees

Tuition fee for 2025/26:
UK: £10,900
International: £31,390

More details

Master in Public Health

This programme will provide you with an enhanced preparation for continuing academic study in public health or Part A of the Membership of the Faculty of Public Health (UK) examination.

A wider range of skills and expertise than can be covered in the standard Master in Public Health (MPH) is often requested by employers and individuals who want to be knowledgeable about a wider range of topic areas.

This programme therefore provides a broader version of the current MPH programme. Along with a 60-credit dissertation, you will complete 170 credits of taught modules as opposed to the usual 120 credits of the MPH. By being formally assessed and accredited in more modules, the MPH (Statement of Extra Accredited Learning) allows you to demonstrate your wider competency range.

As well as practising clinicians, the course may be of considerable value for you if you are involved (or thinking about becoming involved) in senior management in health services, as it covers most aspects of population health including epidemiology, statistics, health economics and health service management. Its modular nature allows you the flexibility to shape the programme to fit your needs.

Scholarships for 2024 entry

The University of Birmingham is proud to offer a range of scholarships for our postgraduate programmes. With a scholarship pot worth over £2 million, we are committed to alleviating financial barriers to support you in taking your next steps.

Each scholarship has its own specific deadlines and eligibility criteria. Please familiarise yourself with the information on individual scholarship webpages prior to submitting an application.

Explore our scholarships

Please note, the MPH (Statement of Extra Accredited Learning) is only available for part-time study. 

We also offer the following Public Health programmes:

  • The Master in Public Health, designed to provide academic training to professionals currently working in, or who wish to work in, the public health field.
  • The MPH (Global Health), programme which is aimed at professionals already working in low- and middle-income countries or those aiming to work in this area. The course is an exit qualification of the MPH. 

Why study this course?

Our programme is an internationally recognised qualification in Public Health. It will equip you with a broad range of skills that are invaluable for:

  • planning, management and evaluation of health services, for disease prevention, health protection and for health promotion.
  • developing your career in a wide range of professional settings, both within and outside Public Health and Epidemiology

The course also covers many of the areas necessary for sitting the Part A examination of the Faculty of Public Health.

Modules

Core modules

Introduction to Public Health (not assessed)
Epidemiology Statistics and Research Methods (20 credits)
Practical Epidemiology and Statistics* (20 credits)
Health Information and Health Informatics* (10 credits)

Option modules (Tier 2)

You will choose four modules from the list below:

Health Economics* (10 credits)
Introduction to Leadership and Management in Health* (10 credits)
Healthcare Public Health (10 credits)
Health Protection* (20 credits)
Sociology and Social Policy* (10 credits)
Health Improvement* (20 credits)
Global Health* (10 credits)

Option modules (Tier 3)

You choose modules to a total of 90 credits from the list below or any other Tier 2 module not already claimed:

Systematic Reviews and Evidence Synthesis* (20 credits)
Qualitative Research Methods* (20 credits)
Clinical Trials (MPH)* (20 credits)
Advanced Statistical Methods* (10 credits)
Further Global Health* (20 credits)
Principles of the Delivery of Primary Health Care (20 credits)
Building Foundations for Primary Care Team Effectiveness (20 credits) 

*These modules are available on a stand-alone basis. For more details click on the module title.

Fees

2025/26

MPH

UK: £10,900
International: £31,390

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.

Learn more about fees and funding.

 

Postgraduate Loans for Masters students

As a UK resident you can apply for a government loan for postgraduate Masters study. This is a contribution towards the costs of study and whether the loan is used towards fees, maintenance or other costs will be at the discretion of the student.

Find out more about the Postgraduate Loan

How To Apply

How to apply for our taught postgraduate programmes

Application deadlines

The deadline for international students (including EU) to apply is 26 July 2024. The deadline for UK students is 30 August 2024.

Making your application

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

This programme is open to those with a good first degree in any subject of relevance to public health; this includes most biological sciences but also most clinical, life sciences and other quantitative degree programmes relevant to the practice of public health.  This also includes geography, sociology, economics, psychology, and many other relevant first degrees.

Applications are also welcome from UK medical students who wish to intercalate. For the diploma, applications are also accepted from those with a relevant professional qualification or sufficient Public Health experience at the appropriate level without a primary degree, e.g. registered nurses. If you are unsure about your suitability for the programme, please get in touch with us at mph@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Please note:

  • 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
  • Learn more about entry requirements

International Requirements



International Students

Academic requirements

We accept a range of qualifications, our country pages show you what qualifications we accept from your country.

English language requirements

You can satisfy our English language requirements in two ways:

English to IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component).

If you need help with your English language skills then support is available.

The English for Academic Purposes Presessional course is for international students who have a conditional offer to study at the University, but who do not currently meet the English language requirements. The course is tailored to your level of English and allows you to meet the English language requirements for your programme without retaking IELTS. The EAP programme runs throughout the year and offers different programme lengths ranging from 42 weeks to 6 weeks. The length of course you need depends on your future course, your existing IELTS score and the English level you need for your university degree.

Find out more about the English for Academic Purposes Presessional course.

As a Birmingham student, you will be joining the academic elite and will have the privilege of learning from world-leading experts, as well as your peers. From the outset you will be encouraged to become an independent and self-motivated learner. We want you to be challenged and will encourage you to think for yourself.

We have two teaching terms per year, the autumn term and spring term. Term dates can be found on our website.

As a part-time student, you will typically take three modules in each term, followed by a dissertation. Depending on the modules you take, you can typically expect six to nine hours of classroom time per week, two or three per module. If you are a part-time student, you will typically take three modules across each year, followed by a dissertation.

Each module represents a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework and assignment preparation.

Teaching takes place in one-week blocks, and you will participate in a range of teaching styles such as lectures, small group tutorials, presentations, peer group learning, self-study etc.

You will 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.

Assessment Methods

Assessment is via a mixture of examination and assignment. If a module is assessed by assignment you will usually have approx 4-5 weeks to complete it after the module has finished. If a module is assessed by examination these will take place at the end of May except for the module 'Epidemiology Statistics and Research Methods' which takes place before Christmas.

MPH Students complete their Master's degree by also undertaking a research project and writing a 10,000 word dissertation. This provides an opportunity to pursue a specific area of public health in depth, and to demonstrate the knowledge and skills acquired during the taught part of the course. It is therefore undertaken only once the taught part of the course has been successfully completed.

The MPH (SEAL) will involve more intensive studying, and therefore is only available to study part-time due to the increased credit load. 

Careers Support for Postgraduate Students

Careers Network – We can help you get ahead in the job market and develop your career

We recognise that as a postgraduate student you are likely to have specific requirements when it comes to planning for your next career step. Employers expect postgraduates to have a range of skills that exceed their subject knowledge. Careers Network offers a range of events and support services that are designed for all students, including postgraduates looking to find their niche in the job market. The Careers Network also have subject specific careers consultants and advisers for each College so you can be assured the information you receive will be relevant to your subject area. For more information visit the Careers Network website.