Public Health

Course Outline
We designed this Master of Public Health (MPH) in order to meet the increasing demand for highly trained public health specialists in Ireland and abroad. This highly regarded programme will prepare you to investigate, evaluate and address public health challenges, whatever your professional background.

On graduation you will be equipped with the core knowledge and specialised skills necessary to make a real difference in public health. This is a full-time and structured programme, delivered over 12 months.

MPH Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

Critically analyse theories and issues related to public health;

Construct arguments around the social, political and economic factors determining the health of populations;

Demonstrate competence in the key underpinning disciplines and theories of public health including epidemiology, communicable diseases including healthcare-associated infections, biostatistics, social and behavioural sciences and social policy;

Analyse and synthesise evidence and apply it to public health;

Demonstrate enhanced knowledge in the chosen specialist pathway (health protection, health promotion, epidemiology and biostatistics);

Demonstrate logical reasoning in written work and discussion;

Employ a range of appropriate research and analysis methods with confidence and correct interpretation;

Critically reflect on their own and others' learning and practice.

Demonstrate their culminating experience in the form of a minor Dissertation.

Why Choose This Course
The MPH is a multi-disciplinary course where you can specialise in health promotion, health protection or advanced epidemiology. The course offers both quantitative and qualitative research methods and you can apply this knowledge to your dissertation. Our modules are developed and taught by a dedicated team of staff, who are experts in a variety of public health areas. Students will experience a wide range of teaching styles: classroom-based, limited field work, and lab sessions.

Connected Curriculum
Our learning approach reflects our commitment to the Connected Curriculum where we emphasise the connection between students, learning, research and leadership through our vision for a Connected University. Our staff are at the forefront of this integrative approach to learning and will support you in making meaningful connections within and between topics such as healthcare, science, the environment, management and leadership.

Research Projects
At the School of Public Health we are involved in major national research projects, including focusing on nutritional epidemiology, looking at causes and prevention of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease, tobacco control and health services research. Most recently we were awarded significant funding to research the impact Covid-19 public health measures have had on the people of Ireland.

MPH Pathways
The Masters of Public Health (MPH) course is full-time and delivered over 12 months. Lectures take place on Thursdays (3pm to 9pm) and on Fridays (9am to 5pm). The programme allows students to specialise in one of three specific pathways as follows:

Health promotion
Health protection
Epidemiology & Biostatistics:

Health promotion
Health protection
Epidemiology

In Part I students take core modules to the value of 45 credits and modules to the value of 25 credits from their chosen pathway.

In Part II students undertake research and write a dissertation to the value of 20 credits. In total students take 90 credits comprised from Part I and Part II.

Part I
Core Modules - All Pathways (45 credits)

EH6025 Principles and Practice of Public Health (10 credits)
EH6026 Applied Research for Public Health (10 credits
EH6027 Public Health Informatics (5 credits)
EH6028 Leadership in Public Health (5 credits)
EH6091 Graduate Information Literacy Skills (5 credits)
EH6132 Health Economics for Public Health (5 credits)
EH6154 International Perspectives on Global Health (5 credits)

Pathway 1: Health Promotion (25 credits)
EH6029?Health Promotion: Concepts, Principles and Practice (10 credits)
EH6039?Public Health and Behavioural Change (5 credits)
EH6044?Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (5 credits)

plus 5 credits from either of the following:
EH6046?Global and Environmental Health (5 credits)
SS6017?Critical Public Health (5 credits)

Pathway 2: Health Protection (25 credits)
EH6019 The Principles and Practice of Multi-disciplinary Health Protection (10 credits)
EH6046 Global and Environmental Health (5 credits)
MB6009 Principles of Microbiology (online)
EH6044 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (5 credits)

Pathway 3: Epidemiology & Biostatistics (25 credits)
EH6031 Advanced Epidemiology (10 credits)
EH6044 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (5 credits)
ST6011 Advanced Biostatistics (5 credits)
ST6012 Survival Analysis (5 credits)

Students move to Part II (dissertation) on successful completion of Part I (taught modules).

Part II
All Pathways
EH6143 Minor Dissertation in Public Health (20 credits)

Exemptions at point of entry
Applicants may be eligible for exemptions. If eligible, the relevant exemption paperwork must be completed immediately upon entering the programme. This application will be reviewed by the School of Public Health's Executive Committee. Please request an application form from the programme administrator.

Holders of UCC's Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection or UCC's Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health will be exempt from certain modules on the programme if he/she undertakes the MPH within five years from the date of award of UCC's Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection or UCC's Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health.

Holders of UCC's BSc in Public Health, or UCC's BSc Public Health Sciences will be exempt from EH6025 (Principles and Practice of Public Health) if he/she undertakes the MPH within five years from the date of award of one of the above-mentioned courses.

Please see our University Calendar (MPH) page for detailed information on this programme.

Modules
Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our book of modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.

University Calendar
You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.

Requirements
All applicants will be required to write a 500-word statement demonstrating suitability to undertake a Master of Public Health.

All candidates are required to meet one of the following:

- Possess a minimum Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ Level 8) in a relevant subject area Or

- Possess a minimum Second Class Honours Grade I in a postgraduate diploma (NFQ Level 9) in a relevant subject area.

Relevant subject areas are Biological Sciences, Medical and Health Sciences, Public Health and Social Sciences.

Note: In some circumstances, applicants without a primary degree or applicants without a relevant primary degree may be recommended for entry to the programme under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) following a review of their individual qualifications and experience by the course committee. Such applicants may be called for an interview, and their admission will be subject to the School of Public Health's Executive Committee's approval.

English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university approved English language requirements available here.

For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements, please find our grades comparison by country here.

International/non-EU applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure please visit our how to apply pages for international students. In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above.

For more information please contact the International Office.

How Do I Apply

1. Choose Course
Firstly choose your course. Applicants can apply for up to two courses under one application. Details of taught courses are available on our online prospectus.

2. Apply Online
Once you have chosen your course you can apply online at the online application portal. Applicants will need to apply before the course closing date. There is a non-refundable €50 application fee for all courses apart from the Education - Professional Master of Education - (Secondary School/Post-Primary Teacher Training) which has a €100 application fee.

Applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Nursing must apply on the PAC website when the programme opens for applications.

3. Gather Supporting Documents
Scanned copies of the following documents will need to be uploaded to the online application portal in support of your application. Applicants may need to produce the original documents if you are accepted onto a course and register at UCC.

- Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC

- Any supplementary items requested for your course.

Please log into the online application portal for more details.

4. Application processing timeline
Our online application portal opens for applications for most courses in early November of each year. Check specific course details.

5. Rounds
For courses that are in the rounds system (Irish and EU applicants), please check the rounds closing dates.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. We strongly encourage you to complete these sections with all relevant information to support your application. This will include the following requests for additional information:

You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held.

In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning, and professional training relevant to this programme.

Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
Deposit

Please note that successful EU applicants will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of €500 on acceptance of their place.

The closing date for non-EU applications is 15 June.

1 year full-time.

Additional Teaching Mode Information
Teaching is held on Thursdays and Fridays.

Skills and Careers Information
Our graduates are currently employed in a range of careers in Ireland, Europe and in other developed and developing countries in diverse public health roles including health services, public health research, surveillance, environmental health and public health agencies.