Public Health

We designed this Master of Public Health (MPH) programme 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.

Please note this is the campus-based Master of Public Health. If you wish to apply for the online version of the MPH programme please see our Online MPH page.

MPH Pathways

The Master 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
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
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)
EH6157 Qualitative Research in Public Health (Online) (5 Credits)
EH6132 Health Economics for Public Health (5 credits)
EH6154 Contemporary Perspectives of 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)
EH6046　Global and Environmental 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.

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

All applicants 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.

Closing Date Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.

1 year full-time.

Start Date 9 September 2024

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.