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Queen's University Belfast

Public Health

Overview
A MPH is an internationally recognised qualification opening up many employment opportunities throughout the world.

The course equips students with the knowledge and skills base to pursue a career in public health or other health-related leadership roles.

The curriculum for the MPH at Queen's is aligned very closely to the syllabus for the professional exams for the UK Faculty of Public Health.

The MPH is designed to introduce students to:
The 'science' of public health practice: a robust, systematic and evidence-based approach to define and understand population health issues and problems.

The 'art' of public health practice - interpersonal and organisational skills to work in partnership with others; influence decisions; support implementation of policy, programmes or interventions; and effect real change. It aims to identify optimal solutions for health gain within available resources.

Entry requirements

Entrance requirements
Graduate
A 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in a health-related subject is required. Evidence of equivalent professional qualifications (MBBS, BDS or BVSc) or experience will be considered on an individual basis.

Intercalating Applicants

QUB
Intercalating medical and dental students within QUB will also be considered if they have successfully completed the 3rd/4th year of their course at first attempt and achieved at least an upper second class honours standard. Intercalating applicants should also ensure they have permission to intercalate from either the Director for Medical Education or Dentistry as appropriate.

External
An external medical or dental student wishing to intercalate must be ranked in the top half of their year cohort to have their application considered. Applicants must have passed all assessments at first attempt for the year in which they are applying (normally 3rd or 4th year).

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

•Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level

•Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

Duration

1 year full-time.

Learning and Teaching
Introduction
Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:

At Queen's, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable student to achieve their full academic potential.

On this course we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners.

Classes are held four days per week in the morning and afternoons through a combination of course lectures, practical experiences and self-directed study to enhance employability

Careers or further progression

Career Prospects
Introduction
MPH graduates will have the skills and knowledge foundation to pursue public health career opportunities in the health and social care sector, health-related non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and recent graduates currently work in these roles for organisations such as Medair, Save the Children, HSC and the Department of Health in Pennsylvania.

Further enquiries

Professor Ciaran O'Neill
Professor, Honorary Professor
School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences - Professor
Ciaran.ONeill@qub.ac.uk
ciaran.oneill@nuigalway.ie
Phone: +44 (0)28 9097 8928

Subjects taught

Course Structure
Introduction
This MPH comprises two taught semesters plus one research-based component. Semesters 1 and 2 involve a mixture of formal lectures, tutorials and group work and Semester 3 focuses on the dissertation. Programme content is based on the Diploma (part A) Examination Syllabus for Membership of the UK Faulty of Public Health.

Semester 1 modules
Introduce core concepts, methodologies and approaches, with an emphasis on critical thinking and the application of new knowledge:

Public Health Sciences (25 CATS)

This module discusses the collection of demographic data, demographic analysis techniques and health effects of population characteristics. It also demonstrates understanding of epidemiological concepts and methodologies, and the appropriate interpretation of descriptive and analytic epidemiological study findings. The basic principles of theory and practice in qualitative health research are discussed and critical assessment and appropriate interpretation of published health evidence demonstrated.

Determinants & Improvement of Health (15 CATS)

This module explores the factors that underlie health and disease and will examine variations and inequalities in health; lifestyles and behaviours that impact on health and how our social and physical environment impacts on health. Students will also be given an introduction to health promotion and the planning of health improvement programmes.

Medical Statistics (20 CATS)

This module examines how to formulate research problems in statistical terms, to design informative experiments, to apply appropriate statistical methods and to correctly interpret results. The module provides the skills necessary for the planning and execution of research projects using quantitative techniques to develop evidence.

Semester 2 modules
Focus on public health practice within the three principal domains/modules:

Health & Social Care Systems (20 CATS)

This module discusses how health systems can be strengthened and covers the application of a public health approach and perspective to the assessment of the health needs of the population and planning, commissioning and delivery of high quality evidence based health and social care services and population screening programmes.

Health Protection (20 CATS)

This module examines the role and functions of health protection bodies, how they identify communicable disease incidents, collect baseline data, assess risk and develop appropriate responses. It allows the student to develop skills in outbreak investigation and management, to demonstrate a systematic approach to environmental hazard risk assessment, investigation and communication for a defined population and how to apply the general principle of integrated emergency management.

Public Health Skills in Practice (20 CATS)

This module uses a systems approach to examine health and social care service provision, exploring issues of prioritisation, funding strategic planning. It discusses the application of frameworks for the measurement and assessment of service quality and examines individual and organizational accountability and systems of governance to safeguard quality as well as exploring frameworks for managing change.

Semester 3
Students are also required to complete an appropriate, discrete, academic or service public health dissertation project to integrate and apply public health-related knowledge and skills. There may be opportunities to work with local public health organisations.

Comment

Public Health highlights
There has been a Medical School at Queen's University Belfast since 1849

World Class Facilities
•In collaboration with the Institute of Public Health in Ireland and other key local stakeholders, Queen's hosts one of five UKCRC Public Health Research Centres of Excellence to encourage multidisciplinary working and increase capacity to address complex population-level health issues.

Student Experience
•One of our strengths is the small class size (typically around 30 students per year) which enables very close liaison between staff and students. You will be based in the Centre of Excellence for Public Health, Northern Ireland, which is one of five UKCRC Public Health Research Centres of Excellence in the UK, and you will be taught and mentored by world-class researchers.

•You will be exposed to a wide range of public health leaders and practitioners who are working in the field of Public Health, making real changes to benefit the health of populations.

Assessment method

Assessment is by a variety of methods including written examination, written assignments and oral presentations. A 10-15,000 word dissertation is required.