Overview

Our Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health is an advanced qualification designed to equip busy health professionals with a recognised qualification from a top UK university while continuing to work at the same time.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health provides a deeper understanding of public health by incorporating the key topic of epidemiology.

You will build upon the essential knowledge gained from units within the Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health.

The knowledge and skills you develop in this course will help you to develop confidence in measuring and interpreting population level data, which will combine to support your ability to assess priorities, promote public health and consider the wider determinants of population health.

Funding for health professionals

Please see our tuition fee discounts and scholarships page for information on possible sources of funding.

Course structure

The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health is made up of the following modules and, upon completion, is equal to a total of 120 credits at Level 7.

Level 7 modules:

• Health Promotion (20 Credits)
• Topics in Public Health (20 Credits)
• Health Needs Assessment and Priority Setting (20 Credits)
• Epidemiology (20 Credits)*
• Advanced Practice in Healthcare (20 Credits)*
• Research Methods (20 Credits)*

* These modules are core and must be completed in order to achieve the award.

Upon completion of your PG Dip Public Health we offer the opportunity for you to progress on to study for a Master of Public Health (MPH) (180 credits)

Learning and assessment

Introduction

Studying online gives you the freedom to study when and where it suits you – at home, during your lunch hour or anywhere else you have internet access.

All of our online courses have an indicative study duration which is a guide to how long your course will take to complete. The actual duration may be longer or shorter depending on your speed of study, study options chosen and module availability. It’s possible to complete your studies faster than the indicative course duration by doubling up on modules at certain times; however, minimum study durations do apply.

All of our courses have regular start dates throughout the year. Our academic year is organised into modules, typically with a one- or two-week break between modules and a structured three-week break for the Christmas period. Students will receive a course timetable during the application process.

Teaching methods and style

As we are a 100% online university, we utilise a Virtual Learning Environment instead of a traditional campus. The system tracks and manages the learning process in real-time and provides you with immediate access to your learning materials.

This learning platform allows both students and tutors to actively take part in real-time conversations and you can listen to, and view, live lectures and seminars over the internet. All courses are delivered in English only.

You are supported throughout your course by a dedicated Student Adviser and have the opportunity to regularly interact with fellow students and your tutor. To ensure you receive the support you need from your tutor, we cap our class sizes at 20 students.

Assessment

Our Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health course includes both compulsory and optional modules, so you can tailor the content of your course to more closely fit your interests and aspirations.

We adopt an assignment-based approach to assessment instead of exams. Assessment for the course will be based on a combination of written assignments, engagement in online discussion forums and the completion of a dissertation based on an individual research project.

You will be able to see your current provisional marks from the start of the programme, allowing you to evaluate the success of your current study methods and clearly identify areas to improve. We believe that this transparency gives you the information you need to make the most of your Masters course.

We achieve this by:

• showing your marks clearly in your gradebook, which can be viewed whenever you log onto the learning platform;
• the rapid turnaround of work assessed to ensure that your gradebook is always up to date;
• assessing your work throughout the module rather than waiting for end of year exams;
• ensuring you have regular contact with your Student Adviser; and
• the simplicity and transparency in the design of our assessment criteria.

We also have a policy of ensuring that work submitted by students is authentic. As well as the fact that all work is frequently assessed, we use a well-established electronic monitoring system to check for plagiarism.

On successful completion of your Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health, you will be invited to progress onto the Master of Public Health qualification.

Career prospects

We are dedicated to improving employability amongst our graduates. Our online courses give you the opportunity to improve your career prospects and earning potential with a mix of key skills that are directly transferable to the workplace.

As an Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health graduate, you will have gained an advanced knowledge of public health theory and the methodologies behind its implementation, which will allow for further progression in your existing public health role or for entry into the industry. You will also be able to seamlessly progress onto our Master of Public Health course.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

We have flexible entry requirements that look at both your academic and work-based experience as well as your motivation to do the course. There are two entry routes onto our Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health:

1. Academic Entry Route

In order to satisfy the Academic Entry Route requirements you must have the following qualifications as a minimum:

• An undergraduate degree from an approved institution equivalent to a UK Honours degree or a relevant professional qualification.

English language proficiency should be at a level equivalent to IELTS (Academic) 6.5. If you do not hold an IELTS or equivalent qualification, we require students to pass a free online English test.

You don’t need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of, or if you have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in, any of these countries.

2. Work Experience Entry Route

We recognise that you can gain skills in a wide variety of ways and that prior academic performance is not the only indicator of an applicant’s ability. Therefore, if you do not meet the minimum academic standards above, you may still be eligible to enrol via our Work Experience Entry Route.

In order to satisfy the Work Experience Entry Route requirements you must meet the following criteria as a minimum:

• At least 5 years’ relevant senior level work experience.
• English language proficiency should be at a level equivalent to IELTS (Academic) 6.5.
• If you do not hold an IELTS or equivalent qualification, we require students to pass a free online English test.

You don’t need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of, or if you have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in, any of these countries.

Your application will be considered on an individual basis taking into account your motivation for doing the course, prior work experience, CPD and other relevant qualifications that demonstrate your ability to successfully complete the programme.

21-day money back guarantee

If you enrol on our Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health but decide that online learning isn’t for you, we will allow you to withdraw within 21 days of the start date stated on your offer letter. If you have paid an initial deposit up front, you will receive a full refund.

Related courses

• PG Cert Public Health
• Master of Public Health (MPH)