Global Public Health MSc

Postgraduate

Group of people having a conversation at a table

The Global Public Health MSc offers you the opportunity to engage in both the foundations and global context of public health through current examples and anthropological perspectives.

Year of entry

2024-25 2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time

Course code

HLST302

Start date

January 2025

How to apply

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Course overview

Public health is everybody’s business. This course engages with a global context and cultural analysis of health to equip you with the skills to be future public health leaders.

The course aims to:

provide a substantive knowledge of key public health perspectives
offer a global perspective on public health phenomenon
support your learning with topical global case studies.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 11th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

study key public health principles
contemporary examples will be employed
opportunity to engage with the medical anthropology perspective
debate current public health dilemmas
analyse large-scale public health incident responses.

Accreditation and professional recognition

The degree is accredited¹ and recognised by the following bodies:

Chartered Management Institute

This course includes a 10-credit module accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) - Leading and Creating Organisational Health and Wellbeing. Students who successfully complete the module and meet the CMI learning outcomes will gain a Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice.

What you'll study

This master’s course will prepare students to become the public health leaders of tomorrow. Through the acquisition of key skills and knowledge, you will engage in a wide range of perspectives to build a well-rounded understanding of global public health.

Topics will include epidemiology, medical anthropology and the use of evidence to inform wider discussion on social determinants, emerging issues and managing complex incidents. Through a dissertation, you will consolidate your learning in an area of your interest.

Modules

Understanding Epidemiology in a Global Context – 20 credits

This module aims to provide a grounding in the key principles and application of epidemiology within a global context. You will be asked to apply epidemiological thinking to a range of practical examples, forefronting the science of interpretation to allow evidence-informed decisions to be made. This module also aims to give those new to public health a grounding in the key principles of the discipline.

Compulsory

Thinking Critically for a Global Context – 20 credits

This module aims to support you to think analytically and build key study skills. This will enable you to cognitively engage with the complexities of evidence and consider critically how literature can be assessed, rigorously analysed and used in combination to enable understanding. This critical understanding will allow you to develop a set of high-level skills and the confidence to deploy them in both an academic and work context to make informed decisions within a global public health context.

Compulsory

Medical Anthropology – 20 credits

This module aims to introduce fundamental anthropological ways of thinking and their application within a global public health context. Principles of social and medical anthropology will be applied to the analysis of current issues in global public health to identify the value of anthropological ways of thinking in public health. This will form the basis of conversations that run through the rest of the course.

Compulsory

Emergency Response and Preparedness in Global Public Health – 20 credits

This module aims to help you to build leadership skills alongside the ability to think analytically in complex and rapidly changing situations. By considering a range of global public health case studies, you will critique examples of emergency response and propose your own solutions to complex situations within the scope of global public health.

Compulsory

Contemporary Issues in Global Public Health – 20 credits

Social Determinants of Global Public Health – 20 credits

This module aims to discuss a range of social determinants of global public health. Health inequalities will sit at the centre of this module and will frame the analysis that you will engage with. A range of global examples will be employed to consider the impact of social determinants locally and globally. This will allow you to consider the nature of global public health.

Compulsory

Leading and Creating Organisation Health and Wellbeing – 10 credits

This module aims to provide you with a framework of knowledge and understanding of how to effectively lead and develop people in organisations for better health and wellbeing using a range of approaches. You will explore, for example, the influence and impact of leadership theories, culture and the impact of health and wellbeing on organisational performance in different types of organisational scenarios. You will appraise contemporary approaches for the creation of healthy work systems with emphasis placed upon modern-day methods and the role and skills of leaders in coaching and mentoring.

Compulsory

Dissertation – 50 credits

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

This course involves a combination of face-to-face sessions and self-directed study. The face-to-face sessions will be delivered as a mix of lectures, seminars and workshops to mirror a real-world environment and suit the material being discussed. You will be encouraged to engage in additional material provided via the virtual learning environment (VLE), as well as look beyond the course materials to develop the competencies and independent intellectual confidence expected at master’s level. When available, opportunities to engage in a broad range of public health issues through simulation activities may be offered.

This course includes innovative modules which will allow you to engage in up-to-date topical issues in global public health and respond both individually and in groups to challenging scenarios supported by interactive and discursive pedagogic approaches.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time student, the number of full-time contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 10-12 contact hours per week in the first and second semesters, dropping to around 8 contact hours per week in the third semester as you become a more independent learner.

Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 25 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.

The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

open book tests
essays
group work
presentations
reports
projects
coursework
exams
individual assignments.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

Students will need a minimum of a 2:2 or higher in a social science related undergraduate degree with an interest in public health or an equivalent appropriate qualification that includes substantial public health content.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

Students will need a minimum of a 2:2 or higher in a social science-related undergraduate degree with an interest in public health or an equivalent appropriate qualification that includes substantial public health content.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 (with at least 6.0 in each component area)

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Fees and funding

2024/25 tuition fees.

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£11,200	Not available
EU	£11,200 per year with EU Support Bursary £18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£18,600	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

The master’s degree will be delivered at Coventry University main campus.

Our multi-million-pound Alison Gingell Building features a range of mock healthcare settings, including hospital wards, ambulance, therapy suites and community houses, allowing you to replicate real-life situations.

Students working in Allison Gingell building facilities

Alison Gingell Building

Get hands-on experience simulating real-life situations with our therapy suites, community houses and other real-life environments.

Students and a tutor with a manikin in the hospital ward

Mock Hospital Wards

Our mock hospital wards and critical care settings give you the chance to experience patient scenarios in a real-world environment.

Community Houses

Our two full-size community homes can be used for sessions simulating working with patients outside of a hospital setting.

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion of this course, you will have knowledge of key global public health phenomena and a comprehensive understanding of related contemporary issues. You may wish to continue to further academic study within this field.

Further study

You could continue to PhD study within a related area.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online.

Full-time applications

Part-time applications

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

International students

Full-time international students should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degree view our International hub.

You can also download our International guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

applications.io@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.