Public Health and Community Studies BA (Hons)
Study level: UndergraduateHNC/HND courses
Public health is considered the science and art of promoting and protecting health and wellbeing, preventing ill-health and prolonging life through the organised efforts of society.
Course option
Year of entry
Location
CU London (Dagenham, London)
Study mode
Full-time
Sandwich
Duration
4 years sandwich
3 year - Degree
2 year - HND
1 year - HNC
UCAS codes
LL45 / 5KLL / 54LL
Start date
September 2025
November 2025
January 2026
March 2026
May 2026
June 2026
Course overview
The Public Health and Community Studies BA (Hons) course aims to provide you with the underpinning theoretical knowledge, professional expertise and work-based learning relevant to work within public health, and healthcare initiatives at the local, national and international levels.
Throughout the course, you will address health inequalities, as well as analyse government initiatives. You can expect to explore how social factors and institutions are constructed and represented, and their implications on everyday life. You’ll explore the skills, behaviours and techniques of effective management and the role of leadership in relation to business themes. Additionally, you can expect to develop your skills in decision-making and information management.
Why you should study this course
You should study this course if you want:
- visits, activities and collaborations that expose you to a variety of local services and community projects, with support to access voluntary placements if desired2
- opportunities for learning outside the classroom and an approach to teaching that includes applying your learning
- a diverse and contemporary curriculum that covers a wide range of public health services and community projects, with the potential to lead to local employability options
- a diverse team of experienced tutors with backgrounds in health care, social care, public health and community work.
How can we help?
Chat with an advisor now or leave a message and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
What you'll study
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 is available as a full-time three-year or optional four-year sandwich course, the latter incorporating a work placement or study year in a related field2.
Our teaching methods are varied, so in addition to lectures, we also utilise a blended learning approach, including online aspects, workshops and group work. We also operate an open-door policy, with additional availability via email and our online learning platform, Aula.
Progression through the modules develops knowledge and skills, including communication (written and oral), study skills, research methods, project management, presentation and career development. We will also encourage you to consider your employability and/or entrepreneurial development.
Unlike traditional institutions, there are no-end-of year exams. Instead, learning is assessed through coursework and phase tests, which is more reflective of our learning model.
Teaching contact hours
You can expect up to 20 hours of learning activities per week of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, online classes and independent learning.
Additionally, you will be expected to undertake up to 30 hours of self-directed study, depending on the demands of individual modules.
The learning outcomes of modules, assignments and projects will be clearly stated. Your work will be marked according to how well you achieve these learning outcomes and your final feedback will refer to each outcome, as well as providing an overall percentage grade.
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
The learning outcomes of modules, assignments and projects will be clearly stated. Your work will be marked according to how well you achieve these learning outcomes and your final feedback will refer to each outcome, as well as providing an overall percentage grade.
Assessment methods vary and may include practical class and project performance, written practical reports, project thesis, oral presentations, tutorial tasks and assessments.
Breakdown of final grade assessment (subject to change):
- Coursework
- Assessments
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.
International experience opportunities
Students may have the opportunity to engage with Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects, including online seminars, lectures, and network with students and course leaders in universities across the world2. COIL projects may also be with charities.
Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements are therefore not guaranteed2.
Entry requirements
Typical entry requirements:
Fees and funding
Student | Full-time | Part-time |
---|---|---|
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man | 2025/26 fees TBC* 2024/25 fees-£7,950 per year |
Not available |
EU | 2025/26 fees TBC 2024/25 fees - as UK per year with EU support bursary** 2025/26 fees TBC* 2024/25 fees -£18,300 per year without EU support bursary** |
Not available |
International | 2025/26 fees TBC* 2024/25 fees -£18,300 per year |
Not available |
If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 of £1,250 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year.
For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our undergraduate finance page and see the university’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.
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 permits 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.
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.
The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:
- Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
- Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).
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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 government's 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
CU London Dagenham campus is in the Civic Centre building and is easily accessible by road, bus and rail. Facilities include:
- classrooms with interactive teaching capabilities
- comprehensive library and learning services
- study areas, laptops/open-access computers and social spaces
- student support and careers advice teams.
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.
Careers and opportunities
With a growing demand for skilled health professionals, graduates of the Public Health and Community Studies BA (Hons) degree have an expansive list of career paths to explore. On successful completion, you will be able to:
- demonstrate understanding and knowledge of the theoretical, analytical and practical aspects of legislation, strategies and policies within a changing environment, to meet stakeholder interests
- critically appraise theories related to the development of a health promotion strategy, considering social determinants that could influence the effectiveness
- develop appropriate research and analysis techniques, alongside the ability to undertake reliable market research activities
- operate, lead and collaborate in a team to solve problems of a practical (experimental) nature and to provide appropriate solutions
- apply appropriate presentation and evaluation tools to establish the significance of research data produced.
While the majority of graduates go directly into a public health profession, others have chosen to study further in the field, with several students undertaking a master’s degree in subjects such as Public Health and Nutrition, International Business Management and Social Policy.
Where our graduates work
There are a variety of career paths you could choose to take after completing this degree. Graduates have gone on to work successfully in following careers:
- Briefing Advisor (higher executive officer) with the parliamentary and public accountability team within UKHSA
- Digital Care Coordinator for Primary Care network
- Independence Advisor
- Programme Leader, FE
- Addiction Support Worker
- Community Support Officer for local authority
- Health Intervention Officer for HM Prison Services
- Mental Health Link Worker
- Social Prescribing Worker
How to apply
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UK students
Applications open for this course in May 2024. Full-time UK undergraduate students apply through UCAS. Otherwise, you will need to apply to CU London Dagenham directly. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form
-
International students
International codes:
CUCLU059International students should apply directly to CU London Dagenham directly. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
How to applyFor further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International pages or Coventry University Group's International hub.
If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form
-
Disclaimers
Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, 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 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 COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the 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. 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.
5Placements
Satisfactory health clearance and enhanced criminal record disclosure may be required. As part of the health clearance checks you will be required to provide information about your immunity and vaccination status. You will also be required to provide information about your COVID-19 vaccination status. We therefore recommend that you are fully vaccinated including the COVID-19 vaccine. The information you provide will be used to determine your eligibility to go on placement(s). Placements are provided at the placement provider’s discretion. The University is therefore unable to guarantee the provision of placements or the location and type of placement offered.
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 2023/2024 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. 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.