Public Health (part-time) (Online Learning) MPH, PgCert, PgDip, PgProfDev

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: Health

Year of entry: 2027

Study options

Mode of study

Online learning

Part-time intermittent study
  • PgProfDev | 2 years | Start date: multiple dates
Part-time
  • PgCert | 1 year | Start date: September 2027
  • PgDip | 2 years | Start date: September 2027
  • MPH | 3 years | Start date: September 2027

Key facts

School

Edinburgh Medical School

College

College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine

Accreditation

Available

Apply now

Open Days on Demand

Dive into an extensive selection of programme-specific session recordings hosted by our Academic and Professional Services staff.


About the degree programme

This online programme is designed to build your skills and confidence to make a meaningful difference in public health.

You will study a rigorous curriculum that covers essential public health topics – from epidemiology and statistics to health promotion and public health policy.

Alongside building academic expertise, you will develop a broad suite of skills in critical thinking, evidence-based decision-making, leadership and problem-solving.

Our interactive online learning environment provides opportunities to connect and learn alongside peers and faculty from diverse backgrounds. Through sharing perspectives and experiences, you will gain the confidence to work effectively with diverse communities across different public health contexts.

Study options

You can complete a:

  • Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) (60 credits) after one year of study  
  • Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) (120 credits) after two years of study  
  • Master of Public Health (MPH) (180 credits) after three years of study

Alternatively, you can study standalone courses through Postgraduate Professional Development (PgProfDev). This route is aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge one course at a time, without the time or financial commitment of a full degree.

Programme benefits

  • Globally recognised accreditation: Achieve a qualification accredited by the Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation (APHEA), ensuring your education meets rigorous global standards and enhances your professional credibility.
  • Career versatility: Equip yourself with a broad set of skills in public health theory and practice, preparing you for diverse roles in government, non-profit organisations, academia or the private sector, and opening doors to leadership positions in global public health.
  • Flexible and supportive learning environment: Benefit from a curriculum tailored to fit around full-time employment or other responsibilities, coupled with a supportive community of international students and tutors that will enhance your learning and give you new perspectives.

My experience of the MPH (online) was an overwhelmingly positive one. From the first day, I experienced a well-structured and interesting curriculum delivered by an engaging and incredibly helpful faculty. The course content, coupled with the module assignments helped develop skills in a variety of areas including academic writing, critical appraisal and statistics, which proved invaluable both for the final dissertation and in my career.

The final dissertation allowed me to put these skills into practice in a way that was both challenging and rewarding. Throughout this process, I received exceptional support from my supervisors and broader faculty, which ultimately allowed me to submit a dissertation that I could be proud of.

The skills, experience and qualification have proved hugely beneficial to my professional career working in clinical microbiology. They have allowed me to carry out more effective and worthy research projects and have provided me with a greater breadth of knowledge in a specialty that is often intertwined with public health.

Shane McCarthy Master of Public Health, graduated 2025
Shane McCarthy at graduation

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Part-time intermittent study
Part-time

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Deposit

You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme.

Funding opportunities

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Online Learning Scholarships

The University of Edinburgh offers a small number of scholarships to outstanding candidates. These are very competitive. We publish data on the success rate for scholarship applications to help you understand the level of demand.

Scholarships will be awarded to outstanding candidates who are citizens of and resident in low- and middle-income countries, and will be applied toward tuition fees.

Learn more about Online Learning Scholarships

The Glenmore Postgraduate Scholarship

The Glenmore Medical Postgraduate Scholarship will be awarded to applicants who are accepted on one of the listed eligible Human Medical programmes. This scholarship is highly competitive and would particularly welcome applications from students from Africa.

Glenmore Postgraduate Scholarship

If you live in the UK, you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan for online study from one of the UK’s governments.

If you intend to apply for a UK government loan you should apply for the 3-year Masters option.

View details: UK government loans

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2027-28 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2028-29 academic year will be published in early Oct 2027.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant subject area such as medicine, nursing, social science, biomedicine, or other related discipline.

We may also consider your application if you have completed some independent study of public health, medicine or health-related subjects, and/or have work experience in a relevant field. During the review process of your application previous education and experience will be taken into account.

International equivalent qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test (restrictions apply)
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English (restrictions apply)
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition) before 21 January 2026: total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition) from 21 January 2026: total 5.0 with at least 4.5 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 7 in each component. We do not accept Oxford ELLT Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 8 with at least 7 in each component. We do not accept Oxford ELLT Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 145 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

Our online MPH programme is structured to provide a comprehensive understanding of public health issues and practices over three years. 

Year 1 (PgCert): Core public health foundations

These foundational courses will equip you with essential public health knowledge, critical appraisal and analytical skills:

  • Introduction to Public Health
  • Introduction to Health Promotion
  • Introduction to Epidemiology and Statistics
  • Epidemiology for Public Health Practice
  • Public Policy for Health

You can exit after Year 1 with a Postgraduate Certificate.

Year 2 (PgDip): Advanced studies and option courses

Year 2 starts with the following compulsory courses: 

  • Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods
  • Systematic Reviews
  • Research Design for Public and Global Health

In the second part of Year 2, you can further tailor your learning to your career goals by selecting from a variety of option courses on topics such as:

  • Advanced methods in qualitative and quantitative research
  • Global mental health
  • Leadership in public health
  • Maternal and child health
  • Migration and health  
  • Noncommunicable diseases  
  • Infectious diseases

You can exit after Year 2 with a Postgraduate Diploma. 

Year 3 (MPH): Specialisation and project work

In Year 3, you can choose whether to: 

  • Undertake a nine-month research project, culminating in a dissertation, or
  • Integrate your MPH learning and apply it to public health-related problems and challenges in the real world with a Student-Led Individually Created Course (SLICC).

You will be awarded an MPH degree after successfully completing Year 3.

Postgraduate Professional Development (PgProfDev)

The PgProfDev route is aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge through a postgraduate-level course(s), without the time or financial commitment of a full degree.

You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses over two years through our PgProfDev scheme. These lead to a University of Edinburgh postgraduate award of academic credit but not an exit qualification.

Any time spent studying PgProfDev will be deducted from the amount of time you will have left to complete a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma, or Postgraduate Certificate programme.

If you wish to continue your studies with us, you can request a transfer from PPD onto a named exit award. If your request is successful and you are eligible to transfer, you will be required to complete all compulsory courses required for your chosen exit award; you should consult your programme team before submitting a request.

Although PgProfDev courses have various start dates throughout a year, you may only start a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma, or Postgraduate Certificate programme in the month of September. 

On part-time programmes, you are required to study sequentially, following the standard academic timetable of their chosen programme.

Please contact the programme team for more information about available courses and course start dates.

Option courses

Delivery of option courses is subject to demand and availability, and our list of available courses may change from year to year. Below are some examples of option courses from the past academic year.

Subject-specific courses
  • Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in a Global Context
  • Public Health Approaches to Declining Health, Dying and Bereavement
  • Migration and Health
  • Foundations of Nutritional Epidemiology
  • Noncommunicable Disease in a Global Context
  • Global Challenges in Healthy Ageing
  • Fundamentals of Health Economics
Advanced methods courses

The following courses will further your knowledge of the methodologies taught in the compulsory courses:

  • Applied Epidemiology
  • Qualitative Interviewing and Data Analysis for Public Health
  • Data Analysis for Epidemiology
  • Statistical Modelling for Epidemiology
Transferable skills courses

These courses are highly rated by our alumni as they lay the foundation for key skills essential for many career opportunities in public health:

  • Innovative Approaches to Health Challenges Across Disciplines
  • Leadership and Management in Public Health
  • Governance and Financial Management for Public Health Projects

Find courses for this programme

Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.

The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.

Part-time intermittent study
Part-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

Our pre-recorded lectures and teaching materials are released at the start of each five-week block. 

There are a number of learning activities within each course. These include weekly discussion boards that you can contribute to in your own time. In addition to discussion forums, there may be other online activities such as blogs and group work that will augment your student experience, as well as optional live and interactive online tutorials.

Assessment

Each course has its own assessment pattern and criteria, based on the coursework and course learning outcomes. Information on the various methods of assessment will be provided in individual course handbooks.

There are no written or practical examinations within the programme.

Assessment during Years 1 and 2 will be based on coursework. Our courses will usually have at least one formative assessment, and one or more summative assignments.

Formative assessments may include:

  • discussion board contributions
  • blogs
  • journals
  • group projects.

You will receive formative feedback on these, which will help you prepare your summative assessment(s) at the end of the course. 

Summative assessments may include:

  • essays
  • presentations
  • posters
  • reports
  • group work tasks.

Further examples of types of assessment include:

  • writing a policy brief or an outbreak report
  • conducting a group literature review
  • keeping a blog to record your learning and activities throughout the course.

Learning outcomes

The Master of Public Health (MPH) online programme aims to equip students with evidence-based conceptual and practical tools to take a critical, interdisciplinary, and ethical approach to global public health challenges and their determinants. 

You will: 

  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the theories, concepts and interdisciplinary principles that underpin public health practice, policy and research.
  • Apply critical analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of qualitative and quantitative evidence to develop effective, evidence-informed responses to contemporary public health challenges.
  • Effectively communicate complex public health concepts and issues to both public and professional audiences using a variety of approaches.
  • Demonstrate leadership and collaboration skills in addressing complex public health issues.

Support for your studies

Whether returning to studying after a long gap or continuing studies immediately after an undergraduate degree, you will have access to various supports to ensure you get the most out of your studies with us. 

The programme is designed to gradually build both academic skills and public health knowledge over time. There is no assumption of prior public health knowledge, and our programme team have experience delivering teaching to learners at various phases of their careers.

The University also offers a range of study skills workshops, self-study resources and advice to help you succeed in your studies.

Student Adviser

Once you have matriculated, you will be connected to our Student Adviser who can help with questions around:

  • study interruptions
  • exceptional circumstances
  • extensions
  • support for mental and physical wellbeing
  • registering with the Disability and Learning Support Service

Teaching teams, including course leads and your tutors, will support you with your subject or course.

Academic Cohort Lead

Cohort Leads, who are academic members of staff representing each year of the programme, are in place to create a sense of community and facilitate events to support your learning and professional development. They will be able to give you academic support and advice.

Cohort Leads

Our academic staff

Our core programme team comprises our professional services and teaching staff with varied academic and professional backgrounds and extensive experience in higher education. 

Read about our programme team

How online learning works

This degree programme is taught entirely online. There is no need to come to Edinburgh or the University campus.

Our online students work on a Virtual Learning Environment called Blackboard LEARN. On this interactive, user-friendly online platform, you can access course content, reading lists, discussion forums and assessment activities 24/7, and you can interact with the programme teaching and administration teams. You will upload your assignments here and receive marks and feedback.

You will be part of our global community and learn from and with other professionals working across the world, enhancing your learning and giving you new perspectives.

Watch our video to see how online learning works.

Time commitment

We have designed the programme to be flexible, requiring 10 to 15 hours per week, which allows you to continue with your existing responsibilities.  

Our modules are released at the start of each five-week block with lectures available to view on demand and discussion boards you can contribute to in your own time.

We also have occasional online events where we might need to organise a fixed day or time, such as our induction events, but these will always be recorded for those who cannot take part.

Postgraduate Professional Development (PgProfDev)

If you choose to take individual courses through our PgProfDev scheme, you should expect to allocate:

  • 60-90 hours for a 10-credit course
  • 110-165 hours for a 20-credit course

Equipment and software needs

To study this online programme, you will need access to:   

  • a computer or laptop  
  • the internet  
  • the latest version of a web browser  

As an online student, you will have access to a range of software you can download to help you complete your coursework, including Microsoft Office 365. 

IT support is available if you have technical difficulties.  

IT and computing help

Opportunities to attend in person

Our programme is 100% online. Although you will not need to visit Edinburgh in person at any time during your study, we do very much welcome you to visit us if you find yourself in the area.

Graduation 

All students are offered the opportunity to graduate in person in Edinburgh at the completion of their studies. Graduation ceremonies are in November each year and are held in McEwan Hall. 

Watch a video of McEwan Hall

Support for online students

Accreditation

In 2021, the online MPH programme successfully achieved 'Full Accreditation' with the Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation (APHEA).

APHEA is the leading global accreditation agency for public health schools, programmes and training courses, with representation across all six World Health Organisation (WHO) regions.

Why is APHEA accreditation important? 

Accreditation is aimed at supporting the continued improvement of education and training for public health workforces throughout the world. It recognises a programme's quality beyond the borders of its home country, allowing for transferability of qualifications and potentially providing graduates with better opportunities for employment internationally. 

Find out more about APHEA

Career opportunities

Graduates of our online MPH programme find themselves well-equipped to pursue a variety of impactful careers in diverse sectors.

Each sector offers unique opportunities to apply the skills and knowledge gained through the MPH programme to real-world challenges, enhancing health outcomes on a global scale. 

Public sector

Within government agencies and international health organisations, take on roles in:

  • epidemiology
  • health education
  • policy analysis
  • programme management 

Non-profit organisations

Work on initiatives that address health disparities and deliver community health programmes. 

Academic and research institutions

Contribute to public health knowledge through research or take up teaching roles to educate the next generation of public health professionals.

Private sector

Engage with health consultancy, pharmaceutical companies or healthcare technology firms to drive innovation in public health solutions.

Further study

After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.

Applying for research degrees

Moving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service)

Graduate profiles

Yvonne Kinyanjui

Yvonne Kinyanjui portrait

Degree: MPH Public Health

Year of graduation: 2025

Current work: Health Expert, Health Unit, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

Having worked as a clinician for several years in both rural and urban hospitals and clinics across East Africa, I became increasingly interested in the bigger picture of public health, particularly the policies and systems that influence access to care and health outcomes. In my current role with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), one of Africa’s regional economic communities, I lead the Health Unit and support regional health initiatives across its 21 Member States, particularly in health policy, advocacy, regional health integration, pandemic preparedness and response, and pharmaceutical sector strengthening.

The MPH programme at Edinburgh has changed the way I think and work. It pushed me academically but just as importantly, it connected me to a like-minded and supportive global cohort whose ideas added to my understanding of public health, and many of whom I now count as friends.

What I appreciated most about the programme was how practical and relevant the learning was from day one. When I started the programme, I was working as a clinical doctor and was able to immediately apply many of the concepts to my clinical practice. Since then, the training has been most useful in my current work in health policy and advocacy, regional health collaboration, and programme development across Africa. It has helped me think more critically about public health challenges, use evidence more effectively, and engage more confidently in collaboratively developing policies and initiatives that can improve health outcomes at scale.

Video: what our students thought

Students from the online Masters in Public Health discuss their highlights of the programme and the best parts about studying online.

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. They offer extensive support, from CV workshops to personalised career advice, ensuring you are fully equipped to make an impact in your chosen field. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant.

When to apply

Programme start date Application deadline
13 September 2027 20 August 2027

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible so that we have enough time to process your application. This is particularly important if you are also applying for funding. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.

For an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including references and transcripts.

If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, please upload that evidence as soon as you have it.

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

References

You must submit one reference with your application.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

General enquiries

Programme Administrator

Edinburgh Medical School
Usher Building
5-7 Little France Road
Little France
Edinburgh
EH16 4UX

futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
Phone:+44 (0)131 651 7990

Academic contact

Dr Nynke Halbesma

Programme Co-Director

  • Edinburgh Medical School

Contact details

Address

Usher Building
5-7 Little France Road
Edinburgh BioQuarter
Edinburgh
EH16 4UX

Dr Evgeniya Plotnikova

Programme Co-Director

  • Edinburgh Medical School

Contact details

Address

Usher Building
5-7 Little France Road
Edinburgh BioQuarter
Edinburgh
EH16 4UX

Related degree programmes