Public Health, Master of MPH Level: Postgraduate taught Subject: Medicine Year of entry: 2026 Study options Mode of study On campus Full-time MPH | 1 year | Start date: September 2026 Part-time MPH | 2 years | Start date: September 2026 Key facts School Edinburgh Medical School College College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine Programme website Master of Public Health (MPH) Study location Little France Accreditation Not available Apply now 19 to 21 November 2025: Postgraduate Virtual Open Days Join us live to explore postgraduate taught and research study at Edinburgh and gain key insights before you apply. Register now Overview About the degree programme Empower your career and master the skills necessary to innovate and lead in public health with a Master of Public Health from the University of Edinburgh.This comprehensive programme will help you deepen your knowledge and engage with cutting-edge research and practical insights, learning from world-leading academics and practitioners across a spectrum of public health disciplines.From epidemiology and global health to health promotion and policy, our programme equips you with the tools necessary to address pressing health issues and drive meaningful change in communities worldwide. Study options This programme can be studied full-time over one year, or part-time over two years. Programme benefits Build essential strategic thinking and communication skills that empower you to take on senior roles in public health organisations, driving impactful health initiatives and influencing health outcomes globally.Interact with some of the world's leading public health experts, who have helped to shape public health guidelines and government policy.Gain access to a broad spectrum of public health knowledge through our multidisciplinary approach, learning from experts in areas such as epidemiology, sociology and health protection to develop versatile skills applicable in various sectors. Fees, costs and funding Tuition fees Tuition fees by award and duration Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year. Full-time MPH Master of Public Health (1 year) tuition fees Part-time MPH Master of Public Health (2 years) tuition fees 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 If you receive an offer of admission, this will be conditional as you will be asked to pay some of your tuition fees in advance as a deposit.How and when to pay the deposit £1500 (this contributes towards your tuition fees) Costs Accommodation and living costs You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.Living costs include:foodutility billstravel, clothes, books and stationeryrecreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)Living costsAccommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.University postgraduate accommodation options and costs 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 moneytaking out a loanfamily supportpersonal savingsincome from workemployer sponsorshipscholarshipsExplore sources of funding for postgraduate study Darlington ScholarshipThe Darlington Scholarship is a new scholarship programme established especially for University of Edinburgh graduates. Launching for 2025/26 entry, the scholarship aims to widen access to eligible full-time on-campus postgraduate taught programmes at the University of Edinburgh.Read more about the Darlington Scholarship UK government loans If you live in the UK, you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan for study from one of the UK’s governments.You should check that your chosen programme is eligible for the funding you want to apply for. 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 Hardship fundingInformation about sponsorships Entry requirements These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026. 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. Please contact us to check before you apply. International qualifications To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list. Where you studied - Select a country or region -AfghanistanAlbaniaAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLithuaniaLuxembourgMacau-SAR ChinaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMoldovaMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPacific IslandsPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTogoTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanZambiaZimbabweMy country or region is not listed 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 testa degree that was taught and assessed in Englishcertain 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): total 100 with at least 23 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component. Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components. Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 7 in each component. 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 oldThe 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 AcademicTOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)Trinity ISEOxford ELLTOxford Test of English AdvancedTests no more than three and a half years oldAll 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 countriesWe 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-MESCHow old your degree can beIf 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 Programme details What you will study You will study a number of compulsory and option courses and complete a dissertation to be awarded a Master of Public Health. The Masters degree programme (a total of 180 credits) is divided into two semesters with a dissertation following at the end of the year.Semester 1September - DecemberSemester 2January - AprilDissertationMay - AugustAll students study the compulsory courses (80 credits) and undertake a dissertation (60 credits). The remaining 40 credits, needed for an MPH award, are then accumulated by your choice from a wide range of option courses. You may also acquire up to 30 credits from other relevant schools within the University, subject to the approval of the course organiser within that school and the MPH Programme Co-Directors.DissertationYou will undertake a dissertation project between May and August. For your dissertation, you will be supervised by a member of staff with expertise in your area of interest.The 60-credit dissertation course is designed to further develop your academic skills and ability to use scientific theory either in a research study or applied to public health practice. It is also designed to further develop your understanding of the processes and planning involved in undertaking research on a particular public health issue. This will develop your scientific and reflective written communication skills. Compulsory courses Taught courses run over either five or ten weeks, in five-week blocks. There is a week between blocks for you to work on assignments. Option courses Although we endeavour to provide a wide range of option courses to choose from, these can be subject to change or cancellation at short notice. Places on option courses can be limited, due to course capacity and timetabling constraints. It may not be possible to guarantee every offer holder their top choice of option courses. 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. Full-time MPH Master of Public Health (1 year) (2025-2026) Part-time MPH Master of Public Health (2 years) (2025-2026) We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative. Teaching and assessment Teaching You will learn through a combination of:online and in-person course contentcurated reading listsengaging interactive discussions with lecturers, tutors and peersThis approach fosters a comprehensive understanding while benefiting from diverse perspectives and insights shared in group discussions. Assessment The course assessments are based on assignments and group work. There are no examinations during the course of the programme.Assessment is a two-stage process. The taught component is assessed at the end of each teaching block in which the course is held. Progression to the dissertation is conditional on a good performance in course assessments at the first attempt.Instructions for each assessment and the assessment criteria will be available at the start of each course. The assessments are usually due 10 days after the end of the course, although this may vary from course to course.Most courses will have a formative feedback or feed-forward event, and each course will have one or more summative assignments.Formative assessmentsThese may include assessed blogs, journals, group presentations, and so on. You will receive formative feedback on these, which will help you prepare your summative assessment(s) at the end of the course.Summative assessmentsThese include longer assignments, such as essays, reports, or group work tasks to be submitted at the end of the course.Each course will have different methods of assessment and assessment criteria, and the weight of each assessment will vary from course to course. Information on the various methods of assessment will be provided at the start of each course.Marking schemeThe University's common postgraduate marking scheme is used for degree assessment.Degree regulationsYou must comply with any assessment requirements specific to their degree programme and the University's taught assessment regulations for the current academic session. Learning outcomes The Master of Public Health programme aims to equip you with evidence-based conceptual and practical tools to take a critical interdisciplinary approach to public health challenges.You will:Demonstrate a critical understanding of the theories, concepts and principles underpinning public health practice, policy and research.Apply knowledge and skills and engage with relevant literature in qualitative and quantitative disciplines.Apply critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to develop effective responses to contemporary public health challenges.Communicate complex public health concepts and issues to both public and professional audiences using a range of media and methods.Exercise autonomy, take responsibility for own work and work constructively with peers on complex public health issues. Support for your studies You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need. How we support you Our academic staff Our core team members run the Master of Public Health programme and are dedicated to ensuring a seamless learning experience.Read more about our team Where you will study Study location Most of the teaching for the Master of Public Health on campus programme will be at the new Usher Building at the Bioquarter.Usher Building at Edinburgh BioQuarterSome teaching will also take place at the University Central Campus. Careers and further study Career opportunities Graduates of the Master of Public Health (MPH) programme at the University of Edinburgh will be well-equipped to pursue a variety of impactful careers in diverse sectors.Sectors and rolesEach sector offers unique opportunities to apply the skills and knowledge gained through the MPH program to real-world challenges, enhancing health outcomes on a global scale.Public sectorGraduates can influence public health policy and programme implementation as epidemiologists, project managers, policy analysts or in other roles within government agencies and international health organisations.Non-profit organisationsDrive initiatives focused on disease prevention, health education and community health improvements as project coordinators, programme managers or research officers in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) dedicated to health promotion.Academic and research institutionsContribute to groundbreaking public health research and education as academic researchers and educators, shaping future public health strategies.Private sectorConduct health impact assessments, manage public health projects or consult on public health strategies for corporations, consultancy firms or healthcare providers. Further study After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.Applying for research degreesMoving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service) Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 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 strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisions Visit the Careers Service website Applying 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 You can apply for this degree during a number of periods through the year. We limit the time we accept applications due to the high level of demand for places.When you are able to apply depends upon your fee status.Work out your fee statusIf you don’t hear from us by the award deadline, your application is carried forward to the next admissions round for further consideration.Deadlines for all fee statusesRoundApplication DeadlinePlaces awarded by112 December 202531 December 2025220 February 202620 March 2026317 April 202622 May 2026419 June 202624 July 2026Deadlines for UK/Scotland fee statusThis round is only open to applicants who are eligible for the UK/Scotland fee rate, including the EU/EEA Pre-settled Scotland fee status.If you apply with another fee status in this round, your application will be rejected.RoundApplication DeadlinePlaces awarded by521 August 202628 August 2026 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 or will require a visa. 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: a personal statementdetails of relevant knowledge/training skillsYou will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:copies of your degree certificates and academic transcripts that confirm your current or final marksreferencesevidence you meet the English language requirementscertified translations if your original documents are not in EnglishWhen you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide. ReferencesYou must submit one reference with your application.Personal statementWe will be looking for evidence in your personal statement that you have thought carefully about what you can bring to the programme and what impact you feel it will have on your future career.Please ensure that you address the following issues in your statement, to help us select the students who will benefit most from the programme:What skills, qualities and experiences have prepared you to undertake this programme?What value do you think you can add to the learning community as part of an internationally diverse group?What impact do you hope to make in your future career, and how will this programme contribute to your aspirations?Your personal statement should be around 500 words in length. Apply Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for. Select programme - Select a programme -MPH Master of Public Health (1 year)MPH Master of Public Health (2 years) 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 applicationWe 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 decisionWhat to do if you receive an offer:Receiving an offerAccepting an offerSubmitting supporting documents Life at Edinburgh Accommodation We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programmeaccept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 Julystudy at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in SeptemberUniversity accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaWe also offer accommodation options for couples and families.Accommodation for couples and familiesIf you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place Societies and clubs Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.SocietiesSport Clubs The city of Edinburgh Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. Find out more about living in Edinburgh Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities that you might find useful day-to-day, including:sport and exercise facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) Health and wellbeing support You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.The support services we offer include: a student counselling service a health centre (doctor's surgery) support if you're living in University accommodation dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentsHealth and wellbeing support services Disability and Learning Support Contact General enquiries Programme AdministratorUsher Building5-7 Little France RoadLittle FranceEdinburghEH16 4UX Phone:+44 (0)131 651 7990 Academic contact Professor Devi Sridhar Programme Director College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine University of Edinburgh Contact details Email: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
