Public Health (International) MPH

Join a global community of professionals working to improve the provision of healthcare around the world and address modern global health challenges.

Make an Impact

Our course is designed to provide public health professionals with an advanced understanding of the health needs of populations. Be part of an international learning environment and learn with fellow professionals from a range of countries and areas of expertise.At Leeds, you will learn how to effectively intervene to strengthen international health systems and gain a detailed insight into innovative solutions to address modern global health challenges.

At Leeds, you’ll also have the opportunity (dependent on travel restrictions) to take part in a study visit to Geneva, attending workshops and meetings with various health-related UN and other international organisations.

Our course is delivered by Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, based in the Leeds Institute of Health Sciences. You can also study this subject at Postgraduate Diploma (9 months) or Postgraduate Certificate (4 months) level.

Please contact the Leeds Institute of Health Sciences admissions team if you need further advice on which course would be best for you.

Watch our recent international student webinar recording below to find out more.

Our taught compulsory modules lay firm foundations for your learning throughout the course. You will also select from 10 optional module choices to customise your course to your personal and professional interests.

At Leeds you will…

• Demonstrate in-depth and specialist knowledge of techniques relevant to the field of public health international.

• Use epidemiological /statistical and qualitative research skills to analyse health needs and trends.

• Analyse principles, models and functions of management and leadership including planning, organising, staffing, directing, monitoring and supervision, and decision-making in the context of health and health care systems.

• Appraise different strategies for control of priority health problems and the development of relevant health policy and services.

• Design coherent programmes and prepare action plans for implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes including the management of resources.

• Analyse the effects of factors such as gender, poverty and social inclusion, principles of good governance, and professional ethics in the delivery of health care.

• Consider respect and value for the cultural diversity, regional, global and intersectoral cooperation for the development of comprehensive initiatives that result in improved health care and population health status.

• Evaluate current issues and research in the field of public health international.

• Take a proactive role in problem solving, planning and managing tasks and working in a team in an appropriate role.

• Take a proactive and self-reflective role in working and to develop professional relationships with others.

• Build upon the concepts and methodologies developed during the programme through completion of a dissertation/project.

This course has two streams allowing you to follow the one that is most suitable for your career aims:

Stream A - health interventions and services

• Demonstrate an advanced knowledge and understanding of techniques applicable to areas of specific interest within the broader field of public health.

• Assess the application of the conceptual, technical and methodological elements to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate health programmes towards guaranteeing either equality or equity and the basic right to health.

Stream B - health policy and systems

• Demonstrate knowledge and advanced understanding of the field of health policy, planning and management in developing health systems with particular reference to public and not-for-profit private health sectors.

• Critically analyse types of policies and management systems in the health sector with particular reference to the changing roles of government.

At Leeds, you’ll have the opportunity (dependent on travel restrictions) to take part in a study visit to Geneva, attending workshops and meetings with various health-related UN and other international organisations. In the past these have included: World Health Organisation; UNAIDS; UN High Commission for Refugees; United Nations High Commission for Human Rights; International Labour Organisation; International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies; Médecins Sans Frontières; GAVI Alliance.

In your final semester, you will complete a 10,000-word dissertation, providing you the opportunity for an in-depth examination of an area of public health that’s relevant to your work and career plans.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Public Health (International) MPH in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

Learning and teaching

At Leeds, you'll build core skills and knowledge in specialist fields of public health, planning and management. You’ll benefit from the international learning environment, where you learn and discuss with fellow-health professionals from a range of countries and professional backgrounds.

You’ll learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars, group work, tutorials and case studies under the guidance of academic tutors who have all worked in low- and middle-income countries.

The course introduces essential learning skills for postgraduate level study, with particular emphasis on the challenges facing those returning to study to enhance their competence in the use of information technology. A reflective learning approach will form the basis of career-long independent learning and continued professional development.

Facilities

You’ll be able to use University facilities for independent study, such as computing facilities and the Health Sciences library, with its extensive collection of online journals. You will also have access to the newly refurbished Worsley Building with new teaching space and post-graduate social space.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Each module is assessed through a combination of written assignments, group and individual presentations, reflective logs, written examination on epidemiology and statistics and a 10,000-word dissertation on your original research project.

Entry requirements

The Master of Public Health (International) is designed for you if you are a health professional with diverse experience in national health systems. For example you may be a district and provincial medical officer, disease control, reproductive and child health and other programme officer, health service manager, community nurse, health educationalist or general medical practitioner. Our entry requirements are:

• A medical degree or bachelor degree with a 2:2 (hons) or equivalent qualification in a related discipline (eg medicine, health, science, social sciences, management or administration).

• All applicants must have a minimum of two years’ full-time professional work experience in a health service or developing health system in a low-middle income country (please note that we cannot count internships, lab-based positions or work-based training towards the entry requirement).

• OR exceptionally a professional diploma in a health-related discipline with 5 years relevant experience in public health.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in all components. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks). 

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. You could study a part-time online course starting in January, or a full-time course in summer. Find out more about online pre-sessionals.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

All applicants for taught postgraduate courses should apply online. Applicants can track the application at each stage of the process through the applicant portal and it is recommended that they check the portal regularly for updates.

One reference must be supplied at the point of application that can indicate your relevant work experience such as: health service or developing health system in a low-middle income country. The reference should be provided on a headed document with either a stamp from the institution or an electronic signature.

On application (personal statement), you must show the following:

• Work experience in relation to public health in Low or middle income countries
• Why you have selected the program in terms of your learning expectations and career plan

Apply

This link takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

International students

Our courses welcome students from around the world from a diverse range of backgrounds. International postgraduate students in the UK are now able to apply for a further 2 year VISA to stay in the UK after completing their studies. Find out more.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

School of Medicine Taught Postgraduate Policy 2023

Fees

• UK: £11,750 (total)
• International: £25,000 (total)

Finding funds to study at the Nuffield Centre

If you would like to find out more information about scholarships at the Nuffield Centre, you can discover the relevant postgraduate funding options here.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

The cost of the optional one-week trip to Geneva (see Course overview) is not included in the course fees. Students pay a contribution towards their travel, accommodation, visa and insurance costs, and the Nuffield pays the rest of these costs. (Students who choose the study trip as an optional module pay a smaller contribution than students who attend the study trip for their professional development only.) Other costs, including meals and any personal costs, are paid by the student. We send more information with offer letters.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs.

The Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development has taught international health and development programmes at Leeds for over 30 years and so has a large alumni network of public health specialists, health systems experts, health managers and planners holding senior positions around the world.

Graduates of this course have gone on to work in ministries of health, international organisations, civil society organisations, universities, consulting firms and for private health providers.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.