Public Health (International) PGDip

Course overview

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

The postgraduate diploma provides you with the core principles and skills needed to improve the provision of healthcare around the world and address modern global health challenges:

• Learn in an international learning environment, with fellow professionals from a range of countries and areas of expertise.
• Tailor your course to align your skills to your own interests
• Develop the skills and knowledge to further your career in international and national health systems and organisations

This 9-month course provides more flexibility to those who are unable to spend an entire year in the UK due to finances, work or other commitments, while still providing the professional development opportunities necessary for global public health practitioners. It does not include the dissertation project, which gives you more time and flexibility to study your core and optional modules.

Previous students of the diploma can return and use the credits obtained to complete our MPH(I) course within three years, which allows you more flexibility to study in the way that best suits you.

Make an Impact

Our course is designed to provide health professionals with an understanding of the health needs of populations. You'll learn how to effectively intervene to strengthen health services and systems and improve health in an international context.

Students can also study this subject at Master of Public Health (International) (12 months with dissertation); or Postgraduate Certificate level (4 months).

The course is delivered by the Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, based in the Leeds Institute of Health Sciences.

The course is designed to give you the opportunity to specialise in one of two streams in Public Health; a – Public Health Interventions and services; or b – Health policy and health systems.

On this course, you have the opportunity (dependent on travel restrictions – please see our Course terms and conditions) to take part in a study visit to Geneva, attending workshops and meetings with the World Health Organisation and other health-related UN and international organisations.

Learn from the experts

You'll also learn from academic staff who have a wide range of expertise reflecting the multi- disciplinary nature of Public Health. Our academics are engaged in both public health systems, service delivery and intervention research which has had positive impact on policy and practice at global and national levels.

Our academic staff have all worked in the health systems of low- and middle-income countries and have contextual knowledge of the opportunities and challenges faced by the public health services and programmes.

Course details

This course has two-streams, meaning you can choose the one that best suits your professional goals.

• Stream A - a focus on public health interventions and services
• Stream B - a focus on health policy and health systems

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

Year 1 compulsory modules

Learning and teaching

You'll learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars, group work, workshops, tutorials and case studies. You will learn in an international and diverse classroom environment, with students from different countries and academic staff with lived and work experiences outside the UK. You will contribute to an active learning environment, which invites you to reflect on and share your own experiences while learning from others.

Some study sessions use the University's computer resources, with support to enhance your competence in the use of information technology. You will have access to our Virtual Learning Environment, which includes teaching materials and resources to prepare you for assignments and your own research.

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 spaces and a social space specifically for postgraduate students.

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

You will be assessed by using a range of assessments. This range of coursework develops your academic skills and supports your future career. They are designed to assess your understanding and application of international health and also to develop essential workplace skills, including analysing and synthesising contemporary research-based knowledge and presenting evidenced-based thinking in a coherent manner in a variety of formats.

Collaborative work is also an important part of the course. You will be encouraged to work and interact with academic staff and classmates and develop teamwork skills.

Applying

Entry requirements

This course provides health and related professionals with the ability to improve public health, essential health care, and preventive interventions and strengthen health services and systems in local and global contexts. You will interact with staff and fellow professionals from a range of countries and areas of expertise.

In order to be accepted onto the MPH program, an applicant must:

a) hold a Second Class Honours degree or above in medicine, health, social sciences, or other relevant disciplines together with a minimum of one-year (full-time) relevant experience in health or related sectors either in private, public or non-government organisations such as charitable organisations.

Or

b) hold a professional diploma in health or other relevant disciplines, together with 5 years relevant experience in health or related sectors either in private, public or non-government organisations, such as charitable organisations.

Work experience is preferred to be in a low or middle-income country. These include working as doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, midwives, district health officers, community nurses or midwives, environmental health officers, health education and health promotion, and working in health management, administration, or health promotion. Our alumni include people with different backgrounds, eg health economics, anthropology, social sciences, journalism and media whose work focused on health. If you are not sure about the relevance of your experience, please contact us.

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. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

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

How to apply

The deadline for applications is 31 July 2025.

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.

CVs are mandatory. Applicants must upload their CV upon submission of their application, which must contain details of their work experience.

On application, you must demonstrate the following in your personal statement:

• Work experience in relation to public health in low or middle-income countries.
• Your reasons for selecting the programme and how these relate to your learning expectations and career plan.

Before applying, all applicants must read this document about further guidance on the supporting statement, CV and reference requirements.

Please note that this is a very popular programme. If we receive a significant number of applications, and we are unable to process applications within our 6-week turnaround time, we may have to temporarily suspend the receipt of new applications until we are able to meet our turnaround target.

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page will take 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.

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 2025

This course is taught by

School of Medicine

Contact us

School of Medicine Postgraduate Admissions

Email: pgmed-admissions@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £8,500 (Total)

International: £19,500 (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

Fees for the optional one-week study tour

The cost of the optional one-week tour to Geneva (see Course overview) is not included in the course fees.

Students who choose the study tour as an optional module pay approximately £575. Students who attend the study tour for their professional devleopment pay approximately £750. These fees include travel and accommodation.

As these costs are only approximations, The Nuffield Centre shares information about these fees in offer letters and during the first semester of the course.

Other costs associated with visas (such as visa handling and transport to the visa centre in Manchester), meals in Geneva and any other personal costs are not included in the fees above.

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 on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Studying in the School of Medicine at Leeds is an amazing opportunity, but we know that the cost can be difficult for many people to meet. If you are keen to join us, a range of funding opportunities are available.

Career opportunities

Graduates of this programme have gone on to work in Ministries of Health, international organisations, civil society organisations, universities, consulting firms and private health providers.

The Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development has taught international health and development programmes at Leeds for over 45 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.

A number of alumni have also pulished their work in world-leading global public health journals. Read more about our alumni.

Careers support

Studying in the School of Medicine at Leeds is an amazing opportunity, but we know that the cost can be difficult for many people to meet. If you are keen to join us, a range of funding opportunities are available.

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 about Careers support.