Applied Public Health - MSc/PgD/PgC

Course Delivery:
Attendance for taught modules is usually one evening per week (part time) or two evenings per week (full time). Year 1 part-time modules are taught on Tuesdays from 4-7pm. Year 2 part-time modules are taught on Thursdays from 4-7pm. We also set formative tasks, structured reading and e-learning materials to provide further support and guidance for your independent study between lectures.

SHS7000 Applied Research Methods and Design is delivered using a blended learning approach core content is provided through interactive e-learning, supported by face-to-face pathway-specific sessions. Thursdays in Term 1 (precise schedule to be confirmed). 

During your research project studies, you will attend research project workshops and be allocated individual supervision time. These usually begin in March/April (1st year of study for full-time students /  2nd year of study for part-time students).

Induction and Introduction to Academic Skills:
As part of an extended programme induction, we invite students to complete a programme of academic skills sessions at the start of the programme. Designed to help develop academic skills and improve confidence and ability to study at Masters level, the sessions are an invaluable tool for both those returning to academia, and those who have entered via the professional experience route. This academic practice programme is delivered through interactive e-lessons, supported by live sessions with lecturers from the programme team where you can discuss key principles, ask questions, and develop your academic skills.

Engagement with the academic practice sessions is normally compulsory for:

• All international students
• Students who do not have a degree, or who have not previously studied at university
  
• Students whose previous degree qualification is over 5 years old
  

For all other students, the sessions are optional but engagement with the materials is strongly recommended.

The sessions work towards submission of a practice assignment in early October, which facilitates the provision of formative feedback and informs ongoing personal tutoring and personal development planning. All students are required to complete the practice assignment.

Learning & Teaching Activities:
We place a strong emphasis on applying theoretical frameworks to real problems and situations. 

Taught sessions:
Our approach to face-to-face teaching uses extensive interaction and discussion with students. Sessions introduce and explore key principles and concepts, applying them to various practical scenarios and circumstances, including examples from your own practice and experiences. Our lecturing team blend academic and research expertise in public health with professional public health experience, enabling us to explain how we have successfully implemented theoretical principles in our own public health practice.

Online materials:
Face-to-face sessions are supplemented by structured e-learning and guided study materials, provided to enable you to build deeper understanding of the topic, practice certain key skills related to the module learning outcomes, and to prepare for subsequent face-to-face sessions (including 'flipped classroom' approaches where appropriate).

Independent learning:
At postgraduate level you are expected to undertake significant independent study under the guidance of academic staff. Each module is supported by a contemporary reading list - wherever possible, using materials that are available to facilitate flexible approaches to study. You will be expected to read widely; in particular studying how the core principles are applied in practice in different contexts and areas of practice. Such reading and study, in addition to structured face-to-face and e-learning activities, will prepare you to successfully complete summative assessment tasks.

Contact Time and Self-Directed Learning:
The direct contact time between student and tutor varies from module to module. Generally, unless otherwise stated on the module guide, 20 credit modules will include up to 24 hours contact time, plus structured tasks to support self-directed learning and assessment preparation. In addition to direct contact time, you are generally expected to undertake a further 3-4 hours of self-directed learning for every 1 hour of contact time.

Moodle:
You can access programme material both on and off campus via Moodle, the University's virtual learning environment. This includes access to lecture presentations, recommended and required reading, group forums, e-portfolios and a range of other learning and teaching resources specific to the modules and programme. We use Panopto, our lecture capture system, for all lecture sessions to enable you to return and re-visit discussions. We also provide video explanations of assessment tasks.

Personal Tutors & Professional Development:
In addition to a general open door policy, we encourage you to meet with academic staff regularly throughout the programme to discuss feedback on assignments and the development of academic skills. You'll be an allocated a Personal Tutor at the beginning of the programme, who you can work with to develop your academic skills and consider how you can integrate your learning experiences with your own professional development needs and aspirations.

4 year degree 60% or a GPA of 2.5 or above on the scale of 4 from a recognised institution in Jordan

OR Bachelor degree from a recognised institution in the UK

OR Bachelor degree from a recognised institution in the UK

OR Masters degree

The promotion, protection and improvement of public health are key objectives for the Welsh Government, UK Government and internationally in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The MSc in Applied Public Health has been designed to meet and align with the requirements of UK and international public health competency frameworks and professional standards, including:

• UK Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework
• UK Public Health Practitioner Standards
• International Union for Health Promotion and Education Competencies for Health Promotion
• Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation Curriculum for Masters-level public health programmes
  
  

The programme provides the underpinning knowledge to enable you to pursue UK Public Health Practitioner registration (which requires completion of an assessed portfolio through a recognised development scheme, such as that operated by Public Health Wales. Find out more about practitioner registration at the UK Public Health Register website. Three members of the programme team are UKPHR portfolio assessors, giving us an excellent understanding of the knowledge and skills you need for successful practice. If you'd like to find out more about career development opportunities in public health, we strongly recommend the Health Careers website. 

Your aspirations for professional development will be discussed during induction. Support and guidance will then be tailored throughout the programme to ensure that you are best able to fulfil your chosen professional development needs.  Part of the Public Health Skills Assessment will include delivery of a presentation reflecting on the development of your public health skills over the course of your studies and experiences, including identification of potential career development goals/opportunities, and actions they intend to take to achieve these. Throughout the programme, you will be able to work with your personal tutor to reflect on your skill development, career objectives, etc. which will support you to prepare and deliver this presentation, and plan and progress your public health career.

An opportunity for work-based learning is provided within the Health Equity Interventions module. You have the opportunity to fulfil the Portfolio assessment of this module by completing a work-based learning project where you investigate a public health issue and work to develop an intervention to promote public health and reduce health inequalities. This could be undertaken within an existing professional role, or via a specific opportunity arranged with a relevant organisation. Alternatively, you can fulfil the same assessment working in team with other students, working on a scenario-based public health intervention project.

Graduates from the programme have progressed to advanced positions in their chosen specialist career areas. Examples of roles our graduates have attained include:

• Public Health Fellow (American India Association) and Project Manager, Tata Steel Rural Development Society
• Senior Public Health Practitioner, Public Health Wales
• Environmental Health Team Leader, Welsh local authority
• Program Manager, Maternal and Child Health, Pakistan non-profit organisation
• Data and Information Officer, research funding organisation
• Programme Manager at Public Health Wales
• Transfer Co-ordinator at Springer Nature, India
• Digital Inclusion Officer at Cardiff Council
• Project Manager, e-learning at Diabetes UK
• Professional Lead Podiatrist at Cwm Taf University Health Board
• Junior Research Fellow at Public Health Foundation of India
• Programme Support Officer at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
• Research Assistant at Public Health Wales
• Project Co-ordinator at Gofal Cymru
  

Graduates have also progressed to further study on research degrees leading to MPhil and PhD qualifications.