Public Health Global Health (MSc)

This master's in public health global health is ideal preparation for a career as a global public health analyst. You'll develop both academic and vocational skills in to make a difference, exploring the relationships between global public health, climate change, urbanisation and armed conflict. We have a particular specialism in the analysis of population patterns and demographic processes.

We are in the global top 50: ranking 34th in the world and seventh domestically for Statistics and Operational Research (QS subject rankings 2022)

This MSc public health global health course focuses on work-related learning; you’ll work in multi-disciplinary teams and practise real-world tasks. Graduates of this course have gone on to work for the government and public bodies both in the UK and abroad, including:

• UK Health Security Agency
• local government
• ministries of health
• universities
• national and international non-government organisations

You’ll learn to develop and evaluate public health programmes and conduct epidemiological studies. The specialist areas you’ll be able to explore include:

• critical issues in global public health
• analysing trends and differentials in global health
• communicable disease control
• health economics in public health

Through your dissertation, you can personalise this course to your interests. In previous years students have analysed problems using national data sets such as the Demographic Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys.

Public health is an interdisciplinary profession, and this is reflected in your learning. Your lecturers are academics who are actively involved in research or are working in the sector. They’re experts from across the University, in Public Health, Demography and Social Science.

We also offer 4 other pathways on our Public Health Master's. If you decide that you’d like to change to a different public health specialism within the first 2 weeks of the semester you’ll be able to change your degree.

Your other Public Health MSc pathway options are:

• Public Health Intelligence - Discover our Public Health Intelligence master's degree at the University of Southampton. Learn how to collect and analyse public health intelligence research.
• Public Health Management - Discover our Public Health Management master's degree at the University of Southampton. Learn to apply systems thinking to global and local health issues.
• Public Health - Discover our Public Health master's degree at the University of Southampton. Boost your career skills in global disease prevention & management

This public health global health degree is available to take as an intercalation degree for undergraduate medical students. Intercalation means that you'll take a year out of your undergraduate medicine degree to gain this extra award.

Flexible study

If you prefer, you can apply to study this course as:

• a part-time master's - study the same course content over 2 or more years
• a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) - you'll usually study for around 15 weeks and will not need to write a dissertation
• a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) - you'll usually study for around 30 weeks and will not need to write a dissertation

Your modules and fees may vary if you choose a different study option.

Course lead

Professor Nuala McGrath is Professor of Epidemiology and Sexual Health and NIHR Global Health Professor.

Nuala received her undergraduate degree in Mathematics, Statistics and Operational Research (University of Exeter, UK); a Masters in Biometry (University of Reading, UK); and a Doctorate in Infectious Disease Epidemiology (Harvard School of Public Health, USA).

Nuala’s work is characterised by two main areas of research; HIV testing, prevention and treatment, and Sexual and reproductive health and relationship dynamics.

She currently serves as a member of the FLAIR (Future Leaders – African Independent Research Fellowships) Interview Committee. She is also a Commissioner for the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK.

For more information view Nuala’s staff profile

To apply for a master's of Global Public Health you'll need at least a 2:1 degree in one of the following subjects: Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, Physiology, Psychology, Demography, Human/Health Geography, Pharmacy, Medicine and Dentistry.

You must be able to demonstrate your competence in Statistics, Epidemiology, Research Methods through previous study at undergraduate level.

We are unfortunately unable to accept degrees in the following subjects: Nursing, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Occupational Health and Phlebotomy.

This course is also available as an intercalation degree for undergraduate medical students.

You must submit all supporting documents, including evidence that you can satisfy our English language requirement, when you submit your application.

Find the equivalent international qualifications for your country.

We do not accept Pre-sessional Language programmes as evidence of meeting the English Language requirement for this course.

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