Arden’s Master of Public Health course has been developed to meet the increasing demand for graduates with a passion for managing and leading preventive health services in communicable and non-communicable diseases. The course places emphasis on providing you with the most current skills in healthcare and digital literacy in health services management, giving you the ability to support healthcare delivery and better health outcomes at population, community, and national level.
The course is designed to be flexible and contemporary in its structure and delivery, and has been developed in close collaboration with leading public health employers and industry advisory groups. This means you’ll be exposed to a variety of teaching approaches and assessment methods to support the development of your knowledge and abilities in public health, helping you graduate with the specialised skills necessary for a successful career in the public health sector.
This public health master course also prepares you for the digital and data driven world that the public health profession has now moved into. You’ll also have the opportunity to become proficient with a wealth of digital technologies such as SPSS, NVIVO, Stata, Gorilla, and more. This gives you the chance to learn about virtual simulations used to predict, model, and plan for future infectious and non-infectious disease outbreaks, as well as how to respond to real life challenges that may arise in your future career in public health.
To be eligible for the Master of Public Health, we need to see that you have:
Standard entry:
Non-standard entry:
Online Learning: IELTS 6.5 (no less than 6.0 in any element); or TOEFL iBT 90; or equivalent
Blended Learning in the UK or Berlin: IELTS 6.0 (no less than 5.5 in any element); or TOEFL iBT 60-78; or equivalent. Free English language support is also available at the Arden Berlin campus.
Alternatively, evidence you have previously studied in English; a letter to show that the Medium of Instruction was in English can be accepted
The Master of Public Health course has been designed in collaboration with leading employers to ensure you gain the most important skills needed to flourish in the sector, including the latest competencies in healthcare, data analytics and public health management. This means you’ll be ready to take on senior managerial or leadership roles with confidence after graduation. Whilst studying this course, you will:
The course prepares you for roles in local authorities and government, private healthcare companies, charities, the NHS, as well as in higher education or research roles. Some of the career opportunities graduates may want to consider include:
This Master of Public Health also helps you build the knowledge and competencies required for registration with relevant professional bodies in public and global health, allowing you to become a fully qualified member of respected organisations, such as the UK’s Royal Society for Public Health, in the future.
Given the quantitative nature of some modules on the Master of Public Health, an introductory mathematics and statistics module is available to students who need extra support with their numeracy skills at the beginning of the course. Please make an enquiry for more details.
Level 7 core modules:
Research Methods (20 credits)
Global and public health rely on high-quality research for evidence-based practice. This module will enhance your understanding and engagement with health research methodologies. It covers the creation of health research, its underlying philosophies, specific research methods, and the ethical and practical challenges faced by researchers. You will learn to critically analyse health research methodologies, considering the strengths and limitations of various approaches. You will also learn to: Critically review health research methodologies and their philosophical foundations, demonstrating this in a research proposal. Understand and justify diverse data collection and analysis methods used in health research. Recognise and appropriately address ethical and other challenges in health research. Identify and appraise methods of disseminating research findings, recognising their strengths and limitations.
Health Policy (20 credits)
On the health policy module you will gain insights into a range of inter-disciplinary approaches to global health policymaking. The module employs a number of conceptual and methodological tools to examine and demonstrate the interrelations between globalisation and global health. At the end of the module you should be able to: Critically discuss the concepts and methods of health, medical, and social sciences in relation to their application to global health issues. Evaluate a range of key global health issues and the development of person-centric health and healthcare policies to address them. Analyse and critically discuss complex global health data, evidence and interventions, as applied in global governance. Evaluate the impact of the interconnection between public health, health priorities and globalisation and critically explore the various stages of policy development.
Epidemiology (20 credits)
This module will further your knowledge and understanding of the fundamental skills required as an epidemiologist. You will be encouraged to apply independent critical and evaluative skills required to contribute to scientific evaluation and decisionmaking. The module will also equip you with the skills required to understand and evaluate empirical research in the field. On completion of the module you should be able to: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of epidemiological principles, and their application in a range of health-related issues. Demonstrate abilities in the handling, management and interpretation of data of varying types and formats. Appraise factors influencing disease management and intervention mechanisms at local, national and international levels. Critically discuss a range of biostatistical principles used in epidemiology.
Gender, Sexual and Reproductive Health Management (20 credits)
This module’s central aim is to help you understand the impact of gender on sexual and reproductive health. You will have the opportunity to explore underlying theory related to gender, patriarchy, toxic masculinity and how this shapes the global burden of disease and health policy. You will consider important public health priorities such as maternal mortality, access to contraception and safe abortion and the sexual and reproductive health needs of the LGBTQi+ community. You will investigate the historical struggle of gender equality across the globe. The module will also help you to: Critically analyse the theories and concepts relevant to gender, sexual, and reproductive health, and recognise the difference between gender and sexuality. Recognise and interpret gender equality through the lens of society and various cultures, and whether recent developments have contributed to a fairer gender balance. Evaluate sexual awareness projects, programmes and policy in society and critique their advantages and disadvantages in reducing sexually transmitted diseases and infections.
Contemporary Challenges in Public Health (20 credits)
The aim of this module is to develop your appreciation of the most current and pressing international public health issues. This includes the challenges of managing these issues, and how these challenges could be addressed. The module also builds your knowledge of the key theories and models in public health, and how they apply to contemporary challenges. On successful completion, you will be able to: Evaluate current priorities in public health, the management of challenges and solutions, and the major stakeholders and partnerships involved. Analyse the impact of social, political, cultural, economic, and environmental factors on public health needs from local, national, and international perspectives. Apply models, strategies, and interventions in real-world public health applications. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and create strategies for tackling contemporary public health issues.
Preventative Health and Promotion (20 credits)
The health of nations is of increasing concern as governments address the aftermath of COVID-19, an aging and growing population, and rising inequalities and comorbidities. This module provides insights into key concepts, theories, and models of preventive health, as well as risk and risk management frameworks. It proposes methods and models to identify and mitigate risks through the application of preventive health strategies in a system reoriented towards health rather than illness and disease. By the end of the module, you will be able to: Appraise risk and risk management approaches in various health contexts. Assess primary and secondary disease prevention through population-based interventions. Critically evaluate preventive health strategies aimed at reducing disease burden and associated risk factors. Discuss key concepts in communicating health promotion, disease prevention, and health risk determinants.
Research Project (60 credits)
The core module of this course connects theory with practice, enabling you to apply the skills and knowledge from your previous studies to real-world challenges. You will explore topics and methods that align with your interests and career goals, such as quantitative and qualititative research programme valuation, or systematic reviews. By the end of the module, you will have developed a project related to health and care initiatives and will be able to effectively present your findings to a broad audience. Through this module, you will gain the ability to: Apply critical management thinking to a health or social care industry issue. Review literature and methodologies to design and conduct appropriate research.
The aim of the assessments you will undertake is to encourage you to confidently apply the knowledge and skills gained in each module in the context of a ‘real world’ global health practice scenario. The following assessment types are used at various stages of the course:
