The course aims:

• to provide critical knowledge and understanding of public health from different disciplinary perspectives
• to equip students with the ability to critically analyse public health problems and develop practical solutions to protect and promote the public's health and tackle health inequalities
• to enable students to understand and undertake applied health research and to apply key findings into public health policy

All modules account for 15 credits unless stated otherwise. You require

• 60 credits (4 x 15 credit modules chosen from any listed below) for the PG Cert
• 120 Credits (8 x 15 credit modules including all 6 core modules below) for the PG Dip
• 180 credits ( 8 x 15-credit modules including all 6 core modules listed below, plus the 60 credit project module) for the MSc.
• You can also choose to study 1 or more individual modules as a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) student.

Please note that availability of optional modules is dependent on sufficient student numbers. Therefore, some optional modules (marked below with *) may not be available in some academic years.

Year 1 (all core modules - they must be studied)

Details below refer to the 2017/18 programme. No amendments are anticipated for 2018/19.

The programme is informed by three key elements:

• Authentic learning
• Social learning
• Flexibility

Authentic learning

This is a key element that drives the content of all modules. It means that we use real-world, real-life, up-to-date case studies, examples and scenarios. Students can immediately see how their learning is "authentic" and applicable to their own working life, now and in the future. The focus is therefore not only to impart or communicate to students fundamental concepts, ideas and critical understandings of Public Health, but to contextualise this with real life examples. This way, students can see exactly how what they are learning can be applied in their own work.

Social learning

Learning is social. We learn from each other as much as from purely independent study. The sharing of ideas and the opportunity to debate and discuss has been demonstrated to enhance the learning process, and is a key means of developing, refining and challenging our own evolving ideas. This course uses multiple tools to deliver content and facilitate interaction with and between tutors and students, including screencasts, discussion tools, wikis, blogs, webinar software for live discussion and collaboration. The online tools used in the programme enable and support such reciprocal learning.

Variety and flexibility

The majority of the online reading materials are heavily supplemented, where appropriate, with videos, screencasts, internet-based materials, and the use of interactive online tools.

Materials are provided in blocks or "sessions" of usually 2-3 weeks duration. We have found that this approach enables flexible learning and encourages the student group to work collaboratively through each module.

The idea for delivering materials in this flexible manner, employing such diverse methods, is based on large part on published research conducted by core staff, which is described here. We want to ensure the development and delivery of the programme is evidence based

The core staff for this course are listed below:

• Course Director: Angie Rees
• Deputy Course Director: Fiona Campbell
• Course Administrator: Lynne Thompson
• Strategic Lead for Academic Studies: Prof. Elizabeth Goyder
• External Examiner: Nick de Viggiani, UWE Bristol
• Email: scharr-mph-online@sheffield.ac.uk

In addition to these core staff members, the course draws on the expertise of a wide range of internal and external staff, all of whom are actively engaged in Public Health teaching and research. This reflects the commitment of the School to ensuring the excellence of the programme and enhances the depth and breadth of the available learning for students by exposing them to a full range of experience, expertise and specialist knowledge, as well as different voices and perspectives.

The module leaders can be found on the course structure section.

Our students are an international body who live and work all over the world, from Jordan to Nigeria, Canada to Tanzania. They are seeking to develop key skills to begin or enhance their career in public health.

Internationally, students have found excellent opportunities in governments, health departments, universities, hospitals, as well as non-governmental organisations, undertaking leadership roles, public health programme interventions and evaluations, research, and policy-making.

Our public health masters graduates go on to work in very diverse areas, although many find work in a health or public health setting. Of particular note is that a significant percentage go on to undertake further doctoral/PhD study or to work in research or academic settings, which we feel reflects the quality of our research-led teaching in preparing and inspiring students.

Who will benefit from studying this course?

Students seeking the following roles will find the course highly appropriate: information analyst roles, senior public health management positions, health promotion activities, researching in universities, as public health specialists in the local authority and in the NHS and in a broad range of clinical public health roles

(3 years, all ScHARR courses, response rate 58.5%) data available in full at http://www.careers.dept.shef.ac.uk/studentgems/external/graduate.php
(choose MPH/... in the course dropdown menu)

*All students consented to the use of their comments in this publicity material.

Programme evaluations are run frequently to assess and improve the programme. We work constantly to develop and enhance the learning experience of our students.

The course starts in September each year.

Yes. Each module is accredited by the University of Sheffield. You will receive credits from the University, which you can use towards gaining the full Certificate, Diploma or MPH later, if you wish.

Single modules can only be taken in the Semester in which they are to be delivered. Please see the CPD pages for more information.

Please see the Course Structure for details.

The programme can be taken in a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 4 years. From our experience of other online learning Masters courses at the University, we expect that most participants on the course will take 2-3 years to complete the full MPH-DL.

The course will be taught by academic staff from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, mainly coming from within ScHARR (the School of Health and Related Research). We have been teaching many of the materials on the face-to-face MPH at Sheffield (with over 100 students a year) and other Masters programmes for many years.

All staff involved in developing and delivering this course are active in public health teaching and/or research within the UK and other high-income countries. Several staff also have experience of teaching and conducting research in low and middle-income countries. The core interest of the teaching team is in improving the health of the public at local, regional, national and international levels, through research informed teaching, applied research and close involvement with the National Health Service and other health care organisations.

Students will be taught by staff coming from a wide range of disciplines including: clinical public health specialists, epidemiologists, psychologists, sociologists, information scientists and systematic reviewers, policy and management specialists, international health specialists, public health nutritionists, pharmacists, health visitors and health services researchers.

No. The course is delivered entirely online, and all materials are made available via the internet. So, for international students there are no visa, travel or residential requirements.

However, we envisage that many students will choose to attend the final degree graduation ceremony in Sheffield.

Please see the Studying online page for more information.

Please see the Fees and funding page for more information. The fees are the same for home and overseas applicants.

Please see the Studying online page for more information.

Usually, a good first degree (2:1 equivalent or better) is needed. However, applicants without this may be considered on a case-by-case basis dependent on other qualifications and work experience. This is outlined on the How to apply page

If English is not your first language, ScHARR requires an IELTS of 6.5 with 6.0 in each component or equivalent gained within the last 2 years will be required. Please note this is higher than other University of Sheffield courses. See the page on English language requirements for information on other acceptable English language qualifications.

Most of all, you need to be enthusiastic: to be keen to develop your knowledge and skills in public health, to learn from your fellow students and the faculty, and to share your own learning and knowledge with us.

Master of Public Health, Diploma or Certificate
You will need to apply using the university's postgraduate online system by completing the online form. Read through the information on the How to apply page before beginning the application process.

Single Modules
You can apply for single modules via the Alternative Routes and Programmes system. See the CPD pages for more details.

Master of Public Health, Diploma or Certificate
We recommend that you apply before the end of July to allow time for uploading and authorisation of supporting documents, such as references.

Single Modules
You can apply for single modules at any time up to the end of August for the autumn semester and mid December for the spring semester. See the CPD pages for more details.

If you are pursuing the Master of Public Health, Diploma or Certificate programmes, you will be sent the information on how to register online prior to commencing the course in September. If you are taking single modules or the certificate, then you could begin your studies at the beginning of either semester (September or February).

Yes. Please email the Course Administrator (Lynne Thompson) at scharr-mph-online@sheffield.ac.uk or on (+44) 0114 222 2973.

Alternatively, for academic enquiries, you can contact the Course Director, Angie Rees at a.rees@sheffield.ac.uk.