The Master's degree in Public Health (MPH) is a full-time programme delivered over 12 months. The programme allows students to specialise in a specific pathway as follows:
Pathway 1: Health Promotion
Pathway 2: Health Protection
Pathway 3: Epidemiology & Biostatistics

All applicants will be required to write a 300-word statement demonstrating suitability to undertake a Master of Public Health.

Candidates are required to meet one of the following:

1. Possess a NFQ Level 8 degree in a relevant subject area (minimum 2H1).
or
2. Possess a NFQ Level 9 postgraduate diploma in a relevant subject area (minimum 2H1).

Relevant subject areas are: biological sciences, medical and health sciences, public health and social sciences.

Note: In some circumstances, applicants without a primary degree or applicants without a relevant primary degree may be recommended for entry to the programme following a review of their individual qualifications and experience by the course committee. Such applicants may be called for interview and their admission will be subject to the approval of the School of Public Health's Executive Committee.

Garda Vetting
Students, or applicants in receipt of an offer, on this programme will be subject to Garda Vetting as relevant. Students will be prohibited from engaging in a relevant work placement unless the vetting process has been cleared. Click here to view UCC's Student Garda Vetting Policy.

Exemptions at point of entry
Applicants may be eligible for exemptions. If eligible, the relevant exemption paperwork must be completed immediately on entering the programme. This application will be reviewed by the School of Public Health's Executive Committee. Please request an application form from the programme administrator.

1. Holders of UCC's Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection or UCC's Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health will be exempt from certain modules on the programme if he/she undertakes the MPH within five years from the date of award of UCC's Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection or UCC's Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health.
2. Holders of UCC's BSc in Public Health, UCC's BSc in Public Health Sciences or UCC's BSc in Public Health and Health Promotion will be exempt from EH6025 Principles and Practice of Public Health if he/she undertakes the MPH within five years from the date of award of one of the above mentioned degrees.

In Part I students take core modules to the value of 35 credits and modules to the value of 25 credits from their chosen pathway. (Pathway preferences will need to be chosen in consultation with the Programme Director.) In Part II students undertake research and write a dissertation to the value of 30 credits.

Students take 90 credits as follows:

Part I

Core Modules - All Pathways
Students take 35 credits as follows:
EH6025 Principles and Practice of Public Health (10 credits)
EH6026 Applied Research for Public Health (10 credits)
EH6027 Public Health Informatics (5 credits)
EH6028 Leadership in Public Health (5 credits)
EH6091 Graduate Information Literacy Skills (5 credits)

Pathways

Pathway 1: Health Promotion
Students take 25 credits as follows:
EH6029 Health Promotion: Concepts, Principles and Practice (10 credits)
EH6039 Public Health and Behavioural Change (5 credits)
and either
EH6044 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (5 credits)
or
EH6045 Practice Portfolio - Health Promotion (5 credits)
plus
5 credits from the following:
EH6046 Global and Environmental Health (5 credits)
SS6017 Critical Public Health (5 credits)

Pathway 2: Health Protection
Students take 25 credits as follows:
EH6019 The Principles and Practice of Multi-disciplinary Health Protection (10 credits)
EH6046 Global and Environmental Health (5 credits)
MB6000 Microbiology for Health Protection (5 credits)
and either
EH6035 Practice Portfolio (5 credits)
or
EH6044 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (5 credits)

Pathway 3: Epidemiology & Biostatistics
Students take 25 credits as follows:
EH6031 Advanced Epidemiology (10 credits)
EH6044 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (5 credits)
ST6011 Advanced Biostatistics (5 credits)
ST6012 Survival Analysis (5 credits)

Students must achieve an aggregate of 40% overall in Part I in order to proceed to Part II.

Part II
All Pathways
EH6040 Dissertation in Public Health (30 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2019/2020 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2019/2020.

See also General Regulations for the Degree of Master.

Exit Award: Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award)
Upon successful completion and passing of core modules to the value of 30 credits (EH6025, EH6026, EH6027 and EH6091), students may opt to exit the programme and be conferred with a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health. Students may, within five years from the date of award of the Postgraduate Certificate, apply to complete either the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health or the Master of Public Health.

Exit Award: Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
Upon successful completion and passing of core and pathway modules to the value of 60 credits, students may opt to exit the programme and be conferred with a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health. A student who subsequently applies to continue to Master's level must do so within five years from the date of award of the Postgraduate Diploma.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Master of Public Health (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Critically analyse theories and issues related to public health;
• Construct arguments around the social, political and economic factors determining the health of populations;
• Demonstrate competence in the key underpinning disciplines and theories of public health including epidemiology, communicable diseases including health care associated infections, biostatistics, social and behavioural sciences and social policy;
• Analyse and synthesise evidence and apply it to public health;
• Demonstrate enhanced knowledge in the chosen specialist pathway (health protection, health promotion, epidemiology and biostatistics);
• Demonstrate logical reasoning in written work and discussion;
• Employ a range of appropriate research and analysis methods with confidence and correct interpretation;
• Critically reflect on their own and others' learning and practice.
• Demonstrate their culminating experience in the form of a minor Dissertation.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Critically analyse theories and issues related to public health;
• Construct arguments around the social, political and economic factors determining the health of populations;
• Demonstrate competence in the key underpinning disciplines and theories of public health including epidemiology, communicable diseases including health care associated infections, biostatistics, social and behavioural sciences and social policy;
• Analyse and synthesise evidence and apply it to public health;
• Demonstrate enhanced knowledge in the chosen specialist pathway (health protection, health promotion, epidemiology and biostatistics).

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Critically review the scope and remit of Public Health, including the major determinants of population health;
• Plan and undertake a literature search and review of the literature;
• Demonstrate use of health informatics to advocate for public health policies and programmes;
• Define and interpret basic epidemiological and bio-statistical terms, and undertake basic statistical analyses;
• Describe the basic study design, strengths and limitations of qualitative and quantitative public health and epidemiological studies, and formulate a research hypothesis.