The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health is delivered full-time over 10 months. The programme allows students to specialise in a specific public health pathway.

The Postgraduate Diploma has three pathways as follows:
Pathway 1: Health Promotion
Pathway 2: Health Protection
Pathway 3: Epidemiology and Biostatistics

All applicants will be required to write a 300-word statement demonstrating suitability to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in 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. Hold an NFQ Level 9 Postgraduate Certificate in a relevant subject area (minimum 2H1).
Or
3. Completion of three years (180 credits) of a medical degree programme from a recognised University on the Island of Ireland. No student may register for the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health programme of study until the Third University Examination in Medicine has been passed to an Upper Second Class honours Standard.

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.

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 Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health within five years from the date of award of the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection or the Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health.

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.

Students take 60 credits as follows:

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)
EH6044 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (5 credits)
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)
EH6044 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (5 credits)
EH6046 Global and Environmental Health (5 credits)
MB6000 Microbiology for Health Protection (5 credits)

Pathway 3: Epidemiology and 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)

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 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

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 (to include EH6025, EH6026, EH6027 and EH6091), students may opt to exit the programme and be conferred with a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health. A student who subsequently applies to continue to the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health or Master of Public Health must do so within five years from the date of successful completion of the Certificate Examinations.

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 promotion, health protection, 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.