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Join our academic and admissions team on Tuesday 26 November 12pm-1pm to find out about the undergraduate course in public health at Manchester. The programme leads will explain the courses' structure, entry requirements as well as the possible career routes after completing the course. Book your place here .

We would normally only consider applicants who have obtained the relevant qualifications. Applicants should contact the Admissions Office to discuss their particular circumstances.

Please note we are only able to provide a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for a student visa to applicants on this full-time face-to-face course, and not the distance learning option. Please contact the admissions team for further information.

What is public health?
Public health is a career where you can make a real difference.

Public health is all about improving people’s lives on a big scale. Instead of treating one patient at a time, you’ll focus on keeping whole communities healthy, preventing illness, reducing inequalities, and helping people live longer, better lives.

You’ll learn how environment, and social factors, affect health, and how to create solutions that actually work in the real world. From tackling issues like mental health and infectious diseases to responding to global challenges such as climate change, and ultra processed foods, public health is about solving some of the biggest problems facing society today.

Our course
Choose Manchester and you will join a dynamic, forward thinking public health community committed to improving health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities on a local, national and global scale. Our course offers a holistic learning experience. You will explore contemporary public health challenges and global health threats.

You will be taught by experts who bring cutting-edge research and real-world experience into the classroom.

Our course reflects the breadth of modern public health practice, combining theory, research and practical application.

You will develop a strong understanding of how to analyse health data, design interventions, influence policy and respond to emerging public health challenges, preparing you for roles across a growing sector.

This course will equip you with:

• The skills and knowledge to address public health challenges at local, national and global levels.
• The ability to apply scientific evidence and theory to real-world health issues.
• An understanding of how to prevent disease, improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities.
• The core competencies needed for a career in public health across a wide range of sectors.

You will also develop highly valued transferable skills in research, critical thinking, communication and policy awareness, essential for careers that make a meaningful impact on society.

A Manchester, the BSc Public Health is enhanced to support you in settling into your studies.

Individual support

You will be assigned a personal academic advisor for the length of the course. Academic advisors are tasked with supporting your personal wellbeing, academic progress and your future career plans. Through regular meetings and contact from week 1, your advisor can be your guide to finding your way around and settling into the University. Your advisor is a valuable part of your academic career.

Peer Assisted Study Sessions

In Year 1 you will be timetabled to attend peer assisted study sessions (PASS). These sessions are led by trained Year 2 students who have been where you are. The sessions are relaxed and centred around your needs. They aim to develop confidence and support you through moving into university.

Learning that is political, playful and personal

This is essential because public health involves 'big P' politics (hostile conflicts, global policy) and 'small p' politics (local decisions, community trust).

You will participate in experimental learning and critical discussions with your classmates.

Public health is also deeply personal as it matters to our families' communities and ultimately ourselves, therefore, you will reflect upon your own wellbeing and life.

Career support

We work closely with our careers advisors to ensure that employment features within the curriculum because we know it is important to you.

Manchester

Manchester is a diverse and inclusive city, where there is much to see and do alongside studying.

Expert teaching

You will be taught by professionals working in the field of local, national and international public health. You will learn from staff with a breadth of expertise in areas such as health promotion, health education, preventative medicine, health inequality, public health communication, evidence-based medicine, patient education, health planning, cervical screening, vaccination policy, cancer incidence, population health, social justice, nursing, epidemiology and statistics.

There is an emphasis on applying your learning to real-life public health issues to prepare you for an exciting career.

Teaching and learning methods

You’ll learn in a supportive and interactive environment where you’re encouraged to take an active role in your own learning. Rather than just listening to lectures, you’ll take part in engaging, student-centred sessions designed to help you build confidence and think critically.

You’ll develop your independent learning skills by using real examples from public health practice in the UK and globally. You will learn through collaborative activities such as:

• group discussions;
• problem-based learning;
• critical analysis.

There are plenty of opportunities to connect with others, whether that’s working with classmates in group activities or sharing ideas with tutors through discussions. These experiences are designed to help you build key skills for your future career, such as teamwork, communication, and project planning.

Each unit combines face-to-face teaching with independent study, giving you the flexibility to learn at your own pace while still feeling fully supported. You’ll have clear guidance throughout, including a structured calendar for each unit, along with ongoing support from both your tutors and your peers.

Learn with students from around the world

Our public health course attracts students from a range of backgrounds. Through the sharing of experiences, you will be able to broaden your understanding of different perspectives and policies that affect how public health is seen and used.

What our students think of teaching and learning

• 100% of our students were positive about the chances they had to bring together information and ideas from different topics.
• 96% of our students agreed that staff value their views and opinions about the course.
• 96% of our students agreed that teaching staff supported their learning well.
• 96% of our students agreed that staff are good at explaining things.
• 96% of our students agreed that it was easy to contact teaching staff when they needed to.
• 92% of our students agreed that staff often make the subject engaging.

Source: discoveruni.gov.uk

Stellify

is a university initiative to develop your leadership skills and encourage community volunteering. To achieve the Stellify award, you have to demonstrate all three of the volunteering and leadership activities.

We want you to get the most out of the course, and to do that we use a variety of trusted learning methods:

• Whole group activities and discussions in seminars that may include smaller group working.
• Learning from your peers, sharing work and providing feedback.
• Prior to seminars, slides and materials will be available in the central learning environment.
• Online recordings or podcasts will be available to refer to following seminars.
• Online tasks.
• Independent learning activities including academic reading and preparation for seminars.

Your learning will be supported by ongoing guidance and support from the course unit lead. You will also receive developmental feedback from teachers and academic advisors.

Assessment

The assessments are varied to develop your skills, and often allow an element of choice of topic so you can focus on your interests in public health.

The range of assessment methods help prepare you for your next step after this course, either further study or employment:

• Written reflections
• Presentations
• Report writing
• Quizzes
• Peer review activities
• Final year dissertation

Read about our student's experiences on the BSc Public Health on the

Library and online services

The University of Manchester offers extensive to help you get the most out of your studies.

The Library provides access to learning materials for the course as well as student spaces on campus to study. Furthermore you will have access to My Learning Essentials, the Library’s academic skills support programme.

Additional resources

In addition to the Library you will also find The Whitworth and Manchester Museum on campus. Both John Rylands Research Institute and Library and Jodrell Bank are close by.

If you are planning to live at home and commute to campus then there is a dedicated with a lounge, kitchen, showers and multifaith prayer space.

The University of Manchester Students Union is positioned at the centre of campus and represents all students in student matters. You can get involved in societies, for example The Public Health Society or others.

provides access to all of the sporting spaces and a wide range of activities.

There is a dedicated University GP Practice on campus.

At Manchester we care about our students and that the education you get is useful and can be applied to the real world.

Throughout your course, we will support you in developing skills that can be tailored to your area of interest within public health.

Careers in public health are diverse, rewarding and offer opportunities in a variety of settings, including the NHS, local authorities, government, charities, global NGOs (non-government organisations), research organisations and global bodies such as the World Health Organisation.

You might find yourself analysing health data to track disease trends, designing campaigns to improve wellbeing, shaping public policy, or working directly with communities to tackle issues like inequality and access to care. As a public health professional, you will work to prevent problems before they happen, from managing disease outbreaks to promoting healthier lifestyles.

This course is a great step towards a career in one of the following areas:

• Public health practitioner
• Consultant in public health
• Public health manager
• Public health officer
• Epidemiologist
• Biostatistician
• Health educator
• Public health statistician /assistant
• Public health intelligence analyst/ assistant
• Public health researcher/research assistant
• Community development worker
• Environmental health worker
• Transport development worker
• Housing officer
• Health improvement practitioner
• Lecturer or teacher in public health
• Public health trainer
• Health protection specialist
• Health-related communication or marketing officer
• Fundraising and charity work to help improve the lives of vulnerable people
• Occupational health
• Social prescriber

You could also explore a range of related areas such as town planning and urban development, mentoring and counselling, food sustainability and climate change or teaching.

There are a range of careers resources offered by the University and the Faculty of Public Health, which is a membership organisation for public health professionals in the UK and around the world.

To aid your career path, you can find additional advice and resources here:

• (University Careers Service)
• (University Careers Service)
• - information for students looking for opportunities outside the UK (University Careers Service)
• (Faculty of Public Health) Professional development opportunities

Once you have graduated and you are an alumni of The University of Manchester you have access to the University careers service for two years after graduation.

Check out about her plans now she has graduated.

Transferable skills
Alongside specialist knowledge, you will develop transferable skills (communication, teamwork, critical thinking, leadership and problem solving) that are highly valued by employers and can be applied in a wide variety of careers across health, community, voluntary and management sectors.