Public Health (MPH)

How will I be taught?

Recognising that students come from diverse backgrounds and have different learning needs, teaching draws on a range of approaches designed to encourage curiosity, critical thinking and independent learning. Each module combines preparatory reading and online learning activities with in-person teaching sessions. This blended approach enables you to explore key concepts and theories in advance, allowing in-person sessions to consolidate and apply learning to public health practice. In-person teaching includes interactive lectures, small-group exercises, case study discussions and practical sessions. 

The statistical methodology module utilises statistical software for practical sessions, developing your skills in applying theoretical concepts to support answering public health questions.

All modules within the programme use our virtual learning environment, Learning Central, where you can access structured course materials, including assessment guidance, and which is accessible through laptops, tablets and smartphones. All modules use online discussion forums, which allow you to seek clarification and engage in debate and discussion with lecturers and peers.

During dissertation stage you will be undertaking guided independent study and research. A project supervisor will be allocated to support and advise you on researching and writing up your specific dissertation topic.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed through a combination of the following assessment types:

• Unseen exams using short or structured answer questions, or deploying multiple choice questions
• Oral presentations
• Individual written assignments including reports, structured tasks (such as data analysis and critical appraisal), essays and poster presentations
• Group tasks supported by individual reflection

The dissertation stage will be assessed based on a written report of your dissertation project.

How will I be supported?

From the beginning of the course, you will be part of a supportive learning community where students and faculty share knowledge, experiences and ideas. You will be studying with students from a wide range of backgrounds, providing opportunities to learn from each other's expertise, challenge assumptions and develop new perspectives.

You will be allocated a personal tutor who can provide both academic and pastoral support throughout your studies. Your personal tutor will be available to discuss your progress, offer advice and guidance when needed, and meet with you through regular check-ins during the academic year. They can also help you access the wide range of support services available across the University.

The module lead for each module will provide support relating to module content and assessments. This is through both information shared in person, and guidance available via Learning Central. Discussion boards provide a shared space where you can ask questions, seek clarification and share ideas. Responses are visible to the whole cohort, enabling everyone to benefit from the discussion and develop their understanding.

Study skills sessions are built into the first semester modules, including critical writing and literature searching skills. A range of staff are available to provide further support, including a specialist librarian. 

Formative assessment is incorporated into all modules, providing an opportunity to receive feedback that does not contribute to your progression or degree classification decisions. This can include specific tasks, presentations, practice questions and essay plans. Feedback is also provided on summative assessments, indicating how well you have succeeded in meeting the intended learning outcomes, enabling you to identify any actions required in order to continuously improve.

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will be able to do as a result of your study at Cardiff University. They will help you to understand what is expected of you. 

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme can be found below.

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate the ability to:

Knowledge & Understanding

• Critically evaluate routine epidemiological measures of health and disease, including public health and epidemiological research methods and methodologies, critically appraising the rigour and validity of such to address population health questions and inform decision making.
• Reflect on the role of epidemiology and its’ contribution to public health, including health surveillance, health protection and health promotion using contemporaneous evidence to support discussions and implementation, appreciating the different political and economic contexts and how and why interventions must be tailored to different situations.
• Critically analyse and interpret the distributions and determinants of health and disease grounding these in theoretical perspectives that help understand the impact of behaviour and social determinants of health and well-being.
• Strategically plan the investigation of public health problems, integrating the ability to develop a robust health needs assessment with valid measures to control disease and promote well-being through critical evaluation using high -quality evidence and clinical judgement and addressing issues of equality, efficiency and healthcare planning.
• Synthesise management and leadership theory to explore their impact on change on management, teamworking, policy, strategy and organisational function, including health service financing.
• Critically debate the concepts that underpin heath economics and synthesise to practice, the most appropriate health economic models to use in the healthcare context justifying models to practical scenario.
• Critically analyse the management of outbreaks of communicable diseases and evaluate public health surveillance systems.
• Synthesise quality improvement theory and research to facilitate critical review of clinical practice, including the critique of different theoretical approaches to designing and evaluating public health improvement interventions
• Debate concepts of health education, health literacy, and health consciousness and the processes by which they determine health-related lifestyle behaviours and choices synthesising models around the social determinants of health and wellbeing.

Intellectual Skills

• Critically debate with informed colleagues on key public health matters
• Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions through audit, service evaluation and research
• Assess the appropriateness of various statistical techniques for inferential analysis of data, apply appropriately, using the logical progression of data analysis effectively and interpret results in a statistical context, appreciating the results from a public health perspective
• Use epidemiological data to analyse a problem and formulate an appropriate response, providing a rationale for the actions proposed

Professional Practical Skills

• Assess practical approaches to contemporaneous and specific health challenges
• Use statistical software to produce appropriate tables, diagrams and summary statistics for presentation of data
• Perform appropriate statistical analyses to interrogate public health data and data collected in research studies using statistical software
• Appreciate a stakeholder perspective on defining and addressing public health issues, and understand the roles and responsibilities of different domestic and international agencies
• Demonstrate fluency in health economic terminology 
• Use epidemiological techniques to evaluate surveillance systems and to undertake field investigation 
• Develop, deliver and evaluate health promotion activities being cognisant of the ideological dilemmas, behaviour, social factors and policy assumptions underlying different approaches
• Synthesise and judge the appropriate level of information to communicate to a range of public health audiences including senior managers, groups or individuals representing the public, politicians and the media understanding their roles and responding appropriately to request for information.

Transferable/Key Skills

• Communicate information clearly both orally and in writing, especially in relation to media responses 
• Search for and critically evaluate evidence and synthesise to practice 
• Problem solve and plan logically, solving problems independently and in small working groups 
• Demonstrate negotiation skills and work well within a team setting, consulting with colleagues and acting professionally at all times 
• Recognise and work within the limits of professional competence 
• Use the internet to source current information about local, national and global health issues 
• Reference correctly using Harvard convention
• Debate effectively in a multi-stakeholder environment in order to promote public health concerns