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Public Health Policy (MSc by Research)

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MSc by Research Public Health Policy - 1 Year (Full-time)

MSc by Research Public Health Policy - 3 Years (Part-time)

MSc by Research Public Health Policy - 2 Years (Part-time)

Information on fees & costs

Individual programme fees are linked above. For detailed information on fee status, policies, payment and funding opportunities see:

Contact information: Postgraduate Admissions Team
Phone: +44 (0) 131 651 1560/3064
Email: pgadmissions.sps@ed.ac.uk; Dr Mark Hellowell (Postgraduate Advisor)
Phone: + 44 (0)131 651 1330
Email: Mark.Hellowell@ed.ac.uk; Address: The Graduate School of Social and Political Science
Chrystal Macmillan Building
15A George Square
Edinburgh
EH8 9LD

Entry requirements

No specific academic or professional background is required but applicants should normally have at least a second-class honours degree or equivalent in social science, science, medicine, nursing or other related discipline. Eligibility from beyond the UK will be based on the National Academic Recognition Information Centre scheme.

International students

All applicants must meet our general entry and language requirements. Detailed advice for international students is available here:

Programme description

The MSc/Dip by Research in Public Health Policy aims to provide a rigorous postgraduate training to graduates interested in pursuing interdisciplinary research across public health and social sciences. It offers a structured training towards either research for a PhD or MPhil or, as a stand-alone degree, the basis for a research career. The programme is designed to be accessible to students from diverse academic backgrounds, notably the medical and social sciences, and will enable students to develop the skills necessary to conduct research in international public health policy.

The programme integrates generic social science and discipline-specific public health research training, and applies social science research methods to public health issues. Students benefit from a broad range of training not only in the Centre for International Public Health Policy, but also in the School of Social & Political Studies and the Public Health Sciences section.

Programme structure

Course-based training is by lectures, seminars, group work and guided independent study, while students will also benefit from participation in programmes of research seminars and workshops. Students will be assessed through coursework, written examination and dissertation.

Learning outcomes

Graduates will gain knowledge and understanding of:

concepts of epidemiology and public health research;
application of statistical methods to public health research;
application of economic analysis to public health policy;
social science research skills in quantitative and qualitative methods;
debates about the role of research in public health policy;
principles and practice of designing a research project.

You will also develop the skills to:

analyse diverse source materials and apply to public health questions;
critically appraise research about public health and policy from epistemological and methodological perspectives;
design and conduct research in the field of public health policy and across disciplinary boundaries;
evaluate public health and health services policies from a population health perspective;
demonstrate broad general competence in subject-specific research methods.

Funding

Please see Scholarships and Student Funding Services for information about funding opportunities:

Scholarships and Student Funding Services

Further Information

This article was published on Apr 25, 2013