Our online MPH programme
Our online learning programme is designed for graduates interested in a career in public health practice or research.
We accept applicants from a wide range of backgrounds including medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, journalism, computer science, law, business, psychology, and sociology among others. Whether you are already working in a public health role, keen to move into such a role in the future, or are simply interested in public health for its own sake, we have a flexible range of options available.
Learning designed around your goals
Choose the option that best suits your personal and professional goals:
| Award | Length | Which option is right for you? |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Public Health | 3 years | Choose this option if you're looking for a comprehensive public health education to facilitate a new career direction or a promotion |
| Postgraduate Diploma | 2 years | Choose this option to build a broader knowledge base around public health including electives that suit your individual interests |
| Postgraduate Certificate | 1 year | Choose this option to learn about public health fundamentals |
| Stand-alone courses | ~5 weeks | Choose this option to study a specific topic that is of personal/professional interest to you |
You may also opt to study for the Certificate, Diploma and Master of Public Health (MPH) over a longer period, up to six years.
Link to apply for our programme
The MPH at the University of Edinburgh has been a great experience. I would highly recommend the programme to everybody interested in practice-oriented modules and high flexibility for arranging studies and professional life. The support from tutors and peers facilitated by a user-friendly online platform is excellent.
Internationally recognized for quality
The Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation (APHEA) is an international organisation committed to assuring and improving the quality of public health education globally. Fully accredited with APHEA, the University of Edinburgh's MPH online programme is one of only a few which have been awarded this prestigious mark of teaching and learning quality in public health.
Link to more information about APHEA
A comprehensive education tailored by you
Year 1-2: In the first year and a half of the MPH programme, you will study courses in public health, epidemiology, public policy, systematic review methodology, health promotion, statistics and qualitative research methods. You will then choose from a wide range of elective course offerings including: leadership and management in public health, advanced quantitative and qualitative methods courses, health economics, migration and health, maternal, newborn and child health among others.
Year 3: In the final year of the programme, you will choose either to undertake a dissertation research project or a smaller reflective project, combined with further coursework.
This programme flexibility allows you to build your training around your personal goals. If you’re ever unsure about which options to choose, we can help guide you to find the combination that’s right for you.
Further information on our programme structure and courses can be found on our online learning webpage.
Link to read more about the programme structure
Link to read more about the courses
Link to online learning webpage
Learn 100% online to fit with your schedule
The online MPH programme is of equal value to on-campus programmes. It is delivered entirely online and allows students to study for an internationally recognised qualification, from a Russell Group university, without needing to attend classes on campus.
The programme is flexible and ideal for those who wish to study for a postgraduate qualification alongside work and other responsibilities. The typical study commitment is approximately 10-15 hours per week.
You will interact with the course content and your peers through a mix of active discussion boards, blogs, group work and videos at times that work for you.
Be part of a community
In studying with us, you become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world. We have more than seven years of experience guiding students to get the most from studying online and using our resources. Even if you’ve been out of higher education for many years or if you’ve never studied online, we offer all the supports you need to reach your full academic potential including:
- a platform to communicate with our highly qualified teaching staff from the comfort of your own home or workplace at times that work for you
- class sizes which are large enough to allow you to form broad and diverse personal and professional networks to support you through your academics and beyond
- small staff to student ratios (~1:20) to allow for individualized support when needed
- access to the same virtual library, career, and academic support resources as on-campus students
Join our MPH online programme and be a part of the future of public health.
Learn more about our programme
Watch our open day recording to learn more about the programme and our team.
After you graduate
Near the time of your graduation, you will be invited to join the Usher Institute Masters Alumni (UMA) network that seeks to explore a new way of engaging alumni that extends and champions the notion of life-long learning through collaboration between alumni, current students and staff. The UMA network hosts joint student, staff, and alumni events aimed at transferable ‘real world’ skills, such as dissertation publication workshops, soft skills on topics such as defeating imposter syndrome, and more.