MSc Epidemiology

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to frequently asked questions about the epidemiology programme

Contact details

If you have questions before applying to our programme, please get in touch at futurestudents@ed.ac.uk

Apply for an MSc Epidemiology degree with us

Fees and funding

What is the cost of an Epidemiology degree?

You can find information on our fees here.

Link to fees webpage

How can I pay for the programme?

The University of Edinburgh offers a small number of Masters scholarships for eligible, part-time, distance learning Masters programmes offered by the University.

Link to information about scholarships

Read more information on fees, funding and ways that the University can support your learning.

Link to fees and finance webpage

Do I need to pay for the whole course upfront?

The University offers different options for payment of fees. 

Find out more about options for continuous or intermittent study

All questions to do with fee payment must be directed to the Finance Helpline. The Programme Team is not in a position to discuss  fee payment options with students. 

Link to our Fees and Funding page

Career pathways

Who is this programme for? What are students’ career outcomes after studying epidemiology?

Please see our page on Career Opportunities

Link to career opportunities webpage

Study options

Do I have to commit to the full three years right from the start?

You can exit at the end of years 1 or 2 if you no longer wish to progress to the full Masters. Provided you have successfully completed all the courses you can graduate with a Certificate or a Diploma.

What if I sign up for the Certificate but want to continue?

If you have successfully gained the required credits, it's very easy to progress to the next year. Just get in touch with the team. 

What happens if I need take a break for unforeseen reasons?

You can take up to 24 months to complete each year of study. You have the option to interrupt or extend your period of study. Once you begin your studies, you can advise the course organiser of any study changes you wish to make.

What if I can't complete the programme?

If you are only able to complete some of the courses, any credits you have gained will be kept on your record. These may be used later if you want to return to study with the University of Edinburgh, or may be considered by other institutions as 'recognition of prior learning'.

Online learning

What is the difference between an online degree and an on-campus degree? Are online degrees as good as on-campus degrees?

Here at the University of Edinburgh, we offer both online and on-campus master’s programmes. The two are of equal academic value and standard. There are some key differences between the two approaches. Delivered over three years, our online master’s programmes are specifically designed to fit into the lives of busy working professionals. Attracting students from all over the world, our online programmes are designed to be relevant to students wherever they are.

Link to Online Learning FAQ webpage

Will my certificate mention I studied online?

Final certificates don’t mention whether or not a student studied online, but transcripts would mention this, particularly because 'online' is often in the actual name of the course that forms part of the overall programme.

Do I need to be online everyday to study this programme?

You will not need to be online every day. All our lectures are recorded and can be accessed at any time. Our programme is designed to allow you time to study in your own way, in a place that suits you best, in tandem with your other responsibilities. We recommend spending 15-20 hours per week to keep up with the requirements of the programme.

Will I have access to the Edinburgh Library as an online student?

All our students have full access to the online Edinburgh Library, whether they are an online student or study on-campus. The online library allows students to gain access to more than 1.4 million ebooks, 185,000 ejournals, 700 licensed databases, 84,000 streaming videos, 6,000 scanned book chapters, journal articles and more.

Link to read more about our online resources

Technical queries

What learning platform is used to teach the content?

Our teaching is delivered using Blackboard Learn, a virtual learning environment (VLE).

Link to read more about Blackboard Learn

What computer equipment will I need for this online programme?

To make this programme as accessible as possible, for as many as possible, we have structured the programme in such a way that you will only need access to a computer, the internet and an up-to-date web browser. IT support is available to any student in the event of technical difficulties and you can find out more about technical requirements with the link below.

Link to technical requirements for online studies webpage

As an online student, will I be eligible for techinical support?

IT support is available to online learners just as it is to those studying on-campus. Any issues you encounter while studying will be resolved quickly and efficiently.

Link to more information on technical support

 

Where can I read news and learn about upcoming events?

The Usher Institute's monthly newsletter is called Illuminate, and features news and future events. You can also read past issues to decide if this subscription is right for you.

Link to read more about Illuminate

What is the Usher Institute?

Our Master of Family Medicine programme sits in the Deanery of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences, which sits within the Edinburgh Medical School in the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. The Usher Institute also sits within the Deanery and focuses on transforming health in society by working with people, populations and data. Many of our colleagues who work with health-related research are based in the Usher Institute.

Link to the Usher Institute

Further questions and information

If you have further questions, please contact the programme team at futurestudents@ed.ac.uk