Applied Public Health PgDip

Cardiff Metropolitan University

The MSc Applied Public Health places a strong focus on health equity and social justice at local and global levels. Our aim is to develop reflective public health practitioners who apply a systematic and practical understanding of public health to improve and protect the health & well-being of the individuals, groups and communities that they work with. We will support you to develop and use a combination of leadership, innovation and technical skills to advocate for, influence and implement changes in policy and practice to reduce or eliminate unjust, preventable differences in health, and promote sustainable development.

The programme is aimed at anyone with an interest in improving the full range of social, economic and environmental determinants of health: for example, people working in public health, education, health promotion, housing, transport, leisure, environmental health, community development, health & wellbeing partnerships, planning, social services, school nursing, and health visiting (not an exhaustive list!). We welcome applicants from all sectors: public, private and the voluntary & independent sector. The programme retains an international focus, addressing public health issues faced around the world, as well as in Wales and the UK.

Features of the programme:

Linked to professional standards: the programme is designed to meet UK and international public health competency frameworks, including UK Public Health Skills & Knowledge Framework and the UK Public Health Practitioner Standards. We use many international case studies in our teaching, as well as examples from the UK. We are currently applying for accreditation with two international public health organisations:

the International Union of Health Promotion & Education, and the Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation. Real-world application: The programme is devised to enable students to apply their knowledge to real-world situations. Assessments are often designed to allow students to apply public health skills to the issues that they are currently facing, or most interested in investigating. We provide personalised academic and professional support, helping students to apply and develop their public health skills in their current and future practice. Assessment strategy focused on public health skills: our assessments are designed to address the main programme outcomes, enabling students to develop, integrate and demonstrate their public health skills across the programme. We use a wide range of assessment types, including reports, presentations, interviews and observed practice scenarios – there are no unseen written examinations. The programme contains an integrating 'Public Health Skills Assessment' at the end of the taught modules. Work-based learning opportunity: students can elect to complete the portfolio assessment of the Health Equity Interventions module by undertaking work-based learning. This may be through your existing employment or activities, or by arranging a specific experience with a relevant employer.