Public Health BSc (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
Doctor administering a vaccine to a male patient

Public health is the science and art of detecting and preventing disease, enhancing people’s quality of life, and promoting physical, mental, and environmental health.

Course option

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

3 years full-time

UCAS codes

L431

Start date

September 2024


Course overview

The course explores strategies for tackling disease and preventing ill health, embracing multifaceted and collective actions for health promotion, and approaches to health protection to respond to emerging challenges facing public health practitioners.

  • Develop an understanding of health disparities and health inequalities at local, national and international level as well as the knowledge to be able to improve health outcomes through the effective planning, execution and evaluation of health interventions to change behaviour.
  • It offers the opportunity to develop knowledge around differing health needs, influences on health, and how to prevent ill health and promote health and wellbeing.
  • The course aims to equip you to work in a range of roles within public health where you can make a real difference to people’s health and wellbeing.
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Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects

Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022

Five stars in a speech bubble.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

City buildings next to a tree.

Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2023

Why you should study this course

  • The learning is interactive and creative with hands-on learning sessions related to real-life situations.
  • Taught by current Public Health experts from a range of practice, research, academic and leadership backgrounds (staff may be subject to change).
  • The assessments use the same competencies, knowledge and skills that you will use in many public health job roles.
  • You will also have inter-professional learning opportunities allowing students from health-related courses the opportunity to share, learn and work together.
  • You may have opportunities to attend out-of-classroom field trips related to aspects of public health, and you will also have access to a range of international experience opportunities2.
8th

Coventry University ranked 8th for Health Professions

Guardian University Guide 2023

Having spent many years working in public health roles and seeing the positive impact it can have in supporting people to lead healthier and happier lives, it’s exciting to be part of a dynamic and passionate team developing future public health practitioners who can go on to have equally enjoyable, fulfilling and impactful careers. One of the elements I particularly like about this course is the focus on practical learning which is directly applicable to job roles in public health and making a positive difference to people’s health.

Jane Wright, Assistant Professor in Public Health, 2022
Urban garden on campus in the sunshine

What you'll study

In the first year, the curriculum allows you to gain a broad grounding in the discipline where you will develop knowledge to do with the foundations of public health, communication, health systems and health interventions, among others.

Modules

In year two, you will develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with epidemiology, health research, health promotion, health protection and public health policy, among others.  

Modules

Year three aims to bring you to the level to enter the world of work by consolidating your knowledge and skills from year one and two. You could also work on a dissertation in an area of your interest, with the support of a mentor.

Modules

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

This course is helping me to develop essential skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, analysing and communication through different activities such as group work, discussions, scenario analysis and debates. The modules are thought-provoking, and the lecturers are experts with a lot of professional experience in their field, allowing them to share real-life examples with us, which is an excellent way to understand any topic. Having guest speakers has allowed me to get insight into specific topics and relevant events that are currently happening.

Simran Kaur, Public Health BSc (Hons) current student, quoted in 2022
Close up of a lab specimen dish being held up toward the camera.

How you'll learn

You will be taught using a mixture of lectures and seminars, ‘hands-on’ skills workshops, student-led discussions and interactive simulation. Assessments encourage the development of skills required for successful careers in Public Health. This includes being familiar with Microsoft software packages (Word, PowerPoint, Excel etc).

These interactive, creative and hands-on learning sessions aim to support you to explore important health issues theoretically as well as practically. You will also have inter-professional learning opportunities allowing students from a diverse range of health-related courses the opportunity to share, learn and work together.

You will have the opportunity to:

  • Work in smaller groups for seminars and tutorials.
  • Engage in student-led discussions (group presentations, case-studies and scenario analyses) to facilitate shared learning and practice experiences.
  • Hear from professionals in practice drawn from a range of Public Health-related fields (subject to availability).
  • Utilise a virtual learning environment to access updates on the course and modules, and other relevant materials for supporting learning such as videos and podcasts.
  • Participate in a simulation exercise which mimics real-world challenges and cross-profession working (subject to availability).
  • Attend a public health-related field visit (e.g. water treatment plant) or event (e.g. Public Health film festival)2.

These strategies should help you to connect concepts covered in the course with real-life experience and are designed to enhance your career options following graduation.


Teaching contact hours

You will receive around 10 hours teaching contact time per week. This is made up of lectures, seminars and tutorials. Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 17 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:

  • Essays
  • Poster presentations
  • Coursework
  • Exams
  • Research project

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Now is an exciting time to be part of the future of public health. The importance and positive impact public health is having on people's lives is growing. I feel all of my previous public health roles and experience has led me to this point. We have a diverse team of international lecturers; ready and waiting to help you reach your full potential and start your career in public health, making a positive difference to people's health.

Natasha Dawson, Module Leader and Lecturer in Public Health, 2022
Shot of Coventry University's Alison Gingell building framed with blue sky behind.

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

Requirement What we're looking for
UCAS points 112
A level BBC (excludes General Studies)
BTEC DMM
GCSE 5 GCSEs at grade 4 / C or above to include English, Mathematics and science or specified equivalent
IB Diploma 29 points to include 14 points at Higher level
Access to HE Diploma To include 30 Level 3 credits at Merit. Plus GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 4 / C or above

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Are you eligible for the Fair Access Scheme?

We believe every student should have the opportunity to dream big, reach their potential and succeed, regardless of their background. Find out more about our Fair Access Scheme.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with an international foundation year. Upon successful completion our International Foundation Year - Public Health will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress onto this undergraduate degree.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.0 overall (with at least 5.5 in each component area)

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Not got the required grades? We offer this degree with an integrated foundation year.


Fees and funding

2024/25 tuition fees.

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man £9,250 per year Not available
EU £9,250 per year with EU Support Bursary**
£16,800 per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International £16,800 per year Not available

If you choose to do a work placement2, you should consider travel and living costs to cover this. There is also a tuition fee3 of £1,250 that will cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our undergraduate finance page and see the University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of international scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our international scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Facilities

Students will benefit from studying on our well-equipped, modern campus4.

  • The Simulation Centre allows you to participate in simulation exercises which mimic real-world challenges and cross-profession working, e.g. managing a disease outbreak at Coventry University.
  • The Computer Lab at Coventry University main campus allows you to participate on challenges to resolve public health issues within a given health-related scenario.

Alison Gingell Building

You'll have the opportunity to study in our multi-million-pound Alison Gingell Building with facilities including a mock ambulance, hospital wards and full-size community houses as well as study spaces, classrooms and more.

Inside of a big building with hanging lights and big staircase

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion of the course, you will have the knowledge to enable you to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the underlying principles of public health - prevention, promotion, protection.
  • Measure and interpret qualitative and quantitative data to make evidence informed decisions.
  • Evaluate population health needs in order to initiate health interventions for preventing disease and improving health.
  • Critically review relationships between health policy, strategies, health systems and service users’ experiences that influence health outcomes and inequalities.
  • Assess and recognise the impact of wider social determinants of health, health inequalities and health inequity at all levels.
  • Effectively communicate public health messages to specialist and non-specialist audiences using a range of approaches and media.
  • Understand effective strategies for working with community groups and organisations in designing, managing and delivering services.
  • Demonstrate effective leadership and ethical approaches to improve quality for public health.
  • Appraise health systems differences in adopting foundational public health concepts, principles and methods of enquiry.

The course is designed to align your knowledge and skills with the requirements of employers in Public Health and for your skills to be able to make an immediate impact on populations and health outcomes in a range of roles and organisations. The course aims to enhance your employability by offering the skills and competences that address employers' objectives and expectations from graduates wishing to pursue a career as a public health practitioner.

Graduates may be employed in such roles as public health practitioner, health protection practitioner, health improvement practitioner, health data analyst, healthy lifestyles co-ordinator, public health project manager, and many other types of analysts, managers or researcher roles within the diverse field of public health practice.

This course aims to equip you with the tools for developing necessary competences for employment within a wide range of organisations, including local authorities, NHS, not-for-profit organisations and charities, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Further study

Graduates from this course may consider progression to master’s level courses in areas such as:

  • Public health
  • Global public health
  • Global health management
  • Public health nutrition
  • Public health and health promotion
  • Reproductive and sexual health research
  • Health economics and policy
  • Health data science

Graduate Immigration Route visa

Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.


How to apply

Full-time students applying to start in September 2024 can apply for this course through UCAS. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

Part-time students should apply directly to the university.


If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

International codes:
HLSU267

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.

You can also download our International guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.

This course with foundation year is not currently available to international students. If you do not meet the entry requirements to directly join year 1 of the degree, please take a look at our International Pathways Programme for additional options.


Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

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