School of Health and Society

BSc (Hons) Public Health

BSc (Hons) Full-time 3 years, Part-time 6 years

Our Public Health course focuses on creating a healthy and happy society by tackling the underlying causes of ill health, to prevent health problems and promote health and wellbeing.

Our Public Health course focuses on creating a healthy and happy society by tackling the underlying causes of ill health, to prevent health problems and promote health and wellbeing.

Award
BSc (Hons)
Start date(s)
September 2024, September 2025
UCAS Code
B914
Course specifications
Course length
Full-time (3 years),Part-time (6 years)
Campus location
University: City Campus
School
School of Health and Society
UCAS points calculator

Why choose this course?

Public health focuses on creating a healthy and happy society by tackling the underlying causes of ill health, to prevent health problems and promote health and wellbeing.

Increasing government attention is focused on improving population health, and many agencies now have public health responsibilities. This is opening up new opportunities for innovative approaches and also brings with it the need for a well-prepared public health workforce, able to work flexibly across many disciplines and demonstrate a wide range of abilities. Our BSc Public Health course is specifically designed to fulfil this need through the educational aim of developing the specific knowledge and skills you will need for effective public health practice.

The BSc (Hons) Public Health programme at the University of Wolverhampton will enable you to gain an understanding of the multi-disciplinary approaches to public health. You will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively prepare for and establish a career in a wide range of public health-related areas.

Public health has always been popular but awareness of the work of public health professionals and the range of roles available in this field has increased since the Covid-19 pandemic. In light of the impact of the pandemic on public health practice both now and in the future, we have reviewed and strengthened our public health programme so you can be prepared to address these challenges.  

Success against key public health issues and diseases has no geographical boundaries, and our students may come from a variety of countries, so we also draw on wider international public health policy and priorities. As such, this three-year course adopts a strong focus on addressing health inequalities, empowering individuals and communities, and building the skills needed for a pro-active public health workforce. By focusing on socio-ecological models of health rather than just medical and epidemiological ones, our public health programme is able to offer a new, modern and global understanding of public health that reflects the changes and developments witnessed in current and future health services both in the UK and overseas.

 

What happens on the course?

Full-time students take three modules per semester, which in most cases are delivered over two days a week at the city campus in Wolverhampton. The format of delivery has been designed to fit in with people who work or have other commitments. You will study 6 modules per year, over 3 years.

You will learn and be assessed through a variety of activities including discussion, debate, presentations, posters, videos, quizzes and more. These activities will take place in-class, with some online activities.

You will study a range of modules. Some are studied alongside other health and social care students, which will provide you with opportunities for inter-disciplinary learning and broaden your understanding of the multi-disciplinary nature of public health. 

Students from diverse backgrounds are supported through an inclusive curriculum where every module, session, teaching material or activity is assessed for its suitability. Your prior experience and background will be respected, and you will be encouraged to contribute your unique perspectives, primarily through open discussion in seminars as well as interactive exercises that encourage you to share your diverse experiences.

The academic teaching team also provide a range of extra-curricular activities to support you in your studies and wider interest in public health issues. These include a regular public health open-seminar series where professionals in health and research share details of their work and engage in lively debate. For an additional fee we also offer a 2-week field trip to India where you can learn about health in India through visits to organisations and talks from health professionals and academics.

Course Modules

Potential Career Paths

This course will prepare you to move into the field of public health employment, as a public health practitioner, with the possibility of moving on to become a public health specialist. Several agencies offer opportunities, with the public, private or voluntary sector, and within the health and social care arena. The variety of occupational roles include:

  • Health promoter / Health advisor
  • Public health practitioner
  • Health protection practitioner
  • Health inequalities worker
  • Health trainer
  • Housing services officer
  • Sexual health advisor          
  • Smoking cessation counsellor                    
  • Community development worker
  • Health information officer
  • Health researcher
  • Health management
  • Wellbeing advisor
  • Community support worker
  • School health advisor
  • Health educator

You can access more information at these links:

Health Careers NHS

Faculty of Public Health

For those who wish to continue in further study or research, the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing currently offers a Master’s degree in Public Health (and an with Post Graduate Certificate and Post Graduate Diploma options, as well as PhD opportunities.

These degree programmes and the interim awards may be studied full- or part-time, along with more flexible study options for those who wish to take stand-alone modules as part of their Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

95% of students positively rated their academic support experience (NSS, 2024).

With over 20 years of delivering public health programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, the School of Public Health Studies has a range of established partnerships with public health practitioners and organisations, both in the UK and overseas. Our team of academics actively maintains links with local stakeholders that comprise a range of NHS, private, independent, and voluntary organisations, and are able to improve practice through research and help inform curriculum developments to ensure that this course meets the needs of potential employers. We also actively maintain links with our alumni, many of whom have gone on to develop successful careers in public health and will become part of your extensive network.  

This award is mapped against the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) criteria for practitioner standards. The UKPHR provides public protection by ensuring that only competent public health professionals are registered and that high standards of practice are maintained. The UKPHR registers public health practitioners to work in public health and provides practitioner-level registration which is suitable for undergraduates after relevant practice experience. This mapping has been approved by the UKPHR Education and Training Committee and is available to view on their website; as such this course can be accepted as Approved Prior Learning (APL) if you go on to seek registration.

The UKPHR criteria for practitioner standards have also been mapped against the Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework, which is a UK-wide tool to develop public health professional skills needed in the future.

The University of Wolverhampton is also one of only two universities to be formally partnered with The Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH), and you will be offered reduced-cost student membership of RSPH as part of our “My Course and More” events. We are also members of the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER) – an organisation that is dedicated to strengthening the role of public health by improving education and training of public health professionals for both practice and research.

The BSc (Hons) Public Health is one of many courses run by the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, which has an established reputation for excellence in terms of the quality of its courses, particularly through the provision of innovative approaches to teaching and learning, and for the student centred-friendliness of its academic and administrative staff. You will have the benefit of being taught by very experienced staff with first-hand knowledge of working in the public health field in a variety of professional roles, and so can help you integrate and apply the knowledge you will gain.

The course follows the core competency areas defined by the Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework:

  • Surveillance and assessment of health
  • Assessing the evidence for health
  • Policy and strategy
  • Leadership and collaborative working
  • Health improvement and protection
  • Public health intelligence
  • Academic public health
  • Health and social care quality.

These relate to the three domains of public health practice:

  • Health protection
  • Health improvement
  • Service quality.

This, along with close associations with the Royal Society of Public Health and Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region, and our mapping of the course to the UKPHR practitioner competencies, and the Public Health Skills and Knowledge framework gives the University of Wolverhampton BSc Public Health course a sound foundation for employability.  

This course will enable you to gain an understanding of the inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary approaches to public health. As a BSc Public Health student you will develop the skills necessary for the assimilation and understanding of the complex and diverse nature of the subject, as well as more general skills which will be widely transferable, enabling you to effectively prepare for and to establish a career in a wide range of health- and public health-related areas. A range of the modules will be studied, some alongside other health and wellbeing students, which will broaden your understanding of public health and provide you with opportunities for inter-disciplinary learning.

In your first year of study, you will explore the foundations and disciplines that public health practice draws upon – e.g. sociology, psychology, and communication. The second year of study builds on this knowledge and develops your theory and understanding of practice in public health. In your final year of study, you will engage with research at a deeper level and gain a deeper understanding of the issues you have explored at other levels. At this level, you will also further explore leadership and global health issues that will prepare you for your future career in public health or further study.

Each year of the course provides you with a platform for you to become a graduate professional who is digitally literate, knowledgeable, enterprising, and aware of your role within the public health arena as a global citizen. Other key themes that feature in modules across the programme include teaching that is informed by research; study and research skills and employability; and equality, diversity and inclusivity.

Whilst the course does not include a work-based placement, we have good relationships with local public health organisations and other employers and will support you if you would like to explore work experience opportunities.

Location Mode Fee Year
Home Full-time £9250 per year 2022-23
Home Full-time £9250 per year 2023-24
Home Full-time £9250 per year 2024-25
Home Part-time Block Release £3120 per year 2022-23
Home Part-time Block Release £4625 per year 2023-24
Home Part-time Block Release £4625 per year 2024-25
Home Part-time £3120 per year# 2022-23
Home Part-time £4625 per year# 2023-24
Home Part-time £4625 per year# 2024-25
International Full-time £13450 per year 2022-23
International Full-time £14450 per year 2023-24
International Full-time £14950 per year 2024-25

The University is committed to a transparent fee structure, with no hidden costs, to help you make an informed decision. This includes information on what is included in the fee and how fees are calculated and reviewed

# Undergraduate part-time fees for 50% rate of study

 

  • 96 UCAS points
  • A Levels - grades CCC 
  • BTEC L3 Extended Diploma or OCR Cambridge L3 Technical Extended Diploma - grades MMM
  • Access to HE Diploma (60 credits) of which a minimum of 45 must be at Level 3 (96 UCAS point equivalence, minimum 45 credits at merit)
  • Successful completion of the International Foundation Year in Education, Health and Wellbeing 

Use the UCAS Tariff calculator to check your qualifications and points

Students must usually have studied for a minimum of two years post GCSE level. However, we will consider applications from mature students who do not have two years of post-16 study, where they have relevant work experience. Please see http://wlv.ac.uk/mature for further information.

If you've got other qualifications or relevant experience, please contact The Gateway for further advice before applying.

International entry requirements and application guidance can be found at http://www.wlv.ac.uk/international/apply

English language requirements also apply

A selection of student comments:

  • I liked very much my studies in Public Health. It gave me an overview of Public Health, which included definitions, principles, practice and relevant topics of Public Health, such as violence and inequalities. I believe I will be able to apply this knowledge on my career as it seems to me that now I have a broad perspective over health.
  • The lecturers were very supportive, competent and friendly; so, they helped me a lot during my studies. I found very interesting the focus on the independent learning process as I believe that this skill is important, especially during the professional career.
  • I remembered that some lectures were very theoretical and I could not see how I could apply what I learned on the public health work. However, they were just a few; so, I could say that the modules were very good from a general perspective.
  • I would like to thank you and all my lecturers for the immensely support during my experience. I have learned and enjoyed a lot my time at Wolverhampton.
  • Now I am more critical, independent and willing to take (and accept) challenges. Besides, I acquired a broad view of health: I believe that now I take more into account the determinants of health and the importance of the community on an individual health. I think I can say that all these skills that I gained in England are helping me in my practical classes and will help me in my career.
  • During the first semester I was not understanding the course, however this second semester I am now enjoying and understanding it because most of the modules have overlapping information which makes it interesting. Reading from various books, resources group work and online module has improved my understanding.
  • So far I have enjoyed the course. I have found the module information easier to understand as I have moved through the year and gained a better understanding of the topics.
  • I am pleased with my final first year grades, and I have enjoyed building friendships with my cohort

Tuition Fees Loan (Home Fee Status):

Most students will be able to apply for a loans to pay for these subject to eligibility. To find out more information please refer to the government Student Finance website.

Changes for EU students:

The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as having Overseas Fee status. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) click here.


Self-funding:

If you don’t want to take out a loan to pay your fees or if you aren’t eligible to receive a loan, you might want to take advantage of the University’s scheme to pay by instalments: See How to pay.

For more information please contact the Gateway.


Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

If your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


Financial Hardship:

Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund.

for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


Bursaries and Scholarships:

In addition the University also offers a range of Bursaries and Scholarships packages

You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

Telephone

01902 32 22 22

Email

enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

Online

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