Course summary

What does it take to prevent disease, strengthen health systems, and reduce health inequalities? Public health tackles these challenges by addressing root causes and driving lasting change. Our online Master of Public Health (MPH) offers a comprehensive view of today’s key issues—from global health and epidemiology to health promotion, behavioural change, and the use of data and technology to improve outcomes. You’ll also gain practical skills to design, implement, and evaluate interventions for urgent challenges like chronic disease, mental health, and health disparities. Throughout your studies, you’ll develop core competencies in research, leadership, and communication – essential for high-impact roles that involve influencing policy, managing programmes, or advancing public health strategies at local, national, and international levels. Your final research project offers the opportunity to explore a real-world issue you care about, guided by experienced academic staff with strong public health expertise. Delivered fully online and part-time, the MPH is structured to fit around your professional and personal commitments. You’ll study one module at a time through Aston’s Digital Campus, with access to high-quality resources, interactive case studies, and a collaborative global learning community. Whether you’re currently working in health or planning a career shift into the sector, this programme will prepare you to lead meaningful, measurable change in the systems and communities that need it most. What you will learn

• Apply advanced public health knowledge: Critically evaluate key issues in public health using specialised knowledge and research skills.

• Reflect on practice and policy: Examine how place, theory, technology, and advocacy influence professional practice in public health.

• Solve complex public health challenges: Investigate, analyse, and synthesise complex information affecting public health outcomes.

• Collaborate and lead effectively: Work in multidisciplinary teams to design public health initiatives and reflect on essential leadership and management skills.

• Use data to drive change: Apply epidemiological data, critical appraisal, and evaluation techniques to assess public health initiatives.

• Conduct independent research: Work autonomously to create and analyse original qualitative and/or quantitative public health datasets.

• Understand context and inequality: Explore how context, place, inequality, and inequity shape public health needs and responses.

• Tackle real public health challenges: Build the knowledge to address issues like infectious disease, mental health, and non-communicable diseases across local and global contexts.

• Advance your career: Develop leadership skills in epidemiology, health promotion, and policy to move into higher-paying, impactful roles.

• Build research and critical thinking skills: Learn to analyse health data and complete an independent research project on a public health issue that matters to you.

• Drive social change: Lead efforts to reduce health inequalities, inform policy, and improve outcomes in underserved communities.

• Study on your terms: 100% online and part-time, with flexible scheduling, one-module-at-a-time learning, and access to 25,000+ digital resources.

• Join a global, supportive community: Learn in a close-knit cohort with expert tutor support and a collaborative, inclusive environment.