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2. Postgraduate
3. Taught Courses
4. Masters
5. Public Health (MPH)

Course Fact File

Code	MPH
Duration	1 Year Full-time
Teaching Mode	Full-time
Qualifications	MPH
NFQ Level	Level 9
Closing Date	Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.
Non-EU Closing Date	Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 May. Early application is advised.
Start Date	8 September 2025

Course Outline

We designed this Master of Public Health (MPH) programme in order to meet the increasing demand for highly trained public health specialists in Ireland and abroad. This highly regarded programme will prepare you to investigate, evaluate and address public health challenges, whatever your professional background.

On graduation you will be equipped with the core knowledge and specialised skills necessary to make a real difference in public health. This is a full-time and structured programme, delivered over 12 months.

• Please note this is the campus-based Master of Public Health. If you wish to apply for the online version of the MPH programme please see our Online MPH page.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this MPH programme, you will be able to:

• Critically analyse theories and issues related to public health;
• Construct arguments around the social, political, and economic factors determining the health of populations;
• Demonstrate competence in the key underpinning disciplines and theories of public health including epidemiology, communicable diseases including healthcare-associated infections, biostatistics, social and behavioural sciences, and social policy;
• Analyse and synthesize evidence and apply it to public health;
• Demonstrate enhanced knowledge in the chosen specialist pathway (health protection, health promotion, epidemiology, and biostatistics);
• Demonstrate logical reasoning in written work and discussion;
• Employ a range of appropriate research and analysis methods with confidence and correct interpretation;
• Critically reflect on their own and others' learning and practice.
• Demonstrate their culminating experience in the form of a minor Dissertation.

MPH Pathways

The Master of Public Health (MPH) course is full-time and delivered over 12 months. Lectures take place on Thursdays (3pm to 9pm) and on Fridays (9am to 5pm). The programme allows students to specialise in one of three specific pathways as follows:

• Health promotion
• Health protection
• Epidemiology & Biostatistics

In Part I students take core modules to the value of 45 credits and modules to the value of 25 credits from their chosen pathway.

In Part II students undertake research and write a dissertation to the value of 20 credits. In total students take 90 credits comprised from Part I and Part II.

Part I 

Modules - All Pathways (45 credits)

• EH6025  Principles and Practice of Public Health (10 credits)
• EH6026  Applied Research for Public Health (10 credits
• EH6027  Public Health Informatics (5 credits)
• EH6028  Leadership in Public Health (5 credits) 
• EH6157  Qualitative Research in Public Health (Online) (5 Credits)
• EH6132  Health Economics for Public Health (5 credits)
• EH6154  Contemporary Perspectives of Global Health (5 credits)

Pathway 1: Health Promotion (25 credits)

• EH6029　Health Promotion: Concepts, Principles and Practice (10 credits)
• EH6039　Public Health and Behavioural Change (5 credits) 
• EH6044　Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (5 credits)
• EH6046　Global and Environmental Health (5 credits) 

Pathway 2: Health Protection (25 credits)

• EH6019 The Principles and Practice of Multi-disciplinary Health Protection (10 credits)
• EH6046 Global and Environmental Health (5 credits)
• MB6009 Principles of Microbiology (online)
• EH6044 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (5 credits)

Pathway 3: Epidemiology & Biostatistics (25 credits)

• EH6031 Advanced Epidemiology (10 credits)
• EH6044 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (5 credits)
• ST6011 Advanced Biostatistics (5 credits)
• ST6012 Survival Analysis (5 credits)

Students move to Part II (dissertation) on successful completion of Part I (taught modules).

Part II 

All Pathways 

• EH6143 Minor Dissertation in Public Health (20 credits)

Exemptions at point of entry

Applicants may be eligible for exemptions. If eligible, the relevant exemption paperwork must be completed immediately upon entering the programme. This application will be reviewed by the School of Public Health's Executive Committee. Please request an application form from the programme administrator.

• Holders of UCC's Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection or UCC's Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health will be exempt from certain modules on the programme if he/she undertakes the MPH within five years from the date of award of UCC's Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection or UCC's Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health.

• Holders of UCC's BSc in Public Health, or UCC's BSc Public Health Sciences will be exempt from EH6025 (Principles and Practice of Public Health) if he/she undertakes the MPH within five years from the date of award of one of the above-mentioned courses.

Course Practicalities

Teaching takes place Thursdays (3pm to 9pm) and Fridays (9am to 5pm). Teaching will include SPSS (all students) and STATA labs (Epidemiology & Biostatistics students) and occasional field trips. 

Assessment

You will have a range of written assignments, exams, presentations, and finally, the written dissertation in a publishable journal format with a maximum allowable word count of 5,000 (in the quantitative study) or 7,000 words (in a qualitative study/systematic review).

Staff

Our staff come from across UCC and the School of Public Health along with guest and visiting lecturers, and include:

• Dr Zubair Kabir, Academic Director (campus-based Masters of Public Health)
• Professor Patricia Kearney
• Professor Ivan Perry
• Ms Mary Cronin
• Ms Donna Ó’Doibhlin
• Ms Colette Cunningham
• Dr Tony Fitzgerald
• Dr Maura Smiddy
• Dr Maria Roura
• Dr Karen Matvienko-Sikar
• Dr Brenda Lynch
• Dr Ali Khashan

Why Choose This Course

The MPH is an innovative multi-disciplinary course where you can specialise in health promotion, health protection or epidemiology and biostatistics. The course offers both quantitative and qualitative research methods, and you can apply this knowledge to your dissertation. Our modules are developed and taught by a dedicated team of staff, who are experts in a variety of public health areas. Students will experience a wide range of teaching styles: classroom-based, limited fieldwork, and lab sessions.

Research Projects

At the School of Public Health, we are involved in major national research projects, including focusing on nutritional epidemiology, looking at causes and prevention of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease, tobacco control and health services research.  Most recently we were awarded significant funding to research the impact Covid-19 public health measures have had on the people of Ireland.

Skills and Careers Information

Our graduates are currently employed in a range of careers in Ireland, Europe and in other developed and developing countries in diverse public health roles including health services, public health research, surveillance, environmental health and public health agencies.

Requirements

All applicants will be required to write a 500-word statement demonstrating suitability to undertake a Master of Public Health.

All applicants are required to meet one of the following:

• Possess a minimum Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ Level 8) in a relevant subject area Or
• Possess a minimum Second Class Honours Grade I in a postgraduate diploma (NFQ Level 9) in a relevant subject area.

Relevant subject areas are Biological Sciences, Medical and Health Sciences, Public Health and Social Sciences.

Note: In some circumstances, applicants without a primary degree or applicants without a relevant primary degree may be recommended for entry to the programme under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) following a review of their individual qualifications and experience by the course committee. Such applicants may be called for an interview, and their admission will be subject to the School of Public Health's Executive Committee's approval.

Fees and Costs

How To Apply

The closing date for non-EU applications is Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 May. Early application is advised.

Apply Now