About This Course
Fact File
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Title
Public Health
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Code
PDPH
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College
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Duration
1 Year Full-time
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Teaching Mode
Full-time
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Qualifications
PG Dip
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EU Fees
€4,796
See Fees and Costs for full details. Non-EU Fees
€9,800
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Entry Requirements
See Requirements for full details.
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Closing Date
Open for EU applications, check rounds closing under How To Apply
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Non-EU Closing Date
30 June 2023
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Start Date
11 September 2023
Course Outline
To meet the increasing demand for highly trained public health specialists, we are offering a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health designed to prepare you to investigate, evaluate and address public health challenges, whatever your professional background. Our Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health programme will equip you with the core knowledge and specialized skills necessary to make a real difference in public health.
This Postgraduate Diploma runs over 10 months, and lectures are delivered on Thursdays (3pm to 9pm) and Fridays (9am to 5pm).
Programme Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this programme, students should 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 synthesise evidence and apply it to public health;
- Demonstrate enhanced knowledge in the chosen specialist pathway (health promotion, health protection, epidemiology and biostatistics).
Pathways
Pathway preferences are chosen in consultation with the Programme Director. The Postgraduate Diploma has three pathways:
- Pathway 1: Health Promotion
- Pathway 2: Health Protection
- Pathway 3: Epidemiology & Biostatistics
Students take 60 credits in total: In Semester 1, you will take core modules to the value of 30 credits. In Semester 2, you can choose one of the pathways and undertake modules to the value of 30 credits (25 credits from the chosen pathway and a 5-credit core module).
Semester 1
Core Modules - All pathways (30 credits)
- EH6025 Principles and Practice of Public Health (10 credits)
- EH6026 Applied Research for Public Health (10 credits)
- EH6027 Public Health Informatics (5 credits)
- EH6091 Graduate Information Literacy Skills (5 credits)
Semester 2
Core Module - All pathways
- EH6028 Leadership in Public Health (5 credits)
Pathway 1: Health Promotion
Students take 25 credits as follows:
- 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)
Plus 5 credits from either of the following:
Pathway 2: Health Protection
Students take 25 credits as follows:
- EH6019 The Principles and Practice of Multi-disciplinary Health Protection (10 credits)
- EH6044 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (5 credits
- EH6046 Global and Environmental Health (5 credits)
- MB6000 Microbiology for Health Protection (5 credits)
Pathway 3: Epidemiology & Biostatistics
Students take 25 credits as follows:
- EH6031 Advanced Epidemiology (10 credits)
- EH6044 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (5 credits)
- ST6011 Advanced Biostatistics (5 credits)
- ST6012 Survival Analysis (5 credits)
See the University Calendar (Diploma in Public Health) for further course and module content information.
Modules
Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our Book of Modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.
University Calendar
You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.
Course Practicalities
Teaching takes place on Thursdays and Fridays. Teaching includes the use of SPSS (all students) and STATA labs (Epidemiology and Biostatistics students) and occasional field trips.
Assessment
You will have a range of written assignments, exams, and presentations to complete for this postgraduate diploma.
Who teaches this course
Staff from the School of Public Health along with guest lecturers from outside the School.
- Dr Zubair Kabir (Academic director)
- Prof Ivan Perry
- Dr Tony Fitzgerald
- Dr Ali Khashan
- Dr Maria Roura
- Prof Patricia Kearney
- Dr Karen Matvienko-Sikar
- Ms Donna Ó’Doibhlin
- Ms Colette Cunningham
- Ms Mary Cronin
- Ms Maura Smiddy
Why Choose This Course
The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health is a multi-disciplinary course that allows you to specialise in health promotion, health protection, or advanced epidemiology. The course offers both quantitative and qualitative research methods.
This is an innovative course designed to offer multi-disciplinary academic and experiential development for students from a range of professional backgrounds. 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.
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 their suitability to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health.
Candidates must also meet one of the following requirements:
- Hold a Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in a relevant subject area OR
- Hold a Second Class Honours Grade I in a Postgraduate Certificate (NFQ level 9) in a relevant subject area OR
- Completion of three years (180 credits) of a medical degree programme from a recognised University on the Island of Ireland. No student may register for the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health programme of study until the Third University Examination in Medicine has been passed to an Upper Second Class honours Standard.
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 approval of the School of Public Health's Executive Committee.
For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.
International/Non-EU Applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.
- In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.
- Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.
English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Please visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.
Fees and Costs
The EU fee for this course is €4,796.
The Non-EU fee for this course is €9,800.
Deposits
If your course required a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second semester fee payment in January.
EU student fee payment
Fees for EU students are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration in August and the second in January.
International student fee payment
International Students can pay in two equal instalments once they have paid the appropriate deposit. The initial payment is due on registration and the balance usually by the end of January.
How can I pay?
You can pay by Credit/Debit card online or by credit transfer.
Questions?
If you have any questions on fee payment email our Fees Office at fees@ucc.ie.
How Do I Apply
1. Check Dates: Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.
- For Irish and EU applicants we operate a rounds system and you can check the rounds closing dates here.
- Note that not all our programmes are subject to the rounds system so check the opening and closing dates for your specific programme in the fact file boxes above.
2. Gather Documents: Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:
- Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
- Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.
3. Apply Online: Apply online via the UCC online application portal. Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.
- Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.
Additional Requirements
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:
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You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.
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In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.
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Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
Deposit
Please note that successful EU applicants will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of €500 on acceptance of their place.
The closing date for non-EU applications is 30 June 2023
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