Public Health and Policy

Entry requirements

The normal minimum entrance qualification for registration at the School on a MPhil/PhD programme is evidence of an aptitude for research and at least one of the following:

• a master’s degree in a subject appropriate to the course of study to be followed (recommended)
• a qualification appropriate to the course of study to be followed, in medicine, dentistry or veterinary studies
• an upper second-class honours degree from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, in a relevant subject.

Months of entry

January, April, September

Course content

The Faculty of Public Health and Policy (PHP) is focussed on the improvement of health throughout the UK and worldwide. We do this through research, teaching and the provision of advice in the areas of health policy, health systems and services, and individual, social and environmental influences on health. Interests and activities embrace the health needs of people living in countries at all levels of development. We run a range of popular and highly respected MSc courses, short courses and CPD.

The Faculty has around 250 academic staff and 140 research students. We are the largest multi-disciplinary public health group in Europe. We use multidisciplinary and multi-method approaches to generate new knowledge for specific contexts and test transferability to different settings, and engage with policymakers and providers of health care to ensure research is relevant and translated into practice.

Multi-disciplinarity is the hallmark of our research, teaching and engagement. We have one of the world’s largest global groupings of social scientists working on health, and we encompass the disciplines of epidemiology, public health medicine, economics, political science, international relations, anthropology, sociology, history, psychology, statistics and mathematics.

The Faculty has strong overseas links which provide a basis for field studies and international collaborations in developed and developing countries for DrPH and PhD students interested in global health. The Faculty provides a stimulating environment for research and postgraduate teaching at the doctoral level. Funding opportunities for research degrees training include Medical Research Council Studentships, studentships held jointly with other colleges of the Bloomsbury Colleges, and funded Graduate Teaching Assistantships available for designated areas of research. In the last few years substantial investment has provided newly refurbished and modern facilities for laboratory-based research.

The wide range of scientific interests and the geographic diversity of the research projects offer a unique opportunity for prospective research students to participate in the work of a dynamic and stimulating group of internationally renowned researchers. The Faculty welcomes applications from students wishing to study for either a PhD or DrPH. Research students become members of one of the four Research Departments, participating in the full range of the Department's academic and social activities. Students are allocated a supervisor, and hence a Research Department, based on their research interests and disciplinary area. A comprehensive research skills training programme is provided. Meetings and social events are organised at intervals throughout the year to encourage students to get to know each other and to develop a supportive environment.

Fees and funding

Learn more on the fees and funding page.