Public Health & Social Innovation

Entry requirements

First or second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in social sciences, health studies or related fields.

Months of entry

September

Course content

• Learn about public health from multiple perspectives, drawing on insights from across the social sciences to understand how real-world change happens;
• Be part of a future-focused programme centred on social innovation, solutions to tackling health inequalities, and advancing health equity;
• Choose an optional placement-based dissertation to gain hands-on experience and build connections with leading public health organisations;
• Hear directly from the field through dynamic guest lectures with leading public health experts, exploring emerging challenges, innovations and employer priorities.

This exciting, social science–led public health programme equips you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to understand today’s biggest public health challenges and to design bold, ethical solutions for the future. You will begin by exploring the foundations of public health, learning how health is shaped not just by biology or healthcare, but by social, economic, political, commercial, and environmental forces. From the origins of sanitation and epidemiology to contemporary challenges such as climate change, pandemics, mental health, and health inequalities, you will develop a strong grounding in evidence-based, population-level thinking.

Building on these foundations, the programme moves beyond analysis into action through social innovation in public health. You will learn how change really happens in complex systems through co-production with communities, creative design, systems thinking, and strategic partnerships. You will explore cutting-edge approaches, including digital and AI innovation, social enterprise, and participatory evaluation, while critically engaging with power, politics, ethics, and equity. Through applied innovation labs, you will work on real-world public health problems, developing practical solutions that are scalable, sustainable, and socially just. This programme prepares you not only to understand public health, but to lead meaningful change in a rapidly evolving world.

The programme is made up of 180 credits - six taught modules (120 credits) and a dissertation project (60 credits) from spring to summer.

You'll study two core modules - Foundations of Public Health in Semester 1 and Social Innovation in Public Health in Semester 2. You'll then select four modules from a suite of 20-credit optional modules, across two semesters. You must choose one research methods module and one social policy module.

During the MSc, you have the opportunity to choose either a:

• traditional research-focused dissertation, exploring a public health challenge and social innovation;
• a placement-based dissertation in a policy or third-sector organisation.

This programme offers the opportunity to undertake a placement-based dissertation as an alternative to a traditional dissertation, with excellent potential to develop and apply highly transferable practical skills, build professional networks and enhance employability prospects.

Placements may take the form of:

• a placement with a governmental, intergovernmental, or non-governmental organisation;
• a clearly defined placement contributing to an existing academic research project within the University of Strathclyde;
• a guided data analysis and reflection, which simulates the experience a student would have on placement, but is guided by academic staff.

You'd work with the placement organisation or research project lead to define a discrete, assessable piece of written work, for example, a policy briefing or scoping review.

Please note the availability of placement opportunities may vary each year and are not guaranteed. Students may be subject to a separate application process.

The Department of Social Work & Social Policy regularly feature guest lectures in our teaching, making the most of our extensive policy and research networks. Guest lectures will include leading public health experts, creating a multi-disciplinary learning environment.

There will be networking opportunities with partnership representatives from Glasgow City Council, NHS, and government bodies, alongside expertise from the Scottish Health Equity Research Unit, the Centre for Health Policy, Health & Care Futures, and the Fraser of Allander Institute.

Information for international students

Please check our English requirementsbefore making your application.

Fees and funding

Visit our website for information on Scholarships and funding opportunities.

Assessment