MSc Global Public Health

Program Overview

The MSc Global Public Health program at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), United Kingdom, offers an interdisciplinary and comprehensive postgraduate degree focused on understanding and addressing global health challenges. This program is designed for professionals and graduates who are passionate about improving health outcomes and well-being on an international scale. It critically examines both international and national public health priorities, as highlighted by leading organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UK Department of Health and Social Care. The course emphasizes the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the complex factors contributing to global health inequalities, fostering an evidence-based approach to public health practice and research. Graduates are prepared to become effective global health practitioners capable of challenging and transforming public health at local, national, and international levels, by developing strategic understanding for managerial or senior roles across healthcare, social care, education, business, and the voluntary sector.

Curriculum: The curriculum of the MSc Global Public Health is structured to provide students with the essential knowledge and skills required for effective public health practice. Core modules typically include "Global Health and Sustainable Development Goals," which explores critical global health challenges; "Evidence Based Global Public Health," focusing on research and evaluation methodologies; "Essentials of Global Epidemiology," introducing key epidemiological principles and their application; and "Health Promotion: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally," which examines various health promotion models and their historical context. The program culminates in a "Global Public Health Research Project," allowing students to undertake a substantial piece of work demonstrating systematic understanding and critical awareness of current problems in global public health. Learning is delivered through a blended approach, integrating interactive face-to-face sessions with guided learning on a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), encompassing lectures, workshops, seminars, group work, and independent research. Assessments are diverse, including coursework such as essays, reflective writing, case studies, written reports, and oral presentations.

Research Focus: Canterbury Christ Church University, particularly through its Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social Care, demonstrates a robust research focus that directly informs the MSc Global Public Health program. Research activities within the Faculty often align with the theme of public health in a global context, exploring health policies, systems, and services at various levels, and involving complex interventions within communities. While detailed individual projects for the MSc are not extensively published, the program's emphasis on evidence-based practice and its culminating research project encourage students to engage in independent scholarly inquiry. The Faculty's research contributes to understanding and addressing both international and national population health issues, ensuring that students are exposed to current debates and methodologies in the field, enhancing their skills in critical thinking, scholarship, and research.

Industry Engagement: The MSc Global Public Health program at CCCU boasts strong industry engagement, designed to prepare graduates for real-world challenges in public health. The curriculum is shaped by priorities highlighted by key drivers behind UK and global public health workforce strategies, such as the WHO and the UK Department of Health and Social Care. Students are provided opportunities to network with stakeholders within the School and beyond through academic input, research, and knowledge exchange. While specific mandatory placements are not explicitly detailed, the program fosters engagement with health and wider industry stakeholders. The university actively collaborates with hundreds of organizations across Kent and Medway, including NHS trusts, local government, and charities. This ensures that the program content remains relevant to current professional practice and that graduates are equipped with skills directly applicable to roles in public health practice and research at local, national, or international levels.

Global Perspective: The MSc Global Public Health program at Canterbury Christ Church University is inherently built upon a strong global perspective. It explicitly focuses on exploring health on an international scale, recognizing that solving modern health issues necessitates a global lens due to phenomena like mass migration and the interconnected global economy. The curriculum delves into the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and analyzes public health challenges that contribute to global inequalities, empowering students to address these issues internationally. The diverse student body enriches classroom discussions, providing varied cultural insights into global health systems, challenges, and solutions. Graduates are prepared to work effectively in a variety of international settings, from non-governmental organizations and international development bodies to global health policy and research roles, contributing to a healthier and more equitable world.