Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health
Validated by University of South Wales
Develop your understanding of the factors that shape health across populations with our Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health. Validated by the University of South Wales, this 120-credit postgraduate programme brings together evidence-based public health, population health, epidemiology, health protection, leadership, and health and care systems, helping you understand and respond to some of the most important challenges affecting public health today.
Studying Public Health at postgraduate level enables you to look beyond individual health needs and consider the wider determinants that influence communities and populations. You’ll examine how data and evidence inform public health decisions, how environmental and geopolitical factors affect health, and how prevention, health protection, policy, leadership, and service development contribute to improving health at a population level.
This online Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health is studied 100% online and part-time over one year, allowing you to develop your knowledge alongside your existing professional commitments. Through six 20-credit modules, you’ll develop a systematic understanding of Public Health and strengthen your ability to critically evaluate evidence and apply your learning within your professional context.
Next Intake
March 2027
Apply By
March 2027
Commitment
Part time
Format
100% online
Duration
12 months
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What will you study on this Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health?
The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health provides broad postgraduate study across the key areas that influence population health. Across six 20-credit modules, you’ll examine contemporary public-health challenges and develop your understanding of the evidence, data, systems, policies, and approaches used to understand and respond to them.
Your studies cover determinants of health, epidemiology and population data, health protection, leadership, policy development, and health and care systems. You’ll consider Public Health at both local and wider population levels, examining how social, environmental, geopolitical, and organisational factors interact to influence health and health inequalities.
Alongside your subject knowledge, the programme develops your ability to critically appraise evidence, interpret population-health information, contribute to decision-making, and consider Public Health within complex, multidisciplinary and multi-agency settings.
- Contemporary Public Health – Examine current and emerging public-health challenges, including population health, health improvement, disease burden, and inequalities.
- Determinants of health – Consider how environmental, geopolitical, social, and other wider factors influence the health of populations.
- Data and intelligence – Develop your understanding of epidemiology, population statistics, surveillance, data sources, and the use of evidence to inform public-health decisions.
- Leadership and complexity – Examine leadership, policy development, change management, partnership working, community engagement, and decision-making within complex settings.
- Health protection – Develop your understanding of disease control, outbreak and incident management, surveillance, immunisation, screening, and wider approaches to protecting population health.
- Health and care systems – Consider needs assessment, health impact assessment, equality and diversity, quality and risk, patient pathways, and the development of health and care services.
Throughout the programme, you’ll engage with case scenarios, critical appraisal, independent literature exploration, reflection, and discussion with peers and tutors, helping you connect Public Health theory and evidence with issues relevant to professional practice.
Year 1
Module Aims
- To provide an overview of the introduction to public health and explore relevant definitions.
- To critically use relevant data and evidence to understand contemporary issues within the public health arena.
- To develop an understanding of evidence-based interventions, to prevent contemporary issues or to protect the population’s health.
Module Content
- Overview/history of public health
- Demographic data
- Global burden of disease
- Non-communicable disease
- Infectious disease
- Personal Factors contributing to non-communicable disease and infectious disease
- Wider determinants contributing to non-communicable disease and infectious disease
Learning Outcomes
- Apply relevant understanding of data and evidence to understand the factors that impact on contemporary public health issues, whilst reflecting on the strength, weaknesses and limitations of using robust data and evidence.
- Demonstrate an ability to critically apply appropriate statistical and evidence-based analysis techniques and methods to contemporary public health issues.
Module Aims
To critically use relevant data and evidence to understand the impact of environmental/geopolitical issues and interventions to protect the population’s health.
Module Content
- Safe and secure supplies of water and food
- Rising temperature
- Flooding/water security
- Diminishing Biodiversity
- Natural disasters
Learning Outcomes
- Critically apply the evidence to assess the impact of environmental/geopolitical issues on the health and wellbeing of populations and population groups, whilst reflecting on the strength, weaknesses and limitations of using robust data and survey information.
- Demonstrate an ability to critically apply robust evidence to support effective interventions to protect populations.
Module Aims
To critically use relevant data collected by a variety of methods and techniques to survey and assess a population’s health.
Module Content
- Sources and uses of data
- Surveys and epidemiology
- Population statistics: Techniques and methods for analysing population health data - quantitative
- Population statistics: Techniques and methods for analysing population health data - surveillance qualitative
- Data from the use of health and other services
- Legal and ethical frameworks for the use of data
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an ability to critically apply appropriate techniques and methods to the analysis of health data for populations and population groups.
- Critically appraise and apply appropriate data and survey methods to assess the health and wellbeing of populations and population groups within an applicable legal and ethical framework.
Module Aims
To develop knowledge of a range of effective strategic leadership, organisational and management skills in a variety of complex public health situations and contexts, dealing effectively with uncertainty and the unexpected to achieve public health goals.
Module Content
- Leadership
- Policy development
- Change/project management
- Partnership
- Working within and with communities
- Implementation of public health interventions in complex settings
Learning Outcomes
- To assess, communicate and understand the management of different kinds of risks including health, financial, reputational and political.
- To critically apply influencing and negotiating skills in a variety of complex settings to advocate for public health issues.
Module Aims
- To critically apply the evidence base to address issues within public health care systems.
- To develop an understanding of needs assessment and health impact assessment to support evidence-based interventions.
- To develop skills in pathway development for integrated services.
Module Content
- Understanding of health protection risk
- Understanding of environmental determinants of disease and disease control
- Identifying and managing an outbreak
- Identifying and managing an incident
- Surveillance: Immunisation and screening
- Health protection: legal
Learning Outcomes
- Use appropriate data and evidence to critically apply the appropriate techniques and methods to identify and assess the risks and hazards of communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases, relevant to health protection.
- Demonstrate an ability to coordinate appropriate public health responses, communicating effective interventions to protect populations by preventing communicable and non-communicable disease, ensuring that this is supported by the critical application of robust evidence.
Module Aims
- To critically apply the evidence base to address issues within public health care systems.
- To develop an understanding of needs assessment and health impact assessment to support evidence-based interventions.
- To develop skills in pathway development for integrated services.
Module Content
- Understanding organisation and management of care and healthcare systems
- Understanding needs assessment
- Understanding health impact assessment
- Working to protect equality and diversity
- Understanding quality and risk in health care
- Understanding patient pathways and the transformation of patient pathways
Learning Outcomes
- Critically apply the evidence base to the factors that impact on public health issues within a variety of health and care systems, whilst reflecting on the strength, weaknesses and limitations of using robust data and evidence.
- Demonstrate an ability to critically apply appropriate techniques and methods to the analysis of health care public health issues and linked health data and evidence for populations and population groups, and protect the health of populations in a healthcare environment.
Course Fees & Payment Options
Course Fees
- Deposit for March 2027: £437 †
- Total Course Fees (UK & International) for March 2027: £5,200 ††
Payment Options
- Option 1: Upfront payment in full (discount available).
- Option 2: Interest-free monthly payments throughout the course.
Payment Plan Breakdown
Postgraduate Diploma
| Deposit | 10 Monthly Payments | Final Payment |
| £437 † | £433 | £433 |
Total payments: £5,200
Additional Financing
Spread the cost with Lendwise, who offer financing options for up to 8 years. ††††
† Deposits are non-refundable
†† Prices are subject to review following each intake
†††† Subject to eligibility criteria.
Entry requirements
Since our courses are conducted entirely online, they are accessible to both UK and international registered healthcare professionals.
Applicants will typically hold an undergraduate bachelor's degree (including international qualifications) in a relevant professional healthcare field, such as a medical or nursing degree.
Registered healthcare professionals without these recognised qualifications will be considered on an individual basis and a wide range of prior experience may be taken into account. In some cases, applicants may be asked to submit a piece of work for assessment in order to confirm that they are able to work comfortably at postgraduate level, and demonstrate the requisite clinical and professional knowledge.
Documents Required
- A copy of your updated CV including your address and date of birth.
- A copy of your undergraduate degree certificate.
- The name and email address of someone who is able to provide a reference, this can be a work colleague, employer or former tutor.
- A detailed personal statement explaining why you would like to undertake the course.
- A copy of your proof of English competency (see below).
English Language Requirements Proficiency in the English language is also essential to completing our courses. If English is NOT your first language, we ask for proof of competency during the application process. We are able to accept an IELTS overall score of 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 for each band) or an equivalent qualification.
If you do not meet these requirements, please don’t worry. The University of South Wales run a number of English Language Programmes at the Centre for International English to prepare you for your academic studies. You can also contact our admissions team on admissions@diploma-msc.com for more information on the qualifications we accept.
Should you have already successfully completed the 1 year Postgraduate Diploma and wish to convert to the MSc and complete only the second year of the programme this is possible. Please contact our admissions department admissions@diploma-msc.com to find out more.
Faculty
Programme Director
Prof Edward Kunonga
A passionate public health professional with knowledge, experience and expertise on improving population health and healthcare quality at a local, regional, national and global level. Extensive public...
Tutor
Dr Ibrahim Elbayoumy Bachelor of medicine and surgery, MSc in public health preventive and social medicine, MD,PhD in public health ,preventive and social medicine, MSc in
Diabetes Care and Education-Dundee...
Tutor
Dr Victoria Ononeze
Dr Victoria Ononeze is an experienced public health specialist with two decades of experience as a Consultant in Public Health, most recently serving at West Northamptonshire Council....
Tutor
Nwanna Kevin, BSc, MPH, MBA, PGDMATHE, PhD, FAIPHP, SOPHE
An experienced educator and public health specialist serving as a Tutor on the PGDip and MSc in Public Health programs....
Tutor
Professor Deborah Tolulope Esan, RN, RM, RPHN, BNSc, MPH, PhD
Professor Deborah Tolulope Esan is the Dean of the Faculty of Nursing Sciences at Bowen University, Nigeria, with over...
Tutor
Dr Olutomi Sodipo, MBBS, MPH, FMCPH (Public Health), FWACP (Community Health), PMP®
Dr Olutomi Sodipo works in Public Health in Abuja, Nigeria, and a PGDip Tutor in Public Health...
Partners
University of South Wales
Frequently Asked Questions
For a full list of our FAQs visit our FAQs page.
As each Medical Council has their own rules/regulations with regard to Postgraduate study we recommend that you contact your local Medical Council with regard to recognition.
Upon completion of the course the University would invite you to a graduation ceremony and provide your certificate which makes no reference to the fact that the course was studied online and is therefore typically recognised the same as any other UK University qualification.
Rest assured, the overall Postgraduate Diploma carries a total of 1,200 CPD points, with the MSc an additional 600 CPD points, and all official certifications are issued directly by the University.
When you study one of our programmes you may be surprised to find that there are no lectures or seminars. Your learning will be self-directed meaning that rather than being told information you find it for yourself (with tutor guidance and support). We do this via a series of clinically rich scenarios which your tutor will post on our academic forum which you and your classmates will research, respond to and discuss.
You will be assessed through the Academic Forum, Reflective Journal and Assignments. Learning will be carried out using our online learning platform: Moodle.
You can study whenever and wherever you want - our programmes are totally flexible to fit around your other work and life commitments.
The course is specifically designed so that part of your study is the application of theory to practice in your day job.
We typically suggest that students aim to log into the Moodle platform daily. We recommend a "little and often" approach for reading, reflection and/or posting. High achieving students will typically spend 1-2 hours dedicated to their studies a day; 10 hours per week is sufficient time to spend on the platform.
Those who cannot dedicate more time than once/twice per week may struggle with the demands of this postgraduate programme.
Yes, everything is done entirely online through our learning platform, Moodle. You do not need to attend the University.
All of our courses are delivered in English, so proficiency in the English language is essential for success. If English is not your first language, we require proof of competency as part of your application. We accept the following as proof of English Language skills:
We Accept a Range of English Language Qualifications
While IELTS and TOEFL are among the most commonly used English tests, we understand that students come from diverse backgrounds — and we’re happy to work with you to accept a wide range of other recognised English language qualifications.
We accept IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
Our most commonly accepted test, IELTS is globally recognised and widely used for university admissions.
We accept TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
Another widely accepted test, TOEFL assesses your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in an academic setting.
We accept English Medium of Instruction (EMI) Letters
Many of our international students provide an EMI (English Medium Instruction) letter from their previous institution. This letter should confirm that you were taught in the medium of English. It is a popular and widely accepted form of proof, especially if you have completed prior academic studies in English.
Our University partners Requirements
The University of South Wales accepts an overall score of 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 for each band) and The University of Buckingham accepts an overall score of 6.5 (minimum of 6.0 for each band).
Our Flexible Instalment Plan is designed to offer ultimate flexibility to pay for your programme. You have the choice of two payment options:
Make an Upfront Payment in Full: For those who prefer to settle their fees upfront, you can pay the full amount at the beginning of your programme.
Interest-Free Payments: Alternatively, you can choose to spread your payments out with interest-free instalments every month for the duration of your course.
These options are separate from our existing lending partners, which you can explore further on our programme pages. We believe that education should be accessible to all, and our Flexible Instalment Plan is just one of the ways we are committed to supporting you in your academic journey.
We currently offer two discounts: the Early Bird Discount and the Action Taker Discount. The Early Bird discount allows you to save up to £500 or more, available only to self-funders and is a limited-time offer that runs for the entirety of November for the March cohort or the entirety of May for the September cohort. Our Action Taker Discount allows you to save up to £150 off for PGCert and £250 off for PGDip/2-year MSc programmes. To qualify for Action Takers, you must pay the deposit within 7 days of acceptance.
For Early Bird Discounts, the discount is visible if your application and acceptance are completed within the required timeframe. For Action Taker Discounts, it will reflect once conditions are met.
A Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health is a Level 7 postgraduate qualification focused on developing an advanced understanding of health at a population level. Learna's 120-credit PGDip is studied online and part-time over one year and comprises six modules covering contemporary Public Health, determinants of health, data and intelligence, leadership and complexity, health protection, and health and care systems.
Yes. You'll study leadership alongside policy development, change and project management, partnership working, community engagement, and the implementation of Public Health interventions within complex settings.
You'll examine Public Health within health and care systems, including needs assessment, health impact assessment, equality and diversity, quality and risk, patient pathways, and service development. This helps you consider how evidence and population-health needs can inform the development and delivery of health and care services.
Who can study this Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health?
The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health is relevant to healthcare professionals and other professionals with an interest in Public Health and population health. Its broad curriculum makes it relevant across healthcare, health services, public-sector settings, and roles involving population health, policy, or service development.
The programme may be relevant to:
- Doctors and GPs
- Nurses and allied healthcare professionals
- Pharmacists and other registered healthcare professionals
- Public Health and health-service professionals
- Policy makers and public-sector professionals
- Professionals working in relevant scientific and social-science fields
- Professionals taking on Public Health responsibilities
- International healthcare professionals
The programme can support you in developing Public Health knowledge relevant to your existing role or responsibilities, including prevention, population needs, evidence appraisal, policy, service development, health protection, and multidisciplinary working. Eligibility remains subject to the programme's published entry requirements.
Assessment Methods
This programme emphasises learning through active participation in case-based discussions, reflection, and real-life scenarios. Students engage with clinical cases that mirror everyday practice, fostering problem-solving and evidence-based application from the very beginning.
Across the modules, assessments are integrated with learning. Each week, you will work through two to three clinical cases, discussing and reflecting on them with peers under the guidance of an expert tutor. These discussions form the core of your learning and are also the basis for your assessments.
Our innovative teaching methods are designed to help you translate this learning into real-world clinical practice. You'll need to regularly log in to participate in discussions, ideally on a daily basis, and commit approximately two hours per day to your studies. Our dedicated Student Support Team is available to assist with any challenges you may encounter, from navigating our online platform to managing deadlines.
How Foundational Knowledge is Developed
The programme is structured so that foundational knowledge is introduced through carefully designed clinical cases. Each case is crafted to highlight essential concepts and progressively deepen your understanding as you apply critical thinking and evidence-based analysis. This hands-on approach ensures that you are not only acquiring theoretical knowledge but also learning how to apply it in a practical, clinical setting.
This programme is suited for professionals who thrive in an online, discussion-based learning environment. Please note that this course focuses on interactive, applied learning through peer collaboration and case discussions. You will be fully supported, encouraged and led through the programme to success and graduation!
- Every week students are presented with two/three clinical case-based scenarios that are reflective of every day clinical practice and research.
- Tutors will post a number of questions and prompts to aid students in a formal discussion of each case.
- These discussions are facilitated throughout by your tutor and are then assessed at the end of every module.
The reflective journal is used by students throughout each module to monitor personal progress. This is guided by weekly feedback from your tutor and is graded at the end of every module. The journal typically includes the following:
- Initial expectations and reasons for taking the course.
- Module and/or personal learning objectives.
- Description of events, issues and learning points within current personal practice.
- Change in every day practice due to knowledge gained on each module.
- A description of what has been learned during the module.
For this assessment, students will work on a group assignment and/or an individual assignment.
- Group assignments are designed to hone skills in the multidisciplinary, holistic approach to modern treatments and patient management by requiring group participation in a single piece of work.
- Individual assignments are designed to hone skills in academic career progression through such tasks as reviewing papers, developing scientific posters or abstracts, peer-reviewing, social media activities, patient information leaflets and essays.
- Students are provided with case-based problems in the form of a one-hour timed examination.
- The exam consists of 30 'Single Best Answer' questions.
- Students are required to complete the exam online within the set time.