Bachelor of Science, Public Health
Programme Handbook 2024-2025
1 Purpose of this Handbook
The programme handbook has been developed as a resource for undergraduate students completing the BSc Public Health programme. The handbook aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to the Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care and information on all aspects of your programme of study. This resource should be used as the first point of reference for questions concerning your programme, support or advice, or academic policies and procedures.
The University of Manchester is a large and complex organisation, and we want to ensure that you know how to access the information, support, and guidance you need to succeed in your studies. It is therefore designed to guide you through many aspects of your time as a student and provides useful links to information available through the University’s website, as well as summarising the facilities and support services that are available across the University and how you can access them. It also outlines what you should expect of the Division and what they can expect from you and clarifies the policies and procedures relevant to your area of study. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the Student Handbook and with the contents of the student pages on Blackboard and to use them as a reference when required since they govern important aspects of your programme and therefore may have a significant impact on you and the successful completion of your degree.
1.1 Communication
You should note that email is the default means of communication between staff and students. You must use your official University email address when communicating with the University not least because email sent from non-University mail accounts may be classified as junk mail and hence not read.
Information is also provided electronically using Blackboard where students can find detailed information on units and programme-specific information. Teaching staff and students are normally expected to check their email accounts, Blackboard and other electronic methods of communication on a daily basis during term-time and to respond to messages as appropriate.
Note: You will need to refer to this Handbook throughout your programme.
2 Welcome from the Programme Director
Welcome to the Department of Public Health in the Epidemiology and Public Health Group. I am the Clinical Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology at The University of Manchester, and I have the honour of being the Programme Director for the BSc in Public Health.
We’re so excited to be able to offer this opportunity to students from across the globe. We have based this on our very successful master’s programme. We are offering a completely flexible learning opportunity that can be taken on-campus or online and we will support students in their career goals in public health policy and practice. We are part of a vibrant research community, and we have both international and national links to many other stakeholders who work with us for delivering high-quality research, teaching and social responsibility.
As one of our students, you’ll be offered the opportunity to come onto campus or access these events offline as well as being able to have access to all the components of any of our residentials, our Geneva School, our International Summer School, and our International Festival of Public Health, either in person or through distance learning and on the web.
We hope you’ll enjoy learning with us, and we hope that you’ll be able to fulfil your career goals in public health. We know we have a dedicated team of experts both in research, teaching and training that are here to welcome you to Manchester. We wish you every success as you begin the BSc Public Health programme.
Professor Arpana Verma
Clinical Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology
Programme Director, BSc Public Health
3 Programme Contacts
| BSc Public Health Team | |
| Programme Director: | Professor Arpana Verma |
| Senior Academic Advisor, Inclusivity & Widening Participation Lead and Year 1 Lead: | Samantha Aston |
| Senior Academic Advisor, Academic Lead for Recruitment and Admissions and Student Support: | Gary Clough |
| Academic Lead for Exams & Assessments: | Steph Mitchell |
| Academic Lead for Programme & Curriculum Transformation: | Laura Swain |
| Academic Lead for Careers & Employability and Year 3 Lead | Dr Jennie Day |
| PASS Coordinator and Year 2 Lead | Rebecca Rippon |
| Course Unit Leads | Christine Greenhalgh
christine.greenhalgh@manchester.ac.uk Greg Williams |
| General student support
Please use the relevant email addresses for support:
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Department address
Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Public Health Group, School of Health Sciences
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Stopford Building
The University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PL
4 Where to go for help and advice
There are a number of ways you can obtain help and advice, whether you are working online or on-campus. In addition to the Programme team, there are several people you can contact for support throughout your programme.
4.1 Academic Advisor
Each student will be allocated a named Academic Advisor who will provide advice and support for the duration of the programme.
Our aim is that by engaging with your Academic Advisor, you:
- will know that your advisor cares about your progression, academic success and future plans
- will feel that you belong and are valued regardless of your background, personal strengths and weaknesses
- will know who to contact if you experience difficulties either personally or academically
- will work to enhance your academic and personal self-efficacy after setting and reviewing goals and reflecting on your experiences
- will gain the confidence and skills to develop a career in Public Health
4.2 Course Unit Lead
There will be a designated ‘Course Unit Lead’ for every unit you complete. The Course Unit Lead is your first point of contact for any unit-specific queries including unit content and assessment guidelines.
4.3 Programme Director
The Programme Director’s role is to ensure the smooth running of the programme. This involves chairing a Programme Committee, overseeing the unit evaluation process, considering changes and improvements to the programmes offered and ensuring adherence to the guidelines set out in the University’s Academic Standards Code of Practice (Teaching Standards Committee of Senate 1998).
4.4 Contacting lecturers
Lecturers will let you know how best to contact them at the beginning of each unit. Similarly, your Academic Advisor will let you know at the beginning of the programme. Meeting appointments (either online or face-to-face) will consider the prior commitments of staff, students and any time differences with international students. When leaving a message for lecturers please remember to leave your own contact details.
In an urgent situation any available lecturer can be accessed for advice and support. It may then be necessary to share this information with the Academic Advisor / Course Unit Lead / Programme Director as appropriate.
5 Key Dates for the 2024/25 Academic Year and Timetable Guidance
Welcome Week: Monday 16 September – Friday 20 September 2024
Semester 1:
Monday 23 September 2024 – Sunday 26 January 2025
Christmas Break: Monday 16 December 2024 – Wednesday 8 January 2025
Semester 2:
Monday 27 January – Friday 6 June 2025
Non-teaching period: Monday 7 April – Sunday 13 April 2025
Easter Break: Monday 14 April – Sunday 27 April 2025
University of Manchester | Key Dates
5.1 Accessing your timetable – On Campus Students
On campus students can access their personalised timetable via My Manchester. Guidance on accessing your timetable can be found here – Guide to My Manchester. Further guidance about the Timetabling system, including how to change the view and how to subscribe to your timetable on alternative calendar apps can be found here – Using Publish to view your personalised timetable.
It is expected that all on campus students will attend all timetabled activities. Attendance will be monitored and details of the process for this will be provided at induction.
You will have classes across the campus so please ensure you familiarise yourself with the locations using the interactive Campus Map. Please note that for any classes in the Stopford Building you will need your student ID card to gain entry to the building.
5.2 Accessing your timetable – Distance/Blended Learning Students
Distance/blended learning students will be given access to their timetable via the BSc Public Health Programme Community Space on Blackboard. Students on this mode of study will have the opportunity to study synchronously with the on-campus students and asynchronously via recorded sessions and online resources.
All students will be given guidance on accessing their timetable as part of their welcome and induction. If students are concerned that their timetable is incomplete or they have not been allocated to a seminar or webinar group, they should contact the programmes team for advice. Whilst it is not anticipated that major changes will be made during the year, minor alterations (such as room changes) may need to be made from time to time. Every attempt will be made to notify you of such changes as soon as possible in advance, either via the personalised timetable for on campus students or by other written notice such as by email.
6 Teaching, learning and assessment
6.1 Details of the programme
This is an undergraduate course (BSc with Hons) with flexible off-campus or on-campus learning options available. The BSc in Public Health will equip you with:
- the skills and knowledge to apply to public health concerns at local, national and international level
- the ability to apply relevant theory and scientific principles to practical situations
- the capability of meeting core competencies in public health.
You will learn within a research-active public health department; you will be taught by professionals working in the field of local, national or international public health. There is an emphasis on applying your learning to real life public health issues. You will receive an individual student support package, which includes regular meetings with your personal academic advisor throughout the course. You will be able to mix with students from a range of disciplines from all over the world. You could also present your work at the International Festival of Public Health.
Distance/Blended Learning Students – The teaching for the online programme is web-based, alongside face-to-face components which will be made freely available online. This means you have the option to be based on- or off-campus throughout your degree. Flexibility is the main objective of this course, and we are using technology that allows you to study at any time from any device.
6.2 Teaching and learning methods
On-campus students only:
Academic engagement includes lectures, seminars, workshops and other face to face activities. To achieve the intended learning outcomes for this programme, we have created a range of activities. Your course unit leads and teaching team will support you including access to the Student Development Programme including peer-support (PASS) and the Programme Director Seminar Series. We will consult with students to identify any additional needs and further academic engagement activities will be provided. Assessments, preparation for assessments, reading time and independent study are also included within you timetabled activities.
Distance/blended learning students only:
Students on this mode of study will have the opportunity to study synchronously with the on-campus students and asynchronously via recorded sessions and online resources.
There is a high degree of interactive, student-centred learning through exercises, discussions and debate. This is facilitated through lectures, seminars, peer-support and discussion groups. The course materials will include links to external web resources such as reports, academic papers, other teaching materials and case studies.
You are encouraged to undertake independent learning based on the learning outcomes for each course unit. You will learn through reading, reflecting, discussing, questioning to develop curiosity and seeing new perspectives.
Exercises will use real-world examples from appropriate settings, for example from public health practice, globally and nationally. You will also be encouraged to improve existing and develop new communication skills and digital capabilities.
You will be able to put into practice what you learn, with opportunities to interact with other students and tutors through dedicated discussion groups. All course units offer exercises based on group work through discussions. These exercises meet the skills-based learning objectives common to many public health curricula, such as planning and managing a project, and working as part of a team to deliver a project.
Each 20 credit course unit will require 13 to 17 hours of study per week. You will be supported to work through these units independently and guided by peer and tutor support. A unit-specific calendar will be made available in the first week of all units.
7 Overview of the programme
7.1 Induction
We find that students greatly benefit from a formal induction to the course before they start studying, through an online induction unit. This will introduce you to all aspects of the course and is a good opportunity to meet staff and other students. In the first week of the programme, there will be a face-to-face induction course for on- and off-campus students. Please note that attendance at the induction programme is mandatory.
7.2 Course Units
Each year on the programme is made up of credit-bearing ‘course units’ for students to complete. More information is provided later in the Handbook.
7.3 Public Health Seminars. Student Development Programme and Programme Director Seminar Series
In addition to your credit-bearing course units, a programme of development activities will be offered to all students. These will be offered both face-to-face and online to ensure on- and off-campus students can access the same resources. Development activities include subjects such as orientation, reflection, how to complete assessments, wellbeing, careers advice, altruism, good academic writing, invited guest speakers and preparing for the year ahead.
Live lectures will be included on topics such as urban health, place-based approaches, global and local inequalities, prevention and ‘clean minds, dirty hands’, as well as additional skills for a career in public health.
You will mix with other students from the department including other BSc students, PhD and Masters students.
7.4 Stellify
Stellify is a university initiative to develop your leadership skills and encourage community volunteering. To achieve the Stellify award, you have to take part in the three Ethical Grand Challenges , volunteering and leadership activities.
7.5 Coursework and Assessment
Each course unit outline sets out our expectations for self-assessment and marked assessment. The assessment will be closely linked to the learning outcomes of each course unit.
Factual knowledge is assessed by self-assessment assignments/quizzes. The results of these self-assessments are purely for feedback purposes. Marked assignments will focus on the ability to synthesise and implement knowledge. There are no formal examinations. We will use a variety of assessment methods and styles. Please refer to individual course unit outlines for details.
We aim to offer the same quality of feedback across the course, although how we deliver this feedback will vary from unit to unit. More information will be available through Blackboard, our online learning platform. All feedback is designed to show how you can improve your work.
Formative feedback will give you the opportunity to develop and improve. This is offered in several different ways, for example:
- feedback by tutors and fellow students on discussion boards;
- automated feedback from self-test or quizzes;
- peer review exercises;
- reflective exercises which provide sample answers.
These are not assessed and are therefore optional. However, you will be encouraged to take part and reflect on the feedback that you receive.
7.6 Course unit details
You will take five mandatory 20-credit units each year, with additional 20 credit student-selected components that will provide you with a local and global perspective of the art and science of public health. We have based the course on the pillars of public health practice, health promotion, health protection, healthcare public health and included global health examples.
You can tailor your learning through personalised plans. You will have access to a wide range of experts and postgraduate students. We offer additional non-credit bearing public health learning opportunities via our lectures, seminars, the Geneva School and the International Festival of Public Health.
Course content includes:
- An introduction to public health
- Evidence based practice
- Health improvement
- Health protection
- Healthcare public health
- Global health
You will learn and present your work through a range of methods including research posters, literature reviews, and global health research, policy or practice project.
7.7 Course units for Year 1
The course unit details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evidence Based Practice Y1 | POPH10011 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Global Health Y1 | POPH10022 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Health Improvement Y1 | POPH10031 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Health Protection Y1 | POPH10042 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Healthcare Public Health Y1 | POPH10052 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Introduction to Public Health | POPH10061 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Poster presentation | POPH10071 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Student development programme Y1 | POPH10800 | 0 | Mandatory |
| Health & Safety Online | POPH10000 | 0 | Mandatory |
| Programme Director Seminar Series | POPH69200 | 0 | Mandatory |
7.8 Course units for Year 2
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evidence Based Practice Y2 | POPH20011 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Global Health Y2 | POPH20022 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Health Improvement Y2 | POPH20031 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Health Protection Y2 | POPH20042 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Healthcare Public Health Y2 | POPH20052 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Literature Review Project | POPH20061 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Student development programme Y2 | POPH20800 | 0 | Mandatory |
| Programme Director Seminar Series | POPH69200 | 0 | Mandatory |
7.9 Course units for Year 3
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evidence Based Practice Y3 | POPH30011 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Global Health Y3 | POPH30022 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Health Improvement Y3 | POPH30031 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Health Protection Y3 | POPH30042 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Healthcare Public Health Y3 | POPH30052 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Preparation for Independent Study on a Global Health Project | POPH30061 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Student development programme Y3 | POPH30800 | 0 | Mandatory |
| Programme Director Seminar Series | POPH69200 | 0 | Mandatory |
7.10 Unit evaluations
Throughout the programme you will be asked to complete an evaluation of each unit you complete. We greatly appreciate all feedback, as this will help us enhance the programme for future students. Thank you.
8 Career opportunities
A career in public health offers diverse opportunities in a variety of settings, from local public health departments to global NGOs (non-government organisations).
This course is a great step towards a career in one of the following areas:
- Public health practitioner
- Consultant in public health
- Public health manager
- Public health officer
- Epidemiologist
- Biostatistician
- Health educator
- Public health statistician /assistant
- Public health intelligence analyst/ assistant
- Public health researcher/research assistant
- Health visitor
- Community development worker
- Environmental health worker
- Transport development worker
- Housing officer
- Health promotion officer
- Health improvement practitioner
- Lecturer in public health
- Communicable disease consultant
- Health protection specialist
9 Part-time work
We recognise that part-time work is a necessity for many students. However, you are advised to think carefully about how you will balance work your studies with the demands of part-time employment and to arrange the hours you work accordingly. The Division is not able to provide character references for part-time employment undertaken during a programme of study; but will provide details of your programme of study.
10 Closing comments
Thank you for reading the programme handbook. Please continue to access this handbook as required, as you work through the programme. We would like to reiterate our welcome and support for you at every stage of the programme, and we hope you enjoy your undergraduate experience at The University of Manchester.
Best wishes,
The BSc Public Health Programme Team