What can you do with a master’s in public health promotion?

If you're passionate about improving healthcare and making a lasting impact on communities, a master's in public health promotion could be the ideal next step in your career. But what can you actually do with a master's in public health promotion? This degree opens doors to a range of job roles across different sectors, from community health initiatives to policymaking. Whether you're interested in research, education, epidemiology, or global health, with a master's in public health promotion you gain the knowledge and skills to drive change in the healthcare industry.

Public health is a multidisciplinary field focused on improving the health and well-being of populations through education, research, and policy initiatives. Unlike clinical healthcare, which treats individual patients, public health aims to prevent disease and promote healthier lifestyles at a community and global level. This involves addressing social determinants of health, advocating for policy changes, and implementing programmes that encourage healthier behaviours.

Public health professionals work across various domains, including epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, and healthcare policy. Their work is essential in tackling major health challenges, from controlling infectious diseases to reducing health disparities.

A master's in public health promotion provides a broad understanding of how to influence health behaviours, design intervention programmes, and analyse health trends.

Our online MSc in Public Health Promotion puts an emphasis on applying knowledge to various population groups, making it not just theoretical but practical. The final project is an opportunity to undertake specific research on an area of interest in public health. Some core public health topics covered include:

• Health protection, prevention, and promotion (principles and practices)
• Healthy ageing
• Lifestyle, disease, and health
• Environmental factors on urban health

This degree also provides research training, helping students to critically appraise evidence, analyse and interpret data, conduct research and apply methods to protect health, prevent ill health, and improve health services.

With a master's in public health promotion, graduates can find opportunities in various sectors that focus on preventing disease, promoting health, and improving healthcare systems. Here are some of the key sectors where public health graduates can work.

Community health professionals work directly with populations to improve public well-being. They develop and implement health promotion programmes, advocate for vulnerable groups, and collaborate with local organisations to address community-specific health challenges.

There are several different types of roles such as epidemiologists, biostatisticians, and public health academics who research various areas of public health issues to develop strategies. They work in public health agencies, hospitals, universities, and research institutions, helping to track outbreaks, assess risk factors, and guide policy decisions.

Public health professionals in policy roles work to shape healthcare legislation and regulations. They collaborate with government bodies, healthcare organisations, and non-profits to improve population health through evidence-based policies.

Educators in public health design and deliver training programmes to improve health literacy among professionals and the public. They may work in universities, healthcare institutions, or community organisations to provide essential education on disease prevention, nutrition, and health behaviours.

Global health specialists address health challenges on an international scale, focusing on disease control, healthcare access, and emergency response. They may work with organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO) or non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Environmental health professionals study the effects of environmental factors such as pollution, climate change, and hazardous materials on public health. They help develop regulations and safety measures to protect communities from environmental risks.

A master's in public health promotion can prepare you for a wide range of high-impact careers. It’s important to note that an MSc in Public Health Promotion doesn’t necessarily qualify you in these roles but could have considerable benefits. Here are ten key job roles that benefit from this degree:

Community health workers work in the heart of the community to improve community population health and wellbeing by providing advice and signposting to local resources and healthcare services. They will typically work for a local NHS Trust. While a public health master’s is not essential, a keen understanding of public health and health and social care issues is advantageous in serving your community.

Epidemiologists study disease patterns and help prevent outbreaks. They work for public health agencies, research institutions, and healthcare organisations, analysing data to identify risk factors and develop intervention strategies. Find out more about the role of an epidemiologist.

Health promotion specialists design and implement programmes to encourage healthier lifestyles. They work in hospitals, non-profits, and government agencies, focusing on areas like nutrition, smoking cessation, and mental health awareness. Job titles are often interchangeable, and you’ll often hear them called health improvement practitioners or, within the NHS, public health practitioners.

Biostatisticians use data analysis to guide healthcare decisions and policies. They contribute to clinical trials, health surveys, and epidemiological research, providing statistical insights that drive public health improvements. Find out more about becoming a biostatistician.

Public health specialists and consultants work at a more senior level and are involved in strategy. They are knowledgeable in health protection, health improvement, and healthcare public health but may specialise in one of these areas in practice. They may or may not come from a medical background. Employers vary from local and central government, private enterprises, voluntary sector, universities, and the NHS. Find out more about working as a public health consultant.

Health visitors are fully qualified registered nurses or midwives who then go onto a full, one-year approved training programme in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing - Health Visiting. They support young families to ensure and promote the health and wellbeing of young children (up to the age of five). An MSc in Public Health, while not essential, will provide a deeper understanding of health disparities that can exist across communities. Find out more about being a health visitor.

Global health coordinators work on international health initiatives, focusing on disease prevention, healthcare access, and emergency response. They often collaborate with NGOs, international organisations, and government agencies.

There are various roles under the umbrella term of ‘environmental health professional’, but they will all focus on the environmental factors that can affect health and wellbeing. They may specialise in environmental pollution, food safety, noise, housing, and occupational health. Find out more about the role of an environmental health professional.

Nutritionists give advice to individuals and populations on what to eat for better health, based on their scientific knowledge of food and nutrition. The topic of food and how it affects the body is currently a hot topic within public health. Therefore, an MSc in Public Health Promotion can further deepen a nutritionist’s understanding and keep them abreast of the latest modes of thinking around this subject.

Public health managers have both the knowledge and experience in public health to lead and manage public health initiatives across various organisations such as the NHS, local government, UK Health Security Agency, and voluntary sector organisations. A master’s degree in public health promotion can provide vital CPD to existing public health managers or progress the careers of those aspiring to management roles. More about this role.

Balancing education, work, and family commitments can be challenging, but ARU offers a flexible online master's programme in public health promotion. Online learning provides numerous benefits:

• Flexible scheduling: study at your own pace and fit coursework around your job and personal life.
• Work-study balance: continue earning while advancing your education, gaining practical experience alongside academic knowledge.
• Access to global networks: learn from and collaborate with public health professionals worldwide.
• Reduced costs: save on travel and accommodation expenses while still gaining a high-quality education.

By choosing an online MSc Public Health Promotion, you can gain the qualifications needed to advance your career without sacrificing your existing responsibilities.