Online Public Health Promotion MSc
Postgraduate degree
Master your understanding of public health promotion and develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to become an effective public health practitioner with our online masters degree in health promotion. Learn how to promote and protect public health, prevent ill health and improve health services while advancing your career with THE University of the Year.
- Study 100% online to allow for maximum flexibility
- Learn from experienced and passionate health promotion professionals
- Ideal if you work, or aspire to work, in a variety of sectors such as health, government, voluntary organisations or the wider community
- Enhance your skills and make a positive impact as an effective public health practitioner
- Be part of the University of the Year (THE)
About your online Public Health Promotion MSc
Our Public Health Promotion course is ideal if you currently work in, or aspire to work in, areas that improve population health and health promotion. This could include a wide range of roles in settings such as health and social care, nursing and midwifery, sports and exercise science or public health.
You’ll have the opportunity to develop your passion for public health and health improvement to become an effective public health practitioner. The course will provide you with the theory and practical skills to make a real impact in your current role and open doors to advance your career.
Course highlights
- Gain insight into established public health concepts and explore new and emerging themes
- Designed with engagement from key service providers, service users and other stakeholders
- We work closely with the Integrated Care Board and local public health directorates to provide real life scenarios and research projects
- Develop a critical understanding of the impact that social factors have on population health
- Designed for people who want to work in practice rather than policy
- Learn how to make a positive contribution and impact to the way public health promotions, interventions and services are delivered
- Your final project allows you to focus on a specialist area of interest within public health
24th April 2025
Course overview
Our online Public Health Promotion MSc is ideal if you want to master your skills and knowledge in effective public health practice, particularly health promotion and tackling health inequalities. It will help you develop as an effective public health practitioner capable of making a positive contribution and impact to the way public health promotions, interventions and services are delivered across a variety of roles within statutory, voluntary, and independent sector organisations.
Although public health is often seen as theoretical, there will be a strong emphasis placed on the application of knowledge to various population groups with the opportunity to focus on a specialist area of interest, within public health, when you undertake your final project.
You’ll develop your critical understanding of the impact that social, economic, environmental and biological factors have on population health, and the range of interventions that might improve it. You’ll learn how lifestyle choices, especially exercise and nutrition, can be encouraged to improve health.
You’ll develop an in-depth understanding of how urban living environments and settings influence human health so you can be effective in public health promotion and improving population health. You’ll explore the concepts of health crisis, health disadvantages, and health advantages in towns and cities.
You’ll learn about important topics related to aging, such as patterns and trends, beliefs and perceptions, cultural aspects, theoretical frameworks, health and social care services, social inequalities, and financial security in later life.
Our online Public Health Promotion MSc has been designed with input from key service providers, service users and other stakeholders, to provide an authentic and contemporary reflection of the current professional environment. Upon successful completion of our health promotion masters you’ll be competent in critically appraising evidence, analysing and interpreting data, conducting research and applying methods to protect health, prevent ill health and improve health services.
Please refer to the modules section to get a full description of what you’ll cover in each module.
Modules
Principles of Public Health
The three major domains and pillars of Public Health are explored with this module, encompassing: Health Protection, Prevention and Promotion, their principles, and practices. With a focus on both UK and international issues, this module will further your understanding of communicable disease and their control, environmental Public Health and emergency, preparedness, resilience, and response. With a variety of theory, policy and practical elements associated with health improvement and behaviour change, the wider determinants and psychosocial aspects of health will also be investigated. Using case study examples, you will be able to develop your competency in using key terminology and definitions to discuss the principles and applications of Public Health to address issues, as well as giving you a good grounding of the tools utilised for a variety of Public Health issues and epidemiology of selected diseases, identifying and critiquing infections disease protection and control measures. You will develop an advanced understanding of the foundational constructs of health improvement, whilst analysing the social determinants and inequalities of health. The complex nature of behaviour, its influences and how practitioners can effect change will be judged as well as the principles, models and concepts adopted as part of Health Improvement. This module will equip you with the skills to assess Public Health issues, design interventions, evaluate the implementation process and assess the impact whilst considering the commissioning cycle of Health Improvement services in England.
Healthy Ageing
With life expectancy increasing by more years than healthy life expectancy, it has never been more important to analyse the ageing process and lived experiences of older people today across the different biological/physical and psychosocial domains.
You’ll be introduced to key topics associated with ageing including patterns and trends, beliefs and perceptions, culture, theoretical frameworks, health and social care provision, social inequalities and economic security in older life.
You’ll foster critical reasoning throughout the module and be able to apply it to research skills, relevant evidence, policies and services whilst developing a positive attitude to health promotion and a holistic view of health and wellbeing and its determinants in older adults.
Lifestyle, Disease and Health
This module will give an opportunity for you to study the mechanisms by which lifestyle, in particular physical activity and nutrition, can be promoted to improve health. The current guidelines for health benefits will be addressed as well as adherence/compliance to exercise and maintaining healthy eating, to create a more active and healthy population whilst exploring the prescription guidelines and recognising how they can be used to alleviate health inequalities.
You’ll study methods for assessing physical activity and capacity for physical work in the general population. You’ll carry out appropriate screening and testing - specifically using physiological testing to stratify individuals and profile screen.
Obesity is a global epidemic and one of the greatest long-term health challenges England currently faces. Around 63% (two thirds) of adults are above a healthy weight, and half of these are obese. In English primary schools, 1 in 3 are leaving year 6 overweight or living with obesity and 1 in 5 are living with obesity. Those residing in the most deprived parts of the country are more than twice as likely to be living with obesity, which is associated with reduced life expectancy and a range of health conditions. Preventing and tackling obesity is one of the Government’s priorities as it is critical to reducing the considerable health costs that obesity brings. Throughout this module you’ll explore the current profiles, monitor patterns and trends at national/regional/local levels, as well as the international data on adult and child obesity prevalence, to develop a systemic understanding of current issues that affect those living with obesity and the care available to them. You’ll explore the conceptual understanding of the current Government policies/actions/initiatives and NHS documents and their application to health and wellbeing whilst examining the relationship between health, regular physical activity and the capacity to carry out physical work, obesity indicators and contextual indicators to establish how prevalence and inequalities are being addressed. The roles and working relationships of multidisciplinary teams will be reflected upon critically, as well as the limitations of the role of health, nutrition and exercise practitioners. The module will particularly interest those who wish to pursue a career in the health strand of exercise science and weight management.
Urban Health
Human settlement is predominantly ‘urban’ with more than 50% of the world’s population living in city/urban settings, 80% in developed countries. The United Nations Observatory data predicts that by 2025 at least 60% of the world’s population will be city dwellers, and therefore most of the Public Health work will be carried out in cities. It’s important that you have an in-depth understanding of how these living environments and settings influence human health so you can be effective in promoting and improving population health - this will be established through engaging with theoretical concepts and principles. Applying a multidisciplinary approach, you’ll study the influence of ‘place’, the wider determinants of health and the changing urban environment on the health of those residing in cities and city neighbourhoods. Throughout the module you will examine the notions of health crisis, health disadvantage and health advantage for those in cities. You’ll do this by utilising reference material from cities across the country and globally to understand the significance for health and healthcare. By engaging critically with Public Health materials, you will develop an understanding of policy formulation processes, including the New Urban Agenda and sustainable development goals, in relation to the shifting agendas towards health improvement in cities and the specific Public Health issues related to those population groups.
Into ARU
Entering third level education is exciting; but it can also be a daunting experience. At ARU, we want all students to make the most of the opportunities Higher Education provides, so they reach their potential, become lifelong learners and find fulfilling careers. However, we appreciate that the shift from secondary education, or a return to formal education is, in itself, quite a journey. This module is designed to ease that transition. You will be enrolled on it as soon as you receive an offer from ARU so you can begin to learn about university life before your course starts. Through Into ARU, you will explore a virtual land modelled around ARU values: Courage, Innovation, Community, Integrity, Responsibility, and Ambition. This innovative module is designed as a game, where students collect knowledge and various complete mini tasks. You’ll proceed at your own pace, though we expect all students to have completed their Into ARU exploration by week 6. Students who, for whatever reason, are unable to complete by that date, will be signposted to existing services so that we can be confident that they are supported.
Postgraduate Final Project
Research and project work are central to the masters award. As such this final project will provide you with an opportunity to address a Public Health problem or gap in your own practice knowledge. By synthesising learning from your previous modules, you’ll plan a research or professional project, including the selection of appropriate methods of data collection and analysis, implementing the design, and evaluating your findings in a suitable manner. Throughout this process you’ll be supported by a supervisor with expertise within the area to identify and select a meaningful question in relation to your chosen specialism, monitor your progress and demonstrate a depth of knowledge in your field.
Modules are subject to change and availability.
Assessment
Assessments have been designed using several strategies to make sure both theoretical and practical skills can be assessed.
To include skills, you will need in the sector, assessments are authentic and inclusive whilst providing real world examples and experience for future public health careers. They cover a variety of methods such as digital storytelling, discussion, intervention development, presentations and interview techniques and evaluations.
How you'll study
Our MSc Public Health Promotion course is studied 100% online.
You’ll study through Canvas, our world-class online Learning Management System (LMS), which can be accessed from your phone, PC, or tablet both at home or on the move. Our virtual learning environment provides instant access to study materials, forums, and support from tutors and classmates, as well as enabling easy submission of your assignments.
You can choose to study our online health promotion master’s over 1 or 2 years. Please note that if you choose the 1-year option this is the equivalent of full-time study and may be a challenge if you’re employed full-time or have other life commitments. Our advisers will be happy to talk through your options in more detail.
On successful completion of your studies, you’ll be invited to attend a graduation ceremony on campus. If attending the ceremony in person is not possible then we’ll arrange to have your certificate sent to you.
Supported distance learning
97% of our alumni surveyed found studying via distance learning either very or quite accessible*
We understand that distance learning is different to traditional campus study and if you’re new to online study you may have concerns or apprehensions about studying your MSc Public Health Promotion course, and that’s natural.
To help put your mind at ease we have a dedicated Distance Learning Support Team to help and support you throughout your time at ARU, starting with your first online induction and staying with you right through to graduation. In addition, you’ll also be supported by specialist health promotion tutors who are experienced in supporting distance learning students and will provide you with the support you need throughout your studies.
Once you start your online health promotion masters, we encourage the creation of online communities and many of our learners find these connections with others invaluable, helping them to stay motivated, share concerns or make new friendships.
Contact us to talk through any questions or concerns or visit our support page for more information about the support services available.
Be part of the University of the Year
We're proud to be the Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year 2023.
The prestigious THE awards honour ’exceptional performance during the 2021-22 academic year, and reflect ARU’s success in delivering high-impact projects during this period, despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The award recognises the difference we make in the region and our communities – while also acknowledging the broader impact of our world-leading research, and the contributions our students and graduates make to society.

Careers
92% of our alumni surveyed felt ‘much more’ or ‘more’ confident at work*
What could a Public Health Promotion MSc do for my career?
Chart a clear career path in public health promotion with our online MSc in Public Health Promotion. This master’s degree is suitable for people who are either working in or looking to switch to work in Public Health.
Gain recognition by advancing your expertise in public health issues that are relevant to today’s modern day, such as aging, lifestyle, disease, and urban environmental and sociological influences. Potentially working in spheres that influence public health education, public lifestyle initiatives, global health programmes such as immunisation and screening programs.
Furthermore, you’ll benefit from a master’s degree that sets itself apart from others with an applied practitioner approach, meaning it’s ideal for those working in practice. An example of this are healthcare practitioners such as pharmacists, nurses, and doctors looking to broaden their experience to offer community lifestyle advice, as well as medical advice.
What job roles can I consider with a Public Health Promotion master’s?
Public Health Promotion MSc graduates may consider these job roles or already be in these roles and be looking to expand their expertise :
- Health Improvement Practitioner
- Public Health Analysts
- Public Health Program Manager
Whilst our public health promotion master’s doesn’t qualify you for the following roles, if you’re currently employed in these areas, our online degree can expand your knowledge and skills to support and enhance your current role:
- Public Health Nurses
- Epidemiologist
- Nutritionist
- Dietician
The types of sectors that you could be employed in vary and can include epidemiology, commissioning, policy, NGOs, community health organisations, social care, nutrition, sports and exercise science, 3rd sector charities, amongst others.
In the UK, graduates may already be working for or consider working for organisations such as NHS, WHO, the UN, and NGOs.
If you are looking for more information about these job profiles and potential salary earnings see Prospects.ac.uk. It’s important to note that salaries can vary widely depending on the job role, employer, industry sector and location.
What skills will I get from an online health promotion MSc course to help my career?
Choosing to study a Public Health Promotion MSc degree will give you many transferable skills. Here are just some of them:
- Develop collaborative approaches and flexibility
- Cultivate your independent and critical learning skills
- Critically appraise evidence, analyse and interpret data
- Conduct research at master’s level
What can I study after a Public Health Promotion MSc?
Depending on your long-term goals and interests you may decide to explore a doctorate qualification. Having a master’s degree under your belt is a key entry requirement in opening doors to study at this level.
Careers Advice Service
Once you become an ARU student you will be able to access our Employability service to help you, whatever stage of your career, whether that’s landing your dream job or the next progression step.
We offer:
- careers advice, including one-to-one online and telephone appointments with our experienced advisers
- help with your CV, job searches, applications, and interview preparation
- an online portal packed with useful careers resources
- our Employability Programme, which helps you hone the skills employers say they want in graduates.
Entry requirements for our online MSc Public Health Promotion
- A first degree of 2:2 or above
- Applicants should be working, or hoping to work, within any area of public health. A strong interest in public health and health improvement is essential.
- If English is not your first language, you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 6.5 or equivalent English Language qualification as recognised by ARU
- As a distance learner, you'll also need a suitable computer with internet connection, together with sufficient IT competence to make effective use of our online Learning Management System (LMS) with high-speed internet and email.
Please note: Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements. Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course, please contact us for further information.
Fees & funding
92% of our alumni surveyed said the effort and expense was worth the outcome*
Fees
The full tuition fee for our MSc Public Health Promotion course is £8,200.
The tuition fees you pay each year will be between £4,100 and £8,200 depending on how long you take to complete the course. You can choose to study our online health promotion masters in either 1 or 2 years.
Accredited Prior Learning may reduce the tuition fees. This will be confirmed once your application has been submitted.
Funding
Your MA early childhood education can be fully funded by the Postgraduate Student Loans now available (subject to eligibility).
We offer payment by instalments, so you can spread the cost of studying with us.
For military students: You can use your ELCs towards this course. ARU is a recognised ELCAS provider (number 1007). Please contact your Learning Centre for details of ELC, eligibility and how to apply.
For more information on how you fund your studies please see our funding page.
What our students say
My experience in the MSc Public Health Promotion programme is truly enriching. The curriculum is well-structured, providing a comprehensive understanding of public health principles and practices. The faculty are knowledgeable and supportive, fostering an engaging learning environment. I have gained valuable skills that I can apply in real-world settings, and I feel well-prepared to make a positive impact in the field of public health. Overall, it is a rewarding journey that I highly recommend to anyone interested in promoting health and wellness in communities.
Kenza