Join an online MPH you can study part-time and tailor to your career goals.
You can also study this degree full-time on campus.
Prepare for success in a broad range of public health and academic careers. Gain the skills you need to:
- pursue a career in the public health sector
- influence public health policy
- undertake independent public health research
- move on to a PhD.
You’ll cover the key topics required for professional accreditation in public health in the UK and internationally. And you can choose from a substantial range of elective options to tailor your learning to your ambitions.
You’ll train with internationally experienced public health experts at an award-winning health research university. Our 100% online MPH is delivered part-time, giving you the flexibility to fit your studies around your career and home life.
Who the MPH is for
You do not need to have any particular clinical or specialist knowledge to join our online MPH. Public health is a very broad area of activity and we welcome student applications from a range of backgrounds and experiences.
Students who have successfully completed our MPH include medical students, nurses, political scientists, engineers, policymakers, healthcare managers, physicians, surgeons, social workers, dentists, psychologists, microbiologists, nutritionists, health educationalists, biologists, pharmacologists and biomedical scientists.
What you’ll study
You can choose to study for a:
- Masters (180 credits)
- or start with one of the short courses that make up this degree (15 credits).
Your tutors will guide you in selecting your optional courses. They’ll help you tailor your MPH to your career goals.
How you’ll study
The Master of Public Health is delivered part-time, 100% online.
Your teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.
You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of resources at your fingertips, including online access to our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library.
Your online learning environment will be enriched by interaction with other students from varied clinical, non-clinical, professional and cultural backgrounds.
Your tutors
You’ll learn from renowned academic researchers and public health practitioners. You’ll train with internationally experienced tutors across disciplines including epidemiology, statistics, qualitative research, public health, health informatics, health economics, nutrition and clinical trials.
Assessments
This MPH is assessed entirely online. We use a range of assessment methods throughout your degree, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer tests, numerical exercises, essays, reports, posters, oral presentations and peer review by other students.
Your support team
Our friendly team are here to answer any queries you have before, during and after your studies.

Dr Janet Kyle
Janet is the degree coordinator. She’ll be on hand to answer any questions about degree content before you start and to help you throughout your studies.

Clare McHattie
Clare is part of the School’s postgraduate teaching support team. She’ll be there throughout your studies to answer any of your non-academic queries.

Nicola Brand
Nicola heads our Online Learning support team. If you have any questions right now about this degree or studying online, get in touch with Nicola.
Ask Nicola a questionWhere this will take you
You’ll graduate with the broad public health knowledge and essential research skills you need for both academic and workplace practitioner environments. You will be ready to:
Pursue a career in the public health sector
- in world-ranking academic research institutions
- working on projects commissioned by health authorities such as the WHO, Ministries of Health and NGOs.
Influence public health policy
- through your independent research, with publication in peer-reviewed journals
- translating research evidence into practice in professional and health authority settings.
Become an independent researcher
- identifying research priorities and goals set by global and national health authorities.
Move on to a PhD
- The MPH is a common pathway to health-related PhDs.
- You’ll have the advanced skills in quantitative and qualitative research methods, critical thinking and scientific writing you need to succeed.

Free careers advice
We’ll help you explore your career potential and connect with job opportunities around the world.
You can access our free careers service while you study, and for up to five years after you graduate.
From interview training to CV clinics, we’re here with tailored, impartial and professional advice.
Fees and funding
The fee quoted above is based on you starting your studies with us in the 2021/22 academic year.
We have confirmed that our fees will rise by 5% for the next academic year (2022/23). The indicative fee above includes this 5% fee rise.

Pay as you go
Don’t worry, you do not have to pay the full degree fee upfront.
You can pay for your degree one term at a time. This gives you a flexible way to spread the cost.
Entry requirements
MPH
For entry, you will usually have:
- a health-related honours degree (a 2:2 or at least 60%)
- or be able to demonstrate evidence of equivalent experience in healthcare practice or research.
You can also apply if you have:
- an honours degree (2:2 or at least 60%) in science, social science or a humanities subject and you’re interested in a public health-related career.
We welcome MPH Online applications from students with both traditional and non-traditional health-related backgrounds.
Master of Public Health - 180 credits
You can choose from the following courses and projects to make up the 180 credits of your MPH qualification.
Duration
This online degree is flexible, so you can progress at a pace that suits you.
It takes a minimum of 24 months to complete the MPH. To study part-time, we recommend you take no more than 30 credits per term. You can take study breaks between courses, as long as you complete your degree within six years.
Your final 60 credits
This flexible degree gives you a range of options to earn your final 60 credits.
- a single 60-credit research project
- a shorter 30-credit research project and a 30-credit case study
- a 30-credit project or 30-credit case study plus two optional 15-credit courses (see above)
- four 15-credit optional courses (see above)
Projects are optional as all 180 credits can be obtained through courses.
We will endeavour to make all these courses available, but they are subject to change. Read our policy on changes to degree programmes and courses.
Start with a short course
Not sure you can commit to a full degree? You can start off with one of these short courses that are part of the degree instead.
You’ll earn credits for each course you complete. Your credits count towards the MPH. You can study any course stand-alone, or build your way up to the full Masters one short course at a time.
Master of Public Health
180 credits
Indicative cost
£13,820
This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over two years, starting in September 2021.
Apply for this programme
- Start month
- September or January
- INDICATIVE COST
- £13,820
This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over two years, starting in September 2021.
Apply via our Applicant PortalNot ready? Add to Wishlist