BA (Hons) Public Health

The BSc (Hons) Public Health at Buckinghamshire New University equips you to understand and influence health at a population level, by combining theory, policy, research, and community action. It’s ideal for students who want to drive change in public health through education, prevention, research, and policy — whether in the NHS, NGOs, or government.

Curriculum Structure

Foundation Year (if chosen, 4-year route)
Your foundation year builds critical academic and professional skills before diving into public health-specific content. Key modules include Core Academic Skills for Health and Social Care, Communication in Health and Social Care, Evidence in Health and Social Care, Personal Development & Teamworking, Enquiry-Based Care, and Introduction to Ethics in Health and Social Care. These help you gain confidence in research, collaboration, ethics, and effective writing.

Year 1
In the first full year, you study Policy and Politics in Public Health, which helps you understand how political, social, and economic forces shape health systems. Introduction to Epidemiology introduces you to measuring disease patterns, rates, surveillance, and mortality. The Society, Culture and Community module explores how social structures, culture, and inequality influence community health, while Foundations for Public Health Practice sets the ground for real-world public-health work. There’s also a Safeguarding: A Public Health Approach module focusing on reducing abuse and neglect at the population level.

Year 2
Your second year is more applied and collaborative. Health Promotion in Action teaches you principles and strategies of health promotion and how to apply them in real-world settings. In Collaborating for Success in Public Health Delivery, you learn leadership and teamworking in public-health organisations. Patterns, Trends and Innovations deepens your epidemiological knowledge, looking at how health trends evolve and how innovation can drive change. You also study Research Methods, developing skills in both qualitative and quantitative research. As optional modules, you may take Inspiring Individuals to Improve Health or do a Placement, gaining hands-on experience.

Year 3 (Final Year)
In your final year, you focus on more specialised and strategic public health topics. At Risk Populations and Mental Health explores health inequalities in mental health and intervention strategies. Educating for Improved Health builds your ability to design and deliver health education, using techniques grounded in behavioural theory. Your Extended Independent Work (dissertation or project) lets you investigate a public-health question you’re passionate about, plan and manage that work, and present your findings. Finally, Global Public Health gives you a broad, international perspective — you’ll assess global health challenges and think about public health in different global contexts. There are also optional modules like Settings-Based Health Promotion or Medical Ethics and Law to tailor your degree.

Focus Areas

Health policy, epidemiology, health promotion, safeguarding, community health, collaboration, mental health, global public health, research & project management.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyze how social, political, and economic systems shape population health.

• Use epidemiological tools to understand disease trends and risk.

• Design, implement, and assess health promotion interventions for communities and at-risk groups.

• Lead or collaborate in multi-sector public health initiatives.

• Conduct independent public-health research or a capstone project, applying rigorous methods.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

This course is aligned with the UK Public Health Practitioner standards, ensuring that your learning outcomes reflect professional competencies used in public-health roles. The curriculum prepares you for work across the NHS, local government, charities, non-profits, international agencies, and public-health planning organisations.

Reputation (Employability & Outcomes)

• BNU emphasises practical, career-focused learning, including placements, student-led health-promotion projects, and engagement with public-health professionals.

• Graduates are well-placed for roles in health promotion, public health policy, health education, epidemiology, and health administration.

• The course team includes professionals who have actively contributed to public-health agendas, meaning you’re not just learning theory — you're hearing from people with real public-health impact experience.