Public Health BSc (Hons)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of East London

Program Overview

The BSc (Hons) Public Health at the University of East London equips students to understand, analyse, and respond to major health issues affecting populations. It is ideal for those who want to improve community wellbeing, influence health policy, and work on real public-health challenges locally and globally.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
The first year introduces students to the foundations of public health through modules such as Promoting Health Together, Foundations of Public Health, Evidence-Based Public Health, and Statistics for Public Health. Students also study Anthropology of Health, exploring cultural influences on health, and begin building essential professional and personal skills through the Mental Wealth module focused on development and resilience.

Year 2
In the second year, learning becomes more applied and analytical. Key modules include Public Health: Policy and Systems, Contemporary Public Health Challenges, Epidemiology and Population Health, and Research Methods, enabling students to understand health systems, analyse data, and explore current issues. Additional modules such as Health Protection and Sustainability and Co-production of Community Health (Mental Wealth) emphasise community engagement, environmental health, and collaborative approaches.

Year 3
The final year focuses on leadership, ethics, economics, and real-world public-health practice. Students take modules such as Applied Public Health, Leadership and Professional Practice (Mental Wealth), Public Health Ethics and Law, and Introduction to Health Economics and Finance. A major Dissertation allows students to conduct original research on a public-health topic of their choice.

Focus Areas
Epidemiology, public health policy, community health, ethics and law, health economics, health protection, leadership, applied public-health research.

Learning Outcomes
Graduates will be able to evaluate public-health systems, conduct population-level research, apply ethical and legal principles, lead health initiatives, interpret health data, and design evidence-based interventions to improve community wellbeing.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)
Although this programme does not specify an external accreditation, it places strong emphasis on practical experience, community engagement, and work-based learning, ensuring students graduate with the confidence and skills needed for roles in public health, the NHS, local authorities, non-profits, and international organisations.

Reputation / Employability
The University of East London is known for its strong community partnerships, providing students with real opportunities for placements and applied learning. The course receives excellent feedback for academic support, and graduates progress into roles across health organisations, government sectors, charities, and public-health agencies.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BSc (Hons) Public Health at the University of East London (UEL) is built around applied, real-world learning. Students work with live public-health issues, explore data from real communities, and take part in practice-focused workshops led by public-health professionals. The programme integrates UEL’s Mental Wealth initiative, which develops leadership, digital fluency, communication, and problem-solving skills. Students can also access optional work-experience opportunities through local councils, NHS-linked organisations, or community-health groups.

Students develop hands-on skills through dedicated teaching methods, applied projects, and specialist facilities such as:

Public-health data analysis workshops, where students work with real datasets to build epidemiology and research skills.
Optional work-experience opportunities with community organisations, health-promotion teams, local authorities, or charities.
Mental Wealth & Professional Fitness modules, strengthening leadership, emotional intelligence, employability skills, and digital capability.
Group projects and community-focused assignments, including designing health-promotion campaigns, behaviour-change interventions, or wellbeing initiatives.
Interactive workshops and simulations, using scenario-based learning to understand outbreak response, health systems, and community health challenges.
Lab and computer facilities, supporting data analysis, digital research, and statistical learning.
UEL Library and Learning Centres, offering health journals, epidemiology texts, research databases, and academic-support workshops.
Guest lectures from practitioners working in public health, local government, community health, and the voluntary sector.
Final-year Independent Research Project, allowing students to investigate a real public-health issue and apply research methods independently.
Academic Tutor support, ensuring personalised guidance on academic tasks, skills development, and career planning.

Key Modules & Learning Themes

Foundations of Public Health
Evidence-Based Health Practice
Health Promotion and Behaviour Change
Epidemiology & Health Statistics
Research Methods
Public Health Systems & Health Protection
Community Co-Production
Contemporary Public Health Challenges
Health Economics
Public Health Ethics & Law
Applied Public Health
Independent Dissertation

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of this programme are prepared to step into roles that shape community wellbeing, deliver health-promotion initiatives, and support evidence-based public health decisions. Many move into positions within government health departments, local authorities, non-profit organisations, and the NHS.

Typical career paths include:

Public Health Practitioner
Health Promotion Specialist
Epidemiology / Public Health Data Support Officer
Community Health Project Coordinator

Here’s how the university supports career success and long-term outcomes:

University Services for Employability: Students benefit from the Career Zone, which provides one-to-one career coaching, professional mentoring, skill-building workshops, and a funded internship scheme, along with a Career Passport system to track employability development.
Graduate Outcomes: The university reports strong progression into employment or further study shortly after graduation, with many public health graduates moving directly into community and health-sector roles.
Industry Partnerships: The programme is connected with NHS Trusts, local councils, and community organisations, giving students exposure to real public health settings and applied project opportunities.
Long-Term Accreditation Value: The course is aligned with recognised public health frameworks, helping graduates work toward professional recognition routes within the UK public health sector.
Graduate Destinations: Alumni commonly progress into roles within public health departments, NHS organisations, government agencies, community charities, and research and health-improvement bodies.

Further Academic Progression:

Graduates can progress to postgraduate options such as MSc Public Health, MSc Global Health, MSc Health Promotion, or related specialisms. Those interested in research or academic careers may continue into an MRes or PhD in Public Health, building advanced expertise for leadership and specialist roles.