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Master of Public Health (Online)
Research the world’s most pressing public health issues through a flexible online degree.
Postgraduate Certificate of Public Health (Online)
Research the world’s most pressing public health issues through a flexible online degree.
Explore global health challenges through a flexible, fully online Master’s degree taught by leading experts
Customise your learning via elective modules to match your career needs and aspirations
Design, develop and undertake your own research project using real-world public health methods
Course key facts
Qualification
MPH
Duration
2 years, 3 years
Start date
September 2026
Study mode
Part-time, Online
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Fees
£16,300 Home
£26,900 Overseas
Delivered by
Location
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Online
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Qualification
PG Cert
Duration
1 year
Start date
September 2026
Study mode
Part-time, Online
-
Fees
£8,150 Home
£13,450 Overseas
Delivered by
Location
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Online
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Course overview
Build a strong foundation in public health with this part-time Master's programme, designed to be completed over two or three years.
You'll acquire the cutting-edge knowledge and skills required to pursue a career in public health practice, management or research.
This fully online programme equips you with quantitative analytical skills in public health, epidemiology and health systems research.
You'll learn to interpret statistical methods and epidemiological data as you explore the most pressing issues in global public health.
This course develops your ability to make informed judgements on policy and you will gain an appreciation of key public health principles and ethical standards.
You will also undertake take a research portfolio through to completion, where you'll employ a variety of epidemiological and public health methods learned throughout the course.
This course was formerly called "Global Master of Public Health (Online)".
Build a strong foundation in public health with this part-time one year programme leading to a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health.
You'll acquire the cutting-edge knowledge and skills required to pursue a career in public health practice, management or research.
This fully online programme equips you with quantitative analytical skills in public health, epidemiology and health systems research.
You'll learn to interpret statistical methods and epidemiological data as you explore the most pressing issues in global public health.
This course develops your ability to make informed judgements on policy and you will gain an appreciation of key public health principles and ethical standards.
You will also undertake take a research portfolio through to completion, where you'll employ a variety of epidemiological and public health methods learned throughout the course.
This course was formerly called "Global Postgraduate Certificate of Public Health (Online)".
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
You must take all of the following modules to qualify for the MPH qualification.
Core modules
Become familiar with the core concepts of epidemiology and acquire the skills necessary to describe, analyse, interpret and appraise epidemiological studies
Build your appreciation of a range of core public health principles and skills, and develop your expertise in problem solving and consulting.
Advance your statistical expertise across four courses, exploring statistical thinking, linear regression, logistic regression and survival analysis.
Learn about the principles, frameworks and practice of health protection and how to apply this knowledge in real-world settings.
Analyse contrasting concepts that explain health systems and draw upon multiple disciplinary lenses,including organisational behaviour and health policy.
Examine the theoretical basis and practical applications of health promotion, including methods for evaluating health promotion interventions.
Learn how to develop your own original research idea and identify a suitable research area.
Discover how to write a research protocol to address your research question and explore the philosophy of research inquiry.
Engage in the more practical side of research and build your understanding of the principles of ethical research, consent and confidentiality, and responsible research and innovation.
Complete your research project portfolio by going out in the field and conducting your research and evaluating the results.
You’ll take a further six optional modules to qualify for the MPH qualification.
Optional modules
Understand key concepts in advanced statistics and data science and advance your skills using realistic data sets.
Examine the portfolio of digital health technologies, and the opportunities to apply these technologies to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare.
Examine the global burden of disease and identify which diseases have the biggest impact on health worldwide.
Appreciate the complexity of tackling health determinants, inequity, and health outcomes within a globalising world.
Understand the roles and processes of innovation in global health, including simple, low-cost technologies and more complex models used in resource-constrained settings.
Study the basic principles of microeconomics and their application to healthcare.
Review the basic methods used in mathematical models and learn how to construct a mathematical model for a given infectious disease.
Assess key global health challenges by exploring the lifecycle from birth to adulthood and examine policy and research that aims to improve outcomes across important population groups.
Recognise and utilise different approaches to quality improvement and critically evaluate these approaches.
Reviews the fundamental foundations of machine learning, unsupervised Learning, supervised learning, and advanced topics such as ensemble learning and deep learning.
You’ll take all of these core modules.
Core modules
Become familiar with the core concepts of epidemiology and acquire the skills necessary to describe, analyse, interpret and appraise epidemiological studies
Build your appreciation of a range of core public health principles and skills, and develop your expertise in problem solving and consulting.
Advance your statistical expertise across four courses, exploring statistical thinking, linear regression, logistic regression and survival analysis.
You’ll choose a further three optional modules.
Please note, some selected modules are prerequisites for onward progression to the three-year Master's pathway.
Optional modules
Learn about the principles, frameworks and practice of health protection and how to apply this knowledge in real-world settings.
This is a prerequisite for progression to the three-year Master's pathway.
Analyse contrasting concepts that explain health systems and draw upon multiple disciplinary lenses, including organisational behaviour and health policy.
This is a prerequisite for progression to the three-year Master's pathway.
Recognise and utilise different approaches to quality improvement and critically evaluate these approaches.
Examine the portfolio of digital health technologies, and the opportunities to apply these technologies to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare.
Understand the roles and processes of innovation in global health, including simple, low-cost technologies and more complex models used in resource-constrained settings.
Study the basic principles of microeconomics and their application to healthcare.
Review the basic methods used in mathematical models and learn how to construct a mathematical model for a given infectious disease.
Review the fundamental foundations of machine learning, unsupervised learning, supervised learning, and advanced topics such as ensemble learning and deep learning.
Scrutinise the process of designing an appropriate participatory approach to a given public health challenge, and examine the history, theory and practice of these approaches.
Examine the theoretical basis and practical applications of health promotion, including methods for evaluating health promotion interventions.
This is a prerequisite for progression to the three-year Master's pathway.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning methods
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Virtual learning environment
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Lectures (online)
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Seminars and tutorials (online)
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Presentations (online)
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Research skills and research project
Balance of assessment
This is an example of how assessments are usually divided, based on a typical pathway through the course. The actual breakdown may vary depending on the modules you choose.
Key
- Lab and quiz
- Presentations
- Written pieces
- 10% Title 1 goes here
- 10% Title 2 goes here
- 80% Title 3 goes here
Assessment methods
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Essays
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Journal Article
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Multiple Choice Questions
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Literature review
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Paper Critiques
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Research Protocol
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Video Blogs
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Short Answer Examinations
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Slide Decks
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Policy Briefs
Teaching and learning methods
-
Virtual learning environment
-
Lectures (online)
-
Seminars and tutorials (online)
-
Presentations (online)
-
Research skills and research project
Balance of assessment
This is an example of how assessments are usually divided, based on a typical pathway through the course. The actual breakdown may vary depending on the modules you choose.
Key
- Lab and quiz
- Presentations
- Written pieces
- 10% Title 1 goes here
- 10% Title 2 goes here
- 80% Title 3 goes here
Assessment methods
-
Essays
-
Multiple Choice Questions
-
Literature review
-
Paper Critiques
-
Research Protocol
-
Video Blogs
-
Short Answer Examinations
Imperial’s online learning environment
This course is delivered as a fully online degree and has comparable learning outcomes and results to the on-campus on-campus MPH course.
Teaching and learning on the programme is delivered through a virtual learning platform which uses innovative learning features to provide high quality degree learning experiences. A range of methods are used including pre-recorded lectures and video capture, slide-decks with audio commentary, discussions forums and prompts, and practical exercises in coding and analysis.
The assessment methods include: online quizzes, video blogs, case study review discussions and coding exercises.
Students learn as a cohort through discussion boards and peer-assessed exercises.
These features, ranging from live classroom sessions to group peer sessions, allow each student to participate in a seamless, flexible, and engaging learning experience and ensure the highest quality online learning environment.
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply online
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.
You can choose between different pathways of part-time study:
- PG Certificate (over one year)
- Master's (over two years)
- Master's (over three years)
You may be granted a PG Certificate or PG Diploma if you leave your studies part-way through either of the Master's programmes, depending on the successful completion of modules.
You can progress to the PG Diploma or Master's after successful completion of the PG Certificate.
There is no application fee for Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are applying for a Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
The application fees for postgraduate courses are:
- £90 for all Master's applications, excluding those to Imperial Business School
- £125 for MSc applications to Imperial Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to Imperial Business School
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
You may be invited to an interview with members of our staff. These will be arranged online.
You cannot register/enrol for more than one award at the same time. This includes awards at Imperial and other universities or institutions. You would need to de-register from your current course before starting. Read more about this in the Imperial College General Academic Regulations (Section 5.5).
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Fees and funding
PG Cert
PG Cert
£8,150 total fee
MPH (2 years, part-time)
MPH (2 years, part-time)
£8,150 per year
MPH (3 years, part-time)
PG Cert (1 year)
£8,150 total fee
PG Dip (2 years)
£13,040total fee
Top-up fee from PG Cert is £4,890
MPH (3 years)
£16,300total fee
Top-up fee from PG Dip is £3,260
If you have already completed one of the above qualifications and are moving on to the next level of study, e.g. you've already completed the PG Cert and want to study the PG Dip, you will only need to pay the top-up fee for the course you’re applying for.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes.
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £12,858 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2025.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note:
- The loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start.
- If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
If you live in a country that imposes a GST for online courses, you may incur an additional tax charge on your tuition fees.
Currently, the countries that charge a GST are:
- Singapore
Find out more how to pay GST and how much it is.
PG Cert
PG Cert
£13,450 total fee
MPH (2 years, part-time)
MPH (2 years, part-time)
£13,450 per year
MPH (3 years, part-time)
PG Cert (1 year)
£13,450 total fee
PG Dip (2 years)
£21,520total fee
Top-up fee from PG Cert is £8,070
MPH (3 years)
£26,900total fee
Top-up fee from PG Dip is £5,380
If you have already completed one of the above qualifications and are moving on to the next level of study, e.g. you've already completed the PG Cert and want to study the PG Dip, you will only need to pay the top-up fee for the course you’re applying for.
Except where otherwise indicated, the fees for students on courses lasting more than one year will increase annually by an amount linked to inflation, including for part-time students on modular programmes.
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £12,858 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2025.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note:
- The loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start.
- If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
If you live in a country that imposes a GST for online courses, you may incur an additional tax charge on your tuition fees.
Currently, the countries that charge a GST are:
- Singapore
Find out more how to pay GST and how much it is.
Scholarships
View all scholarshipsSchool of Public Health Master's Scholarships
Value per award
- Full tuition fee bursary for selected on-campus and online Master's programmes.
Who it's for
- Prospective students
School of Public Health Master's Scholarships
Value per award
- Full tuition fee bursary for selected on-campus and online Master's programmes.
Who it's for
- Prospective students
How will studying at Imperial help my career?
Gain a comprehensive understanding of pressing global health issues by developing a wide range of research skills.
Develop your leadership skills as a public health professional.
Alumni have progressed into leadership roles in academia, government, industry, and non-governmental organisations.
Further links
Contact the department
Email: mph-online@imperial.ac.uk
Course Director: Dr Bethan Davies
Course Director: Dr Thomas Hone
Deputy Director: Dr Natasha Croome
Visit the School of Public Health website.
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Register your interest
Stay up to date on news, events, scholarship opportunities and information related to this course.
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Events, tasters and talks
Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications