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Public Health

Entry requirements


A level

C,C,D-B,C,C

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

MMP-DMM

UCAS Tariff

88-112

A typical offer will be a UCAS Tariff score of 88 - 112. A minimum of two full A-levels (or equivalent) is required. Every application is considered on an individual basis.

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Health sciences

**Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?**
Studying at Buckinghamshire New University (BNU), you become part of a community of likeminded, friendly and inspiring people. Our lecturers are truly passionate about what they teach, and you’ll be able to benefit from their experience and gain the critical skills you need for your future career. Our public health lecturers are in direct contact with current agendas, sharing knowledge and expertise to ensure you receive the most current and significant lessons from global health policy.

All our teaching staff also actively participate in national health forums. By studying with us you’ll gain a deep knowledge and understanding of decision making, as well as exploring health promoting initiatives, designed to solve complex public health problems. What makes BNU so special is that your lecturers have all really been a part of the teams who have influenced, formed and fought for public health agendas. We don’t just provide a theoretical education at BNU, we offer a unique insight into what your career will really look and feel like.

**What facilities can I use?**
At our High Wycombe Campus, we have purpose-built facilities, including well-equipped simulation clinics and rehabilitation teaching rooms, where you will be taught throughout your course. Our library is packed with all the information you need for your assessments, and there’s plenty of room to knuckle down for some quiet study.

We will also sign you up to our Online Learning Environment, which means you will have access to lots of online resources wherever you are!

**What will I study?**
This course will help you gain a comprehensive understanding of how the society in which we live affects individual and community health. You'll learn about factors that influence health while exploring local, national and global approaches to improving healthcare. Throughout the programme, you'll develop important knowledge and we cover topics like public health and promotion theory, ethical decision making, health education and motivational interviewing skills.

We’ll encourage you to debate, add to your lessons and bring your own thoughts to the table. You’ll be able to discuss with your classmates and learn together with people who are passionate about the same things you are. You'll take part in student-led events and health promotion projects, gaining opportunities to network with public health employees. The practical, highly relevant experience you’ll gain will help put you in a strong position for building your public health career and set you aside as a unique candidate in the world of work.

We’ll closely study societies, cultures and communities as well as topics focusing on epidemiology, safeguarding, patterns and trends, global public health, research methods and at-risk populations. In your final year you will also work on a dissertation project in an area of your choice. This is the perfect way to focus your attention on an area of public health that you feel truly passionate about, with the support of your personal tutor.

You’ll take part in student-led events and health promotion projects and will have opportunities to network with public health employees, meaning this course is so much more than textbooks and lectures. The practical, highly relevant experience you’ll gain will put you in a strong position for building your public health career.

**Career prospects**
On successful completion of this degree, you will be well equipped for a range of different careers in different sectors, such as:
• The NHS
• Public Health England
• Local government e.g. housing officer
• Social care support workers
• Charity worker
• Health promotion worker
• International agencies
• Drugs and alcohol services
• Sexual health services
• Public health practitioners
• Environmental health officer
• Health administration

Modules

**Year one**
**Core**
Policy and Politics in Public Health
Introduction to Epidemiology
Society, Culture and Community
Foundations for Public Health Practice
Safeguarding: A Public Health Perspective

**Opportunity modules**
2x 10 credit year one Opportunity modules

**Year two**
**Core**
Health Promotion in Action
Collaborating for Success in Public Health
Patterns, Trends and Innovations
Research Methods

**Optional**
Inspiring Individuals to Improve Health OR
Placements

**Opportunity**
2x 10 credit year two Opportunity modules

**Year three**
**Core**
At Risk Populations and Mental Health
Educating for Improved Health
Extended Independent Work
Global Public Health

**Optional**
Settings-Based Health Promotion OR
Medical Ethics and Law

Assessment methods

We tailor our academic and pastoral support to your individual needs and aspirations, and your personal tutor will be on hand to support you on your learning journey. The course team provides a 'learning event support package' with learning materials and resources before and after each weekly seminar or lecture.

There is a focus on real world learning throughout the public health degree course. We aim to use assessment formats that reflect work practices within public health, for example report writing and oral presentations.

You’ll be assessed through several methods including:
• essays
• projects
• presentations
• portfolio
• reports and case studies
• dissertation project.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£15,000
per year
International
£15,000
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

Extra funding

Buckinghamshire New University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships. For more information, please visit https://www.bucks.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/financial-support-bursaries-and-scholarships

The Uni


Course location:

Buckinghamshire New University

Department:

School of Health and Social Care Professions

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

93%
Health sciences

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Health sciences (non-specific)

Teaching and learning

100%
Staff make the subject interesting
100%
Staff are good at explaining things
100%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
100%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

100%
Library resources
100%
IT resources
100%
Course specific equipment and facilities
100%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

88%
UK students
12%
International students
26%
Male students
74%
Female students
54%
2:1 or above
9%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

D
D
B

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Health sciences (non-specific)

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£24,000
high
Average annual salary
98%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

87%
Nursing and midwifery professionals
4%
Caring personal services
3%
Teaching and educational professionals

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

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This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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