When studying abroad, many international students consider the United Kingdom because it offers a wide range of postgraduate public health programs. These programs vary by degree type, study mode, duration, and entry requirements, so applicants should compare each university’s current course page before applying.
The list below is not a formal ranking. It is a selection of UK universities that offer public health or closely related postgraduate study options.
Top Schools Offering Public Health Programs in the UK
1. University College London
University College London was established in 1826. Its Faculty of Population Health Sciences offers a Master of Public Health (MPH), and UCL also offers an MPhil/Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Public Health.
The MPH can be completed in one calendar year of full-time study, two calendar years of part-time study, or up to five calendar years on a flexible basis. The MPhil/Ph.D. is listed as three academic years full-time or five academic years part-time.
For the MPH, applicants normally need at least an upper-second-class degree or an equivalent overseas qualification in a relevant subject, such as the social, life, biomedical, or clinical sciences. A numerical background is recommended. Applicants who do not meet the usual academic standard or subject background may still be considered if they have more than two years of relevant professional experience. Applicants must also meet UCL’s English-language requirements.
2. University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge was established in 1209, making it one of the world’s oldest universities. It is ranked sixth in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Cambridge’s Department of Public Health and Primary Care offers a Ph.D. with research themes that include genetic epidemiology, behavior and health, health services research, and noncommunicable disease epidemiology. Interdisciplinary research is also encouraged.
The Ph.D. can be undertaken full-time or part-time. The current course page lists a duration of three to four years for full-time study and four to seven years for part-time study. Applicants are expected to have training or experience in epidemiology, biostatistics, or another subject relevant to their proposed research topic.
3. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is a postgraduate institution focused on public and global health. In ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025, LSHTM ranked first in the UK and third in the world for public health.
The Faculty of Public Health and Policy offers an MSc Public Health. The program can be completed in one year of full-time study or over two years through part-time or split-study options. LSHTM also offers a Doctorate of Public Health (DrPH). The DrPH normally takes three to four years full-time or four to eight years part-time. LSHTM states that the DrPH has an intake quota of 20 students per year and that applicants should have relevant public-health or policy experience as well as suitable management or leadership experience.
International students at LSHTM can choose from specialized programs in public and global health. Marvi, a physician from Pakistan who completed an MSc in Tropical Medicine and International Health, described how the program helped her view health challenges through an intersectional lens. She found the program particularly relevant while working as a public-health specialist during the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. Imperial College London
Imperial College London was formed by Royal Charter in 1907. Its School of Public Health is part of the Faculty of Medicine.
Imperial’s Master of Public Health can be completed as a one-year full-time program taught on campus or as a two- or three-year part-time program.
The School of Public Health also offers research degrees. Imperial states that a Ph.D. normally takes three to four years of full-time work or five to six years of part-time study.
5. King’s College London
King’s College London derives its legal status from a Royal Charter first granted in 1829.
King’s offers a campus-based Master of Public Health (MPH). The current course page lists the MPH as a one-year full-time, in-person program. King’s also offers a separate online, part-time Public Health MSc, which can be completed in a minimum of two years and a maximum of six years.
For the MPH, the standard academic requirement is a minimum 2:1 undergraduate honors degree. Applicants with a lower classification or an unrelated degree may still be considered if they can demonstrate significant relevant work experience or a related graduate qualification.
6. University of Southampton
The University of Southampton offers a Public Health MPH that can be completed in one year of full-time study. Flexible options include a two-year part-time master’s or a longer part-time route lasting three to five years.
Applicants typically need a 2:1 degree. The university may consider applicants with a 2:2 degree if they can demonstrate relevant professional experience or a strong commitment to public health. Applicants must also show how their degree and interests relate to public health and demonstrate numerical competence.
Southampton also offers a separate MSc in Global Health. Mohammad Haris Taheri from Afghanistan, a former dentist and public-health researcher, chose that program because of his interest in community-health advancement and prominent global public-health challenges.
7. University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow offers a Public Health MPH/PgDip/PgCert and research options in public health. The MPH can be completed in 12 months of full-time study or in 24, 36, or 48 months of part-time study. Students can complete the MPH with or without a specialization in data science, epidemiology, health economics, or health promotion.
The university’s Public Health Ph.D. is listed as three to four years full-time or five years part-time.
Faith Opiyo from Kenya, a Chevening Scholar who pursued a master’s in public health at Glasgow, wrote that she wanted to better understand health-sector inequalities affecting women and girls. Her story describes more than a decade of work in gender and sexual and reproductive health and rights programs.
8. University of Bristol
The University of Bristol traces its roots to University College Bristol, which was established in 1876. The university was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1909.
Bristol offers an MSc Public Health that can be completed in one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study. The program is campus-based and includes lectures, practicals, group work, workshops, seminars, and a dissertation.
Hira Zaheer Ahmed, a student from Pakistan who pursued a master’s in public health, described a positive learning atmosphere, exposure to public-health issues, and research-driven teaching by experts in the field.
9. University of Chester
The University of Chester offers a Master of Public Health (MPH). The program covers areas such as epidemiology, health policy, leadership, economics of health, and communicable disease control. It can be completed in one year of full-time study or in up to six years of part-time study.
Applicants normally need at least a 2:2 degree or an equivalent qualification in a related field. Work experience in public health is not required, although related work experience may be considered if an applicant’s undergraduate degree is unrelated.
Chester also offers a separate MSc in Public Health Nutrition. Commonwealth Shared Scholar Zohaib Safdar completed that program and wrote that it deepened his understanding of evidence-based nutrition, public-health policy, and global-health challenges. He also described support for international students, including academic-skills workshops, visa and immigration guidance, mental-health and well-being services, and orientation programs.
FAQs: Public Health Studies in the UK
Is Public Health in Demand in the United Kingdom?
Public-health graduates can pursue roles across the NHS, local authorities, government bodies, charities, academia, international organizations, and other employers. Demand and salaries vary by role, experience, and employer, so applicants should review current vacancies and salary bands rather than rely on a single degree-level average.
We hope this article on public health programs in the United Kingdom was helpful. Make sure to explore our Study in the UK Page and check out the Programs in Europe for International Students to learn more.
