Public health careers

If you want to have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of people, whether it's in your local community or on a larger scale, you should consider pursuing a career in public health

Professionals in public health work towards preventing diseases, promoting healthy behaviour, and addressing health inequalities that exist within different groups of people.

Their work involves analysing health data, developing, and implementing programmes, and working with various stakeholders such as government agencies, nonprofit organisations, and healthcare providers.

'There are a broad range of career opportunities in public health, many of which are located in local authorities, the NHS and the Third Sector, as well as more global in bodies such as the World Health Organisation,' explains Stephen Clayton, director of MSc Public Health at the University of Liverpool.

'There are also careers available in universities and colleges in both research and teaching,' Stephen adds.

According to NHS Health Careers, there are three main areas of public health:

• health protection - preventing outbreaks of epidemics, planning responses to emergencies, and ensuring food safety
• improving people's health - launching campaigns to promote healthier eating, and physical exercise, and discouraging smoking and drug use
• healthcare services - ensuring that everyone has access to high-quality health services and medications when they need them.

What are the most important public health issues?

The priority of public health professionals is to reduce inequalities in health outcomes. Other major challenges are:

• environmental sustainability and climate change
• antimicrobial resistance
• preparing for epidemics
• mental health
• building public trust in health protection and preventative measures.

There is also a growing issue with illnesses and deaths caused by what are known as 'lifestyle diseases', which can be attributed to inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption, and an unhealthy diet. These diseases can also be linked to poverty and limited opportunities, as demonstrated by the much higher rates of such illnesses in underprivileged communities.

How do I get a job in public health?

There are job opportunities available in various sectors such as local authorities, government, NHS, private healthcare companies, charities, and higher education/research.

There are diverse roles available in this field, ranging from school nurses and substance misuse workers to public health consultants and epidemiologists. Therefore, there is no fixed path to enter this field.

Find out more about relevant roles to see what qualifications are required:

• Environmental health practitioner
• Epidemiologist
• Health and safety adviser
• Health improvement practitioner
• Health visitor
• Nutritionist
• Occupational hygienist

For more information about what is considered a public health job, see Health Careers - The public health workforce explained.

Gaining work experience through volunteering for public health-related charities is an impressive way to catch the attention of potential employers. If you're looking for job opportunities in this field, NHS Jobs and local authority websites are great places to start.

You can also check general job websites for opportunities in the private sector.

'Our MSc Public Health graduates have gone on to work as epidemiologists on big research projects at universities, while others became officers for mental health practice in local authorities or started prestigious training programmes to become advanced PH practitioners,' adds Dr Tilly Paz, deputy course lead for the MSc Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

'If a student knows in advance what type of job they would like to do, they could then use the optional modules and the dissertation to strengthen their knowledge in the field and become an expert on the topic. Such choices make their applications and interviews more likely to result in a suitable job,' explains Dr. Paz.

It's important to stay updated on public health matters by regularly checking the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) and the Faculty of Public Health websites. For a broader perspective, you can also check out the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organisation websites.

If you're aiming for a high-level role, such as public health consultancy, pursuing a Masters degree in public health can significantly enhance your chances.

What does an MSc in Public Health involve?

As well as giving you a good grounding in contemporary public health practice a postgraduate course can connect you with professionals who work in public health and give you the chance to be involved in a live project. If you are interested in a career in health research, then the right course can put you in touch with the leading researchers in the field and is also a good stepping stone to a PhD.

Entry requirements for Masters programmes in public health usually include a good undergraduate degree in a health-related subject. Relevant subjects such as geography, politics and psychology are often accepted too. Having some paid or voluntary work experience that demonstrates your interests will significantly improve your chances of getting a place.

Tuition fees for full-time, one-year courses tend to be between £6,000 and £10,000, although you may be eligible for a Masters loan. Most Masters degrees in public health are also available to study over two years on a part-time basis.

You'll typically study a set of core modules and write a dissertation. For instance, the modules you'll take on the University of Salford's MSc Public Health include:

• 21st-century global public health challenges
• Epidemiology and statistics for public health
• Research methods applied to public health.

Meanwhile, London Metropolitan University's MSc covers modules such as:

• Health improvement
• Introduction to epidemiology
• Ethical issues in healthcare.

To find the most suitable public health Masters degree, you should do some research and consider your interests. When searching for a course, it's recommended to choose one that focuses on the 'upstream' causes or 'social determinants' of health. This is because the majority of health problems arise due to unequal access to a healthy environment and society.

It's also worth checking if your chosen course is accredited by the Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation or if it has core modules approved by the Royal Society for Public Health, as both will enhance your job prospects.

'Accreditation by such bodies can provide an additional stamp of excellence for programmes, although it is not a requirement as it is for other professional qualifications,' says Stephen.

Graduates of MSc in public health courses often go on to positions within:

• the NHS
• community organisations
• government agencies
• local authorities
• health promotion agencies
• human rights agencies
• health sectors abroad
• international health institutions
• academia
• business and voluntary sectors.

'People aspiring to high-level roles such as public health consultant or director of public health need to undertake the Faculty of Public Health Specialty Training Scheme. This is a five-year training scheme the first year of which requires students to compete and pass a Masters in Public Health,' says Stephen.

To find the right programme for you, search for postgraduate courses in public health.

Find out more

• Explore the healthcare sector.