Public Health with foundation year

Public health is the science and practice of improving the health of populations rather than treating individual patients. It asks why some people are healthier than others, what social, economic and environmental conditions drive health inequalities, and how interventions, policies and systems can be designed to improve outcomes at scale. Public health professionals work across government, the NHS, local authorities, international organisations and the voluntary sector, addressing challenges that range from tackling obesity and mental health to managing infectious disease and responding to environmental threats.

At Coventry, this four-year programme includes a foundation year, giving you an extended route into the degree that builds the academic foundations needed for degree-level work in a health science. The programme develops your understanding of epidemiology, the social determinants of health, health policy, health promotion and the methods used to design and evaluate public health interventions. It also includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and a work placement, giving you substantial professional and international experience alongside your academic development.

The combination of evidence-based scientific understanding and practical professional exposure is particularly well suited to a field where effective action depends on both knowing the evidence and understanding how institutions actually work.

Graduates move into roles in NHS public health teams, local authority public health departments, national government, health protection agencies, international organisations, global health NGOs and health consultancies. Many graduates pursue further professional development through the Faculty of Public Health or master's study in public health, epidemiology or global health. The combination of analytical skills and professional experience that this programme develops is well matched to the demands of a field under sustained pressure and scrutiny.