Prevention, Population Health and Leadership (Distance Learning) MSc Postgraduate Taught - September 2025/26* & January 2025/26* Entry

This is a ‘Distance Learning’ programme. All content will be delivered online and through distance learning methods.

Please use the relevant UCAS code when applying for this course: 

• Prevention, Population Health and Leadership (Distance Learning) MSc, 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time, 3 years part-time - UCAS code: B7DX (Ref: MSC/PPHL) 

For instructions on how to apply for this course, please read these instructions.

The precept that prevention is better than cure continues to grow in relevance. Indeed, as populations become progressively affected by multi-morbidity and avoidable long-term disorders, both the urgency and the need to focus on prevention of illness is increasing. Prevention is about helping people stay healthy, happy and independent for as long as possible. It means stopping problems from arising in the first place; focusing on keeping people healthy, not just treating them when they become ill. Indeed, prevention is not merely the absence of illness or infirmity, it is the possession of a set of personal resources that need nurturing and development to ensure good mental and physical health. In addition, prevention cannot be solved by the health and social care system alone, as many aspects influencing good health lie outside of the health and social care sector’s control. Awareness of and commitment to health equity must be embedded within healthcare provision in order for prevention to be successful across society.

This Prevention, Population Health and Leadership (Distance Learning) MSc aims to train leaders in health and social care to effectively manage and lead innovation in practice within their organisations. This training will equip you with the tools and knowledge to plan, develop, and evaluate a shared and inclusive vision for your organisation, drawing on the latest research and development in preventative health, equity, and effective leadership theory. In addition, you will have the opportunity to design research, gather data, and apply your own findings within your workplace to enact positive change. Through workshops, lectures, and supported assessments, you will be empowered to develop a collaborative culture within your organisation which builds capacity of the collective workforce to effectively deliver the aspirations of “A Healthier Nation”.

The Academy for Health Equity, Prevention and Wellbeing (AHEPW) is proud to host this programme, supported by Bangor University and part of the Welsh Government's Intensive Learning Academy initiative. This effort has led to the creation of centres at universities in Wales that provide teaching and research to help health and social care systems meet today's challenges and those of the future. AHEPW is dedicated to quickly bringing the ideas of preventive health into everyday health care. It works across different areas like health and social care, charities, housing, education, and the life sciences industry. The goal is to build a community of knowledgeable, energetic leaders who can lead the way in tackling health issues and related social problems.

What does this programme offer?

• Enables you to effectively manage and lead innovation in practice within your organisation, ensuring systems of learning, monitoring, and professional appraisal align with the strategic intentions of the organisation.
• The tools and knowledge to build resilience throughout organisation.
• To develop and evaluate a shared and inclusive vision for your organisation, with reference to the latest developments in preventative health (both nationally in Wales and internationally) alongside effective leadership theory.
• To empower you to develop a collaborative culture that builds capacity of the collective workforce to effectively deliver the aspirations of “A Healthier Nation”.
• To enable you to gather and use data for informed decision making.

What will you study on this course?

This programme is delivered through a flexible mixture of workshops, seminars and lectures to suit applicants who are engaged in employment.

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Prevention, Population Health and Leadership (Distance Learning) MSc Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

Prospective applicants should hold an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject (of 2(ii) or above), as well as a strong personal statement and reference(s) (academic and/or work related).

Credit transfer and Accreditation for Prior Experiential Learning (maximum 40 credits at Level 7) will be possible. If credit transfer is sought for taught research methods modules, then this should have been completed within the last 5 years.

For International students, IELTS score of 6.0 (with no element less than 5.5), or equivalent.

If you do not meet the academic requirements detailed above but have at least 3 years relevant work experience and have evidence of recent study or professional development (to demonstrate an ability to study at level 7) we may consider your application.

This Prevention, Population Health and Leadership (Distance Learning) MSc is likely to appeal to those already in employment as part of their regular CPD or for the purposes of upskilling. This means that graduates will be better equipped to continue or progress in their current career. Those who are seeking to pursue a new career will have access to a wide range of careers that focus on preventative health. Having knowledge of factors relating to health equity and social inclusion, they will be well-equipped to be leaders across services and sectors, including health and social care organisations, and in statutory and non-statutory sectors.