PCS-40044 - Module Specification
School of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

This module provides the opportunity to carry out a public health research project. It will develop your research skills and application of the
implications of research evidence for public health theory and practice; these are important skills for a practicing as a public health practitioner. These skills are also useful when considering progressing within public health research.

This module aims to enable students to undertake a research project and write a Public Health dissertation at Masters level. It will allow students’ to develop research skills in managing the research processes including how to answer a research question, selection of appropriate methodology and methods, application of the role of values and ethics in the research process, and the development of critical skills in the evaluation and synthesis of research knowledge. It will also develop students’ application of the implications of research evidence for public health theory and practice.

Intended Learning Outcomes

demonstrate within a written thesis, a critical understanding of research methodology, methods and processes that are relevant to public health practice, and can be applied in a research study: 1
critically apply research skills in managing research processes such as methodology and methods: 1
demonstrate a critical understanding of the importance of values and ethics in the research process: 1
critically analyse, synthesise and apply research to public health theory and practice: 1
demonstrate through presentation and discussion, a critical understanding of the research methodology, methods and processes, described in the written thesis, that are relevant to public health practice, and can be applied in other research studies: 2
demonstrate through presentation and discussion, critical analysis, synthesis and application of research (described in the written thesis) to public health theory and practice: 2

Study hours

Lectures/workshops 20 hours including 4 hours of online activity (asynchronous delivery of taught materials). This will also include 2 hours of 1:1
supervision with a research project supervisor during semester 1 and 2. In addition the tutor or research supervisor will provide written feedback on drafts of proposals and preparatory work.
In development of the proposal in semesters 1 and 2, the student will spend 130 hours on independent self-study broken down to:
80 hours - background reading, reviewing given material and private study
50 hours – preparation for dissertation proposal.
In semester 3 the student will spend 450 hours independent research and writing.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment