About

The Global Health Policy (Online Learning) programme offered by The University of Edinburgh situates health, health inequalities and health policy in a global context, examining the extent to which health and its determinants are shaped by social, economic and political processes and the impacts on health policy of multiple factors.

With its multidisciplinary approach and online distance learning delivery,this programme will provide you with a flexible and focused examination of health, health inequalities and health policy in a global context.

Whether you’re from a health or social science background, you’ll develop a critical awareness of the role of the state, the commercial sector, civil society and international organisations in health policy and global governance, and an understanding of the challenges confronting policymakers in addressing health and reducing health inequalities.

Learning outcomes:

On completion of this programme you will be able to understand, critically appraise and apply key concepts and theories within public health and policy studies with specific reference to social and economic determinants of population health status.

You will also develop the skills to:

• apply social science perspectives to public health questions
• assess the changing context of public health policy formulation
• analyse diverse source materials and apply to public health questions
• articulate your own conception of core challenges confronting public health
• engage in public health advocacy
• work across disciplinary boundaries

Career opportunities:

The programme aims to equip students for senior roles in national, regional or global health organisations, research institutions, non-governmental organisations and private sector consultancies.

On graduating, you will have the skills you need to help these organisations respond to a range of key global issues, from the emergence of new pandemics and antibiotic resistance, to the role of private actors in strengthening healthcare systems, to the challenge of regulating multinational corporations as part of efforts to combat non-communicable diseases.