Looking for a career that combines science with real-world impact? Public health offers opportunities to tackle local health inequalities, influence national policy and improve global health
What is public health?
Public health is a vital part of the UK's health and social care workforce. It focuses on preventing illness, reducing health inequalities, and helping people live longer, healthier lives.
Rather than treating individuals, public health professionals work to improve the health of entire populations. They do this by working across:
- community
- government
- healthcare
- research settings.
From tackling infectious diseases and improving mental health, to responding to climate change, public health professionals often work behind the scenes to shape healthier communities across the UK and beyond.
What does a public health professional do?
According to the NHS, public health covers three main areas:
- Health protection - preventing disease outbreaks, planning emergency responses, and ensuring food safety.
- Healthcare services - helping to ensure everyone can access high-quality health services and medicines when they need them.
- Improving people's health - promoting healthier lifestyles through campaigns on diet, exercise, smoking, and substance misuse.
Day-to-day work varies depending on the role, but most public health jobs involve a mix of research, collaboration, and planning.
You might spend your time:
- advising policymakers on health strategies
- analysing health data to identify risks and trends
- designing and evaluating public health campaigns
- responding to emerging health threats, such as disease outbreaks
- working with local councils or charities on community projects.
Some roles are mainly office-based and analytical, while others involve working directly with communities.
Public health vs clinical careers: what's the difference?
Unlike clinical roles, which focus on treating individual patients, public health focuses on improving the health of entire populations.
This means public health professionals are more likely to work in policy, research, and prevention rather than direct patient care.
Where could I work in public health?
Public health professionals work in a range of organisations. Major employers include government departments dedicated to public health, such as the:
Other employers include:
- charities and non-profit organisations
- international organisations like the World Health Organisation (WHO)
- local authorities
- private sector organisations (such as health tech or pharmaceutical companies)
- the NHS
- universities and research institutions.
Do I need a degree to work in public health?
Although less common than postgraduate courses, there are several undergraduate degrees that can lead directly into public health careers.
These include:
- Environmental health - prepares you for roles such as environmental health practitioner.
- Global health - focuses on international health issues and development.
- Health studies - a broad degree covering biology, healthcare systems, and public health principles.
- Nutrition - combines diet, health promotion, and disease prevention.
- Social policy or health and social care - introduce core concepts like health inequalities, prevention, and policy.
Many students also enter public health through related degrees such as:
What postgraduate qualifications can I do?
A postgraduate degree is often required for senior or specialist roles in public health.
MSc public health degrees
If you're aiming for a high‑level or specialist role in public health, such as public health consultancy, a Masters degree can significantly improve your prospects. MSc public health degrees are typically academic and research‑focused, helping students develop advanced knowledge and specialist skills that employers value highly.
An MSc is often well suited to students interested in research or further study, including PhD routes. It is particularly appropriate if you're aiming for careers in:
- academic or applied research
- epidemiology and data analysis
- health intelligence roles
- scientific or technical public health work.
'Our 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 practitioners,' adds Dr Tilly Paz, deputy course lead for the MSc Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School.
You'll usually study a set of core modules and complete a dissertation. For example:
- London Metropolitan University's MSc covers ethical issues in healthcare, health improvement, and epidemiology.
- The University of Salford's MSc Public Health includes modules on global public health challenges, epidemiology and statistics, and research methods.
Dr Paz also highlights the importance of tailoring your studies to your career goals, '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'.
It's important to check whether a course is accredited or aligned with professional bodies such as the:
'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 Clayton, director of the MSc Public Health programme at the University of Liverpool.
To find the right programme for you, search for an MSc course in public health.
Master of public health (MPH)
An MPH is usually more practice‑focused and career‑orientated than other public health Masters degrees. It is designed to prepare both people already working in health and students for applied public health roles, with a strong emphasis on how public health operates in real‑world settings.
An MPH is particularly well suited to careers in:
- applied public health consultancy
- health policy and programme management
- leadership and service delivery roles
- public health practice in the NHS or local authorities.
Because of this applied focus, MPH programmes often attract a mix of students, including career changers.
For example, the MPH Public Health at Newcastle University focuses on current public health challenges, including engaging communities through public and patient involvement (PPI) and using advanced epidemiological and statistical methods to improve population health.
Alongside core public health modules, many MPH programmes offer optional modules in areas such as:
- ageing across the life course
- global health
- health economics
- public health protection.
In the UK, the distinction between an MPH and an MSc in public health is not always clear. Many programmes overlap significantly, and employers tend to value the skills you develop and the course content more than the degree title itself.
Specialist Masters degrees
A general MSc in public health is a good option if you want a broad overview of the field and flexibility in your future career. However, if you already know what interests you most, a specialist Masters degree may be a better fit that can help you stand out in competitive job markets.
Popular specialist Masters options include:
- Epidemiology - studying disease patterns, causes, and prevention across populations.
- Global health - exploring health challenges across countries, including inequalities, infectious diseases, and health systems.
- Health data science or biostatistics - analysing large datasets to support evidence‑based public health decisions.
- Health policy and health economics - examining how healthcare systems are organised, funded, and improved.
Many MSc programmes allow you to combine core public health training with specialist modules, giving you both a strong foundation and the chance to build expertise aligned with your career goals.
Faculty of Public Health Specialty Training Scheme
'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 requiring students to complete and pass a Masters in public health,' says Stephen.
This training route typically includes:
- four years of supervised workplace training
- one year of academic study (usually an MPH or MSc in public health)
- passing the Faculty's Membership exams.
The scheme is open to both medical and non‑medical applicants.
How do I get public health work experience?
Public health-specific work experience can be competitive and limited, so it's a good idea to build experience in related areas.
Volunteering
One of the most accessible and flexible ways to gain relevant experience is by volunteering. You could volunteer with:
- charities focused on health issues
- community health organisations
- hospitals and GP practices.
The NHS Volunteering website is a good place to explore opportunities available in your local area.
NHS work experience placements
Many NHS trusts offer short-term work experience placements that allow you to observe how healthcare and public health services operate in practice. These placements are usually open to students aged 16 or over and typically last from a few days up to a week.
Examples include:
- Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust - offers general and student placements lasting one to three days, including opportunities in mental health and community services.
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - provides one- to five-day placements across clinical and non-clinical teams, including public health, project management, and health improvement.
- Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - offers observational placements lasting two to five days in areas such as community health, mental health, and administration.
These placements are a valuable way to see how public health connects to frontline services and to understand how different teams work together.
Virtual work experience programmes
If in-person placements aren't available to you, virtual work experience programmes are a flexible alternative and are increasingly common.
For example, Springpod offers online NHS-related work experience that explores roles such as GPs and mental health professionals.
Some NHS trusts also run regional virtual programmes, allowing students to explore healthcare careers remotely and gain certificates. Examples include:
- Healthcare Careers - Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
- NHS Careers Untapped - Barts Health NHS Trust
- Social Care Work Experience - Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS.
Virtual programmes are particularly useful for building knowledge, showing commitment to the sector, and strengthening applications when face-to-face experience is limited.
Explore our advice on virtual work experience.
How do I get a job in public health?
There is no single entry route into public health. Most people enter the field through a combination of:
- education
- progression over time
- work experience.
As public health is such a broad area, a good first step is to understand the different types of roles available and what they involve. Common job options include:
- environmental health practitioner
- epidemiologist
- health and safety adviser
- health improvement practitioner
- health visitor
- nutritionist
- occupational hygienist
Each role has different entry requirements, so it's important to research the jobs that interest you most and check what qualifications or experience they need.
Public health vacancies are advertised across a range of organisations. Useful places to search include:
- charity job boards
- local authority websites
- NHS Jobs
- UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) vacancies.
What will I be paid as a public health graduate?
As a graduate, entry‑level public health roles typically start at around £28,000 to £35,000, with clear opportunities to earn more as you gain experience and develop specialist skills.
For example:
- environmental health practitioners begin their careers earning between £25,000 and £35,000 a year
- with experience, salaries can rise to around £50,000
- senior practitioners or managers may earn £50,000 to £60,000 annually.
Many public health roles in local councils or the NHS are paid according to the Agenda for Change pay scale, which offers structured progression and pay increases as responsibility grows. Epidemiologists working in the NHS, for example, often start on Band 5 or Band 6, with salaries typically ranging from:
- £29,000 to £36,000 at Band 5
- £37,000 to £44,000 at Band 6.
Higher bands are available for more senior or specialist roles.
Earnings can also differ depending on the sector you work in. Public health workers employed by charities, such as smoking cessation or mental health organisations, may earn slightly less at entry level, often starting around £24,000 to £32,000.
While senior programme managers in larger charities can earn higher salaries, pay is often more limited due to reliance on funding and grants.
In contrast, public health analysts working in private health consultancies or pharmaceutical companies may start on £35,000 to £50,000, with experienced consultants or data specialists earning £60,000 to £90,000 or more, depending on expertise and the size of the organisation.
What could my career look like in public health?
Public health careers are highly progression-based. With experience, further training, and professional development, you can move into more senior roles, such as:
- consultant-level public health posts
- director of public health roles within local authorities
- senior analyst or programme lead roles
- specialist practitioner positions.
Continuing professional development (CPD) is important throughout your career and helps you keep your skills and knowledge up to date.
Public health also offers clear progression pathways. A typical career route might look like this:
- public health assistant or project support officer
- public health practitioner
- senior practitioner or specialist
- public health consultant
- director of public health.
Progression usually involves:
- achieving professional accreditation where required
- completing further qualifications
- gaining practical experience.
Find out more
- Explore the healthcare sector.