Overview
Public health research prevents disease and strengthens systems that enable healthy lives. The PhD Public Health trains researchers who can design epidemiologic and health systems studies, analyse population data, and translate findings for policy. Year 1 advanced coursework in epidemiology, biostatistics, health systems and research ethics is followed by candidacy and multi-year dissertation research. Supervisors work across infectious and non-communicable disease, equity, and health systems implementation.
PhD Public Health is taught as one award, not a list of unrelated modules. The published length is 3–5 years, and the credit total is 60. Students move from Advanced Epidemiologic Methods through Advanced Epidemiologic Methods; Biostatistics for Population Health Research; Health Systems, Policy & Implementation Science; Doctoral Seminar in Public Health Ethics; PhD Candidacy Examination; Doctoral Dissertation Research, and finish on Doctoral Dissertation Research.
Each course has a question, a method, and a submission. In this field, students describe how people, records, and decisions move through one service, and separate cause from harm. Reading is a pathway description, an incident summary, and an information standard. The artefact a marker expects is a brief a service manager could use, with the evidence attached.
The award is built so that a graduate can do the following in practice: Design rigorous epidemiologic and population health studies Analyse complex health data with advanced biostatistical methods Evaluate health systems and implementation strategies
Teaching assumes the student can read a source, attempt a problem before the seminar, and revise after feedback. Attendance at live seminars is part of the design. The capstone or final course must use the methods of the earlier courses; a project that ignores them does not pass.
This course does not confer a licence to practise nursing, medicine, or any other clinical profession.
The pages for each course name the topics that are examined. Those topics are the syllabus. A brochure line is not a substitute for them.
Ideal progression from the MSc Public Health and related quantitative programmes. Opportunities exist for secondary data analyses with global health datasets under ethical governance agreements.
Who This Programme Is For
- ✦MSc Public Health graduates pursuing research careers
- ✦Clinicians and epidemiologists building independent research programmes
- ✦Health systems professionals evaluating programmes at scale
- ✦Policy researchers in ministries, WHO-affiliated work and NGOs
Faculty spotlight
Epidemiology and biostatistics faculty supervise methods-heavy theses; implementation science faculty guide health systems dissertations.
Programme Structure & Delivery
Coursework
Interactive modules, weekly readings, recorded and live seminars, and collaborative discussions with peers worldwide.
Assessment
Module assignments, proctored examinations, and capstone projects designed to demonstrate mastery of the field.
Learning Outcomes
- ✦Design rigorous epidemiologic and population health studies
- ✦Analyse complex health data with advanced biostatistical methods
- ✦Evaluate health systems and implementation strategies
- ✦Publish and communicate findings to scientific and policy audiences
- ✦Lead ethical research programmes with global partners
Career Pathways
- ✦University Faculty / Research Scientist
- ✦Epidemiologist (Government / Agency)
- ✦Health Systems Researcher
- ✦WHO / International NGO Research Lead
- ✦Public Health Policy Advisor
Assessment
Modules are assessed through a published mix of coursework, applied projects, and examinations. Exam windows are announced in advance so students in other time zones are not forced into overnight sittings. Alternative arrangements are available where documented.
Curriculum
Year 1 — Doctoral Coursework
PHDPH701Advanced Epidemiologic Methods- PHDPH701-M1 · Pathway, payment, records, and the bottleneck — Advanced Epidemiologic Methods
- PHDPH701-M2 · Incident, harm, cause, and the change that prevents a repeat — Advanced Epidemiologic Methods
- PHDPH701-M3 · Indicators, privacy, and misuse of a report — Advanced Epidemiologic Methods
- PHDPH701-M4 · Quality, safety, and the limit of the data — Advanced Epidemiologic Methods
- PHDPH701-M5 · Service design for a named population — Advanced Epidemiologic Methods
- PHDPH701-M6 · A service or informatics brief with evidence and a recommendation — Advanced Epidemiologic Methods
6 creditsPHDPH702Biostatistics for Population Health Research- PHDPH702-M1 · The question, the unit of analysis, and data quality — Biostatistics for Population Health Research
- PHDPH702-M2 · Features, baselines, and error — Biostatistics for Population Health Research
- PHDPH702-M3 · Validation, leakage, and what the model must not decide — Biostatistics for Population Health Research
- PHDPH702-M4 · Monitoring, drift, and human review — Biostatistics for Population Health Research
- PHDPH702-M5 · Interpretation for a non-technical decision maker — Biostatistics for Population Health Research
- PHDPH702-M6 · A supervised project with method, result, and limitation — Biostatistics for Population Health Research
6 creditsPHDPH703Health Systems, Policy & Implementation Science- PHDPH703-M1 · Pathway, payment, records, and the bottleneck — Health Systems, Policy & Implementation Science
- PHDPH703-M2 · Incident, harm, cause, and the change that prevents a repeat — Health Systems, Policy & Implementation Science
- PHDPH703-M3 · Indicators, privacy, and misuse of a report — Health Systems, Policy & Implementation Science
- PHDPH703-M4 · Quality, safety, and the limit of the data — Health Systems, Policy & Implementation Science
- PHDPH703-M5 · Service design for a named population — Health Systems, Policy & Implementation Science
- PHDPH703-M6 · A service or informatics brief with evidence and a recommendation — Health Systems, Policy & Implementation Science
6 creditsPHDPH704Doctoral Seminar in Public Health Ethics- PHDPH704-M1 · Pathway, payment, records, and the bottleneck — Doctoral Seminar in Public Health Ethics
- PHDPH704-M2 · Incident, harm, cause, and the change that prevents a repeat — Doctoral Seminar in Public Health Ethics
- PHDPH704-M3 · Indicators, privacy, and misuse of a report — Doctoral Seminar in Public Health Ethics
- PHDPH704-M4 · Quality, safety, and the limit of the data — Doctoral Seminar in Public Health Ethics
- PHDPH704-M5 · Service design for a named population — Doctoral Seminar in Public Health Ethics
- PHDPH704-M6 · A service or informatics brief with evidence and a recommendation — Doctoral Seminar in Public Health Ethics
6 creditsYears 2–5 — Dissertation
PHDPH801PhD Candidacy Examination- PHDPH801-M1 · Pathway, payment, records, and the bottleneck — PhD Candidacy Examination
- PHDPH801-M2 · Incident, harm, cause, and the change that prevents a repeat — PhD Candidacy Examination
- PHDPH801-M3 · Indicators, privacy, and misuse of a report — PhD Candidacy Examination
- PHDPH801-M4 · Quality, safety, and the limit of the data — PhD Candidacy Examination
- PHDPH801-M5 · Service design for a named population — PhD Candidacy Examination
- PHDPH801-M6 · A service or informatics brief with evidence and a recommendation — PhD Candidacy Examination
0 creditsPHDPH802Doctoral Dissertation Research- PHDPH802-M1 · Pathway, payment, records, and the bottleneck — Doctoral Dissertation Research
- PHDPH802-M2 · Incident, harm, cause, and the change that prevents a repeat — Doctoral Dissertation Research
- PHDPH802-M3 · Indicators, privacy, and misuse of a report — Doctoral Dissertation Research
- PHDPH802-M4 · Quality, safety, and the limit of the data — Doctoral Dissertation Research
- PHDPH802-M5 · Service design for a named population — Doctoral Dissertation Research
- PHDPH802-M6 · A service or informatics brief with evidence and a recommendation — Doctoral Dissertation Research
36 creditsAdmission requirements
Academic entry
- Master's degree in a related discipline from an accredited institution
English language
- English proficiency: IELTS 5.5 or equivalent for research writing
Documents
- Three academic references, at least one from a previous supervisor
Research & interview
- Research proposal (1,500–2,000 words) aligned with faculty research areas
- Interview with the doctoral admissions panel (online)
- Evidence of prior research output (publications, thesis, or professional reports) preferred
Programme questions
How long is the PhD Public Health?+
The published duration is 3–5 years. Teaching language: English. Actual time-to-complete depends on mode and any recognised prior learning.
Can I study this from my country?+
This is a fully online award. You study from your country. No student visa and no campus relocation are required.
What does it cost?+
Degree tuition for this award is published as £0 / tuition-free on the online pathway. Examination or administrative fees may apply at checkout — never an annual tuition invoice. Check the Fees page for any extras.
What are the entry requirements?+
Requirements are grouped on this page (academic, English, documents, research). Equivalent qualifications are considered. English may be waived after prior English-medium study.
How is the programme assessed?+
Assessment is typically a mix of coursework, projects, and examinations. Doctoral awards include a thesis or dissertation and an oral examination. Details sit in the programme specification and module outlines.
Will this award be recognised where I live?+
Recognition of the award for local employment, professional licence, or ministry attestation is decided by your employer or regulator. Durham University publishes verification pages for certificates. We do not claim automatic equivalence in every country.
How do I apply?+
Start an application on this website. Progress is saved from the first step. Admissions: admissions@durhm.co.uk.
