Module manager: Mayeh Omar
Email: m.a.omar@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
The same as the Programme
This module is not approved as an Elective
This module provides students with an opportunity to apply public health and research competence to a topic of their choice. It offers an opportunity to building on theoretical learning on research methods by designing and implementing a dissertation project. This project will be focused on a topical public health issue from an international or national context. - Consideration for diverse student needs Students are supported by the module leader, dissertation supervisor, academic tutor and programme team that considers student interest, needs, and progress. Students can choose their own type of dissertation, and their own topic of focus based on their interest. Module material and learning resources are uploaded to Minerva in advance so that students can access material and resources according to their pace of work. - Decolonised approach Students and lecturers are invited to reflect on diverse knowledges that are not often seen in formal global public health literature. Teaching slows space for reflecting on challenging how colonisation and other dominant forces have impact global public health. - Inequities, rights and social justice Issues of addressing inequities and rights-based approaches are a core part of the module learning. Students will be challenged to use equity, rights and social justice approaches to address challenges.
This module aims for students on the Masters of Public Health International programmes to gain independent experience of designing and implementing a research-based dissertation project in public health.
On completion of this module, students should be able to write a coherent dissertation which builds on the public health concepts and methodologies taught during the course and which integrates their knowledge, research skills, evidence and experience.
Students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the process required to write a dissertation, including identifying a topic that is relevant to low-middle income setting, dissertation type, aim and objectives, evidence gathering, and presentation of finding;
2. Present the methodology, findings and a reflection of the dissertation process verbally, using appropriate technology;
3. Utilise individual supervision support to undertake the work required for the dissertation;
4. Produce a 10,000 word dissertation which is academically robust.
On successful completion of the module students will demonstrate the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the structure, and purpose of an international public health dissertation, including key components such as research questions, methodology selection, and critical analysis of findings;
2. Conduct a comprehensive analysis of public health issues using appropriate tools and frameworks, considering country-specific contexts;
3. Develop clear and focused research aims and objectives aligned with the selected health issues, ensuring they follow SMART criteria (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound);
4. Effectively search for and gather secondary data from academic sources and reputable online resources to build a strong evidence base;
5. Design and apply a suitable research framework for analysing primary and/or secondary data, selecting appropriate methodologies based on research questions and objectives;
6. Critically analyse and interpret data to address a specific public health issue, using appropriate techniques and contextualising findings within international or country-specific public health settings.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will be able demonstrate the following skills learning outcomes:
Technical Related
1. Work independently plan and organise own activities
2. Analyse data as part of problem solving and make recommendations;
Work Related
3. Communicate effectively, in writing and verbally, using appropriate technology
Sustainability
4. Anticipate future requirements for implementation of recommendation.
Enterprise
5. Demonstrate resilience and confidence in working independently on a major piece of work;
Academic Skills/Digital
6. Manage time effectively to produce a robust piece of academic document, using academic writing skills, appropriate digital technology, including correct referencing;
7. Reflect on the process of learning.
The topic is chosen by the student with the approval of the Programme Leader. The module objectives will be delivered and met through a combination of teaching, tutorials, student presentations, supervision to support the design, development and completion of a written dissertation.
There will be two strands to the work to be covered in this module:
1. A series of lectures/class exercises on topic definition, reviewing literature and academic writing.
2. Individual work based on meetings with the student's supervisor.
The development of a dissertation methodology will be built on the learning from the previous compulsory module - Health Systems Research Methods (NUFF 5710M).
Students will have the opportunity to choose from one of five formats/types of dissertation:
1. Review of a health policy/intervention/issue with recommendations for strengthening policy/intervention or proposing new strategy for health issue (ethical approval maybe required if a student conducts interviews to support a situation analysis)
2. Review of literature using a systematic approach
3. Research proposal
4. Analysis of data set (ethical approval required)
5. Project based on primary data collection (ethical approval required)
Where ethical approval is required, students will be guided through the ethical review process for the University of Leeds. In some cases student may also be required to obtain ethical approval in the country in which the data is to be collected.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 6 | 0.5 | 3 |
| Practical | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Seminar | 12 | 3 | 36 |
| Independent online learning hours | 150 | ||
| Private study hours | 259 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 41 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 450 | ||
- Staff feedback during dissertation preparation seminars
- Presentation - Staff and peer feedback during presentation (formative assessment) - after dissertation preparation seminars have been completed and during early period of dissertation supervision
- Dissertation supervision meeting where written and verbal feedback is provided by the supervisor to students on draft chapters of the dissertation
- Ethical approval – where necessary
- Discussion Board on Minerva monitored by the module leader to answer question form students during the dissertation preparation process until the assessed presentation.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 2000 word essay - Literature review on chosen topic | 15 |
| Coursework | 10,000 word written dissertation - Based on the marking scheme and objectives of the type of dissertation chosen. This component must be passed to pass the module | 85 |
| Coursework | Presentation - Formative assessment | 0 |
| Coursework | Ethical approval for 2 types of dissertations: 1. analysis of data set 2. Project involving primary data collection - Formative assessment | 0 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 11/03/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team