Module manager: Akaninyene Otu
Email: A.A.Otu@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: 1 Sep to 31 Aug (12mth) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
The same as the Programme
| NUFF5646M | Introduction to Global Health and Epidemiology |
| NUFF5655M | Principles of Health Management, Planning and Policy |
| NUFF5675M | Principles of Public Health |
| NUFF5710M | HRSM |
| NONE |
NUFF5600M Master of Public Health International: Dissertation
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 build on theoretical learning about 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 allows 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.
On successful completion of the module students will demonstrate the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Conduct a comprehensive analysis of public health issues using appropriate tools and frameworks, considering country-specific contexts;
2. 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);
3. Effectively search for and gather secondary data from academic sources and reputable online resources to build a strong evidence base;
4. Design and apply a suitable research framework for analysing primary and/or secondary data, selecting appropriate methodologies based on research questions and objectives;
5. 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.
On successful completion of the module students will be able demonstrate the following skills learning outcomes:
Technical Related
1. Analyse data as part of problem solving and to make recommendations based on challenges identified;
Sustainability
2. Plan requirements for implementing recommendations into a feasible work plan based on findings and evidence
Enterprise
3. Demonstrate resilience and confidence in working independently on a major piece of work
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 students may also be required to obtain ethical approval in the country in which the data are 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 | ||
259
• 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 related to the proposed dissertation topic | 15 |
| Coursework | 10,000 word written dissertation - Based on the marking scheme and objectives of the type of dissertation chosen | 85 |
| Presentation | Formative assessment that is based on an outline of the dissertation. | 0 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
This module allows for compensation between assessments. This is because the learning outcomes assessed are not mutually exclusive. In the event of the overall module mark being below 50, you must resit one or both of the assessments, and the module mark will be capped at 50 on successful resit.
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 10/07/2026
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