The University of Sheffield
Masters courses

The Sheffield Master of Public Health in Health Services Research – the MPH (HSR)

The MPH (HSR) at the University of Sheffield has been designed to provide high quality education in health services research and to equip students with the essential knowledge and skills to seek funding for, undertake, evaluate or commission health care research. At Sheffield, we aim to build the capacity for evidence-based health care by developing key health services research and health technology assessment skills among health care researchers, managers and practitioners in the UK and internationally.
The Sheffield MPH (HSR) will broaden and deepen your understanding and provide a firm grounding in a wide range of skills essential to good health services research, within the context of the needs and challenges of both developed and newly-developing countries. The course offers the opportunity to: acquire new knowledge and skills; open up a wider set of job opportunities; and facilitate future career choices.

Student in class

Full-Time and Part-Time Options

We offer full-time and part-time options. The full-time option runs from September to September each year. Teaching consists of an Introductory Week at the end of September and two 15 week Semesters (Semester 1 runs from September to January and Semester 2 from February to June). Students must also complete a Dissertation (sometimes called a research project) by the end of the following September (i.e. within one year after enrolling on the course). The part-time option is taken over a period of two years, and teaching of core modules usual takes place on Friday (Year 1) and Wednesday (Year 2). Part-time students must also complete a Dissertation. Some optional modules and sessions, such as visiting lectures and some generic skills classes may be delivered on other days of the week. Full-time students should be aware that whilst teaching takes up 2 full days, they are expected to undertake directed learning activities in the remainder of the working week.

Generic and Transferable Skills Training

We also provide generic and transferable skills training in a number of areas:

We also arrange a series of Guest Public Health lectures each year and encourage students to attend weekly seminars organised by the School.

The Syllabus

The syllabus for the MPH (HSR) has been designed to provide a firm grounding in a wide range of skills essential to good health services research, with a focus on qualitative and quantitative research methods, economic evaluation, systematic review and epidemiological research design.
This course brings together the strengths of the traditional MPH that attracts a wide range of UK and international students, and ScHARR's acknowledged reputation for postgraduate education in health services research and technology assessment.
Like all of the Master´s Courses at the University of Sheffield, ScHARR recognises the key importance of the International dimension in public health and health services research. Wherever possible, all modules are taught with an explicit comparative and international focus.

Masters Level, Diploma, Certificate and individual module options

To obtain the award of Master of Public Health (Health Services Research), a student must complete 180 credits. For those students that wish to study for fewer credits, a Diploma can be awarded for completion of 120 credits or a Certificate on the basis of a minimum of 60 credits.