What Can You Do With a Public Health Degree?
A Public Health degree can lead to careers that improve the health of whole communities, not just individual patients. You could work in the NHS, local government, charities, health organisations or research, helping prevent illness, improve services and reduce health inequalities.
What do you study in Public Health?
A Public Health degree usually focuses on how health is affected by lifestyle, communities, services and the wider environment. You may study areas such as health promotion, disease prevention, health inequalities, epidemiology, research and how health services are planned. It can be a good option if you want a healthcare-related career but do not necessarily want to work in a clinical role.
According to NHS Health Careers, Public Health Practitioners work across areas including health improvement, immunisation, screening, health protection and public health intelligence.
3 careers you could work towards
Public Health Practitioner
Public Health Practitioners work to improve the health and wellbeing of communities.
They may help develop health programmes, analyse health needs, support disease prevention or work on issues such as smoking, obesity and health inequalities.
The official Skills England Public Health Practitioner profile lists roles such as Public Health Practitioner, Health Protection Practitioner, Public Health Data Analyst and Public Health Project Manager, with a median salary of around £40,341.
Health Promotion Specialist
Health Promotion Specialists help people make healthier choices and understand important health issues.
They may work on campaigns around exercise, smoking, mental health, sexual health or disease prevention.
The National Careers Service gives a typical salary range of around £25,000 to £35,000 and identifies Public Health as one of the relevant degree routes into the profession.
Public Health Specialist
With further experience and postgraduate or specialist training, you could eventually work towards senior Public Health Specialist or Consultant roles.
These professionals may lead public health programmes, advise organisations, work in research or help shape health policy.
NHS Health Careers explains that Public Health Specialists can come from many different professional backgrounds, and specialist training is open to both medical and non-medical applicants who meet the entry requirements.
Where could a Public Health degree take you?
Public Health is a broad field, so your degree could also help you move towards careers in health protection, health improvement, public health research, community health, data and health policy.
Some careers can be entered after graduation, while others require further study, professional experience or specialist training.
How Gradulink can help you
Find the right starting point
If you do not currently have the qualifications for university, we can help you understand the foundation or entry route available to you.
Start your Public Health degree
We help you find a suitable undergraduate course and support your university application. Apply to study Public Health today or get in touch and an agent will assist you!
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