MSc Environmental Health

This MSc programme provides an accredited pathway for science-based graduates to become environmental health practitioners. The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) as meeting its core curriculum requirements.

The course is taught using formal lectures; workshops; group work; case studies and student centered learning, recognising the importance of technical and practical skills as well as academic excellence. Site visits are arranged in order for students to put into practice their newly acquired skills. Students benefit from being taught in a research-intense environment and are encouraged to develop their critical thinking and research skills. The course supports building the foundation of competence through the knowledge and skills required by the CIEH curriculum. We welcome international students on our courses.

This course fulfils the academic requirements to become a graduate Environmental Health Officer. Having gained the MSc in Environmental Health, graduates will begin practicing. Alongside this, graduates can sign up to the new Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner Programme (CPP), run by the CIEH, which is a route to Chartered Status. This two-year, practice-based route to Chartered Status is built on the CIEH's Professional Standards. The programme is designed to develop highly competent and professional practitioners in the protection of the health and wellbeing of people and communities.

Students benefit from being taught in a research intense environment and are encouraged to develop their critical thinking and research skills. The course supports building the foundation of competence through the knowledge and skills required by the CIEH curriculum.

Employability Skills

During the time on the course, students will be encouraged to develop employability skills which UK Employer Organisations have stated are essential for graduate recruitment. These include:

• Time management
• Communication Skills
• Team working
• Personal planning and organisation
• Critical thinking skills

Ten reasons to choose Environmental Health as a career

• Focusing on prevention, rather than cure, work on the public health side of Environmental Health keeps people out of doctors’ surgeries and hospitals by ensuring safe working conditions, clean air, safe food and good quality housing.
• For an Environmental Health practitioner, no two days are ever the same; there are few careers that can offer that.
• Environmental Health professionals have the skills and influence to revive run-down communities (for example through better, safer housing), and make a real contribution to society.
• Environmental Health professionals have influence over policy development and implementation.
• Graduates have a good choice of jobs and attractive starting salary
• Environmental Health professionals can find employment in different sectors – private sector opportunities include consultancies, and the retail or tourist sector (Airways, cruise liners, tourist companies), and public sector includes local authorities and agencies such as the Food Standards Agency, Environment Agency or the Armed Forces.