# Public health
**Source**: https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/options/sectors/public-health/
**Parent**: https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/options/sectors/
Public health is defined by the Faculty of Public Health as 'the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organised efforts of society'.
Public health careers in the UK include a wide range of roles and entry levels: working in the NHS, for government or local councils, consultancy firms, charities or social enterprises, as well as research and academia. Qualifications required depend on the type of role and level. This page aims to provide career information for students studying for a Masters in Public Health. Your career choices will also be influenced by your previous qualifications and experience.
Find out about public health careers
## Key resources
The University of York [MPH course page](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/courses/mph-public-health/) lists some possible career opportunities, together with recommended elective module choices.
[NHS careers in public health](https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/roles-public-health)
[Faculty of Public Health careers information](https://www.fph.org.uk/training-careers/careers-in-public-health/)
Prospects: [Public health careers](https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/healthcare/public-health-careers)
Coursera: [What can you do with a Masters in Public Health?](https://www.coursera.org/gb/articles/what-can-you-do-with-a-masters-in-public-health-mph) suggests different career paths following an MPH
See also other [job sector pages](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/options/sectors/) including: Health services management, Data science and analytics, International development, Charity and voluntary sector, Civil service, central and local government.
## Roles in Public health
See below for the range of roles in public health and links to explore these further.
Public health consultant
### Public health consultant
- NHS Careers [Public health consultants and specialists](https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/roles-public-health/public-health-consultants-and-specialists)
- Specialty programmes - 5 years, NHS funded (typically 60-90 funded places per year).
- Specialist pathway for those with a medical or dentistry degree (Public Health Consultant with medical/dentistry degree approved by GMC or GDC)
- Non-specialist pathway for those with other relevant work experience and qualifications (Public Health Specialist non-medical degree)
- Faculty of Public Health (FPH) [speciality training recruitment](https://www.fph.org.uk/training-careers/national-public-health-specialty-training-recruitment/)
- FPH [Routes into public health leadership roles](https://www.fph.org.uk/media/2954/certification-path-presentation-ig-read-only-003.pdf) (2020 presentation)
- [UK Public Health Register](https://ukphr.org/)
Employers: Mostly related to service delivery, policy, research, communication, health promotion/improvement eg healthcare providers (NHS), local government, Civil Service, higher education, social care organisations
Public health research and policy
The [National Institute for Health and Care Research](https://www.nihr.ac.uk/) (NIHR) funds and delivers health and social care research to improve health and wellbeing and promote economic growth.
NIHR [research funding](https://www.nihr.ac.uk/research-funding) - various schemes for researchers at different stages of their career. Much of this research would take place in HE but also in other organisations departments/agencies. See also NIHR [public health research](https://www.nihr.ac.uk/career-development/support-by-profession/public-health-research) and links to career development resources.
Employers:
- Research/Policy related eg government departments, [UK Health Security Agency](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency), [Office for Health Improvement and Disparities](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-for-health-improvement-and-disparities/about), higher education, charities and NGOs, international organisations (eg UN), think tanks, health consultancies
- [Department of Health and Social Care](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations#department-of-health-and-social-care) works with 23 different agencies and public bodies - see list at [Working for the Department](https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/departments/working-for-the-department-of-health-social-care/)
- [Think tanks](https://smartthinking.org.uk/the-think-tanks) see the three key health policy think tanks: The King’s Fund, The Health Foundation and The Nuffield Trust. [Health policy and think tanks in the UK: the role of the King’s Fund](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13558196231207808) (2023)
- Medical research charities including: [British Heart Foundation](https://www.bhf.org.uk/); [Cancer Research UK](https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/), [Wellcome Trust](https://wellcome.org/), [Versus Arthritis](https://www.versusarthritis.org/), [Alzheimer’s Research UK](https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/)
Health promotion
- NHS Careers: [Public health practitioner](https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/roles-public-health/public-health-practitioner)
- Prospects: [Health improvement practitioner](https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/health-improvement-practitioner)
- Other qualified medical professionals might also train to work in public health related roles eg health visitor, nurse, nutritionist.
Employers include NHS trusts and charities. Jobs may be advertised on [NHS jobs](https://www.nhsjobs.com/job_list/Allied_health_professions/s4/Public_Health_Health_Improvement/d513), the Government [Find a job](https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/search?loc=86383&q=health%20promotion) site, [Public Health jobs](https://publichealthjobs.co.uk/) and [Charity Job UK](https://www.charityjob.co.uk/).
Epidemiology / scientific roles
- Prospects: [Epidemiologist](https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/epidemiologist) - studying patterns, causes and effects of disease
- [NHS Scientist Training Programme (Infection Science)](https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-science/roles-healthcare-science/life-sciences/infection-sciences)
- Prospects: [Medical research scientist](https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/research-scientist-medical)
- Prospects: [Life science researcher](https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/research-scientist-life-sciences)
- [UK Health Security Agency](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency/about/recruitment) roles include: microbiology, science, medicine, epidemiology, data analysis, public health, technology
Employers include the NHS, Higher education, UK Health Security Agency, [Health & Safety Executive](https://www.hse.gov.uk/)
Data and analytics
- NHS Careers: [Public health knowledge and intelligence specialists](https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/roles-public-health/public-health-knowledge-and-intelligence-professional)
- Prospects profiles:
- [Data analyst](https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/data-analyst)
- [Data scientist](https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/data-scientist)
- [Statistician](https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/statistician)
- [Information Officer](https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/information-officer)
Employers include Higher education, charities, government departments and agencies, private sector eg consultancies
- [NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme](https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-planning/study-and-training/graduate-training-opportunities/nhs-graduate-management-training-scheme) (Informatics, Analysis, Policy and Strategy specialisms)
- [Office for Health Improvement and Disparities](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-for-health-improvement-and-disparities/about) (supports regional public health)
Work with international organisations
Work with international organisations may include health education, disease prevention and control, and work in crisis situations and disaster zones.
- [Action for Global Health](https://actionforglobalhealth.org.uk/about-us/our-members/) is a network of over 50 organisations working in global health
- UN [jobs in public health](https://unjobs.org/themes/public-health)
- [World Health Organisation careers](https://www.who.int/careers)
- [Médecins Sans Frontières](https://msf.org.uk/find-job) medical and non-medical jobs
See also: [international development](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/options/sectors/international-development/)
Consulting / Public health management
### Healthcare consulting
Healthcare consultants help healthcare organisations to run their businesses efficiently. As a healthcare consultant you might be working for clients including healthcare providers, charities, local and national government. As well as an understanding of healthcare and current issues in the sector, you are likely to need data analysis, financial, problem solving and good interpersonal skills.:
- Ascent [Healthcare consultant profile](https://www.ascentpros.com/uk/job-profile/healthcare-consultant)
- [York Health Economics Consortium](https://yhec.co.uk/about-us)
- [Top healthcare consultancies - US based](https://managementconsulted.com/top-healthcare-consulting-firms/) (July 2025)
- Examples of companies: [Carnall Farrar](https://www.carnallfarrar.com/work-with-us/), [Accenture](https://www.accenture.com/gb-en/industries/health), [The PSC](https://thepsc.co.uk/careers/)
### Public health management
- NHS Careers [Public health manager](https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/roles-public-health/public-health-manager)
Alternatives to consider
### Healthcare management
- [NHS Graduate management training scheme](https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-planning/study-and-training/graduate-training-opportunities/nhs-graduate-management-training-scheme) offers specialisms including General Management, Human Resources, Finance, Policy and Strategy, Health Informatics, and Health Analysis.
- Private healthcare provider management schemes such as [Avalere Health](https://avalerehealth.com/careers/early-careers/graduate-program/) (UK and US), [Ramsay Health](https://www.ramsayhealth.com/en/people-and-careers/global-graduate-programme/) global graduate programme, [Bupa](https://careers.bupa.co.uk/early-careers) early careers and graduate schemes.
### Medical communications / market access
- Prospects: [science writer](https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/science-writer) profile (includes brief mention of medical writing)
- [European Medical Writers Association](https://emwa.org/) includes careers information
- [Medical Science and Communications Network](https://www.medscicommsnet.org/) (MedSciCommsNet)
- [Pobl](https://pobl.work/) - talent consultancy for medical communications, market access and healthcare advertising
- Job search at [PharmiWeb.Jobs](http://pharmiweb.jobs)
Example employers: [Costello Medical](https://www.costellomedical.com/careers/working-at-costello-medical/career-profiles/), [PharmaGenesis](https://www.pharmagenesis.com/), pharmaceutical companies, health charities
What skills do I need?
Typical skills required for a career in public health include:
- An understanding of health issues (possibly including specialist knowledge in a particular area of health)
- Research and data analysis
- Empathy and relationship-building
- People skills - excellent communication skills and the ability to influence and motivate
- Organisation and project management
- Teamwork, including working with colleagues across multi-disciplinary teams
For more information about professional skills and how to develop them, see the [York Strengths Professional Skills](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/skills/employability-skills/) page.
Example roles and profiles
### Profiles
For more detailed information, see the sections above.
- NHS Careers [Public health practitioner](https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/roles-public-health/public-health-practitioner)
- Prospects: [Epidemiologist](https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/epidemiologist)
- Prospects: [Life science researcher](https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/research-scientist-life-sciences)
- Ascent [Healthcare consultant profile](https://www.ascentpros.com/uk/job-profile/healthcare-consultant)
- NHS Careers [Public health manager](https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/roles-public-health/public-health-manager)
### LinkedIn
If you use [LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com), look for York alumni who have studied Public Health to get an idea of possible roles following your course and to start building your professional network. (On LinkedIn, search for University of York, then click on Alumni and apply filters to find relevant profiles.)
Roles you may find include: Public Health Practitioner / Specialist, Health Improvement Practitioner, Research Assistant, Clinical Information Analyst, Business and admin roles with health charities.
### York for Life
Join [York for Life](https://www.york.ac.uk/alumni/) to connect with our global network of alumni. Start building your own network - find people from your course, look at different careers, ask questions and request a mentor.
Work experience
Many students on the Masters in Public Health course already have considerable experience in the health sector.
Employers value experience in healthcare, and with community groups and charities. If you have time, you could volunteer or try to do some work shadowing in a relevant setting.
- [Volunteering](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/skills/volunteer/)
- [Volunteering opportunities on Handshake](https://york.joinhandshake.co.uk/postings?page=1&per_page=100&sort_direction=desc&sort_column=default&status%5B%5D=approved&added_institution_labels%5B%5D=34624)
Find jobs
### UK
- [NHS Business Services Authority Careers](https://careers.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/careers)
- [NHS jobs](https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate)
- [NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme](https://graduates.nhs.uk/)
- GOV.UK Find a Job [Public health jobs](https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/search?f=30&lang_code=en&loc=86383&q=public%20health)
- Council websites for a range of public health roles; Birmingham has a one year graduate programme for those with a MPH qualification
- [UK Health Security Agency](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency/about/recruitment) (link to Civil Service jobs)
- [MedComms Go!](http://firstmedcommsjob.com)
- [Pharmiweb.jobs](http://pharmiweb.jobs)
- [LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com) - use LinkedIn to follow relevant organisations and professional bodies.
### International students
Even if you are considering work in the UK, you may need to explore roles in both the UK and other countries. Securing work in the UK can be challenging because of funding, visa and sponsorship issues, and differences between healthcare systems. If you qualified as a doctor or dentist in your home country, you could explore routes to practise in the UK.
- Doctors: Regardless of country of origin, medical professionals must be licensed to practice by the General Medical Council. Process involves: Passing English language tests, passing the PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board) tests, completing a clinical attachment (unpaid work experience).See the [BMA information for international doctors](https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/international-doctors)
- Dentists: All dental professionals must be registered with the General Dental Council to work in the UK. See the GDC website for [information about registering](https://www.gdc-uk.org/registration) for overseas qualified dentists.
- Medical and dental practitioners are eligible for the [Health and Care worker visa](https://www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa).
### India
Public Health roles may be in government, hospitals, academia and international agencies. Roles include healthcare administration, epidemiologists, public health educators, environmental scientists and biosecurity and some require a Masters or higher qualification. Look for jobs at:
- [Public Health Foundation of India](https://phfi.org/)
- [Institute of Public Health](https://iphindia.org/)
- [Public Health Career](https://publichealthcareer.org/about-us/) job platform
- [National Centre for Disease Control](https://ncdc.mohfw.gov.in/)
- [World Health Organization](https://www.who.int/careers)
- [Clinton Health Access](https://www.clintonhealthaccess.org/india/)
- [Gates Foundation](https://www.gatesfoundation.org/our-work/places/india)
### Other countries
The sites listed above are examples of institutions and job sites advertising public health roles. Could you look for similar resources for your country?
- Look at GoinGlobal - access from the page on [working outside the UK](https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/apply-interview/looking-for-work/international-work/) to explore labour market information for different countries.
- [UN jobs: global health](https://unjobs.org/themes/global-health)
- [CDC Global health jobs and careers](https://www.cdc.gov/global-health/careers/index.html) (US citizens)
- China: Article about [job preferences of MPH students in China](https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-023-04993-9)
#### Practice interviews on Shortlist.Me
- [NHS management](https://go.shortlister.com/j/9buxu)
- [NHS policy and strategy](https://go.shortlister.com/j/k63d)
- [NHS health informatics](https://go.shortlister.com/j/g6wzt)
- more NHS interviews, workplace simulations with different employers, and several skills / competency / strengths based interviews you can use to practise
- Register for the [interviews or activities](https://go.shortlister.com/marketplace/uniofyork) using your York email address.