Course Catalogue

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The research project is an independent piece of work which students take under the joint supervision of a member of academic staff from Public Health at the University of Glasgow and a member of academic staff from Sun Yat-sen University. Projects may comprise: empirical research, secondary data analysis, evaluation or audit, a systematic approach to literature review or case study.

The research project is piece of independent research which will incorporate a series of 11 weekly lectures delivered over semester one when the project topic will also be identified. Project studies will begin in semester two and the majority of the work will be conducted over the summer period. Over the academic year, normally 12 supervision sessions will be scheduled and most of these will take place over semester two and the summer period. Additional sessions may be timetabled according to the needs of students although students will be mainly working unsupervised.

As stated in the current University Calendar.

MED 5334P

Students from Sun Yat-sen University studying this Project - as part of their University of Glasgow Master of Public Health degree - will be supervised by both a member of Public Health staff from the University of Glasgow and a member of Public Health staff from Sun Yat-sen University. Students will be based in Glasgow over the duration of the Project.

The examination of the research project will be conducted as per the arrangements outlined in the Memorandum of Agreement with SYSU. In brief, the dissertation will be independently marked by both a member of Public Health staff from the University of Glasgow and a member of Public Health staff from SYSU who will be appointed as an associate member of staff at the University of Glasgow. The University of Glasgow regulations and Schedule A marking scheme will be applied. Where the first and second markers agree on the Primary Grade (i.e. 'A', 'B', 'C' etc) but cannot come to agreement on the Band (i.e. '1', '2', '3' etc.) to be awarded then the Band that best represents the midway point between the first and second mark should be awarded. Where the first and second marker cannot reach agreement on the Primary Grade for the Project then a third independent marker from University of Glasgow will be appointed by the Programme Coordinator. Written feedback will be given to students.

Dissertations will be between 15,000 and 20,000 words in length. The Research Project is first and foremost an independent learning exercise and creates an opportunity for the postgraduate student to carry out an original piece of work. This may consist of one of the following:

■ A piece of empirical research using qualitative or quantitative methods

■ Secondary analysis of routine data or datasets collected as part of a study or a larger study.

■ Evaluation or audit around a public health initiative.

■ A detailed near systematic review around an intervention or issue in Public Health.

■ A Case Study (an empirical inquiry investigating of a contemporary phenomenon situated in its real-life context using many sources of evidence including qualitative and quantitative data collected in the field. The case study will typically answer 'how' or 'why' questions and will focus on a defined number of events and their interrelationships). 

On successful completion of the MPH project students will be able to:

■ Apply knowledge of research methods to design, develop and autonomously carry out a research project relevant to public health.

On successful completion of the MPH project students will be able to:

■ Formulate and critically evaluate public health research questions and develop relevant research designs to answer these.

■ Search for relevant literature using computerised information systems including electronic bibliographic databases and synthesise extracted data. 

■ Critically select an appropriate research design and explain the variety of research designs appropriate for use within public health research.

■ Present research progress, defend methods chosen and respond to suggestions for improvement from colleagues.

■ Work independently to reach research milestones and satisfactorily complete the research project.

■ Design a strategy for dissemination of research findings to appropriate audiences.

■ Critically analyse research data.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.