Why this programme

• This programme will enable you to develop a critical understanding of what determines whether people are healthy or not. You will explore what drives health inequalities, by examining health policies and societies through a comparative lens across high, medium and low-income countries.
• You will develop knowledge and understanding of a diverse range of issues related to health policy and practice. This will include health systems, and the social, cultural, political, commercial, economic and environmental determinants of national and international health.
• This programme offers a dynamic and flexible structure designed to empower you as both a thinker and a changemaker. You will benefit from an interdisciplinary approach, with optional courses available from the School of Social & Political Sciences and the School of Health & Wellbeing, both research leaders within respective fields.
• You will have opportunities to expand your learning outside the classroom through our connections with local authorities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international health organisations. These include the Scottish Government, the NHS, Public Health Scotland, local health boards and health improvement partnerships (eg Greater Glasgow and Clyde), WHO, UNAIDS, Unitaid, StopTB, Global Health Fund, and Gavi.
• You can gain key workplace skills and experience by taking advantage of some of our optional experiential learning opportunities. These include undertaking a collaborative dissertation to solve a real-world problem, or diving into your research potential through a Glasgow Changing Futures Fellowship, supporting research teams tackling global challenges related to healthy and equitable futures.
• You will join a diverse student cohort and meet people from all around the world, allowing you to build an international network to take into your career and life after university.
• Our optional field trip to a European city lets you see global health policy in practice and make memories with your classmates.

Career prospects

This programme will help you develop a holistic understanding of the key issues within population health and wellbeing alongside a policy and planning focused approach. This unique opportunity will prepare you for entering the global workplace and tackling key issues from a social science perspective.

Career opportunities and pathways

Early in the programme you will be given advice and support on career pathways and how to achieve them. Roles in the workplace that Global Health Policy & Society graduates would be well-prepared and suited to do include:

• National health policy and planning
• Advisory and advocacy roles in governments
• Academic and non-academic research
• International agencies and non-governmental organisations
• Public health care systems, and the voluntary and third sectors
• Health care professionals
• Health care improvement specialist
• PhD study in the UK and internationally

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Professional development

Our programme embeds professional development into your learning, with assessments structured to allow you to demonstrate your mastery of evidence synthesis, critical thinking and analysis skills within your chosen course. You’ll also be developing key workplace skills such as communication, leadership, social influence and problem-solving.

There is also the option to apply for a collaborative dissertation and work in partnership with an organisation to tackle a real-world problem, with support offered by the University during this process. For those wanting to pursue an academic career or those looking to develop their network further, you can also apply for a Glasgow Changing Futures Fellowship. These fellowship opportunities see students support research teams tackling global challenges related to healthy and equitable futures.

You can also take your learning into the field through participating in an optional field trip to a European city with a global health policy focus, such as Geneva. Our programme aims to develop future health policy leaders, ensuring students on the programme have the opportunity to network with their classmates and build connections for their future careers.

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Career support from the University of Glasgow

As a postgraduate student at the University of Glasgow you will have access to our Careers, Employability and Opportunity service. This service offers students the opportunity to network through organised events, help with finding employment, internships and work experience, and career development masterclasses.

• Learn more about Careers, Employability & Opportunity

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Fees & funding

Additional fees

• Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
• Registration/exam only fee: £170

Entry requirements

A 2.1 Honours degree or non-UK equivalent in a relevant subject (e.g., Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Public Health, Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy). We may also accept degrees in other health professions and lab-based sciences.

We may sometimes accept degrees with 2.2 Hons or non-UK equivalent with significant relevant work experience.

You are required to complete and submit a question-based personal statement explaining why you want to undertake this programme at Glasgow.

International students

We are proud of our diverse University community that includes students and staff from more than 140 different countries.

• Find out more about entry requirements and other country-specific information
• International student support & visas

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.

Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.

Documents

As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:

• A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
• A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
• Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
• One reference letter on headed paper
• Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
• Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
• A copy of the photo page of your passport

You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.

You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.

For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree

Guidance notes for using the online application

These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form. 

If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help.

• Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
• Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
• Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
• Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
• Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
• English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
• Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.

Reference: Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.