Personal Professional Development (Public Health and Primary Care) (Postgraduate Diploma)
The University of ManchesterProgram Overview
The Master's (Postgraduate Diploma) in Personal Professional Development at The University of Manchester is a rigorous postgraduate programme delivered fully online. Designed for graduates and professionals seeking advanced expertise in health & medicine, the programme develops both theoretical foundations and applied skills essential for today's competitive environment.
Spanning 24 months, students engage with cutting-edge research, industry-relevant case studies, and practical projects. Instruction is delivered in English by research-active faculty with professional expertise.
The programme culminates in a dissertation or capstone project. Graduates are well-prepared for leadership roles, research careers, and doctoral study in health & medicine.
Key Program Features
- 100% Online Delivery: Complete all coursework remotely — no campus visits required. Designed for working professionals worldwide.
- Flexible Scheduling: Asynchronous learning options let you study around professional and personal commitments.
- Expert Faculty: Taught by research-active academics and practitioners with deep expertise in Health & Medicine.
- Diverse International Cohort: Study alongside students from around the world, broadening your global professional network.
- Research-Informed Curriculum: Content grounded in the latest academic research and real-world industry practice.
- Dissertation / Capstone Project: Culminating independent project applying your expertise to an original research question or industry challenge.
- Dedicated Career Support: Access to career coaching, employer networking events, and job placement assistance.
- 24 months Duration: Part-time and accelerated options may be available — enquire with the admissions office.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Personal Professional Development programme at The University of Manchester develop the advanced knowledge, analytical skills, and professional networks that leading employers in health & medicine value. Common career destinations include:
- Public Health Officer: Design and implement health promotion and disease prevention programmes.
- Healthcare Manager: Oversee clinical operations and healthcare delivery systems.
- Clinical Research Coordinator: Manage clinical trials and translational research projects.
- Epidemiologist: Investigate patterns and causes of disease in populations.
- Biomedical Researcher: Advance scientific understanding of human diseases and treatments.
Graduates have secured roles at multinational corporations, government agencies, research institutions, NGOs, and high-growth startups. Many also progress to doctoral (PhD) programmes.
Program Curriculum
Course overview
Develop new or existing skills and knowledge in various areas of public health and primary care if you are a health professional. Cover topics ranging from evidence-based practice and health economics to intercultural public health and climate change and health. Fit your learning around other commitments through our largely online courses. Take individual units as standalone Personal Professional Development (Public Health and Primary Care) courses or choose multiple units to build credits for a PGCert, PGDip or master's qualification. *Please note this is a distance learning course*
Open days
The University holds regular open days, where you will have the opportunity to tour the campus and find out more about our facilities and courses. On this day, you will find out more about the course and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have. For more information, see Open days .
Contact details School/Faculty Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Contact name Postgraduate Admissions Team Telephone +44 (0)161 529 4563 Email pgtaught.mph@manchester.ac.uk Website https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/public-health-data School/Faculty overview Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas. Medicine
Admission Requirements
Entry requirements
We will consider applications demonstrating professional experience related to these Personal Professional Development (Public Health and Primary Care) courses.
English language
International students must demonstrate English proficiency through a secure and approved testing system. We ask for English language proof from applicants from countries that are not majority English-speaking countries (a list of majority English-speaking countries, as defined by the UK Home Office, can be found here ). Specifically, we require a minimum of: IELTS : 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in all components) TOEFL iBT: 90 overall (with a minimum of 22 in all component) See further information about requirements for your country . If the language of instruction of your first degree was English, but you obtained the degree from a university of a non-majority English-speaking country, the English language requirement may be waived for applicants, provided written evidence is submitted.
English language test validity
Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.
Other entry requirements
You will require regular access to a modern personal computer (Windows or Mac) with a stable internet connection. You should be confident in using the internet for web browsing, sending emails and also using word processing software, such as Microsoft Word.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 1,700/year (international)
Fees and funding
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2026, the tuition fees are as follows: Modular (part-time distance learning) UK students (per annum): £1,200 per 15 credits International, including EU, students (per annum): £2,600 per 15 credits
Fees quoted above are fully inclusive of tuition, administration and computational costs. Always contact the admissions team if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance. For general fees information please visit postgraduate fees . The course fees include all the tuition, technical support and assessments required for the course, but you are likely to incur some additional costs: maximum of one core text book per unit (approximately £30 per book) where e-books are not available; communication costs for internet use and telephone; a statistical software package (approximately £20). A copy of the statistical software for Practical Statistics for Population Health will be provided free for all international fee-paying students. Costs may also be incurred for travel, subsistence and accommodation charges during the following optional events or units: the Arts and Public Health blended learning unit the Intercultural Public Health blended learning unit the Infection, Prevention & Control blended learning unit the Engaging the Hard to Reach for Health Gain blended learning unit
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Fees and funding
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2026, the tuition fees are as follows: Modular (part-time distance learning) UK students (per annum): £1,200 per 15 credits International, including EU, students (per annum): £2,600 per 15 credits
Fees quoted above are fully inclusive of tuition, administration and computational costs. Always contact the admissions team if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance. For general fees information please visit postgraduate fees . The course fees include all the tuition, technical support and assessments required for the course, but you are likely to incur some additional costs: maximum of one core text book per unit (approximately £30 per book) where e-books are not available; communication costs for internet use and telephone; a statistical software package (approximately £20). A copy of the statistical software for Practical Statistics for Population Health will be provided free for all international fee-paying students. Costs may also be incurred for travel, subsistence and accommodation charges during the following optional events or units: the Arts and Public Health blended learning unit the Intercultural Public Health blended learning unit the Infection, Prevention & Control blended learning unit the Engaging the Hard to Reach for Health Gain blended learning unit
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
About The University of Manchester
The University of Manchester
Botswana, Botswana
Visit the university profile page to learn more about this institution.
University Profile- Start Date 2018-09-17
- Language English
- Duration 24 months
- Credits 120 ECTS / 360 credits (2-year programme)