About Public Health Sciences (bsc (hons)) in University College Cork

The BSc Public Health Sciences offers an integrated learning experience in an interdisciplinary setting. It provides training in the range of skills involved in keeping people healthy and preventing disease, including:

• Assessing the health and wellbeing of populations
• Investigating complex public health problems such as obesity and HIV/AIDS
• Assessing the health impact of policy at local, national and global level
• Communicating effectively with colleagues in public health and the wider health system, as well as with society at large.

The BSc Public Health Sciences in UCC is the only undergraduate degree in public health in Ireland. It offers an integrated learning experience in an interdisciplinary environment, to produce graduates who are passionate about public health.  

The BSc Public Health Sciences in UCC is the only undergraduate degree in public health in Ireland. Students study across the spectrum of health-related disciplines, which opens up a wide range of career opportunities or further study on graduation.

The 12-week work placement is an essential element of the course and placement options are available for students across all public health practice areas, both in Ireland and abroad.

The School of Public Health is involved in major national research focusing on nutritional epidemiology, looking at causes and prevention of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disesase, tobacco control and health services research. As such, the degree programme is facilitated to prepare graduates for the complex working world.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

Students undertake a 12-week work placement at the end of Year 3, providing them with the opportunity to experience the working world and apply theory to practice.  The BSc Public Health Sciences has built strong relationships with national and international organisations including HSE Public Health Departments, Safefood, Public Health England and the WHO in Copenhagen, all of which accept UCC students on placement.  The work placement opens doors to future work opportunities with a larger number of employers recruiting graduates for positions in Ireland, elsewhere in Europe and in other economically developed or developing countries.

Alternatively, a limited number of students may be permitted to undertake the Third Year of their BSc Public Health Sciences studies abroad, at an approved institution.

Skills and Careers Information

Public Health is a rapidly expanding field both at home and internationally. The degree will open up a range of career opportunities with our graduates employed in Ireland and further afield in diverse public health roles including:

• Public Health Research
• Health Promotion
• Health and Nutrition
• Community Work
• Media and Public Relations
• Health and Safety.

BSc Public Health Sciences graduates have a solid foundation for further study to Masters and Doctorate level in a wide range of disciplines including health research, health promotion and global health. The School of Public Health offers graduates a Masters in Public Health (MPH) and Masters in Occupational Health.

Some students have completed accredited two-year Masters programmes in related health disciplines such as Occupational Therapy, Nursing and Dietetics. The BSc can also facilitate graduate entry to other undergraduate degrees such as medicine.

Academic qualification equivalents

 1.    All India Senior School Certificate 

 2.    Higher Secondary Certificate / Standard 12 

 3.    Indian School Certificate (Year 12) 

Band 1 Programmes

Minimum average of 90% + in any of the recognised secondary school qualifications.

Band 2 Programmes

Minimum average of 80-89% in any of the recognised secondary school qualifications.

Band 3 Programmes

Minimum average of 75-79% in any of the recognised secondary school qualifications.

Additional Requirements

Where Maths is required for a specific degree programme, a minimum score of 85% in Maths is required.

Where a Lab Science subject is required for a specific degree programme, a minimum score of 85% is required in the appropriate Lab Science subject.

English language requirements (one of the below):

• IELTS: 6.5  Minimum individual sections 5.5
• TOEFL: TOEFL 90  Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing 17
• PTE: 63 Minimum individual sections 51

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