2025/26 entry
MSc Public Health (Addictions)
About this course
This Public Health Addictions MSc from LJMU's Public Health Institute examines the evidence base of harms/risks relating to addictions and ways to reduce them.
- Study on this ground-breaking course, unique in the north west
- Explore the evidence base of addiction harms and risks and the policies used to reduce them
- Discover course content informed by key research in alcohol and drug addiction
- Benefit from support and guidance for placement learning opportunities
One of only a handful of courses in the UK, Public Health (Addictions) turns its back on the treatment of addiction as a behaviour and looks at its wider social and political aspects. The issues relating to addiction continue to be major public health challenges facing communities around the world, with wide ranging consequences for the individual concerned, their families and society as a whole.
This MSc in Public Health (Addiction) builds on the Public Health Institute's extensive research portfolio of primary research, evaluation, evidence review and intelligence systems, covering the areas of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Students come from a wide range of backgrounds including nursing, psychology and criminology, many have also worked in drug or alcohol support capacities.
This education programme enables you to work with leading academics in the field, providing specialist knowledge and insights into a wide range of addiction issues. Additionally, the Public Health Institute is able to call on the experience of an established network of practitioners and policy makers to make a unique educational experience.
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Zoe's story
With a Literature undergraduate degree from LJMU, Zoe returned to study for a Masters in Public Health Addictions.
"I already knew that I liked John Moores from my first degree and being kee...
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted at the top of this page cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- access to programme-appropriate software
- library and student IT support
- free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages.
Please be aware that the UK’s departure from the EU may affect your tuition fees. Learn more about your fee status and which tuition fees are relevant to you.
Employability
Further your career prospects
LJMU has an excellent employability record with 96% (HESA 2018) of our postgraduates in work or further study six months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.
As a graduate of this course you will probably go on to work in areas improving the health and wellbeing of individuals, communities and populations, taking up a role in the voluntary or private sectors. Many Public Health graduates go on to work in the NHS or for local authorities. You may, however, choose to advance your research career or undertake further study to PhD level.
The student experience
Discover life as a postgraduate student at LJMU.
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Course modules
Discover the building blocks of your programme
This course is currently undergoing its scheduled programme review, which may impact the advertised modules. Programme review is a standard part of the University’s approach to quality assurance and enhancement, enabling us to ensure that our courses remain up to date and maintain their high standard and relevancy.
Once the review is completed, this course website page will be updated to reflect any approved changes to the advertised course. These approved changes will also be communicated to those who apply for the course to ensure they wish to proceed with their application.
Your programme is made up of a number of core modules which are part of the course framework. Some programmes also have optional modules that can be selected to enhance your learning in certain areas and many feature a dissertation, extended report or research project to demonstrate your advanced learning.
Core modules
Research Methods
20 credits
This module encourages you to develop your skills as a potential producer of research, as well as your ability to systematically evaluate research outcomes from a variety of sources. It:
- provides a critical knowledge base of the philosophical foundations of public health research
- enables you to develop expertise in qualitative and quantitative data analysis
- prepares you to carry out empirical and literature-based research
Dissertation
60 credits
The dissertation module offers you an opportunity to explore in-depth an area of personal or professional interest that relates to your programme of study. In doing this, you will expand your research skills and apply what you have learned in the earlier modules to your research project. It enables to:
- develop your skills necessary to plan and execute a research project that is relevant to your area of study
- effectively communicate research outcomes to an appropriate audience
You can choose your own topic and methodology, though this should be relevant to public health and ideally to your route specialism. You can choose to write up as a full dissertation or as a journal style article (which comes with a viva).
Understanding Addictions
20 credits
This module enhances your knowledge and understanding of addiction as a public health issue and also its risk factors. It assesses different models of addiction e.g. drug addiction, alcohol addiction, gambling etc as well as its associations and mediators/moderators.
Addictions: Policy and Interventions
20 credits
This module enhances your knowledge and understanding of addictions policy objectives, enabling you to critically assess the effectiveness of the interventions. It enables you to:
- identify core addiction policies and strategies from a UK and international perspective and assess how these are developed and put into operation
- examine how personal and structural forces impact on addiction and assess if these are related to policy objectives
- evaluate policies and interventions designed to improve addiction outcomes
Public Health Epidemiology, Intelligence and Health Protection
20 credits
Epidemiology, Health Intelligence and Health Protection are core public health disciplines that share some key approaches and methods. Epidemiological and health surveillance methods provide essential data which are used to determine suitable health protection strategies. This module will explore these three key areas and the relationships between them and apply them to a number of key issues from a global context.
Public Health: Policy and Practice
20 credits
This module introduces concepts and theories within the field of public health. It:
- enhances your knowledge and understanding of population-based health issues and public health response in light of policy and practice
- enables you to examine health inequalities
- enables you to identify local, national and international health-related strategies
Optional Modules
Global Health
10 credits
This module examines public health risk in the context of globalisation. It explores the key processes of globalisation and how they impact the health of populations and their environments. Public health risks are identified and their global level strategic responses are evaluated.
Violence
10 credits
This module critically examines a range of key issues relating to violence and health from international, national and local perspectives. It demonstrates the need for an interdisciplinary public health approach when addressing the causes of violence, building prevention control strategies, and promoting safety. It enables you to understand and develop strategies to control violence.
Work Related Learning
20 credits
This module aims to enable you to work practically and develop public health knowledge and skills pertinent to practical settings.
Independent Study
10 credits
This module aims to develop your knowledge of public health topic that is suited to your own needs but which fulfills the learning outcomes for the module, it focuses on literature review rather than an empirical study related to the field. It provides you with an opportunity to develop your own learning and knowledge base in a public health topic of your own choice.
Teaching
An insight into teaching on your course
Study hours
Full-time students attend university for teaching on two full days (Tuesday and Wednesday). Part-time students normally attend one day/week: Tuesday in the first year of study and Wednesday in the second year
Teaching methods
You will learn via lectures, tutorials and workshop related activity. The programme requires a significant amount of independent learning through the library, off campus and the virtual learning environment.
On joining the course you will be appointed a personal tutor who will provide academic and pastoral support. You will also have at least one supervisor for the duration of your dissertation module.
Applied learning
This programme enables you to gain work related experience in an applied health setting including the Public Health Institute, LocalNGOs/charity sector and local authority. Research can also be undertaken in collaboration with these sectors through negotiated agreement.
Many students conduct their research project in applied health settings such as the NHS and charity sectors. Your studies enable you to build real experience in the working environment and create professional relationships outside of the university setting.
Assessment
How learning is monitored on your programme
To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.
On this course there are few written exams as most assessments involve essays and reports, with poster presentations and, of course, the dissertation.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
Dr Ivan Gee
Programme Leader
Ivan Gee is a Senior Lecturer in Public Health contributing to research projects, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and PhD supervision.Ivan's research interests have focussed on environmental impacts on health. He has had a particular focus on tobacco related research and conducted work that supported the development of the Smokefree 07 legislation in England and informed national advertising campaigns. Ivan is also interested in the impact of other environmental exposures on health and the increasing public health problems associated with alcohol. Read Ivan's staff profile.
Teaching, research supervision and scholarly activity are the most rewarding aspects of my position. Whilst I enjoy developing and refining academic programmes and managing an enthusiastic programme team; teaching students and watching them develop and graduate is the most satisfying area of my role.
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School facilities
What you can expect from your School
The Public Health Institute is located in the City Campus where you'll find the Avril Robarts Library, IT Zones, high quality teaching facilities and lecture theatres plus a range of cafes and social spaces.
Entry requirements
You will need:
Qualification requirements
Alternative qualifications considered
Standard entry Applicants are normally required to possess a good honours degree (normally a minimum grade 2.2) in any related health or social science discipline. Non-standard entry For applicants not in possession of a good honours degree, the programme leader will take into account relevant professional qualifications (e.g. Nursing Registration, Qualification in Social Work, Environmental Health qualification) and experience. Any participant who does not have a first degree must satisfy the programme team of their ability to study at Master's level through presentation of a strong portfolio to demonstrate appropriate equivalent skills in the work place. For these applicants, individual assessments of their suitability for post graduate level study will be arranged and conducted by the programme team. The team may require evidence to be submitted as part of the assessment process e.g. a portfolio of written and other work; papers presented at conferences, publications; reports and research proposals. RPL The programme welcomes students with both prior certificated learning and or application for experiential learning credits. Prior learning will be mapped against the programme and/or module outcomes on a case by case basis.
International requirements
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Other international requirements
Standard entry Applicants are normally required to possess a good honours degree (minimum grade 2.2) in any related health or social science discipline. Will normally require to have achieved an IELTs score of a minimum 6.5 or equivalent English language qualification. We also accept Pearson 58-64 (Min. 51 in each component for UKVI Purposes).
Application and selection
Securing your place at LJMU
To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU online application form. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.
The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.