Public Health and Human Behaviour

Public health and human behaviour is a discipline that examines the determinants of health and illness at a population level, asking not just how individuals become sick or well but how the social, environmental, behavioural and political contexts in which people live shape health outcomes across communities. It brings together epidemiology, psychology, sociology, environmental science and health policy to understand why some groups enjoy better health than others and what interventions, whether clinical, educational, regulatory or structural, are most effective at improving population health and reducing inequalities.

At the University of Lincoln this part-time programme develops your understanding of public health science and theory alongside the behavioural insights that explain how people make health-related decisions and how behaviour change can be supported at both individual and community levels. You will study epidemiology and health statistics, the social determinants of health, health psychology, environmental health, health promotion, policy analysis and the ethics of public health intervention. The part-time structure means you can balance your studies with other commitments, including professional work in health or related sectors.

The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and work placements, giving you direct professional experience in public health settings and an international perspective on health systems and population health challenges.

Graduates pursue careers in public health practice, health promotion, community health work, local authority public health teams, national health agencies, the NHS, research institutes, the voluntary sector and international health organisations. Professional roles include public health practitioner, health improvement officer, health behaviour specialist, epidemiologist and health policy analyst. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in public health, health psychology, epidemiology or global health, building on the undergraduate foundation to develop deeper expertise and advance toward professional registration.